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Face to Face - How to Ruin Everything Face to Face take a step backwards from the plaintive melodic punk of Big Choice and return to basics. Hyperactive Social Distortion-esque melodies and Ramones-esque chord changes are all over this thing. Trevor Kelly's snotty wanna-fight-the-world vocals sound top notch, but the record suffers a bit from being too same-y. Each individual track is solid, but there are too many songs that sound similar on here. The few times they do stray from the formula ("The New Way") are the most rewarding. (Vagrant Records) The Faint/Ex-Action Figures - split 7" The contribution from The Faint is a delightful ditty about the Y2K bug; the opening synthesizer riff reminds me of the theme from Beverly Hills Cop, "Axel F." This is my first exposure to the ex-action figures, but if their other songs feature those great Elvis Costello-y melodies with the piano vs. loud guitar dynamics battling about, I'm sold. (Saddle Creek Records)	The Frames - For the Birds This is one of the most honest, most heartfelt albums that I've heard in a long, long time. This album blows the recent output of the rest of the Britpop groups out of the water. Singer/guitarist Glen Hansard is an first-rate songwriter whose commentary on upbringing, his current relationships, and general observations is poignant and powerful. The contributions that the rest of his band provide are extremely tasteful and let the songs flow from quiet verses into epic choruses. Imagine Coldplay without the histrionics, U2 without the grandstanding, or the romanticism of the Wedding Present without the cynicism. (Plauteau Records) The Frank and Walters - Beauty Becomes More Than Life Their last album simply killed me. Music so simple and honest and yet so big. It felt like they were trying to play to the world instead of your stereo. This one is not quite as devastatingly good, but there are some real winners on here and I would not write this off completely. I like the experimenting that they're doing with keyboards. The mis-steps happen when The F&W's take those Wedding Present/Cinerama comparisons a little too seriously and end up creating copy-cat melodies. (Setanta/Red Ink c/o RED Distribution)
Far Apart - hazel 7" The sound: a softer Quicksand. The lyrics: relationship songs. Place of Origin: northern Sweden How this came about: a demo tape sent to Crank! at random. The verdict: can't wait for more. (Crank!) Favez - From Lausanne, Switzerland (Doghouse Records) review on AllMusic.com	Franklin - s/t This Phillie band's previous album, Building in A and E, began the band's incorporation of dub and reggae-ish bass lines with their punk rock. Neither wholly separate nor wholly derivative from the work that The Clash, The Police, and Bad Brains were doing and yes, Fugazi, this album is both thoughtful in its relaxed attempts to push musical boundaries and damn enjoyable to listen to. This album, like Building, starts out with a great rocker in "They Attack." "Drums of Navarone" comes off as the song that Sting wishes he had written before he became a sappy New Age solo guy. "Inventor of Loud" is so damn catchy it deserves to be playing over every club's sound system this summer. They include a newer version of Building's "Deejay Goes Dead," but I think I like the more expansive sound of this one better. This is one of those albums that you feel proud to own. (Tree Records)
The Fire Theft - s/t Anyone that regarded the demise of Sunny Day Real Estate as premature (i.e. anyone who ever heard the band), will find this album to be a very welcome return. The Fire Theft is comprised of 3/4 of SDRE and their self-titled debut marks a very welcome return to recording for singer Jeremy Enigk (Nate Mendel is currently a member of The Foo Fighters and drummer William Goldsmith also did a stint in The Foo Fighters in the days following SDRE's break-up.) This album is comprised of a series of grandiose and epic songs that wrap the listener like a ray of sunlight. Anyone inclined to nay-say the reunion is likely to be dissuaded immediately as the album takes hold and buries the cynicism beneath its persistence. You almost can't help but love these songs.. Dramatic as it sounds, the album is remarkably refreshing anecdote to the negativity so pervasive in modern music. Without a doubt, they are the strongest lyrics and songs that the members have written. Dare to hope, Enigk seems to be saying, with every plaintive cry. It's a bold examination of the inner core, coupled a constant hope for humanity despite harrowing