Search - Fin Fang Foom :: With the Gift Comes The Curse

Fin Fang Foom
With the Gift Comes The Curse
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (9) - Disc #1
1. The Jetties
2. In Harm?s Way
3. Cruel and Unusual
4. Lifted
5. How To Make A Monster
6. Yesterday Doesn?t Exist
7. Plastic Fangs
8. Instruments of Fear
9. N.C. Blackout

CD Details

All Artists: Fin Fang Foom
Title: With the Gift Comes The Curse
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Lovitt
Original Release Date: 5/27/2003
Release Date: 5/27/2003
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 643859840023

Synopsis

Album Description

Hailing from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Fin Fang Foom returns with a much more somber long-player in With the Gift Comes the Curse. Their second full-length, With the Gift Comes the Curse, is a dark, piano-driven set of songs anchored by melancholy vocals with rich delivery. This new album captures hypnotic drones and transforms them into something compelling and riveting. The vocals are subdued and effective, with swirling guitar and keyboard lines producing a concentrated fog of activity. The album is propelled by unconventional rhythms and beats that skitter around vivid melodies. Fin Fang Foom has succeeded in reining in disparate elements of their earlier efforts and condensed them into formidable, weighty pieces. These songs are cohesive and collected into an arrangement of solemn design. Listeners will be captivated by doleful wails that rise and fall under surging melodic lines. While dark in nature, Fin Fang Foom doesn?t let the mood lapse into bleakness; there is simply too much action to let inertia glide in. Rather, this talented trio has created a work of dimmed, expressive beauty hypnotic to witness and hear, a beautifully subdued effort that springs forth from a quiet turmoil. With the Gift Comes the Curse was recorded by Andy Baker (Mercury Program, Japancakes) in Athens, Georgia, at Chase Park. Chad Clark (Smart Went Crazy, Beauty Pill) mastered it at Silver Sonya Studios in Washington, D.C. Fin Fang Foom have played and toured with such bands as Engine Down, Mercury Program, Milemarker, Twelve Hour Turn, Cursive, and Blonde Redhead. They plan to tour Europe in spring 2003 and will tour the U.S. and Japan throughout 2003 in support of their new album.

CD Reviews

Dark and Moody

Chris Denning | Raleigh, NC United States | 12/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me just say, I have seen Fin Fang Foom live twice, and I didn't buy either of their CDs until recently. They are really dark and moody, and this CD is by far their darkest sounding. The pianos create a beautiful effect and add to the moodiness, although they can still rock out at times. I will go through the tracks one by one and let you know what I think:1. "The Jetties" - A nice dark song to start off, fairly slow with the pianos playing most of the way through. Has a kind of angry feel, especially towards the end. 4/52. "In Harm's Way" - Lots of pianos to start off with, this song is more depressing and mellow... Towards the end it builds up and speeds up, then crashes to a halt. One of the best songs on the CD... You can download this song on their website. 5/53. "Cruel and Unusual" - Heavier and faster, again with the piano giving it a dark and forboding sound. The vocals are psychotically calm (listen to it to see what I mean). Builds up in the middle of the song. 4/54. "Lifted" - Completely instrumental. Not as dark as some of the other songs, but still has a nice feel to it. 3/55. "How to Make a Monster" - Starts with a piano intro, and then goes to no pianos and just rocking out. Calms down and brings the pianos back in with the vocals. Then speeds back up somewhat for the chorus. Features a great mix between beautiful pianos and deep, rich bass. 5/56. "Yesterday Doesn't Exist" - This song is by far their most rocking out song. It has been my favorite when I saw them live. It has an interesting rhythm. The drums and bass work very well together to keep this rhythm stuck in your head while the guitarist plays the keyboard, then switches to his guitar to give it a heavier feel. About halfway through, the heavy beat ends, and the keyboards are used a lot more heavily. About 3/4 through the song, the vocals finally come in. The pianos make the ending have a very melodic and beautiful feel. The last 1/4 of the song feels like the climax of the whole CD. 5/57. "Plastic Fangs" - Another heavier song, starting out with lots of pianos, then moving to a heavier guitar and bass part. During the verses, it is quieter and the keyboards are used a lot, but during the chorus it is much heavier. This has been another one of my favorites to see live. 5/58. "Instruments of Fear" - Another instrumental song. This is one of those songs that shows just how original FFF is. It's not really dark, and it's somewhat heavy, but it has a uniqueness about it that many bands fail to obtain in their music. 4/59. "N.C. Blackout" - Instrumental. A slower, more depressing song. Kind of reminds me of Mogwai or GYBE! a little bit, although it still keeps with FFF's unique sound. Beautiful and melodic. A great way to fade out the CD. 5/5This is one of my favorite CDs I have purchased recently. It has such a unique sound, it's hard to compare it to many other bands. The use of pianos makes the music depressing but at the same time beautiful, dark but at the same time melodic. If you would like to hear more sample songs, they have 3 on their website in addition to the one on this page."