Customer Reviews

Tales Don't Tell Themselves

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I really hate it when bands don't achieve the success they would like to, so they keep getting more and more radio friendly. Funeral for a Friend is a very good example. Hours really showed that FFAF was taming their sound. It was still good however. Now with FFAF latest release you'd swear you were listening to a goddamn easy listening album. Where's the double bass kicks? Wheres the signature FFAF guitar complexity?? I could care less about the old screaming that they once did, but the music itself is too damn tame. All the elements that made Funeral For A Friend the great band that I once loved are gone. This album ain't necessarily bad, but its not for me. If you liked their older stuff and expected something along those lines, do not buy this. It's just sad.

OK, while listening to FFAF's new album, I will have to say that I have to agree with most of the other reviews. This album is ok, but just that. Gone are the time shifts, guitar complexity in favour for a more mainstream melodic sound. It's not bad, it's actually rather good by "Mainstream standards", if I had actually heard an album like this from Simple Plan I would have been impressed and would have considered it a progression for Simple Plan, but for FFAF, this is a step back. In "Hours" you could easily distinguish that the old metal influences were fading away, there were no screaming parts except for one or two songs, and they had blatant sing-along slow-tempo ballads. I didn't care at all, since the album still sounded tight and they kept their signature musicianship overall, it was not perfect, but it was still very good. I guess that FFAF succumbed to the mainstream success, I can't imagine why, maybe "Hours" was not what they expected it to be for their pockets, maybe they are tired. I don't know...

I don't know who to blame - the band or the producer - but this album is not what I would expect from one of the few remaining interesting bands out there (in their genre, of course). They took their complex instrumentation - brilliantly written rhythm sections and intricate guitar patterns - and dumbed it way down. I did not feel any 'soul' in the new songs - they did not inspire me and I did not actually feel compelled to move to the music, which is very uncharacteristic of their sound. Unless this new-found style is actually artistically or personally enriching for the band (which I don't see how it could be, but stranger things have happened), I would suspect that each of the band members are slightly embarrassed by the end product. I call it a product rather than an artistic work because it seems to me that it is just another commercially-motivated project that seeks to please a targeted audience (something I desperately hoped FFAF would not resort to).

What saddens me the most is that FFAF was such an amazing band and gave me hope that music can still be good even in this age of mass-consumerism (which has managed to actually compromise the integrity of art for the sake of profit). I guess it was nice while it lasted.

I agree with some of the other posts - fans of earlier FFAF material will most likely not enjoy this album - it simply does not sound like the same band. On the other hand, if you listen to this album and pretend that it is not FFAF, you might be ok with it (with a strong emphasis on might). I should clarify something at this point. For the kind of music that it is, it is not bad (it is comparable to other bands writing similar music -see below) - it just doesn't fit my musical tastes, and probably won't fit the musical tastes of others who really liked old FFAF.

For fans of Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, Yellowcard, Hoobastank, etc.

When everything's said and done, I wouldn't mind getting my US$10.99 back

bands need to quit trying to evolve their sound and "mature" this cd was horrible, but then again i wasnt surprised as Hours was lame too. i fell in love with this band when seven ways to scream your name was released. those songs are what made FFAF what they are. i cant imagine anyone who liked FFAF from teh beginning to enjoy this. bands need to stick to what they know. FFAF obviosuly isnt on television so they arent exactly getting famous turning into soft whiny little girls. basically like the guy before me said, if u liked old FFAF dont get this, but if you want a rock album about a fisherman then thsi is all you.

I'm not sure if FFAF intended for 'Tales Don't Tell Themselves' to be interpreted as an album that figuratively narrates a story about the experience/spiritualness/whateverness of being out at sea -- but honestly, no matter how hard they tried, the album is horribly bleak and inconsistent.

Two stars for 'Into Oblivion' and 'Out of Reach', as much as I had hoped to rate this any higher, I just can't...particularly after seeing how 'Hours' was massive underrated and bashed by critics and fans alike...go back and take a listen to it now in its entirety, it might sway some to change their opinion of what a "weak album" is.

Vocally, TDTT is dead on, no arguments there.
Technically and instrumentally, what happened? Simplification made this album too accessible too fast. (e.g. The Diary)

Perhaps TDTT will put things into better perspective, where the cohesiveness and solidity of an album such as Hours is now far more appreciated for exploring a more mature sound not too far removed from 'Casually Dressed..' days -- and although I wouldn't go as far as saying TDTT is a complete utter failure, remember that effort and sound 'maturity' is always often misunderstood for sucking up to mainstream.

Nice try guys, but this one will take many listens before it even remotely sticks out as nothing short of impressive.

This album does not contain any of their great hard stuff like "All the Rage" or any of their moving sappy songs like "This Letter". Instead its a completely different sound that has dissappointed me as a long time FFAF fan. There is, however, 2 or 3 pretty good songs I liked. But if your looking for the songs that got you interested in them in their earlier albums you wont find it here. Even though I believe FFAF is better, if you like their style you will most likely be interested in Thrice as well. Check them out.

PS - If this is your first FFAF album, dont get this one, get HOURS. Its by far their best album. Every track is awesome.

I just don't know what to say about this album.I mean it's good album on it's own,but something I wouldn't expect from these guys.The tracks sound like pop rock.I mean wheres the screamo from there first album.Seems to me there trying to do a Linkin Park,another great band completely changing their sound.I wasn't a big fan of hours but it was a alright album,at least they screamed on that album.We all know a lot of bands are changing their sound but they are taking baby steps,not a leap like this one.So if your thirst for screamo isn't subsided then go pick up Lies for the Liars by The Used or Chrome by Cartel.

I'm a big fan of FFAF since their debut LP "Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation" , back then their sound was a lot faster with some screams now and then...in their second album "Hours" they changed a bit, the screams disappeared and they sounded a little bit heavier than before...now with "Tales Don't Tell Themselves" the comeback a lot different, but still closer to "Hours" than "Casually...".

When the first track "Into Oblivion (Reunion)" starts you can see that you are going to listen to a new FFAF, new but still awesome. The entire album is amazingly good. Yes good... nothing more nothing less. Since i recieved the news that Funeral was recording a new album, i thought that they would go back to their origins, i thought that i was going to hear screams again. But that was only in my dreams.

I have already heard a lot of people saying bad things about this record... it's not true. I just agree with them when they say that this is not their best...not even close.

Does it worth 14 bucks? Yes, in my opinion, i'd buy it.

I was honestly surprised to see all of the angry reviews on here. Of course, I've never heard anything else of theirs and I bought this CD without any idea who the band was, what they sounded like... Here's what shocked me: Their descriptions of the struggles at sea? It's pretty good. As a mariner, I was shocked to actually hear songs that weren't just using shipwrecks as euphemisms for relationships --- but as violent, frightening occurrences that can leave you physically adrift and going through a lot of strange psychological changes. Maybe I'm reading too much into the music, but y'know what? I don't care. It's good stuff.

It must be insanely hard to top casually dressed and hours. 2 of the most amazing albums in a hard rock genre thats constantly changing. There are some lame, emo type, dual vocals, shyte bands out there(Thursday-worst). This band is the real deal. Have both albums in my jukebox at work(nyc downtown). Waking up(sleeper single song on Casually).