|
|
|
The redoubtable Words on Music label continues reissuing seminal albums by Nebraska's rightly venerated For Against with their 1988 sophomore release December, which had been out of print for over 10 years. On December, the band continued to walk the bridge between post-punk and the dream-pop/shoegaze sound that was soon to blossom across the ocean in England, moving toward a less skeletal, more melodic sound while sticking to their distinctive recipe of restless rhythms, chiming, atmospheric guitar, and lyrics that are plainly-stated but never obvious.
The most singular characteristic of this music is its urgency. Even on dark subject matter where other bands might be inclined to brood or linger, the songs of For Against are masterpieces of momentum and tension: driving or spinning or spiraling or zig-zagging, but never staying still. The interplay of musical elements became more intricate, an interweaving of distinctive and complementary styles that creates a sometimes kaleidoscopic whole. Guitar ranges from ringing arpeggios to chords that fall like sheets of rain; bass playing is pulsatingly rhythmic and often melodic; and the nimble drumming bursts with rapid flourishes and fills (remember rototoms?). Perhaps the most crucial factor in this equation is the clarion vocals of Jeffrey Runnings: no mumbling or sulking to be heard here, and no flinching or wavering in the lyrics either, from the veiled reproaches of "Svengali" to the dark, absurd humor of "The Last Laugh."
The disc also contains a nicely-produced multimedia element containing two videos for songs from their debut album, Echelons: "Autocrat" is a barrage of rapid-fire, fast-forward imagery and band-member identity hijinks; and "Echelons" is a stark black-and-white affair with the band performing in empty fields and industrial lots. It's a welcome bonus feature on what is already a superlative package. (mike.01.06)
rating
So, one of my favorite new records of the year so far is actually 17 years old. Words on Music has done the world a service by releasing For Against's extraordinary 1987 debut album for the first time on CD.
Sonically, this shares the same mid-1980s transitional space between Joy Division-influenced post-punk and the shoegazer genre occupied by many Factory/early 4AD bands. What sets For Against apart from most of their peers, though, is that they openly reject the navel-gazing tendencies of both genres in favor of a more punk-like ethos of outward-directed energy. The lyrics, such as "You need to open your eyes / You need to take a deep breath / You know you need to get on with it" and "This town exists only in black and white / I broke my back trying to put it right", express idealism, and anger and action against things counter to those ideals.
This yearning for better things finds perfect voice in the clear, youthful vocals and urgent rhythms of singer/bassist Jeffrey Runnings. Runnings targets the mainstream music industry not once but twice, in "Forget Who You Are", a bitter, "Behind the Music"-style tale of a burned-out rock star, and in "Loud And Clear", where he identifies "record companies" as "the biggest enemy". All throughout, Harry Dingman's guitar alternately swirls, jangles, stutters, and shrieks, and Greg Hill's inventive, propulsive drumming contributes to the anxious, sometimes Feelies-esque rhythmic energy.
The sound is remarkably fresh after all this time, and only a couple of songs sound dated due to distinctive 1980s keyboard sounds. This is a phenomenal, nearly flawless gem of a debut—a beautiful, compelling, and essential album. (mike.08.04)
rating
WOW! This CD is like a time-machine back to the early 90's. The songs have such a sweet, melodic, jangle-pop feel to them, yet also have this almost shoegaze feel to them with their atmospheric production. I'm reminded of bands like Ocean Blue or Echo & The Bunnymen or even early R.E.M..
Vocalist/bassist Jeffrey Runnings has such an emotional, forlorn singing voice. It really stands out for me on the title track, and on the lovely, heartfelt ballard "Fuel". Had John Hughes have heard of these guys, their songs would've been perfect background fodder for a Molly Ringwald movie. Sooo good! (janice.01.03)
rating
related links
