Fidlar's self entitled debut.
“F#$k it dog, life’s a risk.” That is the abbreviation FIDLAR used when they came up with the band name, but its more than that. Its what they would say before flying off of skating ramps, its kind of like the skaters version of YOLO. Even though the band just released their first album this year, they have actually been around playing music under that name since 2009. They even released two eps before this full length album. What happens when the skateboard stoners you knew in high school form a punk band? Well it doesn't end up sounding anything like FIDLAR that's for sure. The difference is that these guys are some seriously dedicated and talented musicians. They take their FIDLAR motto to a whole new level, it's part of everything in their life. It's the classic punk rock lifestyle the whole package: drugs, booze, women, trashing hotel rooms, driving drunk, and parties. They don't just sing about it they live it. They aren't famous, they don't get played on the radio, but they don't care. They are living on a day to day basis, in their cars just to get by and play music. How punk rock is that. It's actually kind of sad on a certain level, to see them living live this, but that's just the lifestyle they live.
The true punk doesn't really exist anymore, at least not the traditional one. The last time I saw a traditional punk rocker with a mow hawk and a leather jacket was at a Motorhead show. I leaned over to my friend and said, "They do exist I told you, punk rock at its core. They are rare like you are looking for a legendary Pokemon, don't get to close or you'll scare them." I did actually say that and I meant it. The classic rockers that used to live by the FIDLAR lifestyle are either dead or had to get clean to continue living. One of the most interesting things about this band is the fact that they are very self aware that they can't live this lifestyle forever. A trait most rock bands didn't have back when they were living it. They address that in their lyrics. "I feel, feel like I can’t get drunk no more ‘cause I’m on the floor,”. They are aware that they can't keep this up forever. They only stop to think and regret for a bit, then it's back to drinking and drugs again. They're live shows are even more punk. They fire through the whole album in double time, jumping in to the mosh pit themselves during the show.
Here is FIDLAR in the studio.
The album itself is a wonder to behold. It is one of the grimiest punk records Ive heard in years. Its like old school Bouncing Souls or NOFX. Back when the songs came in at under two minutes almost every time. Punk is one of the most heavily occupied genres in music, how can a little punk band from Los Angeles stand out. They have the talent of playing for years, they have the attitude, but most importantly they have the catchy hooks necessary to stick out it a sea of punk. Not only that but there is some real emotion and life thrown into the lyrics. One of the songs talks abouts about their drummer Max Kuehn's inability to surf. Even though they are drunks and druggies they play very well, and drive some serious emotion into their music. Even Tom Morello would be proud.
The albums opener, "Cheap Beer" is a punk rock anthem. It is by far the heaviest on the album, the instruments come in fast and driving. This is a true punk rock anthem, by the time the half yelling vocals come in you have become fully engulfed in the spirit of punk rock. The next two, "Stoked and Broke" and "White on White", slow things down a bit but keep the catchy hooks and great instrumentation going. "No Waves" takes on more of a surf rock feel similar to Wavves. "Whore" changes things up quite a bit taking a very bluesy feel, and slowing down even more, while still remaining punk and awesome. The next three, "Max Can't Surf", "Blackout Stout", "Wake Bake Skate", and remain fairly close to their normal form. Alternating between a surf rock feel and strait punk, while keeping up their lifestyle in the lyrics. "Gimmie Something" stands out as the most different song on the album, its the slowest by far and it comes close to a folksy pop punk vibe. "5 to 9" serves as the albums transitions song that quite in under a minute. "LDA", "Paycheck", and "Wait for the Man", keep up the steady punk vibe of most of the album. Then we arrive at the closer "Cocaine", and what a closer it is. It raps things up as quickly as the started on "Cheap Beer". As they say Cocaine is a hell of a drug, well its also a hell of a song. It even includes a slower hidden track on the end.
The album it self packs a punch and throws us back into a lost time period for punk music. They rock hard and party harder. Hopefully they live long enough to make more albums. So go out get drunk, smoke weed, skate, and party like the rock stars you all are. That is if your not planning on living past 40. In reality don't do that, just enjoy the awesome music of those that do. The sleaziest punk record I have heard in a very long time. The Clash would be proud.
