FDF Volume 3 Issue 341 - Franz Ferdinand - Self Titled

Album – Franz Ferdinand

Artist – Franz Ferdinand

Key Players – Paul Thompson – drums, percussion and backing vocals. Bob Hardy – bass. Nick McCarthy – rhythm guitar, vocals and keyboards. Alex Kapranos – lead guitar and lead vocals.

Produced By – Tore Johansson

Release Date – February 9, 2004

Overview – This is the debut album from Glasgow, Scotland band Franz Ferdinand. Formed in 2002 the band found almost immediate success. This album would debut on the UK charts at #3 (peaking in the US at 32). By the end of the year the album would awarded the “Mercury Prize” and go on to sell over three and a half million copies worldwide.

FDF Comments (aka the songs) – The albums 11 tracks come in under just 40 minutes in length. Opening with “Jacqueline” it finds Kapranos singing with just a solo acoustic guitar accompaniment but after a verse Hardy comes in hard on the bass and the band all takes off. It has a pop punk type feel with grinding guitars and bass and a frantic drum beat. It sets the tone for the record.  "Tell Her Tonight"   has a choppy guitar and vibe like a Talking Heads track, the bass swirls and the backing vocals are really solid. The big single from the record comes in  "Take Me Out" , which has the guitar chord opening and then a slow build for the first verse, that in the end comes up to a choppy guitar riff that folds in to a real fun track. You know it, you've heard it, you know why its a solid track.. The band keeps up the musical attack on “The Dark Of Matinee”. The band is effective in the method of playing hard, but calming down some when the vocals come in. The ebb and flow is a fun listen as it allows you to hear the instruments, and then the vocals, that are often times layered over one another. Piano is the key instrument at the start of “Auf Achse”, which layers the piano with keyboard before Hardy and Thompson start to move things. McCarthy and Kapranos then add their guitars, but the band seems a little more laid back on the delivery here, but don't let fool you as the band comes in on the attack for a short choral burst.. The band seems to find a niche in the attack of guitars and “Cheating on You” is no exception. Hardy works the bass line pretty hard as the others seem to be hell bent on fitting in as many quick riffs and strikes as possible. A rumbling ride at the mid point of the record. “This Fire” is another solid track with Kapranos in fine vocal form. The band is comfortable with their roles and they know when to go after it hard and then pull back. Hardy opens up “Darts of Pleasure” and we get the usual two guitar and drum attack and the track goes right in to “Michael” which keeps that same furious pace. “Come On Home” has a nice funky mood to it and really could be an album closer, but that is left to “40”. This track continues with the funky bass and back beat while the guitars match up well. The vocals are hushed at the start but its a song you'd find easy to sing along to. The tracks have all been just that perfect length, no filler found here.

Where are they now? - The band is still active in the studio and in a live setting. Their most recent studio album “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action”was released in the summer of 2013.

FDF Overall Take/Was it worth Dusting Off? - Sure! I'll admit I was caught up in the buzz on this record and I recall liking it, but its nothing I had really gone to in the last few years. Its got some great hooks, the songs don't piddle along. Its a solid pop/rock record. It has a mod feel as well, like the Jam had. Overall it was worth the time to go back and check it, and perhaps I'll be rummaging the bins for their other records.

Links, find out more, follow em and buy!

Official Site/

Facebook

Buy It!

Disclaimer – I am just a music fan. Feel free to comment about something that may be written incorrectly about the band/members etc. I strive to have a fun and enjoyable site. This site used to post mp3s but ran in to many issues. The audio clips provided are usually from YouTube. No copy write infringement is intended. Please alert me if something should be pulled. Finally, support the artist featured, or your favorite artist by purchasing their music, seeing their shows if possible and saying hi. They need your support.

