Far exists somewhere in the middle of the musical purgatory that was the late 90's post-hardcore scene. With alums like Quicksand, At The Drive-In, and Jawbox (FAR covered their version of Savory. Arguably better than the original rendition) scoring most of the recognition for their diatribes and blase angst against the 20th century and its end, FAR threw inhibitions down and dropped one of the hardest albums this side of the big blue Atlantic.
The eating of brains and the bleeding of hearts; it all makes for some pretty cool art. It in fact does. That particular line from the second track "Love, American Style" draws my attention every time it scrapes against my eardrum. Ever relevant to the current state of affairs, with the human conscious being slowly degraded day to day by social media horrors and the expedited collapse of our society. These songs allow an introspective and raw outlet for the clusterfuck of our lives.
Opening with ringing feedback that occurs throughout, Deserve falls into one of the catchiest stonergaze riffs with Heal and takes you on a trip. Reverb soaked vocals evoke a cathedral performance that washes over you with nostalgia for something you've yet to experience.
Chris Robyn's snare tone is simply perfect. Crisp with the slightest bit of reverb to add transience, his groove choices are unique and satisfying. Not a single phrase I would change or do I wish he played differently.
Shaun Lopez on strings with an absurdly thick guitar tone for E Standard tuning. Tight punchface riffs with angular hooks and leads that complement. Utilizes noise and unconventional ideas that never get old with each listen.
As far as bass tones go, it doesn't get much better than John Gutenberg's. Plunky and punk-esque, it becomes a case study for the adage of "the best bass player is the one you don't notice". Discernible yet without ego...
Jonah Matranga's vocals feature dynamic range to die for. Vocal cords constantly sounding like they're flirting with a torn larynx, Jonah's choice of unexpected and vengeful melodies and art-house and jagged lyrics tighten your chest and floor you.
FAR's influence has seeped into the annals of the underground runoff, and drank by none other than Deftones. Chino Moreno cites Matranga as a strong inspiration. With post-hardcore later becoming a bastardized and unrecognizable genre, the effects of this band remain in the vocal styles of many. High tenor and at times effeminate, this style stuck around for a reason.
STANDOUT TRACKS
LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE
unrelenting ear worm of a song. Off kilter and noisy with an ending to make you say "damn".
JOB'S EYES
a 7 minute slow burn track that achieved their most mainstream success on the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Essentially a hardcore doom song. Droning with ebbs and flows that slam into your face.
PUNCHDRUNK
Catchy, pummeling and dark. Tells the story of the corporate wallowing that we subject ourselves too. "The bosses' fine young talent." Masterclass in composition.
