The Fire Theft

The Fire Theft

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 23, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000CABFR
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,474 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It might look essentially like a Sunny Day Real Estate reunion record, but Fire Theft is decidedly a more focused, and far less conflicted band. The overall sound is still a poignant mix of dramatic indie-rock with histrionic punk rock energy, and three of the four emo originators are here--singer/guitarist Jeremy Enigk, bassist Nate Mendel, drummer William Goldsmith--but Fire Theft sounds arena-ready from the get-go. Embracing their inner rock stars, their debut is trippy but smart, as likely to appeal to fans of Phish and Rush as Sunny Day's many imitators. This album has sweetly self-effacing bedroom anthems such as "Houses" and mid-tempo minor-keyed anthems like "Waste Time." But Fire Theft explodes with the energy of classic arena rock while the artsy instrumentals seem to have come from a long summer at Robert Fripp guitar camp. At times it devolves into pompous camp ("Uncle Mountain") but overall this is a lovely, sweeping album. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description
Original Sunny Day Real Estate members Jeremy Enigk, William Goldsmith and Nate Mendel reunite to form The Fire Theft. This is their epic, eponymous debut. Produced in Seattle and Los Angeles by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Lee, Liz Phair). This Japanese version features 14 tracks including 1 bonus track, 'Hands On You'. Videoarts Music. 2003. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's no Sunny Day Real Estate, but it's not supposed to be.., December 21, 2003

By A Customer

I've read many complaints about this CD and how it does not sound like "Diary" or various other SDRE recordings, but they all need to realize one thing...this isn't SDRE, this is The Fire Theft. A new band, with a new feeling towards music and life itself.

Uncle Mountain- a peaceful opener, i think they could have placed a more energetic song to open with, but hey, i'm not Jeremy Engnik. Cool guitar solo that sounds very dissonant over the chords being phrased by the rest of the instruments. Beautiful string synths. Great vocals and lyrics.

Wasting Time Segue- a peaceful interlude to get you more settled into the album. Beautiful piano

Oceans Apart- Incredible vocals and harmonies. Very reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel. Beautiful

Chain- the album's first single. Not my favorite song, but good nonetheless. A very cool 3/4 timing.

Backwards Blues- another instrumental. weak in my opinion. not to worry...

Summertime- probably the first INCREDIBLE song on the album. Very dissonant horns in the backround. Very image-inflicting lyrics. Very dynamic in an unlikley way. The song builds only to get quiet...if that makes any sense...

Houses- absolutley beautiful. Glockenspiels in the backround are very reminiscent of something off of Radiohead's Kid A, or the icelandic bands like Sigur Ros or Mum...

Waste Time- A straight-forward rock song, if there ever was one on this record. cool synth fills

Heaven- Jeremy on piano again. It's a bit of a dead spot on the album. still worth a listen

Rubber Bands- I picked up on a very STP-esque vibe from this song. Very cool. Some time-changes feel very unnatural, and it is another instrumental. A bit of a jam actually, but very cool.

It's Over- Jeremy seems to be giving off some anger on this song. Another great rocker.

Carry You- this is my favorite song on the entire record. The first pre-chorus and chorus give me goosebumps every single time i hear it. absolutley stunning

Sinatra- this is the most complex song on the record, clocking in at 15 minutes. The song starts off with a mellotron, giving off a Beatles vibe, then builds into the rest of the song, then breaks down into a jam, then into a 6 or 7 minute ethereal album outro that almost deserves a track of its own...

Great record
4 out of 5

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Next Logical Step..., September 24, 2003

By	K. Vaughn "soma" (Stockton, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

O.K. There have been some mixed reviews of this album. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and so it shows. I first heard "Diary" from Sunny Day Real Estate in 1994 when I was 16. Of course it changed my musical taste from then on. When "LP2" was released, it was not the most appealing album. It felt unfocused and scattered. After constant listens over the years, it is now my favorite album of all time. When the band regrouped in 1998 and released "How it Feels to be Something On" I felt betrayed. Where had all of the angst driven guitars and vocals gone? Their sound had taken on a new meaning and new direction and obviously, not everyone was on board. Again, after constant listens and experiencing the band live twice on that tour, I came to love every song and appreciate the beauty beneath.

Two years later, the band left Sub Pop, signs to Time Bomb and releases "The Rising Tide". Again, upon first listen, I was very dissapointed. What were they thinking? I didn't understand the new direction. I argued with my good friend about it endlessly. I listened to the album almost everyday for at least two months. Suddenly, I began singing along with every word that passed and even picked up my acoustic and began playing along. I loved it. Less than a year later, the band gets dropped from Time Bomb and decides to call it quits for the last time. Then after waiting for over a year, I hear that the band is regrouping without Dan and calling themselves "The Fire Theft". I was eager and curious to hear the new material. I purchased the the demos off of Ebay and I was pretty impressed. I couldn't get past "Chain", which was the first song on the CD. Jeremy's voice never tires even after nine years.

The point of all of this is that as time passes, music changes, people grow older and priorities take a different direction. What's funny is that some reviewers still refer to them as "Emo". It's sad how loosley that term is thrown around lately. Every legitimate "Emo" band has either broken up or changed their sound so significantly as not to be lumped in with all of these new bands that are just jumping on a band wagon that left almost ten years ago and are looking for the same respect as bands that actually defined a sound and pushed it forward. Sorry, it didn't take Carson Daly and MTV2 to tell me that it's cool to be "Emo". Dashboard Confessional, The Used, Vendetta Red, Taking Back Sunday, Count the Stars, New Found Glory, Finch, etc....Sorry, I don't buy your music. I laugh at most and think, "Your a little Late aren't you?" Gone are the days of Braid, the Promise Ring, Joan of Arc, Embrace, Rites of Spring, Jawbox, Christie Front Drive, Drive Like Jehu, and even Sunny Day Real Estate.

This album is perfect in it's way. Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe they are musically spent? Trying a new sound or taking bold leaps against the grain is challenging enough. This album is lush and simple, yet beautiful and haunting at the same time. But I suppose you can either go with the flow or jump off and find another bus to ride. Of course, this is just my opinion and it is neither right nor wrong. I think it's a good step for them. They are doing what makes them happy, and in the end, that's what counts.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a surprise, July 8, 2005

By	Ouroboros (USA) - See all my reviews

I think the 62 reviews already written have pretty much covered it. This album blew me away. I expected something I would enjoy, but had no idea how amazing this album was going to be.

I too cannot believe this album didn't completely explode. Bravo!

Seriously, this album is really, really good.