Customer Reviews

And We Washed Our Weapons in the Sea

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

 

 

This is exactly the record Frodus SHOULD have made at this point in their career. It is delicate and jagged, polished and raw, easy to love and hard to grasp. It is the perfect amalgamation of who the band members are and were. If you loved the corporate identity and government paranoia swirling in "Conglomerate International," then look no further than "There Will Be No More Scum," "The Awesome Machine," or the absolutely brutal "Year of the Hex," which is punishing both in music and lyrical content: "I unfold to face myself. Laugh at those who laugh at the dead. The night echoes through ghosts of businessmen. Do not sell all you are for all you think you see, my pretties." Yowza. No wonder the album cover features the three band members wearing protective masks. "Out Circuit the Ending" is a wonderfully subdued piece that evokes the past as much as it welcomes the future. But as much as this is an album they SHOULD have made, this is not an album anyone would have EXPECTED Frodus to make at this point.

There is something about "Weapons" that wasn't even hinted at on "Conglomerate" or any other album. And it may have something to do with a woman named Alanna. She was bandmember Jason Hamacher's fiancee, and she died of cancer in 1999, as the band was writing for their new album. The emotional fragility that resulted is evident in "6/99," a touching remembrance of loves lost. The vulnerability present on "The Earth Isn't Humming," "Chiriacho Summit," "Belgian Congo," and the title track is an unexpected, albeit unquestionably welcome facet of "Weapons." It's almost bizarre to hear such candor from a band that was previously known for its obsession with aliens, corporate America, and science. But it's beautiful. Heartbreakingly so. And if there's nothing here as loud, fast, and raw as on "FCI," so be it. The leap between this album and it's predecessor is phenomenal, almost mutant. It's the kind of evolutionary step that only comes from cataclysm. This is the healing process.

I've had this CD for about 3 months, and had heard it at lot before I actually bought it. This CD quickly became one of my favorites, and has rarely left my CD player since. Frodus displays a lot of technical talent as well as a lot of musical talent. When I first heard the song "There Will Be No More Scum" I was a little annoyed by the fact that the guitar plays the same riff for quite a long time, but what I found out was that it really got me listening to other instruments besides just the guitar. I was going to write a list of my favorite tracks on the CD for this review but found out that I put every track on it. No CD collection is complete without this CD.

AND WE WASHED OUT WEAPONS IN THE SEA (not "T") is the pinnacle of Frodus' history as post-punk-spazz-core-yadda-yadda-yadda geniuses. This record defies generic definition. Bassist Nathan Burke's melodic background shows more in this album than the last, as both vocalists take breaks from screaming to serenade a spellbound audience. From ambient to hard-rockin', this record shows how far hard work and persistence can take a band.

Is track 4 what the kids are calling the math rock?

This album plays allot like the age-old teen angst records heard frequently. But the balance between Hard shouting lyrics and good (occasional) soft chords brings a unique sound to this band. They are the anti-rock stars and with this album have a passion that is raw and well focused. If I had to relate this album to another group, I would say it has the dark edgy-ness of Orgy w/out the dance/industrial sound and the punk, in your face "what the hell do you want from me" attitude. I recommend this album to people who aren't afraid of the heavy alternative rock and like good song crafted music, A+ in my book.

I just happened upon this cd, and man do I like it. It is like somone took Juliana Theory and infused them with 70's punk. The sound is raw. The hooks pull you in. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. Much better than the crap spoonfed to you by the radio.