Victory made an interesting call with The Forecast. The band's debut was a fantastic rock album, with some of the most exciting songs I'd heard in a long time, but was it emo? Or indeed, was it hardcore? Not at all. This act came from left-field and produced a sound that, while derived from various well-known styles, was fairly unique. This, their second LP, is a whole different animal, with the opening track (“Everything We Want To Be”) feeling like, if anything, a Kasabian track. Part of you expects the band to cover Ian Brown tracks for the rest of the CD. Thankfully this isn't the case.“And We All Return To Our Roots”, followed by “(May You One Day) Carry Me Home”, show the band in business-as-usual mode. This is excellent emo-indie, with memorable guitar riffs and the expert merging of male and female vocal harmonies that is almost a trademark of The Forecast’s sound. “One Hundred Percent” and “Some Things Never Change” are two slower, more emotive songs and the mix of Kasabian-style crowd pleasing, emo explosions and sentimental ballads make for the most consistent opening few tracks encountered this year.
What follows is a refrain, followed by the blistering “A Fist Fight For Our Fathers”. This has been offered as a taster on MySpace, and it’s easy to see why. One listen to this track would make you pre-order several copies. Aggressive emo-core meets alt-country in a way that would somehow satisfy both moody emo kids and Ryan Adams sympathisers alike. This weird re-invention of alt-country continues on “Every Gun Has Its Own Tomb”. On an album that seems to have three very distinct parts, you are left in no doubt that this is the experimental section.
If Part One was the rabble-rousing section, and Part Two was the experimental section, then it stands to reason that Part Three will be the comedown. Freaky obsession-themed ballad “You’re My Needle” leads on to the frankly magnificent “West Coast”, which is The Forecast’s rock sound at its very best. From there, weaker, more melancholy track “It’s A Long Drive” leads in to the brilliant closing track “Welcome Home”. This track is so relaxing, at the same time as being very anthemic. I anticipate the waving of many a lighter at concerts.
I waited just over a year for this LP, and I think I can honestly say it was worth it. Better structure, better songs and experiments with styles that make this probably the most original record released so far this year. I look forward to seeing how it does in the charts, but one thing is certain: Hawthorne Heights, Fall Out Boy, Funeral For A Friend – watch this band very closely. They’re your future competition.
I waited just over a year for this LP, and I think I can honestly say it was worth it. Better structure, better songs and experiments with styles that make this probably the most original record released so far this year. I look forward to seeing how it does in the charts, but one thing is certain: Hawthorne Heights, Fall Out Boy, Funeral For A Friend – watch this band very closely. They’re your future competition.
CMcG
No comments:
Post a Comment