From First to Last - Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count

[chelseaxsmilexD]

From First to Last - Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count
Record Label: Epitaph
Release Date: June 29, 2004

Despite a confusing album cover and a hefty album name, From First To Last's first LP is actually pretty decent. Amongst the crop of the emo-leaning post-hardcore bands, From First to Last are not the most original band ever. In fact, they are far from it. They even have the stereotypical, high-pitched vocalist, Sonny Moore, that has been compared to, "a cat being run over by a car." Even so, their musicians are very talented, especially Derek Bloom, the drummer.

Tracks like "Ride The Wings Of Pestilence" display Bloom's skill as a drummer, Jon Weisberg's ability as a bassist, and all three vocalists' talent, as it is one of the most diverse songs on the album. It is also the best song, along with being the album's closer. The song starts with an eerie guitar "riff" (if that's what you want to call it) that leads to every instrument going along for the ride, before progressing into a part that showcases Bloom's ability. The song's verses are catchy and the cymbal fill fuels a chorus that is catchy depsite the high "cat wails" from Sonny Moore. Travis Richter screaming lines from the movie Heathers made that song one of my all-time favorites. The ending makes the song even better, and banked it as the album's closer, despite the heaviness of "Kiss Me, I'm Contagious."

"Kiss Me, I'm Contagious" has lyrics that remind me of the dusty ol' trails of 1859. The song isn't all that catchy, but it shows Sonny's new-found range. The rasps during the chorus fit greatly with Sonny's somewhat monotonous vocals on this song. The song is pretty decent, but it seems extremely repetitive, especially at the end -- "Can I touch your legs? Do I make you sweat?" is repeated 6 times in an unruly fashion. Now, you'll expect me to go into how the lyrics are full of emo-cliches right? Well, unlike "Emily," the lyrics are reminiscent of deathcore cliches, and I don't mean the parts about how the lead singer will stab you in your genitals. I mean about the part how, "I'm hung like an outlaw," and "I'll rip that ass," and of course the infamous, "bang bang, guns go bang."

Speaking of "Emily," the band really shows how mellow and in touch with their feelings they can get. In other words, how "emo" they can get. The song oozes with passion from the vocalist instead of the musicians this round, (yes that is a "Kiss Me, I'm Contagious" reference) which is a huge shocker. The song fills itself with how Sonny cheated on his girlfriend, and how there's "no one in the world like Emily." Emily, you really screwed this kid up if he's listening to Morrissey in his car after a while.

In the shortest of words, fast, metal-paced songs like "Note To Self" and "The One Aremd Boxer vs. The Flying Guillotine" are found on this album, but they're countered by soft, introspective ballads like "Emily." It has become a sales-phenom formula, and it's sad to see such few bands, like From Autumn To Ashes, and Alexisonfire stray. Nevertheless, the album is pretty decent, good, even great if you really like that kind of stuff. I'm just glad that the band went here before their self-titled album.

post-hardcore; a high-pitched Saosin; the old Senses Fail; Alesana; Scary Kids Scaring Kids

Check out From First to Last on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/fftl).

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I dedicate this to Sonny, hopefully his new techno music will suck less in the future.

[PureBlueSF]

I bought this record well over 4 years ago and I'm still trying to figure out what the hell the cover art is supposed to be. It's a decent post-hardcore album though.

[maker_break]

I saw Sonny's new group open for Hollywood Undead a while back.

Lyrical content aside, the music was pretty cool. It's definitely different, to say the least. It's also catchy as hell. But the lyrics were probably some of the most retarded shit I've ever heard. Just look up and listen to Gyspyhook. That song is pretty stupid.

Sonny's a really nice guy too. He was outside the venue having a cigarette and he let my girlfriend and her friend take some pictures with him.

Sonny's new shit will definitely piss off From First to Last fans. It's not emo or anything even remotely heavy. It's like straight up party music. But if Sonny wanted to quit FFTL and start doing his own thing, maybe on a more positive note, then power to him.

[joeag1985]

It's two people with hoods over their heads (or those infamous saucer people that have a penchant for hood wearing) carrying a coffin.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I bought this record well over 4 years ago and I'm still trying to figure out what the hell the cover art is supposed to be. It's a decent post-hardcore album though.
i think it's two people with mosaic faces that are carrying a coffin to a crematorium.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I saw Sonny's new group open for Hollywood Undead a while back.

Lyrical content aside, the music was pretty cool. It's definitely different, to say the least. It's also catchy as hell. But the lyrics were probably some of the most retarded shit I've ever heard. Just look up and listen to Gyspyhook. That song is pretty stupid.

Sonny's a really nice guy too. He was outside the venue having a cigarette and he let my girlfriend and her friend take some pictures with him.

Sonny's new shit will definitely piss off From First to Last fans. It's not emo or anything even remotely heavy. It's like straight up party music. But if Sonny wanted to quit FFTL and start doing his own thing, maybe on a more positive note, then power to him.
i know, right. i heard gypsyhook and i was like, it's innerpartysystem with lyrics written by a retarded koala.

[Akissforher]

not sure i quite get the FATA or Alexis similarities, which isnt a bad thing, i love both these bands, def my favourite FFTL record,

Shame you didnt mention 'Populace In Two' great song which alot of people overlook, i think sonnys vocal delivery in that song is great, as of course emily,

i liked the revies also :D
like to read more.

[The Summer Ends]

1. this album has the worst album name of all time

2. i heard emily for the first time on this one weird kid's xanga and started laughing

[Klatzke]

I've always liked the name of this album for some reason.

