Customer Reviews

Face Control

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After their near-perfect first album, this one seems a bit lazy, for lack of a better word. Some songs are so short that they're really just interludes; others are musically and lyrically so repetitive that they're catchy, but not necessarily good. There's also some great stuff on "Face Control", and the whole thing's fairly enjoyable, so the album is by no means a dud. But the incredible, novel sound we got with "Plague Park" isn't really to be found here, replaced instead with straightforward electro-pop that's been done before. They do it well, so I'm not really complaining. Basically it's a good album, but not as inspired or exciting as its predecessor.

Face Control takes Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade) and launches his musical talent with lovely wife Alexei Perry in a direction that surpasses the musical excellence delivered on Plague Park. This is no side-project, this is raw energy by a duo set on making excellent music. See them live, it is something to witness. On the new album Dan's guitar work is superb while Alexei has mastered her synth/drum machine. Overall, an excellent album from start to finish...download now and see them live!

the first record would rate about 3 stars and had some very nice tracks, but seemed to blend together too much where one song pretty much sounded like the next song, which sounded like the next song, etc.
this record just steps up and track after track hits 'em outta the park.
love it.
and they shouldn't be missed live either.
very gracious, fun, exciting duo.
blown away.

I have followed the trail back to Handsome Furs from the Wolf Parade albums, which i think are excellent! gave these tracks alot of play a few months back but just discovered the brillance of the album as a whole. The whole thing feels like a cross between Talking Heads/Cars/Early Springsteen. Lots of Springsteen "Darkness" era feel on several tracks. I have had this on for 3 straight days and see no reason to take it out anytime soon. I'm just really feeling the Handsome Furs and Expo 86'/Wolf Parade right now. If your reading this review and on the fence go ahead and grab it now. You will be VERY glad you did.

Yes, you read the title right. Handsome Furs somehow mix loud, synth noise with delayed guitar pop and. The best analogy I can come up with is if U2 had an album between The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby produced by modern indie rockers. The closest the first album comes is "Handsome Furs Hate This City." I love this album and strongly suggest you see them live. Especially try "Evangeline" and "Radio Kaliningrad." Because I am not you however, why not try watching a few youtube videos just to make sure you like it too.

The Handsome Furs' sophomore effort, Face Control, was inspired by the cold, sterile environment of Russia. The inspiration comes through in a few songs, and as a whole the album is pretty interesting, but it still does not live up to their incredible first album. Of course, Plague Park is a hard act to follow, and Face Control remains an excellent collection of music.

Handsome Furs are a spooked band, weary of the casual interlacing of technology into our daily lives. Throughout the album, singer and guitarist Dan Boeckner and wife Alexei Perry complement this notion with jagged guitars meshed next to cold electronics. Boeckner's vocals provide another juxtaposition to the icy tones as if he were rescued from some juke-joint hellhole before time warping to the 21st century.

`Face Control' is an album that successfully fuses the blues, rockabilly, bar boogie rock and some psychedelic tones to prehistoric synths. On `Face Control' Handsome Furs come across like a half-breed of Hank Williams Sr. and Kraftwerk. Opener "Legal Tender" kicks `Face Control' off with a glitchy twitch of a beat before segueing into a distorted carnival ride of a song. "Evangeline" might be a contender for best skronk blues of the year, Tom Waits would be proud. With its stop-start rhythms and guitar squall, "I'm Confused" wouldn't be out of a place on a certain early 80's Nicholas Cage film.

Handsome Furs' use of melody is reminiscent of Devo and New Order and may draw comparisons on "Officer Of Hearts" and "Thy Will Be Done." "Radio Kaliningrad" is an excellent closer with its staticky textures and dog-eared vocals. `Face Control' is a stunning achievement for Handsome Furs and is an early contender for the best of lists.

I buy a lot of albums on Amazon but very rarely rate or review any of them. I felt I needed to rate this one, mainly because there are only two other reviews as yet, because this album is so darn good.

I bought this album on a complete whim, after following several "If you like this album..." links. I had never heard of this band, and had heard the name "Wolf Parade" before but never listened to any of their songs. Also, I'm not a big fan of Sub Pop, especially in recent years. But, I love music, liked the cover of this album even though it's ugly and decided to buy it. Fortuitous!

I was pretty excited after listening to the first few songs, which have simple electronic beats with simple axe-trumpet guitar riffs that sound awesome. Later, the album becomes a bit more complex but maintains a danceable yet natural (vs. synthetic given the drum machines and synthesizers) sounding rawness.

The vocal delivery matches the music very well. Somewhat angsty in an appropriate, restrained, impending way but not the least bit douchey. I haven't yet deciphered many of the lyrics to see what the songs are about and the album is so new that only a couple songs have had lyrics posted so far to the common lyrics sites. I wish they would have included lyrics in the liner notes, and that's my only complaint about this album.

Having found this page it is highly probable that you will enjoy Face Control.

I had a few listens to this album and took a liking to a couple of the tracks, but I didn't really fall in love with it til after I saw there live show. The songs are driven by Alexei's great beats and synth work. Dan's voice and guitar work are excellent, better then a lot of the Wolf Parade stuff. Do yourself a favor and go check these two out live. It's phenomenal!!!