Customer Reviews

Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I consider myself a "hardcore" music fan. I am always searching for new music of all sorts of genres. I have a rather large CD collection, and I enjoy a lot of avant-garde, progressive, "strange" music (as well as good stuff from other genres, from free jazz to black metal to bluegrass). I seek out original artists/bands that do new things and push the boundaries of music even further. Part of being "hardcore", though, is realizing that one must not get lost in his or her own "elitism", i.e. one must sometimes crucify one's preconceived notions of an artist, or maybe even an entire genre.

So, I really shouldn't like this album. I don't typically listen to this "emo-metal" stuff (unless you happen to count Thrice as "emo-metal", in which case you kinda don't know what you're talking about), because, in general, it sucks. I don't know why I bought it in the first place. I guess I was subconsciously drawn to it for some reason, and even so, I still shouldn't actually like the music within. Maybe my subconscious had already crucified my preconceived notions for me?

Anyway, I like this album. A lot. In fact, when I get around to listening to it, I usually end up listening three or four times. It's really catchy, and emotional (probably even "emo"), features good use of musical dynamics, and every song is of relative equal quality (meaning I think they're all pretty dang good).

It should seem like one big cliche` of an album, but for some reason when I listen to it, I can look past everything that would normally make me, um, look past this album. I don't know. The songwriting is really good. The instrumentation is really good. The vocals (although sometimes pretty damn "emo") are really good. The lyrics are really good. This is just a really good album that I keep coming back to, even though I shouldn't. Maybe they have just _perfected_ every genre cliche` into their own perfect little cliche`.

But that's not to entirely discredit this album's originality. They do some pretty sweet things with guitar-tapping, staccato riffing, and some really nice moments of quietness that, for some reason, make me think about walking through a park, with the multi-colored autumn leaves falling around me, a cool wind blowing them around in circles.

If you're into this sorta thing, you'll totally dig this album. If you generally despise this sorta thing, maybe this album is still worth giving a shot. Perhaps you should crucify any thoughts you already have of this album. Besides, open-mindedness is another rule of being "hardcore".

I admittedly did not expect much from this album. I've never been a huge fan of post hardcore or emocore(with a few obvious exceptions like Thursday, Thrice, and Glassjaw) but Funeral For A Friend has written one helluva album here. This is a solid release from beginning to end and rarely disappoints. I'm shocked that some label, any label, hasn't attempted to pick up the distrobution on this album in the US because this band could be huge. Regardless, this is an album that is well worth the import price, especially if you're already familiar with their EP's or "Seven Ways To Scream Your Name." This album has tons of different styles from very impressive metal guitar riffing, clean vocals, throaty screams, some scattered breakdowns, and songs melodic enough that they'll have you singing them at some point. "Your Revolution Is A Joke" offers a nice change of pace as an acoustic track. It is difficult to narrow down highlight tracks but ultimately my favorites would include "Bullet Theory", "Escape Artists Never Die", and "Storytelling." If you are a fan of the aformentioned bands, this release is highly recommended and if your just looking for something new that has a little something for everyone, then this release is highly recommended as well. Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation is easily in my Top 15 albums of 2003.

I wasn't sure about this album until I downloaded a couple of tracks mainly rookie of the year and escape artists never die. I got it and I have to say I'm impressed. FFAF have somehow managed to stay mostly under the radar, but I would have to say this album is better than Hawthorne Heights and right up there on my playlist with Underoath. From beginning to end FFAF lay down tracks that flow nicely with nice screaming intervals and the vocals which fit nicely into their style. This doesn't sound forced like much of Hawthorne Heights and many other bands like them. Although HH put out a good album I would pick this one up first. There aren't any throw away tracks on this one and the songs stand out from one another. Not a classic album, but a great listen.

First off, i must say this album is the best album Funeral For A Friend have put out. Unlike "Hours" when you listen to this album, there's "magic" in the songs,atleast for me. I'm not saying "Hours" isn't good, but that's a different story. I love Ryan and Matt's screamings with a passion, it just puts you in a good mood everytime you hear the screaming. "she drove me to daytime Television" is a powerful, wonderful song, that every FFAF fan,i'm sure,loves. Pick this album up, it's awesome and you'll love it. In my opinion,FFAF should be put on a higher rank than Hawthrone Heights and Dead Poetic, good bands but FFAF'S much, much better, sorry Brian!

Funeral for a Friends "Casually Dressing & Deep In Conversation" is the new standard for emo/rock/screamo bands.
Opening with the "Rookie of the Year", it is fast paced with changing riffs and melodic vocals over screaming background vocals making it te modern day blueprint to emo. One thing FFAF pull off with every song on the album is that have big choruses that stick in your head forever. Bringing you back to the album everytime.
Coming from Wales they are the only one of their kind, and doing it well enough to support the likes of Iron Maiden.
Every song has a different feel to it from the catchy "Juneau" to the melodic "Red Is the New Black" to the ballad-like "Your Revolution Is A Joke".
An outstanding album and to anyone who enjoys listening to "Thursday", "Thrice" "FATA" or "The Used", this album will hold a valuable place in your collection.