[Burn That Shit]

Misuse of the words post-hardcore, emo, and good.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

not sure i quite get the FATA or Alexis similarities, which isnt a bad thing, i love both these bands, def my favourite FFTL record,

Shame you didnt mention 'Populace In Two' great song which alot of people overlook, i think sonnys vocal delivery in that song is great, as of course emily,

i liked the revies also :D
like to read more.
i said that fata and aof stray from this kind of stuff, so i was contrasting them.
personally, i didn't like populace in two, don't hate me!
and thnnx for the review comments... positivity is always good.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I've always liked the name of this album for some reason.
i like it because it's a quote from Heathers. lol

[chelseaxsmilexD]

Misuse of the words post-hardcore, emo, and good.
i'm sorry what would you call them? :-| like seriously?

[Christian Otte]

Great album.

[Akissforher]

i said that fata and aof stray from this kind of stuff, so i was contrasting them.
personally, i didn't like populace in two, don't hate me!
and thnnx for the review comments... positivity is always good.
ah well in that case the use of FATA and AOF makes sense and works well in this.
haha i dont hate you, you still gave the album a good score, well one at leats its deserved of,

not a problem, i'd hate it if i tried to write an honest music review and have everybody tear it to shreds,

[fadedmemories]

No matter how much hate there is for them in this site, I can never hate on this album.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

ah well in that case the use of FATA and AOF makes sense and works well in this.
haha i dont hate you, you still gave the album a good score, well one at leats its deserved of,

not a problem, i'd hate it if i tried to write an honest music review and have everybody tear it to shreds,
personally, i'd rather read an honest review i don't agreee with than a faulty one i do.
if i were to write about their new stuff, i would give them so much hate...

[chelseaxsmilexD]

No matter how much hate there is for them in this site, I'll can never hate on this album.
good

[chelseaxsmilexD]

1. this album has the worst album name of all time

2. i heard emily for the first time on this one weird kid's xanga and started laughing
y?

[The Summer Ends]

y?
1. the name is just goofily stupid, i don't care if it's from a movie.

2. the song was hilariously bad

[chelseaxsmilexD]

1. the name is just goofily stupid, i don't care if it's from a movie.

2. the song was hilariously bad
At least it's not S.L.O.B. (dr. acula) or BC13 (brokencyde)

although the song is disappointing, it's not as bad as sex toys or somewhere in between.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

300th post yeehoo!
also, this album is great.

[The Summer Ends]

At least it's not S.L.O.B. (dr. acula) or BC13 (brokencyde)

although the song is disappointing, it's not as bad as sex toys or somewhere in between.
oh i know that, it's definitely definitely not that bad. i don't feel an immense hate towards someone who likes it haha.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

oh i know that, it's definitely definitely not that bad. i don't feel an immense hate towards someone who likes it haha.
neither does i because i have four friends who like/love/immensely adore bC. i talk tdown to them, but the pig kicks my ass somehow. probably all the cristal-induced barfights that strengthened him... lolz.

[xjulianx89]

I hate everything else they've done, but this, this I love.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I hate everything else they've done, but this, this I love.
mee too. thier new s/t album is shit.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

oh i know that, it's definitely definitely not that bad. i don't feel an immense hate towards someone who likes it haha.
oh, and it's not as bad as iset my friends on fire either.... i'd give it the rating of a 4. which is a good hawthorne heights song.

[xapplexpiex]

I used to love this album...before I found better music.
But in all seriousness, there's a couple good songs. The lyrics are sorta make me cringe at times and I think Heroine is more mature and just overall better.

[Joey (J-Train)]

This album is great but nothing compared to Heroine or Aesthetic but certainly more than their S/T.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I used to love this album...before I found better music.
But in all seriousness, there's a couple good songs. The lyrics are sorta make me cringe at times and I think Heroine is more mature and just overall better.
same here minus heroine... i ahven't dug deep into that one yet... never heard a song actually.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

This album is great but nothing compared to Heroine or Aesthetic but certainly more than their S/T.
93% of music is better than their s/t. i just have a thing that if i listen to another album by them, it'll lose the magic... i'd be saddened :-(

[xapplexpiex]

same here minus heroine... i ahven't dug deep into that one yet... never heard a song actually.
I think you should take a listen, especially if you liked this disc.

[chelseaxsmilexD]

I think you should take a listen, especially if you liked this disc.
have you ever been introduced to an album that really brought you into a new style of music? Now, have you heard that same band make shit music? Iat ruins the magic, I don't want the magic to disappear altogether, you know? However, I will check out Mothersound and a few others. But I kinda like Sonny's voice.

[Dymytry Vance]

This album is just a little too generic for me. If it had some originality then I could at least find this album decent. But it seems that this band erupted at the same time that Alternative Press had some influence on impressionable teenagers.

[Dymytry Vance]

1. the name is just goofily stupid, i don't care if it's from a movie.

2. the song was hilariously bad
Emily is one of the worst songs from this scene.

[adbiufbwqf]

I wish I could give this the type of review it fucking deserves, one of my favorite albums of all time and FFTL are my boiz

[WorldByStorm55]

One of my favorite albums ever. I actually really like Sonny as a vocalist though.

[blessphemy]

just gave this baby a spin for the first time in 5 years...totally worth it..about to do a a static lullaby week...

[twogirls1nathan]

This album is one of the better albums this band has put out. Sonnys vocals were great and his Dubstep is also very good.

[basher5time]

I love this album, though only because it helps me keep my "Teen Angst" in check.
The songs I Liked You Better Before You Were Nakid On The Internet and Emily felt out of place, but are still enjoyable to me.
Unfortunately, to all my "scene" chick friends FFTL is all about Emily and not the Post-Hardcore that is the rest of their music.