Customer Reviews

Friendly Fires

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Most excellent! This is the best new band I have come across in a while. I stumbled across this band while on You Tube searching for a Friendly Fire incident involving the US Army in Iraq. Crisp cool exceptional vocals tied together with a tight arrangement and excellent production. At 57 years old I wish I could still dance on these old war torn knees. I see this band going big time and can not wait until their next album is released.

If you're a fan of the new generation of extremely polished, 80's-style, mesmerizing wavy pop that's going around, you will love these guys. Every track is very well-crafted...a truly well-rounded album. Some of the best stuff coming from that side of the Atlantic right now.

Uk-based trio Friendly Fires formed in 2006, and is one of the many, many bands out there that is reinventing and giving a new interpretation of the 1980s 'new wave' sound for the 21st century. After a couple of well-received EPs, the band got signed to Xl and in the Fall of 2008 finally released their debut album.

"Friendly Fires" (10 tracks; 37 min.) starts off with a blasting "Jump In the Pool" (UK single), and sounds very much like the title suggests. "Paris" (their 2007 break-out single) is also included here and is 'simply irresitable'. The songs follow one another in a furious pace, and the album plays really like one long dance-party. "On Board", my favorite track of the album, just makes just you want to jump on board this dance party. "Skeleton Boy" will bring any wallflower to the dance floor. As you play this, 1980s-era output of New Order comes to mind of course, as will contemporary Aussie-band Cut Copy. At just 37 min., this album blasts by in no time. Just great.

I caught these guys earlier this year at Coachella, and what a great set they put on, playing most of the tracks of this album of course. Even though they played an early afternoon set, the tent was packed and the band made most of the opportunity and made the place jump, just fantastic. Meanwhile, if you wonder where you can hear these guys, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock & Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none.

So let me just ramble a little here as to how I found out about this album. I was back in the UK visiting Family and Friends last week, and I go into HMV music in Brighton to see whats new. This tune comes on in there that I later found out was 'Lovesick' by Friendly Fires. Upon the first chorus I was desperate to find out who this band was that sounded like a fusion of Prince, Talking Heads, Beck, and The Cure.

I ask the sales clerk and he exclaimed "Friendly Fires, the album is brilliant." and it is..

There is plenty for everyone on this album. It's so upbeat it makes you smile but it does have its more laid back tracks like Paris as nice breaks from the energy.

I certainly recommend this album to anyone wanting to hear something new and energetic. I am eager to see this band live. I believe their US tour kicks of next month.

In conclusion. This album is flawless and I cannot stop playing the CD. I predict fantastic things for this group in the future.

This is a great album that will leave you waiting for more... seriously Friendly Fires, I'm still waiting for a new album!

They're from the UK... Not surprising at all. Most bands that are from the U.S. do not create such diversity or individual music. I usually do not too much care for "experimental" music, so to speak, and this album isn't that extreme on experimentation, but to some degree, I am sure most would agree that it is in some form. Stand out tracks on this album are: "White Diamonds" (5 stars), "Paris" (5 stars), "Skeleton Boy" (4.5 stars), "In The Hospital" (4 stars), and "Photobooth" (4 stars). This CD/LP is danceable, delicious (so to speak), replayable, different, unique, etc, etc. I hope this band has many more upcoming releases in the future and lasts.

I hella love this album. they are fresh, crisp and totally danceable. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to this new group by a fellow music lover and I just can't get enough. If you are like me, always on the hunt for new talent and fly sounds this is noteworthy. BUY THE ALBUM!!! NOW!!!!! I expect to see them at Coachella 2009 and other summer festivals.

