Polaris Round Up:: Fucked Up The Chemistry of Common Life

I probably wasn’t the only one to give a half-hearted “meh” when they announced the Polaris Short-list and Fucked Up was included. I know tons of pundits were heaping praise on the TO hardcore outfit, but to me it seemed like a great way to stick another band with fuck in the name dead into Stephen Harper's gullet (and pump the scene in our nation's largest city). I had only heard a few songs, none of which really moved me much on a casual listen and none that made me want to dig deeper.

I spent years listening to punk rock, and after seeing acts like Sick of It All destroy clubs and release records that sounded the same year after year, I kind of realized there wasn’t going to be anything that really split my wig when it came to hardcore anymore. Angst and anger had long given way to more palatable music, more chords and to be honest, The Chemistry of Common Life isn’t even the best hardcore record I heard this year (that honor falls to Bison BC hands down).

But god damn, after spending more time with the record, it’s easily the most ambitious and probably the most rewarding. First off, the sound FU creates is perfect. Without losing any of the integrity and power - dudes can shred and the songs are as dense store bought fruitcake - the TO band took the time to meticulously overdub and layer track after track and even as the riffs crash into you like a chaotic surf, the guitar work shimmers and soars. Even more impressive is the precious – yes, you read that right – moments that appear out of nowhere and completely floor you.

Forget about the flute solo that starts the album. Sure it’s an off the wall way to begin a hardcore record and catches you off guard, but the way the band fuses in bongos, guest vocalists, styles and hope into their surging riffs is what makes this record special. The bongos that fill out Magic Word fit perfectly but after a 90 second flute intro it becomes obvious the the band is pushing the listener. Some might fault it, but I think it’s one of the most powerful tracks on the album and that little nuance helps the listener get ready for the most shocking track on the record.

The instrumental, keyboard heavy slow burner Golden Seal is a wash of textures and distortion but the band refuses to peak the energy, moving patiently across the 3 and half minutes, building the tension until you are pleading for an explosion of drums and guitars. It’s spacey, trippy and psychedelic and really personifies the experience of the book that shares the titles with this record, but even more important is that Fucked Up shows they are more than a few simple chords and intense vocals from the gut.

After the diverse and unexpected beginning to this record, Fucked Up pretty well has carte blanche to head in whatever direction they want. Whether it’s huge and heavy (Days of Last or the Dallas Green assisted Black Albino Blues) or powerful but surprisingly melodic (Crooked Head), they keep you listening and keep your arms swinging. When Vivian Girls offer up on the infectious No Epiphany the results blow you away, but when Katie Stelmanis softens Pink Eyes growl on Royal Swan or Sebastien Grainger helps out on Twice Born, you get the perfect the palette cleanser needed to help you focus in on the terrific instrumentation the band delivers.

I don’t want to you to get this twisted. I don’t think this record is as good as many people claim it to be, but it’s much, much better than I gave it credit for originally. Unlike many records that try to be smart and say something worth hearing, The Chemistry of Common Life actually achieves makes you think about some deep shit – life, death faith - by asking questions for which there usually aren’t any answer, and for that credit is due.

MP3:: Fucked up - Crooked Head
WEB:: http://lookingforgold.blogspot.com/
BUY:: http://www.matadorrecords.com/