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The Fire Theft
Rykodisc
Sometimes it's all about figuring out what ingredient doesn't work,apparently. When Sunny Day Real Estate split in 1995 and then reformedin 1997 without original bassist Nate Mendel, some thought thatfrictions were still present that may have caused the split, preventingMendel from returning to the fold. Then in 2001, just when the bandseemed to be branching out into new territory, the band split again,leaving many scratching their heads: why split up at the height of yourpopularity, reform, then split up again right when all seemed to be inplace? According to recent interviews with band members, it wasoriginal guitarist Dan Hoerner who caused some of the troubles, makingit very difficult to work with him. So, when vocalist/guitarist JeremyEnigk and drummer William Goldsmith wanted to record some new material,they decided to go it alone, only to have Mendel accept the invitationthis time. Obviously, the name would have to change, as there waslittle mileage left in it, so they chose The Fire Theft and headed tothe studio with Brad Wood. The result is a little bit SDRE and a wholelot breaking new ground, with myriad synthesizers (courtesy of Wood)and new noises making their way onto the record. Through it all,Enigk's voice is the anchor as it always has been, and the record is abold new beginning and another chance at success. "Faces in Disguise"off SDRE's The Rising Tideis a good frame of reference for this record, as the sound seems totake that track's atmospheric approach and build on it. "UncleMountain" is as impressive an album opener as I've heard this year,starting off muted and quiet then lunging for the death blow halfwaythrough. Elsewhere, "It's Over" and "Waste Time" show off classic Enigkwails and familiar guitar crunches fans will adore. It's a powerfuldebut, full of promise, and a redemption from the ashes of the past.Fire theft, indeed.
Sometimes it's all about figuring out what ingredient doesn't work,apparently. When Sunny Day Real Estate split in 1995 and then reformedin 1997 without original bassist Nate Mendel, some thought thatfrictions were still present that may have caused the split, preventingMendel from returning to the fold. Then in 2001, just when the bandseemed to be branching out into new territory, the band split again,leaving many scratching their heads: why split up at the height of yourpopularity, reform, then split up again right when all seemed to be inplace? According to recent interviews with band members, it wasoriginal guitarist Dan Hoerner who caused some of the troubles, makingit very difficult to work with him. So, when vocalist/guitarist JeremyEnigk and drummer William Goldsmith wanted to record some new material,they decided to go it alone, only to have Mendel accept the invitationthis time. Obviously, the name would have to change, as there waslittle mileage left in it, so they chose The Fire Theft and headed tothe studio with Brad Wood. The result is a little bit SDRE and a wholelot breaking new ground, with myriad synthesizers (courtesy of Wood)and new noises making their way onto the record. Through it all,Enigk's voice is the anchor as it always has been, and the record is abold new beginning and another chance at success. "Faces in Disguise"off SDRE's The Rising Tideis a good frame of reference for this record, as the sound seems totake that track's atmospheric approach and build on it. "UncleMountain" is as impressive an album opener as I've heard this year,starting off muted and quiet then lunging for the death blow halfwaythrough. Elsewhere, "It's Over" and "Waste Time" show off classic Enigkwails and familiar guitar crunches fans will adore. It's a powerfuldebut, full of promise, and a redemption from the ashes of the past.Fire theft, indeed. samples:
The Eye: RELOADED!
Ten years ago, Brainwashed.com launched The Eye, one of the first regular music oriented video features online. Over the years, close to 150 mini documentaries were produced from live and interview footage with some of the most innovative acts. In the last few weeks, the videos have been re-visited, re-mastered, and re-presented on YouTube. We're excited for the new resolution, sound, and clarity of these features, along with the portability afforded by YouTube. Over the next few weeks we will be randomly selecting features on the home page here of Brainwashed but you can always Start at the beginning and see where it takes you!
