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Hardcore punk has always been known for drama, intensity and notes that can't really be discerned, helmed by someone shouting into a microphone. F***** Up are a new breed of hardcore band. They encapsulate all of the energy that makes hardcore exciting, yet show a level of craft that dwarfs the old school punks. Their second full length, The Chemistry of Common Life, keeps up the intensity of the hardcore tradition while revealing surprisingly nuanced rock songs. Shouted, guttural vocals that sound like they're coming from somewhere in the pit of lead singer Pink Eye's stomach tend to come to the forefront, but details betray a certain polish and technical know-how.
The delicate flute intro of album opener Son The Father bleeds into feedback giving no indication of what is to come; indeed, upon the impact of the layered guitars, the listener feels a little blindsided by the unexpected rush. Similar tricks are slipped in throughout the album, such as the hand drums on Magic Word and big orchestral sounds on Looking For God. But these details only complement the bright, rich guitars that are the base for each song.
For many potential listeners, the shouting might be the stumbling block. Although screaming is the main vocal technique, F***** Up play with different vocal styles in unexpected ways. There are church choir-styled backing vocals on No Epiphany that drive home the religious musings of the song, while twisted boy-girl harmonies on Royal Swan create the sound of someone spitting with fury over cabaret vocals. And if you came in on the refrain of ''I'll be your little mistake" on Black Albino Bones, you could swear you were listening to a chart-topping pop song. Perhaps intimidating for the band's name, The Chemistry of Common Life is more accessible than most hardcore, but still packs all the punch of the punk tradition. It's hardcore that shouldn't stay underground. --Amanda Farah
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Have to confess, I bought this on the strength of the reviews that were universally in praise of this album. The name of the band kind of gave me the feeling that we were dealing with a Hard Core band, but from the reviews, iit seemed that musically they went way beyond the traditional hard core band structure...
And so it is. From the gentle opening to Son The Father, which develops into a charged battlecry, to the final blows of The Chemistry of Common Life, you have a briliantly diverse, angry sounding record that has depth and quality that you will love.
It flows wonderfully well as an album and once it's on your ipod selection, it will stay there. I've had this album for over a year now and it's still one of those records that I could not and will not put back in my 'listened to' category.
Probably the only thing that will hold the record back is the charged sound of the singing which is probably the real connection with hard core, but musically it has a right to be in the collection of lovers of Green Day as much as those of us who love a bit of Minor Threat, Discharge, Gallows or Black Flag.
It's one of the best releases in the past three years and really does deserve its five stars review, so don't dally, buy it and you'll be playing it for ages.
superb
And so it is. From the gentle opening to Son The Father, which develops into a charged battlecry, to the final blows of The Chemistry of Common Life, you have a briliantly diverse, angry sounding record that has depth and quality that you will love.
It flows wonderfully well as an album and once it's on your ipod selection, it will stay there. I've had this album for over a year now and it's still one of those records that I could not and will not put back in my 'listened to' category.
Probably the only thing that will hold the record back is the charged sound of the singing which is probably the real connection with hard core, but musically it has a right to be in the collection of lovers of Green Day as much as those of us who love a bit of Minor Threat, Discharge, Gallows or Black Flag.
It's one of the best releases in the past three years and really does deserve its five stars review, so don't dally, buy it and you'll be playing it for ages.
superb
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
I had not one clue as to who this band was when I ordered the album, but from reviews in Mojo and the like speaking of a fine work, I thought it was worth the plunge and how very glad I am that I did.
It's an abrasive sound, qith vocals that are delivered with real venom against a pretty rocking backtrack, but it has to be said that there is a real depth to their sound which reminds me of some of the best 80's punk, perhaps a little Minor Threat mixed with the quality songwriting of the Descendents. I'm not sure that's the best compliment I could pay this work, but I can tell you that it's a very consistent album with quality from beginning to end and will certainly be a record that will stand the test of time.
Great effort and well worth the full album download.
It's an abrasive sound, qith vocals that are delivered with real venom against a pretty rocking backtrack, but it has to be said that there is a real depth to their sound which reminds me of some of the best 80's punk, perhaps a little Minor Threat mixed with the quality songwriting of the Descendents. I'm not sure that's the best compliment I could pay this work, but I can tell you that it's a very consistent album with quality from beginning to end and will certainly be a record that will stand the test of time.
Great effort and well worth the full album download.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
2008 saw Fu**ed Up establish themselves as an increasingly talked about act; NME touted them (for at least five minutes) and they featured in a number of end of year `Best of...'s; notably reaching 17 in Pitchfork's end of year round up, whilst the Onion's A.V. Club made it their number two album of 2008 (with only TV On The Radio ahead of them).
This Canadian outfit emerged from Toronto's hardcore scene having formed way back in 2002 and have established a growing reputation as something special. Hidden World, their previous double album from 2006, attracted sufficient interest to ensure that they were signed to Matador.
Chemistry... is undoubtedly hardcore, but it's also ambitious, epic and hugely impressive. Opening track Son The Father sets the tone with it's furious call and response vocal, massive riff and strident condemnation of religion. Vocalist Pink Eyes (all the band employ bizarre monikers such as 10,000 marbles) gravelly vocal style won't be to everyone's taste, but adds to the sense of anger in tracks like Crooked Head. Relatively straightforward tracks like Days Of Last, mix with delicate instrumental numbers like Golden Seal. The band's three guitarists are well used, laying down dense, complex textures, notably on No Epiphany. Comparisons have been made to Husker Dü and these are valid; not perhaps in terms of sound, but in terms of sheer ambition and desire to really redefine their genre. Chemistry... is a hugely rewarding record; it's complexity ensures that you constantly notice different elements, and it deserves to reach a wider audience.
Fu**ed Up's label, Matador are very good at offering free MP3s of their acts and selections from this album have been available of late. Finally, it's pleasant to buy a CD where the album art is a thing of beauty; 2008 seems to have been a year of interesting releases marred by rubbish artwork.
This Canadian outfit emerged from Toronto's hardcore scene having formed way back in 2002 and have established a growing reputation as something special. Hidden World, their previous double album from 2006, attracted sufficient interest to ensure that they were signed to Matador.
Chemistry... is undoubtedly hardcore, but it's also ambitious, epic and hugely impressive. Opening track Son The Father sets the tone with it's furious call and response vocal, massive riff and strident condemnation of religion. Vocalist Pink Eyes (all the band employ bizarre monikers such as 10,000 marbles) gravelly vocal style won't be to everyone's taste, but adds to the sense of anger in tracks like Crooked Head. Relatively straightforward tracks like Days Of Last, mix with delicate instrumental numbers like Golden Seal. The band's three guitarists are well used, laying down dense, complex textures, notably on No Epiphany. Comparisons have been made to Husker Dü and these are valid; not perhaps in terms of sound, but in terms of sheer ambition and desire to really redefine their genre. Chemistry... is a hugely rewarding record; it's complexity ensures that you constantly notice different elements, and it deserves to reach a wider audience.
Fu**ed Up's label, Matador are very good at offering free MP3s of their acts and selections from this album have been available of late. Finally, it's pleasant to buy a CD where the album art is a thing of beauty; 2008 seems to have been a year of interesting releases marred by rubbish artwork.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Only 5 stars
Just buy it. At least download it first, then buy it. Unless you're afraid to try something a little different. WOW! You're ultra conservative.
Published 9 days ago by Bezzr
Chemistry Set, And The Match
Now, aficionado of the hardcore genre I am not, and in fact my only real dalliances with the genre are with accessible artists such as Gallows, and slightly more credible ones like... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2009 by Gannon
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