In a day when there are no good rock/metal/hardcore bands i was really happy when i heard of funeral for a friend, the are great, they have very talented musicianship and all the vocals on this album kick ass. There are only two bands that i would pay money to see now days , funeral for a friend and breaking benjamin. I think those two bands are the only thing keeping good rock music alive, but all i want to say to all the people that read this is to buy this album or you will answer to me.

Generally when I buy albums I listen to them fifty times in the first two weeks. The next two weeks, it drops to about twenty times a fortnight. They're lucky if I listen to them more than once a month after that. There have only ever been a handful of albums that have broken this mould, that have remained in circulation long after I normally get bored of them.

Initially, while rating CDADIC fairly highly, I didn't think it was anything that special. It was good, I thought, in a very superficial way - the songs were catchy and memorable, the music was exceptionally competent, it had its own `sound', and the variety of influences gelled nicely, but it was just one album of many I own. It was six months later, when I realised I was still listening to it with almost the same enjoyment, that I reassessed my view of it. The longevity of this record is amazing, and although I've been listening to it now for a year, and bought many albums since, it's still fresh. The beauty of it is that the band sounds like they're enjoying themselves, something very difficult to convey on a studio recording. Pearl Jam's `Vs' is another album I listened to for years longer than usual, because it was made at a time when the band were all in love with the music, and it shows; Funeral For A Friend are clearly deeply involved with what they're doing, and that comes across. You can always tell a musician who loves his instrument from one who is just along for the ride, and I think it's safe to say that there isn't a single member of this band who doesn't deserve to be there.

You could call this album hardcore, or metal, or emo, or one of the many new names around to pigeon-hole music, but that would be to do FFAF a disservice, because they're in a genre all their own. Suffice it to say it's hard, heavy, tuneful, melodic, emotional, moody, has varying shades of light and darkness, and would appeal to an old-schooler and new-schooler alike. There's nothing about this album that I can fault, and that's a rare thing in this day and age. If you want music that oozes with raw talent, you can't go far wrong with this.

i bought 'casually dressed ...' on the week of it's release well over 6 months ago. it's rarely been out of my cd player since - you notice something new about each song in every listen and there isn't a single duff song on here. matt's vocals are very underrated and ryan's drumming is flawless.
if you ever get the chance to see them live, go - i saw them on may 29th at the forum in london and they were awesome.

First of all, as this was their debut album it's gotta be pretty great to begin with right?
1) Rookie of the Year - (5/5) This has a nice start and just rocks throughout.
2) Bullet Theory - (5/5) Nice song to listen to if you've got head-exploding pent up anger held up inside of you. Awesome bridge.
3) Juneau - (10/5) One of my fav tracks on the cd. It's got slow bits and fast bits put together to make a great song.
4) Bend Your Arms to look like Wings - (9/5) Great track.Emotional and just bloody great.
5) She Drove Me to Daytime TV - (10/5)this track rips. Nice chorus, nice bridge, imaginative and head bangingly great.
6) Storytelling - (5/5) good. great. relaxing yet still fitting nicely into the category of rock.
7) Moments Never Faded - (10/5) one of my favs, matt's fav (singer) is quite deep, makes you think if you sit and listen hard enough.
8) Escape Artists Never Die - (10/5) imaginative, great video too if you're in the uk, i like the girl's socks, anyway, nice chorus, good verses.
9) Red Is the New Black - 10/5) i have a lot of favs! Some nice guitar played in this, espesh at the beginning, starts slow, great, gets hard, great. Could join InMe and Lostprophets. in fact they did tour with Losprophets.
10) You Revolution Is a Joke - (3/5) hmm...i don't know, a lil too slow for me.
11) Waking Up - (4/5) this actually is a good song to wake up to. nice bass in this.
12) Novella -(4/5) nice to end the debut album with a a ripping track.
Lastly, what makes this EVEN greater, yes it does get better, is that FFAF are from WALES! the backbone of British rock. nt to put you off. british rock bands rock, e.g. Lostprophets, InMe even indie bnds rule e.g. Snow Patrol, Coldplay (ish. i mean, even pop ba- ok that's going a bit far.
it's a fact, this album shot straight up to the top of my cd rack, and it had hard competition too, so buy it, you won't regret this, i promise. it will please the parts of you that your lover can't reach, shall we say. xxx

Considering the band only started just over a year ago, they are without a doubt casually dressed and deep in the charts.

(i) - rookie of the year
Rating: 3/5
Great beginning, very energetic and gets you going. Then has a sudden change and slows down the pace slightly, making you think at first, "what the?". However if listened to for longer, makes sense and creates a great opening song.

