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On their self-titled debut, Friendly Fires serve up a very slick -- and very appealing -- mix of synth pop and dance-rock with unexpected nods to shoegaze that suggest their hard-edged, nu-rave sound might blur into something more interesting. The band crafts a big, hooky sound that loves melody, rhythms, and choruses equally, especially on "Jump in the Pool," which is just as fun and refreshing as its title suggests (the tropical-sounding drum breaks don't hurt), and "In the Hospital," a sleek track that sounds like the D.F.A. collaborating with Franz Ferdinand on an especially poppy day. For the rest of Friendly Fires, the band switches between these two approaches, and while they do a pretty good job of bringing the punk-funk, particularly on "Lovesick," this is very familiar territory that the band doesn't embellish much -- and "On Board" and "Photobooth" narrowly avoid coming off as parodies of that sound. Friendly Fires are more convincing, and more intriguing, when they give into their lush pop side. "Strobe"'s aptly shimmering guitars, flickering keyboards, and almost ridiculously pretty melody nod to M83 and New Order, and the band saves the best for last with "Ex Lover," which pits steep, tone-bending guitars and sleepy vocals against brisk dance beats, suggesting what Chapterhouse might have sounded like if they were actually influenced by house. As it stands, Friendly Fires seem to be influenced by dream pop and whatever trend is big in dance music -- "Skeleton Boy"'s bleepy keyboards borrow from the 8-bit craze -- but when the results are as immediate as this album is at its best, it's hard to slam them too much for being derivative; better just to enjoy Friendly Fires as fleeting fun.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
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Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Epworth, Producer, MixingEngineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Robertson, Engineer - Jake Painter, StudioMusician - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Rebecca Willis, StudioMusician
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rich Costey, MixingEngineer - Annie Hart, StudioMusician - Heather D'Angelo, StudioMusician - Au Revoir Simone, FeaturedArtist - Erika Spring Forster, StudioMusician - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Alex Willner, Composer, Programmer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, MixingEngineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, MixingEngineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Rankin, Engineer - Paul Epworth, Producer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher - Barack Schmool, StudioMusician - Fransecs Marco Sendon, StudioMusician - Hammadi Rencurrel Valdez, StudioMusician - Fabio De Oilvera, StudioMusician
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Universal Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - MAGNUS JONSSON, StudioMusician - Universal Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Epworth, Producer - Graeme Durham, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rich Costey, MixingEngineer - Kevin Metcalfe, Engineer - Annie Hart, StudioMusician - Heather D'Angelo, StudioMusician - Erika Spring Forster, StudioMusician - Aeroplane, Remixer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Downtown Music Publishing, MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Alex Willner, Composer, Programmer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Epworth, Producer, MixingEngineer - Kevin Metcalfe, Engineer - Thin White Duke, Remixer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cenzo Townshend, MixingEngineer - Ray Mang, Remixer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
Friendly Fires, MainArtist - Edward Gibson, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Savidge, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Edward MacFarlane, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Paul Epworth, Producer - Kevin Metcalfe, Engineer - Universal Music Publishing Ltd., MusicPublisher - Harry Fox Agency, MusicPublisher - Air France, Remixer - CMRRA, MusicPublisher
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2009 XL Recordings Ltd
Album review
On their self-titled debut, Friendly Fires serve up a very slick -- and very appealing -- mix of synth pop and dance-rock with unexpected nods to shoegaze that suggest their hard-edged, nu-rave sound might blur into something more interesting. The band crafts a big, hooky sound that loves melody, rhythms, and choruses equally, especially on "Jump in the Pool," which is just as fun and refreshing as its title suggests (the tropical-sounding drum breaks don't hurt), and "In the Hospital," a sleek track that sounds like the D.F.A. collaborating with Franz Ferdinand on an especially poppy day. For the rest of Friendly Fires, the band switches between these two approaches, and while they do a pretty good job of bringing the punk-funk, particularly on "Lovesick," this is very familiar territory that the band doesn't embellish much -- and "On Board" and "Photobooth" narrowly avoid coming off as parodies of that sound. Friendly Fires are more convincing, and more intriguing, when they give into their lush pop side. "Strobe"'s aptly shimmering guitars, flickering keyboards, and almost ridiculously pretty melody nod to M83 and New Order, and the band saves the best for last with "Ex Lover," which pits steep, tone-bending guitars and sleepy vocals against brisk dance beats, suggesting what Chapterhouse might have sounded like if they were actually influenced by house. As it stands, Friendly Fires seem to be influenced by dream pop and whatever trend is big in dance music -- "Skeleton Boy"'s bleepy keyboards borrow from the 8-bit craze -- but when the results are as immediate as this album is at its best, it's hard to slam them too much for being derivative; better just to enjoy Friendly Fires as fleeting fun.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:19:25
- Main artists: Friendly Fires
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: XL Recordings
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
2008 XL Recordings Ltd 2008 XL Recordings Ltd
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