This Album is Perfect! The music has that alternative, chill, yet intense sound. The lyrics are amazing. Friendly Fires is a great Band. This is one of, if not, their best Album in my opinion. This Cd was a Great buy, and was at a Great Price. Perfect Album to buy.

wow, this is the catchiest band I've heard in a while! I merely stumbled upon them while seeing the "Skeleton Boy" video playing at the mall in the summer of 2009... the mall of all places, since i don't go to them often. It was at the clothing store MetroPark to be exact. My friends & I had just finished making purchases, but my eyes stayed glued to the TV screen right behind the register because I absolutely had to find out who played it, & once I did, I saved it in a memopad on my cell phone. Even my friends were wondering what I was stalling for. I initially forgot about it, but I looked them up a few months later when I was aching for new music to drive around to. It was no big surprise that they're British...& there's a lot of influence from dancey 80s bands like New Order, Duran Duran, & even an obscure one called The Danse Society, as well as 70s disco. Here's a track synopsis:

1 - Jump in the Pool - If "Skeleton Boy" was the track that merely got me introduced to the band, then this song is what got me hooked. It initially reminded me of VHS or Beta, & became my favorite quickly, & still is! The video is really cool & fitting too. This song is perfection - ideal for a summer day. It reminds me of being a teen & having encouraging eyes of a crush gaze into yours. If 2:25 into the song doesn't tug at you, then I don't know what will... very cool moment when the bass goes up & down under your feet. The rest of the album does NOT disappoint, but this opener is especially killer.
2 - mmm, disco influences? I'll bet my mom would like this track ;-) Very soulful sounding vocals!
3 - I like the accompanying female vocals
4 - I can't explain this one, it just has an interesting appeal
5 - 1 of the more laid back tracks here with a cool guitar part during the chorus
6 - more disco influences... you can't stop tapping your feet! This can become a problem while driving ;-)
7 - With (another) strong disco vibe & soulful vocals, it's definitely 1 of my favorites here!
8 - As someone else pointed out, it has a very minimal, but entertaining video! & the song is just so darn catchy, I always have to sing along.
9 - This track reminded me of (earlier) Franz Ferdinand the most. I especially like the "posing like we're this year's models" line.
10 - Even My Bloody Valentine influences reek on this track with the ascending guitar sounds

I should also note this feels incomplete without the extra tracks, which include extended mixes:

11 - Kiss of Life - All I have to mention is the percussion in this track... it also makes a killer end to their energetic shows, which extends this track a little ;-)
12-13 - I'm guessing these are extra tracks that didn't make it onto the official line-up to the original album, but they're still good.
14 - 7" single of Skeleton Boy - I still can't decide which one I like better
16 - Jump in the Pool (Thin White Duke Remix) - as if the original were excellent enough, this is an AMAZING remix of this song!!!
15, 17 & 18 - also really nice remixes; great for road trips or the gym

This is an excellent addition to the ever growing list of modern indie/alterna-dance bands. They're highly recommended if you already like the following: VHS or Beta, Franz Ferdinand, The Rapture, TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Jamiroquai, & the like. I also got introduced to the Australian band Cut Copy from seeing them on a similar band listing. I've already seen them a handful of times, & this album has still been on heavy rotation for the past couple of years ;-)

I was introduced to these guys by a friend on a music blog site I belong to. It took me awhile to catch on to them after I saw a few videos of theirs but once I got them, I was hooked. This is an extremely danceable album with very catchy rhythms, vocals and choruses. They remind me of an updated, more upbeat Talking Heads, which is quite a compliment in my book since I ADORE T. Heads. I listened to this album endlessly for quite some time. But the icing on the cake was catching them live at Coachella.

They are even more incredible than their album in a live setting. The songs take on a more muscular groove and these guys just flat out jam and dance their asses off live. I was quite impressed. The lead singer,Ed Mac, just by himself was fun to watch since he had this fun wiggling motion to his dancing. He was really into it. The percussionist also was quite lively to watch. From the very start of their set I was getting down to their brand of English white boy funk. I couldn't help it! So if you enjoy this album you will LOVE them in a live setting. They take their funky polyrhythms up to a whole other level. I was so glad I was able to see them. And Coachella Festival was the ideal setting out in the desert near Palm Springs. It's also a testament to any band when they can up the ante from their recorded material and enhance it. Definitely looking forward to their sophomore album since this is an incredible debut. Play that funky music white boys!