Customer Reviews

Water & Solutions (W/Dvd)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This band, and this album in particular, changed my life. Far showed me that artists could make something angry and intense and completely rocking, but ultimatley positive. This album tackles everything from absent fathers to organized religion and relationships gone awry. It does so with heart and honesty that no one else in the genre has since touched. Thier live shows were like church (without all that religion). They inspired a lot of kids my age (I was 17 when this album came out) to be a little more honest with ourselves and the people we love, to wear our hearts on our sleeves, and most of all to create. This album was their last, and it, like every great breakup album- has singer/guitarist Jonah Montranga and lead guitarist Shaun Lopez pulling in different directions. The result is a beautiful, brutally honest album. Of course honesty is always beautiful, and beauty is always true. Thanks for the music.

Far have been one of my favorite bands for a really long time, actually. I saw them on tour in their earlier states, before Immortal/Epic, before everything. They had such a force in their music, it was so amazing. Then I saw this release, Water And Solutions in a local record store, and I picked it up. This music is some of the best you will ever hear, and you will be easily be moved.

The band are all great, especially Shaun, whose guitar work is chaotic, but always ends up being some of the most harmonic I have ever heard. And then, there's Jonah. He is a simple guy, and he is the best lyricist I have ever heard, period. He makes the whole album worth it. All of the lyrics I can relate to, and they are also optimistic and describe events that should be happening in life, but aren't. No one has inspired me more than Far, and I really suggest this if you are into any kind of non-MTV rock.

Overall, Water and Solutions is a hard working, inspirational record. Every song is really exceptionally great, and I mean that honestly, serious. I have heard this called metal, rock, emo, and many more, but in truth, this is one of a kind. I love songs like "Water And Solutions," "Mother Mary," and "Another Way Out," and "Man Overboard." You can fall asleep to this, but this isn't sleepy at all. It is so great I can't explain it. I'm sorry.

This could very well be the best record I have ever purchased, and I am once again totally serious. I listen to this at least every day, and I still love every riff, quote, beat, chorus, and bass lick I hear. Nothing will move you like Far, and that's my basic explaination on why you should buy this album sometime in your life before you die. You will be missing out on finding yourself if you don't. The first time I heard the title track was so moving, it is really hard to explain. I was just sitting on my couch, listening to this for the first time, and I had that song on. When it gets to the part where Jonah sings, "Soon...my doubles will pull all my stunts", I just broke into this euphoric laugh and mood. I was so happy, it was unexplainable. It felt so good, so right. It was like I found my soul. So amazing, true story. I hope they start playing together again.

Far was a band way before their time. Saw them on tour with Deftones in 96 and they blew me away. This cd is a classic and has been one of my top 5 albums for years. Not a bad song on it. If you like indie rock and emo , and want to hear the orignal master at work , it's a must have. The dvd is great for fans like me who miss the band. Check out the singers other work , Onelinedrawing and New End Orignal.

This is considerably better than their first album. It has less of a live sound, and every song really does have its own feel. If you've never heard of Far before, I'd definitely recommend this album. They really don't sound that much like the Deftones, though at times singer Jonah Matranga's voice does sound dead-on like Deftones singer Chino Moreno's. Altogether, however, their overall musical bent leans more toward the likes of the Smashing Pumpkins than anybody else, and some of their songs ("Mother Mary" for one) sound a lot more like pop rock than hardcore. If the fact that seemingly everybody who rated this album gave it the highest score possible isn't enough to convince you to buy it, then just listen to the samples.

Unfortunately, Far never did get too popular nationwide, and now that they've broken up, their albums are only going to get more difficult to track down. I'd recommend that you buy this, and buy it now, before it's gone and you miss out. This is one of the best albums I own, by far.

Far is just an amazing band that comes along once in a great while. Much improved from their other outings Far was finally able to perfect their sound and style on "Water and Solutions". The music is much more emotionally-charged and will leave the listener breathless. I cannot say enough about this cd.

Musically this band is a perfect blend of alternative rock, hardcore, some nu-metal and emo creating a sound that is captivating and engaging. The listener cannot help but be moved by the moods that the music expresses. The song structures are neat and tight accompanied by music that is guitar-driven with cool riffs, excellent bass and perfect timed beats. The music can be aggressive or soothing, very tempo-laden and demanding.

Jonah is simply an amazing vocalist. He has an extremely beautiful voice that can be dark and brooding or lighter-edged and charming. His lyrics are poetic and much more emotionally-charged and there is much less screaming. He has definitely evolved into one of the better vocalists out there today.