FDF Volume 3 Issue 340 - Mike Ness - Under the Influences

Album – Under The Influences Vol 1

Artist – Mike Ness

Key Players - Charlie Quintana – drums. James Saez – guitars and percussion. Brent Harding – upright and electric bass. Mike Ness – lead vocals, guitar. Chris Lawrence – pedal steel and guitar. Sean Greaves – guitar and banjo. Mando Dorame – tenor saxophone. Brantley Kearns – fiddle

Produced By – Mike Ness and James Saez

Release Date – November 9, 1999

Overview - This is the second solo record from Mike Ness. Ness, who is widely known as the guitarist and singer in the band Social Distortion put out this record of covers with his unique style. Released just six months after his full length solo album Ness put together 12 songs (the 13^th being a change up on one of his Social Distortion songs) that reflected his influences.

FDF Comments (aka the songs) – Since this is a covers album after the track title I'll note the original artists. 13 songs and just over 40 minutes is what you'd expect. “All I Can Do Is Cry” (Wayne Walker) starts off the record. The rockabilly feel with a bit more crunch pushes the song forward and Ness has a vocal style that is instantly recognizable. I'll admit I am not familiar with this original (or on many of this record) so one is lead to believe its pretty true to form, maybe sped up some, but intact as one would expect on a covers album. The guitars are up even more on"Gamblin Man"( Marvin Rainwater) a really fun rock and roller. Harding really has the fun lead on this, but you can't take that away from Lawrence on the steel. “Let The Jukebox Keep on Playing” (Carl Perkins) slows it down some, but the band is so clean musically on the track(s) its fun to listen to each stand out. Kearns fiddle is heavily present as is Hardings bass work. Yes

"I Fought The Law" (Bobby Fuller), was made popular by the Clash and the version here is pretty rocking, but the fun part is to hear the layers of guitars. You've heard it before, but perhaps not this way. They get right down to business on “Big Iron” (Marty Robbins) and the 12 bar blues skiffle riff really grabs you. The nice thing as we get a bit more in to the record is it makes you want to seek these original tracks out, see how “true to the original” they are.  “One More Time” (Billy Lee Riley And The Little Green Men) Mando Dorame gets a turn to show off his chops as we hear him for the first time on the track. The band is pretty laid back and Dorame gets to shine with a few really solid solos. “Six More Miles” (Hank Williams Snr). Kearns is brought back for a work out on the track. These are the tracks I find particularly fun. Just that stripped down foot stomping romp. “A Thief In The Night” (Jean Shepard) finds Lawrence giving that twangy tinge and the track is a bit slower, but no less full of emotion. A track I've heard the original before the cover was "Once a Day"  (George Jones). The slide guitar is here, Ness is a bit more rocking, but a solid solid cover. “Funnel of Love” (Wanda Jackson) seems to really break out. Quintana seems to be after the drum kit more than on any other track we've had. The guitars layer on each, with chords to hard and melodic strokes. This one has me wanting to hear the original. The second Hank Williams Snr cover returns with “House of Gold”. The band is very laid back on this track, Ness is really the focus here.
“Wildwood Flower” (The Carter Family) is a lot more of a family jamboree type song. All the members seem to be foot stomping and getting rowdy. Its real fun. The album wraps up with Ness taking on “Ball and Chain” done by Social Distortion. Its the “honky tonk” version. Its very much “slowed down” from what you are used to hearing with a lot of acoustic guitar and lap steel. Sure its Ness singing, but the tempo will take you a bit to get used to. A unique way to close out the record.

Where are they now? Ness, who formed Social Distortion in 1978 is still active in the studio and on stage. Social Distortions most recent studio album was released in 2011.

FDF Overall Take/Was it worth Dusting Off?

Covers albums can be tricky, but I think Ness did justice to these tracks and it makes you curious to hear what influenced him (fan or not).  You might not play it all the time, but when it comes up on shuffle you'll perk up for sure.

Links, find out more, follow em and buy!

Official Site 

Mike on Facebook

SocialDistortion.com

Buy It!

Disclaimer – I am just a music fan. Feel free to comment about something that may be written incorrectly about the band/members etc. I strive to have a fun and enjoyable site. This site used to post mp3s but ran in to many issues. The audio clips provided are usually from YouTube. No copy write infringement is intended. Please alert me if something should be pulled. Finally, support the artist featured, or your favorite artist by purchasing their music, seeing their shows if possible and saying hi. They need your support.

