This record is superb front to back. I’ve been listening to it almost nonstop for weeks now, and I’ve yet to hit a lull in my enjoyment or fixate on any idiosyncrasies within the album’s framework.

But above and beyond any listening pleasure I get from it (and I do get plenty), David Comes to Life brings very specific issues to the forefront for me. They’re things we discuss regularly on Buzzgrinder, ranging from the heavy segmentation of the recording industry into genre-specific ghettos to the evolution (or lack thereof) in hardcore music at large.

It makes me wonder why Fucked Up and, say, Torche aren’t touring together. Or why bands are still writing Disfear records. Or why a label like Matador could never sign someone like Touché Amoré. Or why that gaunt dude who always wears Frenchkiss band shirts keeps refusing to pop in some Pelican.

But even with all the negativity I’m bringing to the table, seeing Fucked Up be Fucked Up reminds me that there are bands interested in exploring more aggressive forms of music without capitulating to the conventions therein. I don’t care if a record happens to be “brutal,” “heavy,” “technical” or “sludgy.” I just care if it’s good. Those words have no intrinsic value. If the music sucks, making it heavier won’t make it better. And neither will adding reverb, just for the record.

13 Responses to “Fucked Up – David Comes to Life”

1. 

   On 06/7/11 1:38 PM, John S. said:

   YOU TAKE THAT BACK SEAN! Reverb is the fucking glue that holds everything, even bad songwriting, together! The Disfear ref was nicely done, btw

3. 

   On 06/7/11 4:32 PM, Dylan said:

   I especially liked that last paragraph, great review and might actually have me interested in Fucked Up again.

5. 

   On 06/8/11 12:21 AM, Derek said:

   “Those words have no intrinsic value. If the music sucks, making it heavier won’t make it better.”

   Yes! You’re right of course, and eloquent. I really enjoyed your review, even if I have to confess that I can’t tell if it makes me want to hear the record.

7. 

   On 06/8/11 11:00 AM, Luke said:

   Two things, 1. No such thing as to much reverb, especially with drums. 2. No one should ever, and I mean ever, willingly listen to pelican. It’s like their drummer is playing a completely different song than the rest of the band. If they kicked him out and got a good drummer they’d be decent but until then they’re just ear cancer.

9. 

   On 06/8/11 12:05 PM, John S. said:

   Luke, I’m pretty sure we just became best friends.

11. 

    On 06/8/11 1:46 PM, Luke said:

    If only the world had as much love for reverb and hatred for pelican. That would solve world hunger and probably war.

13. 

    On 06/8/11 4:13 PM, Sean Cannon said:

    i knew mentioning pelican would bring your wrath, luke.

    also, reverb can be badass. but it doesn’t fix bad music. it just makes bad music sound like bad music recorded through sewage pipes.

15. 

    On 06/10/11 11:56 AM, sammy said:

    My friend is college (who is not into metal) looooved Pelican, and I never really cared for them. They were pretty fun to watch live, but I didn’t dig their records. Then they signed to Southern Lord and put out a freakin’ riff factory and I love them for it.

17. 

    On 06/11/11 3:59 AM, Dylan said:

    I liked that City of Echoes album but other than that, didn’t really have much interest in Pelican

19. 

    On 06/29/11 11:59 AM, Bill Power said:

    I love this record and I could not be more excited to see them play this thursday in Nashville with Jeff The Brotherhood!

21. 

    On 06/29/11 12:55 PM, Sean Cannon said:

    i wanted to go to that show so so so bad, but i can’t because of my new job. pump your fist in my honor a couple of times, bill.

23. 

    On 08/1/11 4:48 PM, Jacob said:

    I needed to listen to an album like this today…review score is right on.

25. 

    On 08/27/11 6:23 PM, Shawn Bradley said:

    haha, the list of the last albums you reviewed looks like a worst ever list!

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