Recommended Songs: Cheap Beer, No Waves, Whore, and Cocaine.
Now we move on to respecting our rock elders with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Push the Sky Away. This is Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds fifteenth album, and Nick Caves twentieth album. The band first formed in august of 1983 following the demise of Nick's previous band The Birthday Party. Broken up because of major writing differences from Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard, and from the ashes rose Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds featuring most of The Birthday party members. The Australian rock band originally sounded more Post Punk in the early years. Throughout the bands life tons of members came and went, too many to list. In 1985 the band relocated to West Germany. They changed styles drastically, becoming obsessed with the Gothic Americana and the blues. Just one of the many sound transformations they would go through. Cave relocated to São Paulo, Brazil soon after the touring behind Tender Prey and after successfully finishing rehab, began experimenting with piano-driven ballads, on The Good Son. Following this album they dove into harder rock following in the footsteps of Neil Young, recording two albums in this style Henry's Dream and Let Love in. Finally receiving some major commercial success with "Right Hand Red" and "Loverman". Which was used in the film Scream and covered by Metallica. The release of Murder Ballads, which is exactly what it sound like it is, an album about murder, and their biggest success to date. After this Nick took a few years off to recover from 20 years of Heroin and alcohol abuse. Finally to return in 2001 with No More Shall We Part, and then in 2003 Nocturama. It ended up being the worst album rating wise, causing Nick to self inspire writing the double album Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. Which achieved huge success. Then came 2008's Dig, Lazarus Dig!!!, and that leads us to Push the Sky Away.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Get Ready for Love
Now it that was a lot of history to squeeze in, he has had a prolific career. I just can't do a nick cave review without giving you some information on the man himself. Nick Cave has been the front man and lead writer for three very prolific bands: The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Grinderman. The Birthday Party was a post punk band that was highly Gothic. Grinderman is a garage rock band formed for the sole purpose of escaping the weight of the bad seeds. Cave was born in the small town of Warracknabeal in the state of Victoria. His parents were an English teacher and a librarian, now his poet nature is starting to make sense. Nick was a major trouble maker as a child getting caught by the local police on many occasions. Cave was 19 when his father was killed in a car accident. Nick said "the loss of my father created in my life a vacuum, a space in which my words began to float and collect and find their purpose".Cave studied painting at the Caulfield Institute of Technology in 1976, but dropped out in 1977 to pursue music. He also began using heroin around this time. Nick has received 3 honorary degrees over the years an honorary Doctor of Laws from Caulfield Institute of Technology,an Honorary Degree from the University of Dundee, and a Doctor of Letters from Faculty of Arts at the University of Brighton. How ridiculously awesome is that. Nick has written and published 7 books over the years, has written for a total of 13 movie scores, and he has written several screenplays two of which were turned into movies. The Proposition back in 2005 and this past years Lawless, and has several more on the way. He married model Susie Bick in 1999, and has four kids: Luke, Jethro, Arthur, and Earl.
