F%?@ed Up: The Chemistry of Common Life Review
Toronto's F%?@ed Up Deliver a Focused and Epic Sophomore Album
Jan 21, 2009
There is a reason that ****ed Up's October 2008 release The Chemistry Of Common Life made it onto so many critics "best of 2008" lists. Quite simply, it was one of 2008's most creative, challenging, and rewarding albums. For a band whose debut album (Hidden World) was credited with breathing new life into the stale genre of hardcore, they rose to the occasion with this record.
The Sound of The Chemistry Of Common Life
A flute is probably the last thing that one would expecs to hear on a hardcore album, yet there it is for the first 40 seconds of the record, until foreboding feedback creeps into the mix. Opening song "Son The Father" thrashes its way through its six and a half minute length, while a female singer shrieks "who would ever want to be born again!?" during the chorus. Its heavy stuff, but oddly poetic.
Immediately after this we are treated to "Magic Words," a rather clever song about psychotropic drug use. It is brief, which is a welcome surprise considering the band’s love of lengthy songs. More surprising is the instrumental "Golden Seal," with its mellow horns and spacey keyboards. A logical progression from "Magic Words,"--perhaps the result of the aforementioned drug use--i t is pretty relaxing once the initial confusion wears off.
"Days Of Last" is a catchy hardcore song with an interesting lead guitar line. It seems to be one of the more straightforward songs on the album, which isn't a bad thing because it stays interesting. Unfortunately, the following two songs "Crooked Head" and "No Epiphany" do not, and become sort of generic and boring in the context of the album.
Fortunately this is more than made up for by "Black Albino Bones." This song, featuring Alexisonfire's Dallas Green singing the singular chorus line of "I need a little escape," is truly incredible. Everything about it works--the guitars, the drums, and Pink Eyes snarling about "the little things that get us through life" (here: new discoveries, sex, and recreational drug use). And, lest we forget, the hazy vocals of Green, drifting through the dissonance.
After the psychedelic duet "Royal Swan," "Twice Born" picks up the pace with its gang vocal refrain of "hands up if you think you're the only one!" and guest vocals by Sebastien Grainger (a welcome though awkward surprise). "Looking For God" is a pretty instrumental ditty involving dueling reverb-soaked guitars. The album closer "The Chemistry Of Common Life" ends the record in an epic fit of palm muting and melody, until there is only feedback.
The Composition of The Chemistry Of Common Life
At 53 minutes, this is the shorter of ****ed Up's two albums. Beginning with flute and ending in feedback, two awesome songs bookend the album, giving it a refreshing completeness. This was definitely meant to be listened to as a whole album, which is somewhat of a rarity these days. Additionally, there are two instrumentals, one near the beginning, and one near the end. It is this sense of balance that makes this album work so well.
At the end of the day, there are not a whole lot of elements needed to create a hardcore song. Breaking down genre walls seems to be all in a day’s work for ****ed Up as they continue to blaze the trail they started years ago. Whether they discover more hidden worlds or indulge in more chemistry, it will be interesting to see what comes next.
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