YUNOREVIEW: June 2014

The magical monthly segment where I briefly touch down on a gauntlet of albums I didn't get a chance to review this past month. These are just my short, straightforward, passionate, biased opinions.

Fucked Up - Glass Boys Fire! Orchestra - Enter Cormorant - Earth Driver Venetian Snares - My Love Is A Bulldozer Antlers - Familiars First Aid Kit - Stay Gold 50 Cent - Animal Ambition Keaton Henson - Romantic Works

Additional reviews: Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown Linkin Park - .....sorta... Anathema - Distant Satellites Cakes Da Killa - Hunger Pangs G-Eazy - These Things Happen

Fucked Up- "I Hate Summer"

MP3

One of the most bizarrely beloved punk bands right now is Fucked Up. They were just recently announced to be headlining the Bruise Cruise punk festival, and seemingly in celebration of that they have released “I Hate Summer”. The song fully embodies that classic angst filled punk spirit. After the concept album David Comes To Life, it’s nice to hear these guys produce some old fashioned trashy punk music.

This song is mosh-ready and loaded with energy and aggression. Fucked up sounds great when they're keeping things trim.

Fucked Up- David Comes to Life

On Fucked Up's new album, the band brings concept to the forefront for a group of songs that tell a dramatic tale of love and loss. It's pretty, well, complicated. As "epic" as this story is, what makes it grandiose also kinda kills it for me, too. These songs make use of punk's trademark aggression and speed, but draws all the intensity out to a point where it no longer feels energetic, thrilling, cathartic, or any of the other things I look to this style of music for.

Which leads me to believe that it's just not for me. Maybe some of the more melodic moments could have gone over better if the vocals displayed as much dynamics, but the recording, instrumentation, and message are all pretty good.

For any punk fan, love it or hate it, it's at least worth a visit.

WATCH THE REVIEW

Stream David Comes to Life

Thanks to the good people at NPR Music, the new Fucked Up album is streaming front to back, which includes the LOVED track "Queen of Hearts." The album is dropping on the 7th via Matador Records, and watch a short docu-film-piece-thing on the band over here.

Here we go: "First Listen: F—— Up, 'David Comes To Life'"

Fucked Up- "Queen of Hearts"

The latest single from Fucked Up's David Comes to Life is both hard-hitting and thematic. The fierce punk energy that make this Canada band's previous work so extreme remains intact as the band pulls together a track that begins the story that opens up this forthcoming concept album. The lyricism is detailed and the melodies are triumphant, which make the rough vocals and high-volume distortion so easy to take in. It's like a punk'd out version of sunshine. Bask in it.

Is this track for you? Find out in this review.

Review: Fucked Up- "Queen of Hearts"

Stream: Fucked Up- "Queen of Hearts"

Fucked Up- "Queen of Hearts"

Canadian punk rockers Fucked Up have just dropped the fourth single from their forthcoming album, David Comes To Life. Look for it on Matador on June 7th.

When the band dropped "The Other Shoe," I was skeptical of the band going in a more melodic direction, and making use of more female vocals, too.

But I have to say this song hits a sweet spot for me. The verses are even catchier than the choruses, and the chord progression adds some sweetness to Damian Abraham sandpaper'd voice.

The lyrics tell a love story, showing the emotion can show up in the weirdest places--you know, like outside of a factory where work-weary employees are being handed leftist literature. Sure, why not?

Fucked Up- "Ship of Fools"

New track from the forthcoming Fucked Up album, David Comes to Life. If you recall, "The Other Shoe" dropped a little while back, which was surprisingly melodic.

But on this new joint, "Ship of Fools," the band is sounding a lot harder. There is a nice psychedelic guitar solo interlude, though. Download the track over here.

Fucked Up- "The Other Shoe"

Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Ontario. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for their album The Chemistry of Common Life. Their third LP, David Comes to Life--according to the Matablog--should be more melodic than the band's prior work. The heavy female vocals on the first track to drop from the LP should be a hint toward change. Four digital singles will be dropping prior to the release of David on June 7th. Here's the first:

MP3: Fucked Up- The Other Shoe -