That is all of the legacy of Nick, however he has a very eccentric look on life to say the least. He is a poet, he writes lyrics that would make most artists lyrics today look like Fred Durst. He has an utter fascination with death, and religion. He often quotes the old testament, he particularly enjoys the graphic sections. He is part of a dying breed of musicians, up there with Lou Reed and David Bowie. He is truly a master having reinvented his own music genre more times than the number of genres the average person could name. As for the album it self, it marks a huge change up from his past two albums. Coming in like a late in life masterpiece, that finally sees nick accepting the twenty first century. The lose of Nick Harvey his guitarist of 30 years has a lot to do with the
new sound. He goes for more stripped down simple arrangements on this album. Nick describes the albums minimalistic arrangements like a tender heartbeat. It feels like nothing Nick has ever done before, something all to its own. Which is saying something with a discography like Nick's. After 30 plus years Nick still has the drive and spark to create music at the top of his game. The poet in him is alive as ever, he makes the end of the world sound like a peaceful walk through a meadow with both the music and lyrics. It's got intensity, drive, inspiration, and beauty written all over it.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Jubilee Street
The album opener "We No Who U R" is a synth heavy groove that slowly hypnotizes you with its beauty and flutes section. The song title is a an obvious shot at Ke$ha. The second song "Wide Lovely Eyes" is a very interesting song. It acts like a rocket that never quite takes off. The whole song a drives a long like the beautiful ballad that it is, but the guitar over it is intense and could explode at any moment. "Water's Edge" is one of my favorites. Its a perfect combination of all the best parts of Nick. It drives a heavy bass line over beautifully laid out violin segments. Then we reach the pinnacle of the album "Jubilee Street" the best song on the album and one of the best songs he has ever written. Its got that classic start soft and slowly build to explosion feel we have come to know Nick for. It's about a murdered prostitute, the emotion he shows on this song is incredible you can hear the pain in his voice. "Mermaids" is a beautiful orchestral ballad about the beauty of life and love. He brings back the strings over top of the driving base for "We Real Cool" a song about how awesome Wikipedia, Googling curiosities, and Miley Cyrus are, no seriously. "Finishing Jubilee Street" is about well..., finishing the song Jubilee street only Nick Cave could write that song. Then comes "Higgs Boson Blues" a demented story about a hallucinations a trip to Geneva, and the terrible depressions and sad things that follow all the characters in the story. This is Nick Cave at his best, a wonderful orchestral ballad. The album ends with "Push the Sky Away" is a synth heavy ballad that beautifully wraps the album up in a way that is truly a act of brilliance.
This album is a masterpiece, a true work of art if I have ever heard one. A poet telling stories over some of the most beautiful and delicate songs he has every written. I never thought I would hear an album like this from the guy that brought us Grinderman, but it's here. Proving nick hasn't lost a bit of talent even 30 plus years into his career. He combines love, hate, life, pain, death all into one using some of the most hauntingly beautiful music to do it. If you can listen to this album and not just walk away amazed by it's beauty then so be it, but this album moved me deeply. No humor, no more jokes to add just please listen to this you won't regret it.
Recommended Songs: Water's Edge, Jubilee Street, We Real Cool, and Higgs Boson Blues.
The true punk doesn't really exist anymore, at least not the traditional one. The last time I saw a traditional punk rocker with a mow hawk and a leather jacket was at a Motorhead show. I leaned over to my friend and said, "They do exist I told you, punk rock at its core. They are rare like you are looking for a legendary Pokemon, don't get to close or you'll scare them." I did actually say that and I meant it. The classic rockers that used to live by the FIDLAR lifestyle are either dead or had to get clean to continue living. One of the most interesting things about this band is the fact that they are very self aware that they can't live this lifestyle forever. A trait most rock bands didn't have back when they were living it. They address that in their lyrics. "I feel, feel like I can’t get drunk no more ‘cause I’m on the floor,”. They are aware that they can't keep this up forever. They only stop to think and regret for a bit, then it's back to drinking and drugs again. They're live shows are even more punk. They fire through the whole album in double time, jumping in to the mosh pit themselves during the show.
Here is FIDLAR in the studio.
Here is the albums lead single, "Cheap Beer".
Recommended Songs: Cheap Beer, No Waves, Whore, and Cocaine.
4/5 Stars
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Get Ready for Love
new sound. He goes for more stripped down simple arrangements on this album. Nick describes the albums minimalistic arrangements like a tender heartbeat. It feels like nothing Nick has ever done before, something all to its own. Which is saying something with a discography like Nick's. After 30 plus years Nick still has the drive and spark to create music at the top of his game. The poet in him is alive as ever, he makes the end of the world sound like a peaceful walk through a meadow with both the music and lyrics. It's got intensity, drive, inspiration, and beauty written all over it.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds-Jubilee Street
Here is Higgs Boson Blues
Recommended Songs: Water's Edge, Jubilee Street, We Real Cool, and Higgs Boson Blues.
No comments:
Post a Comment