Funeral for a Friend - Hours

[donwagenblast]

Funeral for a Friend - Hours
Record Label: Ferret / Atlantic Records
Release Date: June 14, 2005

People are going to hate me for this, but Funeral for a Friend are better off not screaming. The work they've done on Hours is too good to be true.

Sure, Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation and 7 Ways to Scream Your Name were great releases, but the pop sensibility and catchy hooks on Hours blow all of that out of the water. Try not to sing along to the anthemic opener "All The Rage." I dare you. The album progresses into the should-have-been monster single "Streetcar" which still takes a listener's breath away thanks to the creepy spoken interlude and guitar added from out of nowhere.

And we're not even into the second half of the album. The slower, stripped-down "History" is chilling, tear-jerking, and above all a beautiful creation by a band who usually don't tend to slow things down. It is in "History" that we see the potential this band has, and the songwriting skills we all wish we had.

For some fans, the interlude in "Streetcar" says it all: "I can't feel this way about you anymore." But for fans of music in general, Funeral for a Friend will continue to be one of the best bands out there, and one of, in this author's opinion, the most under-appreciated bands out there today.

Taking Back Sunday's Louder Now; Brand New's Deja Entendu
myspace.com/funeralforafriend (http://www.myspace.com/funeralforafriend)

[mushroom]

This is a really good review and i think its more than fair to say that FFAF are better off not screaming.

[EvilZeppelin]

This is a really good review and i think its more than fair to say that FFAF are better off not screaming.
I agree.

[hipvee43]

its funny i was just listening to this record, living in england all my life then moving to america a few months ago, im trying to get people here into these guys, enter, yma6, funny how huge a band can be in the uk and how small they can be in the us.

[Jarbear]

Yeah. FFAF is one of my favorite bands and they haven't disappointed me with any release. One of my favorite songs in all of music is Roses For The Dead. That song is great, the lyrics tug at your heart and the ending builds up and sometimes almost makes me shed a little tear, mainly due to the lyrical content and it's delivery

[BJW7191]

i think alvarez is the best song on this album... the intro riff feels like it kicks me in the teeth, but its so enjoyable... i love this album

[Johnis]

EXACTLY. I'm a huge FFAF fan, and Alvarez is one of my favorite songs by them, as well as off Hours. I don't know why it's never played or talked about, I think it's great.

[BJW7191]

EXACTLY. I'm a huge FFAF fan, and Alvarez is one of my favorite songs by them, as well as off Hours. I don't know why it's never played or talked about, I think it's great.


amazing... another alvarez fan... thats amazing... i agree this and the track rookie of the year are ace by this band

[FaceLixeMurder]

Like this and the older releases, new cd is awful

[The:Whaler]

its funny i was just listening to this record, living in england all my life then moving to america a few months ago, im trying to get people here into these guys, enter, yma6, funny how huge a band can be in the uk and how small they can be in the us.


lostprophets would be another example of huge in the uk, not so much in us. shame really!

[:-)]

History is such a beautiful song.

And unfortunately it's the only song I know by FFAF. I want to check out this album now - thanks for the review

[Hoodrich219]

Am I the only who feels this review is strangely out of place since they just dropped a new album...not to mention the other album that was between Hours and the new one (Memory and Humanity).


Also...opinions coming: The new album is a pretty solid EP, but unfortunately a mediocre album. With their progression, so to speak, that they explored on "Tales..." they really began to drop off what it was that I had come to love from FFAF. I didn't hate the album, but it was less often what I would reach for when I wanted a disc for the road. With Memory and Humanity, they show hints at the old energy they once had, but never truly hit their stride throughout most of the disc's running time.


Just some thoughts on FFAF.

[Alex Djaferis]

the RIYL is laughable. but the review is alright.

[Kbm600]

PeeDster is right, this can no way be compared to Louder Now Or Deja Entendu.

Both are far too different...

I loved this release, possibly the best out of everything FFAF has ever done. Glad someone else appreciates it just as much.

[donwagenblast]

Am I the only who feels this review is strangely out of place since they just dropped a new album...not to mention the other album that was between Hours and the new one (Memory and Humanity).

Just some thoughts on FFAF.

I know the timing is way off ( and really late) i was just looking at reviews one day and i couldn't believe it wasn't reviewed. so i decided to do it myself haha

the RIYL is laughable. but the review is alright.
I know. I had some serious RIYL block, what do you think would have worked?

[donwagenblast]

also, a great big thanks to those who gave nice words :)

[emonkey]

totally agree. hours is one of the most played albums i have. ffaf is really a better band without the screaming! the ending of hospitality is the one that struck me the most. beautiful!

[antimatter]

amazing... another alvarez fan... thats amazing... i agree this and the track rookie of the year are ace by this band
alvarez is one of my favorite songs ever.
and im not a huge fan of FFaF.

[losnoufy]

the RIYL is laughable. but the review is alright.
i totally agree...i'm very curious as to how this sounds anything at all like deja or louder now. also, in my opinion, you just compared this album to the greatest album of the past 10 years and the biggest disappointment of the past 10 years at the same time.

[hipvee43]

Am I the only who feels this review is strangely out of place since they just dropped a new album...not to mention the other album that was between Hours and the new one (Memory and Humanity).


Also...opinions coming: The new album is a pretty solid EP, but unfortunately a mediocre album. With their progression, so to speak, that they explored on "Tales..." they really began to drop off what it was that I had come to love from FFAF. I didn't hate the album, but it was less often what I would reach for when I wanted a disc for the road. With Memory and Humanity, they show hints at the old energy they once had, but never truly hit their stride throughout most of the disc's running time.


Just some thoughts on FFAF.
yo man i no wat u mean, i got into ffaf maybe when i was like 14/15 w/ casually dressed and 7 ways to scream your name. FFAF were kinda the british version of a screamo band, hours in my opinion is the climax of their musicianship/songwriting w/ their style. I lost interest in them w/ into oblivion but i still listen to the old stuff as much as ever.

[hipvee43]

my fav songs r either recovery or end of nothing, roses for the dead is an amazing song thougbh

[hipvee43]

i totally agree...i'm very curious as to how this sounds anything at all like deja or louder now. also, in my opinion, you just compared this album to the greatest album of the past 10 years and the biggest disappointment of the past 10 years at the same time.
hahah

[hipvee43]

lostprophets would be another example of huge in the uk, not so much in us. shame really!
yeah dude except lost prophets suck

[puhrnj]

I think this is an amazing album... streetcar and all the rage are two of my favorite songs, but I somehow feel like the end of this album kind of drifts off and takes away from the power of the first part of the the album.

[The:Whaler]

yeah dude except lost prophets suck
theyve sold about 5 times as many records as ffaf have...but whatever you say buddy :)

[tottivillarossi]

This album got an 89%? Christ, Casually Dressed would get high 90's.

[CheckeredFloors]

Favourite band,
favourite album.

decent review too,
could of done with a bit more length though

[MetalIsThyGod]

good review :)

[punkrockheroes]

I think there's a lot more to be said about this album.
For starters, the guitar in Recovery is money.

[Ed219]

excellent album