This cd is another of the few cds that can be listened to from start to finish, although some songs are better than others. "Bury White" and "Water and Solutions" are two amazing songs with brooding choruses. "Mother Mary" is more of a lighter-edged almost poppy sounding song. "The System" starts out kind of slow but ends up being the heaviest song on the cd. "In 2 Again" is a slower but beautiful song. All of the songs are full of emotion and will move the listener in some way or other.

While this is a great cd, unfortunately Far is no more. Still one of the better cds out there today and highly recommended. You can check out Far's other cd, but "Water and Solutions" is much more complete. If you are a fan of Jonah, the lead singer, then check him out in Onelinedrawing. Other emotionally-charged acts: Glassjaw, Sunny Day Real Estate, Appleseed Cast, By A Thread, Planes Mistaken For Stars.

Sometimes there's a band, and I'm talking about Far here, sometimes there's a band that's a little ahead of their time. I remember when this cd came out, Far was lumped in with the Korns and Deftones and praised as an "alt-metal" band. While their longevity is no match for either band, their influence is undeniable. Jonah's soaring vocals make for a perfect singalong anytime this record is on. Naturally, everyone points to the single "Mother Mary" as the highlight of this record. It is but a standout among an album of standouts. Contrary to the review below me, I will not put Far alongside Taking Back Sunday or Rival Schools. Last I checked, this record came out when TBS was in High School, and Rival Schools wasn't even a band yet. Nevertheless, you can hear a lot of Far out there, if you're listening.

Water & Solutions is an album so far ahead of it's time it's untrue. These guys set the foundation for a generation of emo bands. Coming across like a mixture of Helmet and Quicksand these guys mixed muscular metal with indie-rock. I would highly recommend this album along with Their first album Tin cans with strings to you.

It's FAR! Far can kick people's butts with their chins! If you are new to Far, this is a great introduction to their work. If you liked Tin Cans, you'll appreciate the more streamlined songs and the better production. Although Tin Cans is and always will be my favorite Far album, this is every bit as good. Anyone who likes rock music will dig it. Water and Solutions is a great album to headbang to, fall asleep to, make out (if you're lucky enough) to, etc. etc. etc. Also check out Sunny Day Real Estate, Fugazi, and Texas is the Reason if you like this kind of stuff...

'Water and Solutions' is a wonderful album for jaded suburban teens wondering why it is that they are so damn sad. Jonah's voice sounds as though he is an angel who's girlfriend recently dumped him as it ranges from hints of desperation, to rage, to a kind of lighthearted happyness that makes the listener go to the verge of tears. The songs sound as though you are sitting in a white room trying to put your head under a pillow so that nobody will be able to tell you are crying. "Bury White" and "Mother Mary" are first listen standouts as they are catchy as hell and maintain a youthful punkish disorder to them. "Really Here" and "Water and Solutions" are downer tracks that have the ability to put a smile on your face. "I Like It" and "You Wear It So Well" are probably the best tracks on the album, but all the songs connect in a way as though they were all part of an emotional epic. Emo, alternative, post-hardcore, no words used by the underground elite should be used to describe this album of pure astonishment. Buy this and cry, buy this and smile, buy this and rock.

About a year and a half ago now, my girlfriend and I took a bus ride to Oregon, from Los Angeles. The bos stopped and we had to transfer in Sacramento. Which was, under the surface of insane people in dressing gowns laughing at the wall being thrown out of the bus station at two in the morning, something nice in itself... Because Sacramento created three of the greatest bands of the 20th century - Will Haven, the Deftones and, last but by no means least, Far...

"Water and Solutions" is Far's most popular album, although sadly that doesn't mean much. This album is fantastic, on so many levels.

It's not as heavy as "Tins Can With Strings To You", although in my opinion that has more to do with the production than any massive shift in sound. The vocals have been brought a lot more out of the mix, and the guitars muted somewhat, making it a lot less harsh than "Tin Cans"...

Every single track is a stand out track, every single one is a work of pure art. However, "Really Here", "Water and Solutions" and "Nestle" really are special.

This album is almost beyond words.

On a final note, Far were once supported by a band called Dredg. I would give almost anything to have been able to see that show. Dredg are the future of music - They're going to do to nu-metal what Nirvana did to hair metal (sadly though, not Buckcherry). If you really dig Far, then check out Dredg. They're not similar, but Far are probably the second best band, to Dredg...