Search - Futureheads :: Futureheads

Good post-punk, but far from classic - genre fans will be sa

C. Cross | 01/14/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Futureheads are a good and unique-sounding British post-punk group, but I would definitely not put this album up with the likes of Gang Of Four's "Entertainment!" or even the Talking Heads' "Talking Heads: 77". It lacks the charm and originality of those two albums, but that's not to say that this is bad. The first mistake the band makes is that the singers aren't that appealing - I can definitely imagine a good amount of people not liking them. They just lack the personality or charisma that, say, David Byrne had. However, they aren't "terrible" and are certainly standable, which is good (they're similar to Kaiser Chiefs' singer). There are no bad songs here, but there are some ok and good ones - there's nothing great and memorable here like, say, Bloc Party's "Banquet" or "Helicopter" ("Aims" comes close). Lyrically the album is easy to make out most of the time and is relatively interesting albeit very forgettable. You'll pay attention to the lyrics, yes, but you won't remember any of them. Musically it sounds like any other post-punk band out there today, so nothing really new here. Basically, post-punk fans will enjoy this album, but not "greatly". I'm pretty sure that non-genre fans won't like it that much. Slightly recommended.



Highlights include:

the entire album!"

Joyful and energetic, this is POP!

Chet Fakir | San Francisco | 03/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I wouldn't call the Futureheads punk, rather like one of their biggest influences XTC (that's early XTC, pre pre Skylarking) once said "this is POP." And damn good energetic and melodic pop it is too, like a jolt of caffeine to yer back brain accompanied by a boot in the pants. Sure you could call The Futureheads '80s revivalist trendmongering, but then you'd miss out on all the fun."

Angular, Edgy Retro-Pop

Bart King | Portland, Oregon | 07/31/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a big fan of both the Jam's early work and XTC's entire catalog, I listened to the opening notes of THE FUTUREHEADS and knew exactly where they were coming from. Along with the Dead 60s, these guys are rechanneling quality New Wave pop from the early 1980s like nobody's business.



But I wouldn't insult the band by calling them derivative; after all, you can't riff on XTC without having the ability to write a catchy tune. On songs like "Decent Days and Nights" and "Meantime:," the Futureheads show they have a knack for songwriting. There are missteps; "Danger of the Water" and "The City Is Here for You..." are too ambitious by half, but again, you can't fault them for aiming high. So I'll admit that I'm rating this CD a little bit higher based on the band's potential and moxie.



SIDELIGHT: In the true spirit of New Wave pop music, most of the songs here clock in at just over two minutes. The band's magnum opus, "He Knows," is 3:14."