circumstances. A master work from one of rock's great groups. (http://www.thefiretheft.com; Ryko http://www.rycodisc.com)	The French Kicks - s/t EP These NYC boys kick off their debut EP with a s song so catchy and jerky, I hurt my neck. It has them coming off like the young cousins of Chisel, with a solid pop background leading the charge. This band is interesting, a three-headed beast with all but one member contributing lead vocals at different points and all of them contributing the great "yeah, yeah, yeah" backup vocals. And I can testify that these songs sound even better live! (My Pal God) The Frogs - Bananimals The dirty They Might Be Giants are back. That is, brothers Jimmy and Dennis have returned with another example of their twisted pop. These are all songs that were recorded on 2 and 4-track in their parents' bedroom, all recorded on the spot. I hate to be a downer about these guys, but after reading the Popwatch #10 interview where Dennis Frog states that The Frogs are aspiring to create music as inspiring as The Beatles and Hendrix had been to him, I'm surprised at how unentertaining and uninspired this seems. Or maybe I just haven't gotten the joke yet. (4 Alarm Records)
Five Deadly Venoms - shapeshift Some guys from Back of Dave and Pave the Rocket's new band. Some big sounding stuff here. Great bass-lines that propel the songs along and also help contribute to the occasionally dark feel. Great drumming too. Nothing too complex for the guitars, just helping to support the melodies which fall along similar lines as some of the Quicksand and early Shift, except not quite as forceful or solid. His vocals sometimes float above the songs, sometimes they cut in and across those guitar parts. Definitely an interesting sound. "word trap" is the stunner and the one that makes me think that they'd be great live. (Thick Records) Fluke Starbucker - Hooker at Sea My friends, this a great example of what 2 years writing and perfecting songs, combined with a stellar engineer, can make in the documented development of a young band. I have this band's debut and while there are moments of good song craft, it is sloppy. This time out, the band is tight, the songs are great, and this is an enjoyable listen. This is fun, this is angry...this is good. Props to Bob Weston for recognizing the great guitar sound that these guys need; I always loved the songs he did with Archers of Loaf (and the sound of those guitars!!). Evidently, so did the FS boys. (Malvado Records)	Fugazi - Instrument Soundtrack Yes...it's worth it. Yes, you need to hear these demos, instrumentals, previously unreleased, and new songs. Yes, even if you've seen the movie. As essential as any of their other albums. (Dischord) Fugazi - The Argument "memo to the partners...I'm changing all the locks...I'm pissing on your modems...I'm shredding all the stock...choose a color for your ceiling...I'm waiting for the bottom to drop" Argument may be a slightly more difficult album for people to latch onto than their previous albums, but the rewards are just as great. Fugazi seems to have found a place that many aspire to - the two-headed beast of comfort within one's skin and a desire to push the envelope of melody and sound in new directions. (Dischord)
Foo Fighters - There is Nothing Left to Lose I don't plan to get in the habit of reviewing major label releases, simply because they usually flood the markets and news stands anyway. But this album deserves to be a bit attention and a tour with the god-awful Chili Peppers ain't gonna do it. (And technically, it's on Grohl's label.) These guys are leading an attack on those that would declare rock dead and they're one of the only bands with the big bucks behind them to do some dragon-slaying. Far smarter and better than any other bands on alternative/modern rock radio, it's time for them to start swinging some swords. This album's a start, I guess. The first two Foo Fighters albums were overwhelmingly up front and in your face. This one is a bit more subtle, not to say that they don't rock. New drummer Taylor Hawkins is a pistol and a welcome addition. The melodies are damn catchy, the lyrics even catchier, and they've even thrown a few slow tunes for those summer nights with your new lovah. And you KNOW that this is your best bet for hearing rock on the radio. (Roswell Records) Foo Fighters - One by One When growing older doesn't necessarily mean you have to hang up your guitars for keyboards. Their popularity doesn't undercut their ability to create powerful songs.
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