Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It Took Time To Grow On Me, May 11, 2006
When I first heard From First To Last's sophomore album "Heroine", I can admit I was totally turned off. After one listen I shelved the cd away never to see the light of day again. Now this could be my own fault because in my mind I hyped the cd up way too much. I mean with Ross Robinson producing what was promised to be FFTL's "darkest and most impressive effort yet", I had to have high expectations. However if I would have reviewed this album the day I got it, I probably would have given it a 1 star horrid review, and thankfully from my experience I learned not to. Actually to my surprise "Heroine" really began to attach itself to me, and I can't explain why. While it has little in common with the previous screamo/posthardcore persona that the band used to maintain, the album is indeed a progressive stepping stone in the group's evolution. After giving it a second chance and that much needed time to work its ways on me, I actually discovered I liked the album quite a bit, if not just for its oddity. With all complaints and skepticism aside, "Heroine" is probably one of the strangest, yet addicting listens you're likely to have this year.
My immediate disapproval on the disc initially came from it's total 180 from the FFTL sound of the past. For most who have been listening since the "Aesthetic" EP, it's no secret that the band's sound has seen a constant change and growth ever since Phil left the band. While their previous album and ep would definitely fall into the screamo/posthardcore genre, it's very difficult to classify the band's newest effort. Sure there's the screamo elements there, but a lot of the record has a very gritty, haunting feeling that distinctly sets From First To Last apart from their peers. After taking time to appreciate the record I can really understand why FFTL took this kind of turn. It's no secret the screamo trend is around every corner a listener turns right now. With "Heroine" FFTL boldly sets out to break the stereotype of what a "screamo" band should sound like. And with Ross Robinson behind the knobs in the studio, there was no better choice to bring out this side of the band.
Heavy hitters like the opener "Mothersound" and "World War Me" give the band a very rigid, stripped down sound, that hits fast and hard but also gives the listener a definite sense of melody. There's obviously some experimental tracks in the mix like "The Crows Are Coming For Us" and "Waves Goodbye" which rely highly on electronics and atmosphere to shape the sound around the listener. The guitar work is actually even more impressive than it's ever been before. Now this may be hard to believe at first considering the two previous efforts these guys have put forth, but listen to songs like "...And We All Have A Hell" and "Shame, Shame" and try to think otherwise. And with Derek continuing to dazzle on the drums, you'd be hard pressed to find a more musically talented band at this age. As for Sonny as a vocalist, he continues to grow and expand along with the band. There's definitely a maturity in his voice, especially compared to "Dear Diary...." While his croons can sometimes get overbearing, for the most part this is as good as he's ever sounded and I hope he continues to get better in the future because he has a lot of potential to become a really great singer.
While I have grown to appreciate the album more, I still feel there's some things wrong with it. First Derek's bass drum basically gets buried under the production. This is sad because he's such an amazing drummer, and some of his talent is a bit hard to hear. The only time it really shines is when the guitars fade out or do a breakdown and you can only hear the drums. Otherwise the bass drumming is kind of faint and hard to detect. Second there seems to be a lack of Matt's backing vocals this time around. If he is singing, it's usually along with Sonny. He doesn't get many solo vocal spots like he used to back in the band's early days. I don't know the reason for this, but I always liked his vocals in contrast to the lead vocalist (especially on the Aesthetic EP) and it would have been nice to see him a bit more throughout the album. Lastly, and also falling in the vocal department, there seems to be a definite lack of screaming this time around. Now this could be because of the new direction the band was taking (although check the excellent screams from Travis on "World War Me" and "Shame, Shame") or the fact that bassist/screamer John Weisberg was dismissed from the band last September, but whatever you want to attribute it to, there's no questioning the absence of screams found on the cd. Other than that besides a few duds here and there ("Afterbirth", "Waltz Moore") there's nothing else to complain about.
"Heroine" isn't going to be an easy listen for FFTL fans initially. But it would be wise to not make the same mistake I did and pass judgement on the cd immediately after one listen. If given the chance there's a very enjoyable and extremely unique album to be found in "Heroine." The key is to not go into this record expecting another "Dear Diary..." or "Aesthetic", because as much as I hate to admit it, there's never going to be another "Dear Diary..." or "Aesthetic." While it doesn't at all resemble the band that produced the previous two works, "Heroine" is a gratifying listen after time. It's not nearly as bad as I initially thought it to be. While it may not work for you, even after giving it time to grow, it's essential to listen to the album a few listens to let it sink in. After that if it's still no go, then just pass on it. However I'm sure most will find a creative album that took a lot of chances considering what the band is known for doing and what the public would expect. Congratulations From First To Last, you made me a believer.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite CD of this year by FAR., June 22, 2006
I loved FFTL's last cd Dear Diary, and have heard countless people say how much better it is than Heroine. I, however, disagree. Heroine and Dear Diary are almost impossible to compare because they are so different it's almost hard to tell that it's the same band. Heroine makes Dear Diary seem very poppy in comparison, as this cd is much darker and moodier, with stronger vocals and more original melodies. Granted, FFTL's overall sound is not all that unique, but Sonny Moore's haunting vocals screaming out against heavy guitar riffs and even accompanied by opra-ish vocals in the last two songs make for an incredable cd. In my opinon, the best songs are World War Me, Shame Shame, Waves Goodbye, Heroine, and Mothersound. My least favorite song is The Crows are Coming for Us, but besides that all the songs are fantastic and I'd reccomend it for anyone.
Side note to any concerned parents looking at this album for their kids: Heroine is one of the only albums you can get in this genre that contains NO curse words except in the first two songs Mothersound and The Latest Plauge. The lyrics contain no negative or inappropriate subject matter and all in all this cd is appropriate for kids of all ages except for the first to tracks that use [...] a couple of times.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The sound of progress!, October 3, 2006
Despite their image, From First to Last always had one foot out of the emo door, particularly due to Sonny's self-mocking lyrics. With Heroine, though, the whole band has stepped outside the boundaries of the scene with a will; the album showcases a confidence, musicianship, and particularly a creativity that 'Dear Diary...' only hints at, not to mention that it's a whole lot darker.
I don't usually write reviews on here but it did seem that not enough people are praising this over their debut (or they're saying that the two can't be compared, which I disagree with). In my mind this is a complete revolution of their sound, a revolution unequivocally for the better; one that makes their first album look incredibly basic. Anyone with an interest in bands who push at the growing conformity of once 'alternative' scenes like hardcore (like Thrice with 'Vheissu' maybe, although in contrast FFTL have gone a whole lot heavier) should definitely look into this album.
If you're on here I expect you already know if you're going to like it, but just in case: one of my favourite things about the album is that it feels incredibly cohesive, so I would recommend any of the songs, but to start maybe try 'Mothersound' and 'The Crows Are Coming For Us' - those are particularly stand-out, but ultimately it's an fantastic album throughout!
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