(ii) - bullet theory
Rating: 4/5
Amazing song, resembling the style, infamous to "the deftones". Great intro and perfect pace. This is a classic. Vocals are quite dark and agressive compared to other songs. The chorus being very addictive, and will have you repeating whereever you go "It's over...It's only over...It's only over when we say". Also contains the word sh*t, twice. Taking away the idea of "pop" metal.

(iii) - juneau
Rating: 5/5
One of the greater songs on the album, and deffiantly their most popular. Very emotional, the melodies, like ROCKSOUND quoted "flow thick and fast". Great addition to the CD. A perfect blend of vocals and riff work. Warning: This is very song is very addictive

(iv) - bend you arms to look like wings
Rating: 4/5
A famous band quote through this song. Not as heavy as the other two, but again very emotional, more so than juneau. However still picks up the pace, getting slightly faster as it continues. This song has probably the greatest guitar riffs in than an other song on the CD, especially at the end. "When paper cuts, when...", very good song.

(v)- escape artists never die
Rating: 5/5
My personal favorite. Again adding to my popular theory that the best songs are usually track 5. This song is probably the most emotional song on the CD, due to it's meaning. Dedicated to the escape artists espcially, Houdini. The chorus becoming one of the bands more infamous quotes "we'll start a fire, and burn some bridges...we'll make it out of here". Full of energy and fast paced, the ending slowing down and creating an amazing contrast to the song. Also containing some of the best riffs i've ever heard, personally. Maybe the only song to suprass the riffs from "bend you arms to look like wings". A very tastefull track.

(vi) - storytelling
Rating: 5/5
The lightest song on the album, but very emotional again. Hey, this is emo rock anyway. But the meaning and lyrics are very true and i know almost everyone can relate to them. It's about how we all want realtionships to work out and carry on, event though we know they have to end. The chorus is a great addition to the song to.

(vii) - moments forever faded
Rating: 4/5
Another personal favorite. I think this song is very underated. The riffs in this also show up well. This is much heavier than it's predecessor. The chorus is extremly well done and emotional. However the award for best song ending in a Funeral for a Friend song, must go to, with "10:45 Amerstdam Conversations" coming in second, the winner goes to this song. An amazing ending with "the embers will burn you". Recommended you don't skip this track if you tend to skip tracks.

(viii) - she drove me daytime television
Rating: 5/5
Well picked to be a single. This song is one of their best but will take time before you fall in love with it, it's not the type of song where you fall in love with it after first listening. It sticks in your head after about five or six times. Guarranted to be your favorite song, if you like the funeral, for at least a few days.

(ix) - red is the new black
Rating: 4/5
This verses are a perfect blend of screams and signing. The beginning is very easy to understand, with just vocals and drum riffs. Before exploding, with the best guitar riffs on the album, beating "bend your arms to look like wings". The chorus however, like "rookie of the year" changes the direction of the song away from the darker, verse to a light, "pop like" chorus, althougth there is nothing with this. You'll get used to and trust me it will be a favorite of yours, like myself, if you listen to enough times. Those of you who have heard it from "Seven Ways To Scream Your Name" or another EP, will find this song's been revamped, to improve qaulity. A standout track, should be a single in my opinion.

(x) - your revolution is a joke
Rating: 3/5
Talk about standout tracks. Only an acoustic guitar is used, showing audiences, they can do it old style. Yet an good acoustic song to be placed. It's deeply emotional and well written. Fans of rock and metal bands who contain an apparent random acoustic track on their album, differing greatly form the usual meoldy; will like this track very much.

(xi) - waking up
Rating: 4/5
One of the best songs on the album. The opening being very uplifting, with the riffs and angelic humming breaking into vocals. Into a sort of "Blink 182" chorus. Strongly moving to the punk scence, before the ending suddenly changes into heavy drums riffs, back to the lighter riffs of the verse. After the second chorus, we discover the heavy drum and guitar riffs are extending, with vocals then placed on top. With the ending then slowly going into the same mood as "your revolution is a joke". Before the guitar riffs at the end come into play bringing the song back to a lighter mood, yet very different from the verses and chorus. Followed again by the heavy drum riffs ending the song. A great song, highly recommended.

(xii) - Novella
Rating: 5/5
Talk about versatility. This song has it all, starting with an addictive meoldy with screams and heavy vocals, into an amazing blend of guitar and drum riffs and then into the chorus, showing their british background "i can see the headlights, and >Pavements<", not sidewalk. With the bridge being rather heavy, before breaking off in the chorus, which seems to reflect "waking up" slighlty. You MAY get these two tracks confused at the frist few listens, but are very different at esscence. This track then goes into a much slower pace with guitar riffs and piano chords. Continuing into very light vocals by Matt for about a minute or two. Before the drum riffs catch up and get closer and suddelny explode when meeted with the sudden rise of guitar riffs once again, this then breaks off into an great blend of instruments. Before once again, toning down into the piano chords and fading out.

This album is one of the greatest I own, and I have to say, after two months, there isn't another ablum i've bought that's surpassed this once. Funeral for a Friend are here to stay and their revolution is certainly not a joke.