Future of the Left : Travels With Myself and Another :: Review
Future of the Left return with their sophomore effort “Travels With Myself and Another” featuring more tirades against commercialism, society and almost everything in between from disgruntled lead Andy Falkous. Falkous has a right to be a little peeved at the way things are as society seems to have fallen off the deep end and gone in the proverbial toilet. In Falkous’ worldview the political saviors the world was promised are nothing more than the same old thing and Falkous is left in a foul mood. On the album, Future of the Left has beefed up their sound and the results are impressive. Tight angular rhythms dominate the record matching the sardonic lyrics. I wasn’t expecting to hear a slow waltz on this record but I wasn’t prepared to hear anything quite in my business.
“Come on Rick, I’m not a drunk,” Andy Falkous intones as Future of the Left kicks off the angular “Arming Eritrea.” “Chin Music” follows suit with its gunmetal gray rhythms before stepping into a propulsive guitar solo. Everything in this song comes off in short bursts of vitriol creating quite a damning atmosphere for the rest of the album. It’s about time someone took up the mantle of aggressor and refused to stand idly by as things gone further south. “The House That Hope Built” starts off as stomping march listing off failed slogans and lost causes. Materialism gets a thorough trouncing on “Drink Nike” which surely won’t open any endorsements for the band. The stream of consciousness ranting of Future of The Left is invigorating as they show no fear in writing about any topic no matter how sacred or sacrilegious. I wish more bands would quit the posturing and follow suit.
Rating: 
