So, many of you have listed the Futureheads as one of your 2004 faves. I know nothing about them...obviously, I can go read the Metacritic reviews. But first I'll ask you guys...what's the deal-io?
I've seen comparisons to XTC (a lot) but also The Jam. I love The Jam...I like XTC.
I'm gonna be the Hollywood producer...someone pitch me on The Futureheads!!!!
And get me a latte.
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
I can't pitch anything YET. I went to Tower and had it in my hand, but it was $16, while the new Saturday Looks Good to Me and new double Nick Cave(!!!) were BOTH only $13 (plus tax.) Maybe I'll holla back in the not-too-distant future.
"Naked Woman, Naked Man Where did you get that nice sun tan?"
Posts: 12874 | Location: Behind the Orange Curtain | Registered: 14 May 2004
The thing that draws me to the Futureheads is the way the seem to ignore the standard pop song structure. Instead of the usual verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-chorus, the song structures of the Futureheads are all over the place. They seemed more influenced by bands like Wire than an indie rock outfit.
i got the album last night, (along with the new Sufjan Stavens, Ride's "Nowhere", and Neil Young's "On the Beach") and have already listened to it quite a few times. one of the best of 2004. if you like "Drums and Wires" XTC and especially the Jam youll love it. I dont understad why some people are saying its part of that "dancepunk" stuff or are comparing it to Franz Ferdinand. great album.
quote:Originally posted by robot: i got the album last night, (along with the new Sufjan Stavens, Ride's "Nowhere"...
First off, robot, kudos on "Nowhere." That's an underappreciated record (a topic for the lost classics thread, maybe) from a really, really good band.
Moreover, thanks to all for advice on the Futureheads. I found it on a listening station at my major local indie store and listened to enough to dig it. I get a Jam vibe, and some XTC. I'm not a Wire expert, so I can't speak to that...but I also get a Vapors vibe from it, for those who know more Vapors than "Turning Japanese."
robot's right...it's less a dancepunk record and more of a mod revival sort of thing. Nice!
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
God I just think this album is so rad. So utterly, violently wildly with a dash of tremendously.
I missed their concert like two days ago which was a lame thing to have happen
Anyhow "A to B" + "Decent Days and Nights" + "Meantime" + "Carnival Kids" + "The City Is Here for You to Use" + "He Knows" + "Hounds of Love" + "Man Ray" ore so nice. And the rest too while we're at it
If Gang of Four had more four-part harmonies they would be the Futureheads but older
Posts: 76 | Location: siz piz minnesiz | Registered: 12 September 2004
Although the word "pop-punk" usually makes me nauseous on command, it's really the perfect way to describe the Futureheads, which basically draws on some of the great early punk bands (you know the ones -- Wire, The Jam, Gang of Four) with more accessible pop hooks and four-part harmonies. Maybe they're the Beach Boys of BritPunk, which is surprisingly, not a bad thing.
Their first self-titled album is pretty fantastic, incidentally -- "Carnival Kids" is hands-down one of the best pop songs of the year -- and I recommend it to everyone.
I've only ever heard one song by the Futureheads (the title escapes me), so take my opinion for what it's worth (not much, probably).
I just think of them as one of the only two somewhat listenable bands to appear on the Burnout 3 soundtrack (the other being Franz Ferdinand). Speaking of which, they sound a lot like Franz, only a bit more smug and synth-poppy.
Who knows, I might grow to like them, and maybe you will.
Posts: 688 | Location: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: 01 January 2005
The Futureheads sound a lot like Franz if Franz were worth a goddam
I bet when Franz Ferdinand writes checks they bounce
I bet if Franz Ferdinand were ever marooned in the rainforest it would only take a few hours before they were found dead face-down among the underbrush
Well anyhow I would just like to say that the Futureheads are more I-like-them than Franz Ferdinand but anyway we've discussed this before
Sorry about this guys but you can't spell "Futureheads" without "digression" or at least some of the letters in "digression" mixed with some other ones.
It's not like the Futureheads are more musically artistically stylistically valid than like Franz Ferdinand or um the Bravery or Bloc Party or any of those other jokers. They just write songs way better is all
Posts: 76 | Location: siz piz minnesiz | Registered: 12 September 2004
The love for the Futureheads is strong in this one.
I like the mod-pop bounce to the Futureheads that's lacking in Franz Ferdinand. But then I was always a bigger fan of the Jam and XTC than Gang of Four, so go figure.
But they do have a way with a pop song.
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
All I know is that "Hounds of Love" is probably my most listened-to song of 2004 and 2005 (so far) and i'm still not sick of it. The song is why people listen to music. Pure joy.
I'm in full agreement about Hounds Of Love! I never thought the day would come when people at a punk rock night would sing along to a Kate Bush song! The guys were excellent when I saw them live, they worked extremely hard onstage, vocal harmonies were super tight, and the crowd ate it up! All four even signed my cd cover! I put them in with the best bands of the so called "dance-punk" genre.
"If it were beneficial, their father would produce children already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become profitable in every respect." -Jesus, from the Gospel Of Thomas
What I usually do in this case is just buy the album, then give myself some time to decide whether I like it or not. The problem with The Futureheads is that the process is taking a heck of a long time. I’ve had the record for about 3 months now, and I still don’t have a clear opinion of it. I’ve heard it several times, but unlike with other bands, I get that annoying feeling that I still haven’t memorized any single part of it (except for Hounds of Love). It’s definitely not the average pop-punk/ dance punk band that grows on you instantly, but this is also about what you’re expecting from the music. Since at this point in my life I’m mostly enjoying easy-catchy tunes, I have to say that I’ve enjoyed Franz Ferdinand more (so far…). When I think dance-punk (since that’s what we’re calling it) I think of small arrangements with big attitude, and any complex and seemingly unjustified developments seem to be missing the point. But then, I have the same problem in my band. As a drummer, I always try to push the in-your-face dance side of it, while the other guys build their parts differently, and the result comes out more unpredictable and much closer to The Futureheads than Franz Ferdinand. So it’s a confusing issue really. As a conclusion I’d have to say that The Futureheads is probably one of those albums that take some time to properly reach the listener, and that, if true, is a sign of advanced musicality, and means that the songs will live much longer (When I first heard The Bravery’s Unconditional, I went mad for 2 weeks. Now it bores me to death). So, definitely a record to own, but you might wonder why you bought it for a while.
Posts: 5 | Location: Beirut | Registered: 18 October 2005
I mean this in the nicest way possible. If you don't know you whether you like an album after giving it that much attention, then you don't like it. I've had the same thing happen to me. It sucks.
Originally posted by sk: i hope to find a new home n release more albums like their last one.
...a new "home" (their own label Nul Records) and album (This Is Not The World) for the Futureheads. sounds definitely better than their second , with stronger n more straightforward tunes...not so bad after all.
