Fucked Up : The Chemistry of Common Life :: Review
This is not your father’s hardcore. Fucked Up is a little more varied than that; their album is expansive in sound combining ambient, punk, hardcore and rock and roll into one heady stew. The album is layered with sound, on some instances there are up to 70 tracks of guitars, organs and vocals on one song. On the first single, “Epiphany” 18 guitars are featured. All of this instrumentation creates one heavy album.
On first listen, you can tell there’s a lot going on in each and every song. The creativity on this album sets it apart from just another hardcore release. A piccolo opens the album on “Son The Father” before delving into a hardcore blast and a guttural vocal from head barker, Pink Eyes. “Son The Father” features social commentary with the lyric, “It’s hard enough being born in the first place: who would want to be born again?” Just as that song ends, “Magic Word”” begins with a steel drum intro and a poppy melody that builds over grinding guitar feedback. This song is followed up by “Golden Seal” a proggy ambient piece that wanders in for a moment and then staggers out.
“Days of Last” picks up the pace with its bluesy touches. “Crooked Head” has a classic rock feel that reminds me a little of Motorhead and prepares the way for the dense and layered “No Epiphany.” Fucked Up almost get poppy with “Black Albino Bones” with its layered and infectious melody. “Black Albino Bones” sounds almost like a hardcore version of Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine). “Royal Swan” features a female backup vocal and eschews an almost Buddhist ethic. The instrumental “Looking For God” prepares the way for “The Chemistry of Common Life” a 7-minute hardcore epic.
Fucked Up has made one of the year’s most interesting records. Repeated listening is mandatory!
