Review Archive: F

face to face  

face to face may be pretty much forgotten in the world of radio and major-label alt-rock, but they're still at it. Nothing really new or unexpected here: fast power-pop-punk, lyrics that tend to be on the bleak side, and backup vocals you can literally sing the first time you hear the song. However, this is still a really good album — much better than I had expected (and definitely better than their last one. The songwriting has improved and the songs are catchier...plus, where Big Choice had the band re-recording a lot of their older songs, these are all new. I paid only $4 for this CD; if you like face to face, you won't be ripped off paying $12.

Stinky Little Gods  

Fatso Jetson are kind of in the same vein as fIREHOSE, without sounding anything like them (I guess that's a pretty useless comparison, then). They don't have the folk edge fIREHOSE occasionally used; instead, Fatso Jetson mixes things up with a bit of country ("Joke Shop"), surf ("Von Deuce," "Captain Evil"), and some regular old rock. The last two songs on Stinky Little Gods are my least favorites ("Highway 86" just doesn't do much and "Corn on the Macabre," despite the cool name, goes on way too long), but the first eight are enough for me to honestly say that I like this album.

End Hits  

Everyone who mentioned the latest Fugazi record to me always used the term "experimental". So when I finally was able to give it a listen I was expecting it to be way out there, and it really isn't; End Hits isn't too much different from Red Medicine or In on the Kill Taker. There are some slower, more melodic songs ("Recap Modotti", "No Surprise") that show quite a change since the Repeater days -- Fugazi can do more than just smack you in the head with their music. A few songs probably contributed in earning the "experimental" label, ranging from noise-filled ("F/D") to soft and quiet that you wouldn't guess were done by Fugazi ("Pink Frosty"). But there are plenty of aggressive tracks with the unmistakable Fugazi sound ("Five Corporations", "Place Position", "Caustic Acrostic") as well as a great instrumental ("Arpeggiator"). As with their past two releases End Hits didn't grab my full attention right away, but after a couple listens you really begin to appreciate what a good album this is.