If you're like me you've been anxious for this release since practically day one of the announcement that four of the members from the legendary Strongarm were going to be making music together again. The album cover theme of airports and jet planes seems to be appropriate for this release, seeing as how Further Seems Forever fans have been waiting for this puppy to arrive for quite some time. The musical stylings of Further Seems Forever are reminiscent of Strongarm in that there are plenty of stop/start type riffs and crazy drumming. After that the comparisons pretty much stop.
"The Moon is Down" starts out with the sound of a jet plane passing overhead and then kicks right into the anthem-like title track. I use the word "anthem" because of the lyrics conjure up images of brotherhood and camaraderie. I'm pretty sure plenty of emo kids out there will be singing along to this one in no time. The rest of the disc contains a healthy dose of upbeat toe-tappers and slower tunes, of which "The Bradley," "Snowbirds and Townies," "Madison Prep," and "Pictures of Shorelines" stand out.
One thing really bugs me about this record though, and that is the production. There are some really good tones captured on this record, but it seems to be lacking a lot of punch. The mix has a hard time hitting you over the head like it should at times. And while Chris Carrabba's vocals sound in tune here they seem to be lacking a bit of passion at times and are mixed low in certain songs.
Despite these negative factors, I think this will easily end up being one of my favorite releases this year. I highly recommend "The Moon Is Down" for fans of bands like Texas is The Reason or Elliott. Or even if you were, or still are into Strongarm, you shouldn't be turned off by the fact that Further Seems Forever is not as "heavy" as the former, this is some darn good listenin'!
Now to see how the band makes the transition with Carrabba vacating the vocalist position.
B+
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #89Reviewed by Andy ArgyrakisImagine you're in a band and you just recorded an amazing label debut album with powerful guitar licks and emotionally driven vocals. You have a sense of achievement and accomplishment in the fact that you've just spent months of your life pouring your heart and soul into an action packed project. Now imagine being the lead singer of that group and then ending your time with the band before that…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by David O.I don't like "emo." I've never really known what it is exactly, but I tend to associate the term with bands that blend complex yet bland guitar parts with uninteresting scratchy vocals and dynamics that constantly shift from quiet (sad) to loud (still sad, but louder). Emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate have always stood above other emo bands because of the pop sensibility that subtly underlies…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerWhen the members of hardcore band Strongarm decided to form a new band, they called on Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba to provide the vocals and lyrics. And the result is far from hardcore: an emo based sound with shades of post-punk thrown in for good measure. While FSF is a little late in coming to the emo game, and their sound at times is a bit formulaic, they are at their best when…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Bert GanglThe history of Further Seems Forever is inextricably tied to that of the Miami-based punk band Strongarm, from which the bulk of its members came. Fusing together the hardcore punk of Husker Du and the thrash metal of Sepultura for their sound, Strongarm released only two full albums for Tooth & Nail Records, 1996's Atonement and 1997's Advent of a Miracle, before packing it in. But, several…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matt RiddleOne album down, one lead singer gone. Further Seems Forever has already had a tumultuous year and their album has only been out a few months. Their lead singer, Chris Carrabba, parted on good terms. The band has meanwhile replaced him with interim singer Jason Gleason. This has the possibility to change the scope of the band entirely. Gleason may be very talented, but one of the first aspects of…Opus 2001Reviewed by Jason MoreheadIf there's one genre that seems to be singled out for an unfair amount of maligning, it's emo. For many, there's something about the image of skinny white guys in tight shirts and horn-rimmed glasses screaming awkward lyrics about pain and betrayal that, well, just sets something off. And for those people, The Moon Is Down is ripe for the picking. After all, it's incredibly earnest, with those…Similar sounding releases
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