04/18/12: Fucked Up - Couple Tracks: Singles 2002 - 2009 (2010)

04/18/12: Fucked Up - Couple Tracks: Singles 2002 - 2009 (2010)

1. No Pasarán
2. Neat Parts
3. Generation
4. Ban Violins
5. Dangerous Fumes
6. Triumph Of Life
7. Fixed Race
8. Toronto FC
9. Black Hats
10. David Christmas
11. No Epiphany (Fast Version)
12. Crooked Head (Video Version)
13. I Hate Summer
14. Teenage Problems
15. Carried Out To Sea
16. Looking Back
17. Anorak City
18. I Don't Want To Be Friends With You
19. Mustaa Lunta
20. Dream Come True
21. Magic Kingdom
22. Magic Word (Daytrotter Version)
23. Last Man Standing (Year Of The Dog Version)
24. He's So Frisky
25. David Comes To Life (Daytrotter Version)

     I have already played all 3 studio albums by Fucked Up incessantly and I decided it was time to dig into their expansive amounts of Vinyl releases. They have released a ridiculous amount of 7" and 12" vinyls. They have at least 100 songs I haven't heard yet. Instead of trying to trudge through the many many vinyls off the bat, I decided to start with this compilation release. It includes B-sides, alternate versions, and unreleased tracks. The CD is all over the place. The timeline and production quality is inconsistent which makes sense due to the fact that these songs were recorded throughout a 7 year window. There are a lot of gems on this release but it is by no means a good starting point. Their whole progression up until their epic release "David Comes To Life" from last year is represented. From their more straightforward hardcore punk roots to their more experimental later years. Definitely listen to all of their full-lengths before moving onto this compilation. I'm sure ill hit up a bunch of the individual vinyls later on. (109)

03/08/12: Fucked Up - Hidden World (2006)

03/08/12: Fucked Up - Hidden World (2006)

1. Crusades
2. David Comes to Life
3. Invisible Leader
4. Carried Out to the Sea
5. Baiting the Public
6. Fate of Fates
7. Two Snakes
8. Hidden World
9. Manqueller Man
10. Blaze of Glory
11. Triumph of Life
12. Jacobs Ladder
13. Vivian Girls

     I reviewed "The Chemistry of Common Life" by Fucked Up earlier in this project and it did not disappoint. "Hidden World" is their first full-length but they released a long steady stream of 7" singles and E.P.s before this. I picked up a couple compilations of their many early releases and will be reviewing them later. After flipping through some of their earlier tracks I half-expected that "Hidden World" would be drastically different and not nearly as interesting as their later releases. I was very wrong.
     Fucked Up now accounts for 3 of my favorite "hardcore" records of all time. As with their other albums, it is epic in length for a hardcore punk album at over 70 minutes. That's whats so amazing about their music; They vary their style and throw enough musical surprises at you that the songs never get boring. There is more of a straightforward punk and hardcore feel to some of these songs than on the later record's more anthem rock feel but that is to be expected from their first album. They were just starting to shed and manipulate what was expected from their music scene. This album surprised me with musical devices like a small string interlude or a whistle solo.
     The album's lyrics are quite religious but it was just to fit with the theme of the real world vs the hidden world. The lyrics are ridiculously poetic and I only say ridiculously because of the juxtaposition of these lyrics being sung by a hardcore singer. The music is unique and familiar at the same time. the lyrics are awesome and intense and this album is a great listen. You need to check out all 3 of their full-lengths because they are all spectacular. (068)

01/08/12: Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life (2008)

01/08/12: Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life (2008)

1. Son The Father
2. Magic Word
3. Golden Seal
4. Days Of Last
5. Crooked Head
6. No Epiphany
7. Black Albino Bones
8. Royal Swan
9. Twice Born
10. Looking For God
11. The Chemistry Of Common Life

     This is another story of going backwards. I heard Fucked Up for the first time last year with their concept album "David Comes to Life". They are an experimental hardcore band from Toronto (I just realized how much Canadian music I've listened to for this project so far. Apparently I like my music with good manners and gravy on the fries). They are experimental in the fact that stylistically the music strafes from straight forward hardcore music. I had gone through some of their oldest music and it seemed to have a fairly old school punk/hardcore sound that seems to be shedding away more and more with each full-length release.
     Their music has a punk style with traditional hardcore screaming vocals, but the music jumps around quite a bit. There are poppier punk sections, straight up hardcore parts mixed with a a touch of the psychedelic (like on the 2 instrumental tracks; "Golden Seal" and "Looking for God"). There was even moments that could be described as rock anthems. Damien their lead singer is truely the lead, but the other members of the band sing small parts that really provide good changes of pace on some of the songs like "Black Albino Bones".
     This album was really great and I highly recommend it especially if you have time to read the lyrics while listening to it. I've found that knowing the words makes me appreciate them even more. This album seems to be a commentary on life in general. Listen to this album but also listen to "David Comes to Life". The order is up to you. (008)