FDF Volume 3 Issue 339 - Elbow - Asleep in the Back

Album – Asleep In The Back

Artist - Elbow

Key Players – Richard Jupp – drums, percussion and backing vocals. Craig Potter – piano, organ, backing vocals, synth, percussion, keyboards. Mark Potter- Acoustic and Electric guitars, backing vocals. Pete Turner – bass, synth, backing vocals. Guy Garvey – lead and backing vocals, guitars, percussion, synth, harmonica.

Produced By – Elbow, Danny Evans,Steve Osborne, Ben Hollier

Release Date – January 22, 2002

Overview – This is the debut album from the Ramsbottom,Bury, England band “Elbow”. Performing as the band Elbow since 1997 this was a record that was a few years in the making, but it was a critical success. The band had initially recorded a full length for another label, but the label dropped then before it was released. Elbow had the last laugh when this record came out. It was a Mercury Prize finalist, the band was nominated for a BRIT award and it would contain four radio singles. The band have released six albums and wrote the theme song for the BBC coverage of 2012 London Olympics, as well as having a song of theirs used in the trailer for the Call of Duty video game “Black Ops: 2”

FDF Comments (aka the songs) – The 12 song, just over 60 minutes in length album begins with the track
"Any Day Now". The dark feel has Craig's keyboards working along Jupp's drum and Turner slinging a little bass. When Garvey starts to sign he is hushed, but you can tell he has a strong voice. One of the band's strong suits is with the layers of backing vocals. When you have four more people along it gets to be full, and pretty. The haunting repeat of the lines as Garvey expands lyrically over the top compliments the keyboard flourishes and light drumming. Jupp gets “Red” underway but its Craig's keyboards once more that set the tone. This track has a lot of the strings to fill it out and that might take away from some of the core players, but when you sit back and listen you realize its a strong balance. “Little Beast” has the first bigger role from Mark's guitar. He has the intro here and the percussion instruments come in as Garvey starts to sing its again in hushed, yet somehow powerful as well. It stays pretty much a piano/guitar heavily influenced track. Piano is again strong on "Powder Blue". Mark has light chords spread out and the band harmonizes as Garvey finds his falsetto more often than not. Garvey soars vocally later with saxophone and guitars aiding his way along. “Bitten By The Tailfly” begins with Jupp rolling across his drum kit. Garvey almost speaks the lyrics this time as the song gets underway and the band adds in vocally as well as musically, just a bit slowly. The drums have a tribal rumble and then Mark strikes hard and it takes you off guard before it returns to its initial feel. It really gets going later and becomes on of the stand out tracks. Piano opens up the title track “Asleep In The Back”, that then gets a bit of keyboards to come along. A pretty acoustic track called
 "Newborn"  is another stand out. If you are looking for that “elbow” sound this is one you need to look at. The end alone...I rest my case. “Don't Mix Your Drinks” and “Presuming Ed (Rest Easy)” are both similar in their calm and classy methods. Acoustic Guitars and drums are a bit more up front on “Coming Second”. The lyrics are buzzy and a bit compressed not really letting Garvey shine, but it is a change for the band some. “Can't Stop” is another track on the mellow side with no real bust out moments, so it seems, until Garvey hits operatic notes. The album concludes with the track “Scattered Black and Whites” that blends the guitar and piano wonderfully.

Where are they now? - The band is still active both in the studio and as a live band. They released the stunning “The Take Off And Landing Of Everything” in the spring of 2014

FDF Overall Take/Was it worth Dusting Off? - After I went to see the band live in support of the most recent release I had to go back to the other albums. It had been the longest since I listened to them. They should be far bigger than they are here in the States. Catch them now so you can be on “the early train” albeit it 13 years later. Come on board, we have room.

Links, find out more, follow em and buy!

Official Site

Facebook

Buy It

Disclaimer – I am just a music fan. Feel free to comment about something that may be written incorrectly about the band/members etc. I strive to have a fun and enjoyable site. This site used to post mp3s but ran in to many issues. The audio clips provided are usually from YouTube. No copy write infringement is intended. Please alert me if something should be pulled. Finally, support the artist featured, or your favorite artist by purchasing their music, seeing their shows if possible and saying hi. They need your support.