the futureheads – [s/t] – 5 stars

futureheads live at the troubadour 11/20/2004 – 4 stars

thanks are due on this one, because i might not have given this band a shot if it weren’t for spencer, who told me months ago to check them out and made me listen to them. even if i didn’t take to them then, thinking them just a noisy mess in my half-hearted first listen, he planted the seed.

and thanks to josh, who had this cd playing in his car when we got burgers that day when i realized this cd wasn’t a loud jumble, i just wasn’t paying attention. it was actually a layered and intentionally thick mass of vocal and guitar hooks that built on eachother to deliver a harder punch. kinda like the clash meets a barbershop quartet at a hipster bar. interesting.

then thanks to joe, who gave me the heads up they were playing a month before the show where i probably wouldn’t have noticed or bothered otherwise, and prompted me to recall that day in the car, download a few sample tracks, and realize i was starting to get excited about seeing this band.

thanks especially to the futureheads, who stood on that stage and within 3 bars had me loving them. shooting high onto the list of bands who care so much less about looking like a rock band (using the stage as a display case) and so much more about playing enjoyable music for their fans, and visibly enjoying themselves (stage as a dance floor, trampoline, you name it…). the only problem being that since they’re a new band, they only have a small catalog to pull from, so they ended up playing some of the lesser tracks just to fill a set. another round of songs (new album in 2005? [fingers crossed]) and their setlist will be all-star quality, i can’t wait.

thanks, finally to my passenger seat, for being empty of anyone who might have to endure my singing loudly to this cd as its case sat on the cushion to and from work every day for a week, and i actually enjoyed this cd more every time instead of any kind of loss of novelty effect. the best songs are so full of harmony and bounce i just can’t stop, and i pick up more with each listen. three words for this album: pick it up.

and if you can’t be bothered, at least listen to the pay day song, meantime. doesn’t have the best examples of their cool multi-part backing vocals, but hot dog are those some great licks.