Customer Reviews

How to Ruin Everything

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ever since the release of Ignorance is Bliss, a person does not know what to expect when a new face to face album hits the stores. This in not necessarily a bad thing, I am one of those people that thinks that "Ignorance is Bliss" is a great album even though it was great departure from their earlier works. The album following Ignornance is Bliss, Reactionary, was an attempt by face to face to win back the some of the fans that Ignorance is Bliss aliented. Face to Face made a conscious effort to write more "punk rock" tunes. Their newest album, titled How to Ruin Everything, more or less picks up where the last album left off.

How to Ruin Everything is definetly not a bad album, but it is not a great one either. Although it has many of the same elements as face to face's previous great works: fast guitars, harmonizing background vocals, catchy melodies, etc, the listener gets the feeling that something is missing. This might also be because the 2nd guitar player Chad Yaro's presence is no longer there.

Having said all that, this is still a solid effort from face to face. There some really gems showcased throughout the album. Songs such as "The New Way and "The World in Front of You" are as genuine additions to the face to face catalog. But as a previous reviewer said, there is a lot of filler on this album. If you can rummage through the filler, you'll be presently surprised. Trever and the gang still have a few surprises left after all these years.

Face to Face could not have picked a better way to end their great career. This cd is fantastic, the best since their 1996 self titled cd. "Shoot the Moon" is the best song in my opinion. What a great, underappreciated band.

A lot of people give this album five stars, but it's not quite that good. It is nearly that good, but not quite. There's a couple songs I don't really like, which is somewhat unusual for a face to face album. There's nothing particularly wrong with these songs, they're just a bit lame (for example, Bill of Goods).

Aside from that, some of their best work is on here. I must say that perhaps the most anthemic, soul-flying song these guys have ever written is "The Compromise." And for a change, I can actually claim that the lyrics are good and have some meaning! I mean, I love face to face because they can pound it out better than anyone, but usually their lyrics leave a lot to be desired except in rare circumstances (such as, Heart of Hearts on Ignorance is Bliss... also has great lyrics). Another great song with decent lyrics is "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing." Several other songs are also excellent.

However, the bottom line is that although there are some real gems, the album is not like other face to face albums that you can just put in and listen to from beginning to end.

I have been a F2F fan for several years and have seen them in concert at least 5 times. I loved Don't Turn Away, Big Choice and their Self Titled album. I even liked Ignorance is Bliss and their new musical direction. After that, however, it seems as though they lost themselves. The fan reaction to "Ignorance" was so overwhelming, they tried to go back to what they were. "Reactionary" was not a good album, and then they released this album. With Chad Yaro leaving, they were now a 3-piece band again, just like the "Don't Turn Away" days. I think what they were trying to do was recapture that sound. They wanted that angst, that rebellion, that youthfulness to pierce through the speakers just like the old days. But....it doesn't. They are trying to grasp something that isn't there. It has been like 10 years since "DTA" was released, they are a different band, different members, and....they are 10 years older. Its hard to try and recreate the feelings, emotions and drive that you once had. It just doesn't work, and the music sounds forced: forced emotion, forced angst, etc. I have tried to listen to this album several times, never being able to make it the whole way through. I think they now have a new album, and what I've heard sounds good. I would not recommend this album to anyone. I bought it because I am a hard core fan, but honestly, I think its buried in some moving box in my garage....and I'm not going to look for it.

Face to Face is a fantastic band / unfortunately I found out about them while they were on their farewell tour / this is their final studio album before they released their greatest hits, it is a great album that I can listen to multiple times / hopefully if people keep buying their albums, they may at least have another tour or even get back together (we can only wish)

This album is a great album. There's only one flaw: it's re-listening value. Once you hear every song, you know which ones are great and which ones you can skip the next time through. "Shoot the Moon", "World in Front of You", and "Waiting to Be Saved" are excellent songs. "Waiting to Be Saved" is probably the fastest Face to Face song they've ever made. If you like old Face to Face and don't own this CD, pick it up, or I'll come to your house, deficate on your bed, mash it in, then go to the future and defile your children. That was harsh. But for real, it's a good album.

While i was more of a fan of ignorance is bliss due to it's more experimental nature this is a great album to follow up reactionary, i dont like the way people keep saying they have their punk rock credibility back aswell as would'nt that mean that they are playing what the fans want to hear and not sticking with what they want to play. How to ruin everything is not as good as reactionary or some earlier face to face releases though it's probably on par with their earlier release (s/t). After face to face where continuously abated for one of their best releases (ignorance is bliss) this is a good change from the two previously good albums.

How to ruin everything has a more raw feel about it as though it's not quite as polished though this effect is only subtle and it's a good change on this album as it makes it that bit more punky, theres quite a few expeimental effects with the guitars aswell that you would usually hear alot of in a punk album but more so in this one. Face to face never let most of their fans and how to ruin everything is no exception to the rule, also if you are a relativly new fan to face to face try to get hold of their album everything is everything as that contains their best songs prior to How to ruin everything.

How to ruin everything of Face to Face is my favorite record of the year! Another great return of 2002 too! But this CD rocks really really hard too! I recommend this cd for any person who don't know Face to Face, but for a fan, it's such a must!

this album sets a standard for al the other hardcore pund bands. not many good bands come around like f2f. i would recommend this album to any one.

This album has gotten undeserved harsh reviews. With repeated listens, the album only gets better. The songs that at first sound like filler become great after a few spins. Highlights on this album include "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", "Graded on a Curve", and the power chord frenzy that is "Bill of Goods". Overall, this is an incredible album that is arguably one of their bests.