News & Tributes

Futureheads | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 13, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vagrant Records
• ASIN: B000FI9OKO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,706 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Best known for a spastic, heavily accented post-punk cover of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love" that went Top 10 in the UK, this British quartet attempts to kick away from its '80s-inspired comrades--such as Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs--on their second album. Not that there's any shortage of spiky riffs, jerky rhythms, and off-kilter harmonies on News and Tributes. But get past the more pedestrian fare like "Yes/No" and "Return of the Berserker," and the full scope of the Futureheads' ambition reveals itself, particularly in the poppiest track, "Skip To The End." Meanwhile, "Thursday" is laced with a distinct doo-wop feel, "Favours for Favours" shows the band's softer side, and the jagged "Burnt" proves that the group can approach greatness on a song of its very own.--Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

The Futureheads formed in 2000, in Sunderland. More specifically, in Barry's garage really. The line-up of the band at that point consisted of Jaff (Bass, Vocals), Barry Hyde (Guitar, Vocals), Ros Millard (Guitar, Vocals), and Peter Brewis, now of cerebral pop-masterpiece-makers, Field Music (Drums, Vocals). Some highlights of 2005 include playing Glastonbury Festival on Baz's birthday, `Hounds Of Love' going Top Ten, meeting Dennis Hopper on Jimmy Kimmel's US TV Show, and getting that most infamous of Albatrosses, `The Second Album,' under their belts.The recording of of said album took place over a period of 6 weeks in winter 2005 in a remote farmhouse near Scarborough, in North Yorkshire. Ben Hillier produced the record, and the band look set to undertake a full UK tour in June 2006 with the US invasion coming shortly thereafter.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Futureheads Outdo Themselves! June 13, 2006

By Kevin C

Format:Audio CD

Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again, when it comes to rock music, well, great rock music that is, it all comes down to a band's ability to arrange a song. Anyone can play guitar and strum a little but it is when you run wild with it and give it some original oomph, that makes it brilliant. The Futureheads' News and Tributes is one of the best albums to come out of Great Britain in a long time...probably since their debut. News and Tributes contains a collection of more wider ranged songs than the debut where each song has its own feel. While listening, I couldn't help but think that it sounds more like a Greatest Hits album than anything. The order the songs play out is perfect, Lyrically it's stronger, and the arrangements of each and every song contain so many surprises that really I think it would take about five or more listens to really absorb it. In Fact the only song on it I don't like is the Decent Days and Nights remix and really that has nothing to do with News And Tributes. I'm not sure what this fad is with bands wanting to remix their own work. Interpol tried it, and it didn't work. Bloc Party Tried it and it was achingly embarrasing, and the Futureheads' Decent days And Nights remix is no exception. However the other bonus track are utterly amazing, particularly "Help Us Out." Other than that the album is perfect in every way. The Futureheads have obviously worked on their writing skills because unlike the first album (which for a debut was incredible) every song on News And Tributes provides a clearer perspective with more Pop Sensibilities. With so many british bands out there it really becomes a challenge to pick out the best one.... What separates The Futureheads from the others is that they have always had the potential to steer away from the New Wave invasion whereas the others are most likely going to get stuck there. Sure Maximo Park, Bloc Party, and Kaiser Chiefs have some okay moments but none of their songs compare to even the weaker Futureheads songs which are inexistent on News and Tributes. The Futureheads know who they are and what they want to accomplish and through all the risk-taking moments on News and Tributes it is just that much more apparent. To me, The Futureheads to Great Britain are what The Strokes are to The United States...their country's best rock band. Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars i just can't figure out why they're not huge yet! June 28, 2006

By C. Romero

Format:Audio CD

My goodness, what a follow up. Very brave. Burnt is beautiful, probably my favorite.Favours for Favours is another favorite. Yes/No is a great indication of "we're back"-ness with it's build-up to anthemic arcadefire-esque chanting. At first i was dissapointed with the choice single Skip to the End but with a few listens it really became great. not really the effect you want from a single though i suppose. Ross' singing gets to shine on this album. Back to the Sea is 'one damn song that could make me break down and cry.' it did actually make me cry when they played it live. i don't know why. it's just so beautiful i guess. i don't understand why they arn't as big, or bigger, than franz and block party or even arctic monkeys for that matter. i love these guys. Brilliant.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of 2006 so far June 17, 2006

By W. M. Davidson

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm not a huge fan of the Futureheads' first album-- like Bloc Party's debut, it's so frantic and cluttered with musical ideas that nothing sticks. Their sophomore album, by contrast, sounds confident and fluid. The songs are allowed to stretch and breathe, developing each idea fully for maximum effect. Great production too-- ragged guitars and a thunderous drum sound beamed in direct from 1981. This is really good music!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sophomore Surprise August 23, 2006

By Tom Birkenstock

Format:Audio CD

Lazy critics lumped The Futureheads in with the whole neo-new wave/angular movement without much thought. However, once you scrape away the glossy sheen it becomes apparent that The Futureheads offer much more: a cappella harmonies, British invasion melodies, and post-hardcore guitars were often found within a single song. Each ingredient was added with some thought to the other, and none were overpowering. With their myriad of influences The Futureheads were poised for a colorful and diverse new album to eclipse their debut.

Did they succeed? Well, yes and no. This is a Futureheads album so the good far outweighs the bad, and while News and Tributes certainly expands The Futureheads' sound, it fails to best their debut. Of course, nothing short of the second coming could have satisfactorily followed up the best album of 2004.

News and Tributes lacks the razor sharp edge The Futureheads used to carve out the taunt songs on their debut. At times this works to their advantage on the Brill Building-ish "Thursday" and some of the poppier numbers ("Skip to the End," "Fallout," and "Worry About it Later"), but when things get too slow the songs don't hold together as well. "Burnt," for example, seems obligatorily heartfelt. Tellingly, two of my favorite songs - "Yes/No" and "Area" - could have been b-sides from their eponymous album.

However, the aforementioned "Thursday" shows that the band isn't afraid of letting a single style dominate, and the fact that this song exists on the same album that houses "Return of the Berserker" - faster than anything seen on their debut - proves that The Futureheads have the kind of range other bands couldn't cohesively keep together.... What does keep this album together is the simple fact that these guys are great songwriters with no shortage of ideas.

Now that The Futureheads have shown their range you can be certain this album will be in my rotation until their third one marries diversity with consistency. When that happens I'll be well prepared for the sky to crack open and The Futureheads to lead us to the promised land. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant. There is no other word. June 23, 2006

By Buzzipper

Format:Audio CD

I waited until I listened to the Futureheads new album a full five times before I let myself review it. Of course, by the third time, I was singing along and pumping my fist with absolute glee. Hard to believe that, as with their first release, I found myself thinking that I would never be able to sing along to such disjointed, herky-jerky music. But now, oh man, now, I stand corrected. This album is deeper, smarter and more complete than the first, which I still adore. But this one is so jumpy and excitingly spastic, while being more mature and even-keeled, that it just blows me away. It's brilliant, there is no other word. The songs keep you on your toes with wonderful twists and turns, terrific beats and their signature guitars and amazing vocals. They flow perfectly into one another, rocking and rolling and making me smile like no other band on the planet. This is the kind of music that truly satisfies.