(Generic Title Here)

Title: Hours
Artist: Funeral For A Friend
Genre: Post-Hardcore, Modern Rock, Pop-Punk
Tracks: 11
Runtime: 43 minutes

Initial Appeal:
I had no real preconceived notions upon downloading this album (That’s right, I’m just like everyone else, I don’t pay for my music). I had heard a recommendation from a friend and decided to check them out. Their name suggests something macabre and depressive, however, their music is quite the contrary.

I’d rate the initial appeal as 4.5/10.

Creativity:
The riffs and licks on the tracks on this album are definetly different from the current Post-Hardcore scene. They have only a handful of break-downs, and they use them sparingly. However, the riffs can get a little repetitive, and because of this, the album may get a tad redundant after a while. However, with their higher-pitched vocals and clean guitar tracks, the songs contained on the album are something a tad different.

I do recall reading somewhere that they recorded track number 5 (”Drive”) in a car and on several streets. I expected to hear cars and people conversing, but alas, I did not. This brings into the question of whether or not this is just a rumor, or something they mixed out of the final cut.

Back on topic of the guitar work on this album, though. Being a guitarist myself, I tend to analyze this portion of the music more than anything else, really. Upon careful examination, they stick to rather basic harmony patterns, and a moderately easy melody patterns. So with this being stated, they’re not the most technical band I’ve ever heard, but what they do gets the job done and conveys a meaning.

Their lyrics seem to convey an emotion of some sort, but it’s lost amongst the overtly-loud guitar tracks.

They also try to experiment with several keyboard tracks as well, which adds to the overall atmosphere, but it’s not a big enough improvement to warrant a larger increase in score.

I’d give the creativity a 5/10. Overall, it was something different, but the fact that the vocalist is rather difficult to hear, and how the songs can get a little redundant drops the score 5 points.

Re-Playability:
The album has quite a few catchy songs. If you had only a few minutes to skim through the album, I would have to recommend the opening track “All The Rage”, along with “Streetcar”, “Monster”, and “The End Of Nothing”. They hook you with higher vocals and catchy guitar riffing. They have several interludes in their work which makes you want to lip-sync and exaggerate your eyebrows until you look like a clown in an opera.

I’d give the re-playability factor an 8/10. They have good hooks and the occasional catchy lyric, but it could be better.

Emotional Value:
Their vocalist belches out falsetto-soprano like it’s nobody’s business, which conveys a feeling of anguish and loss. Their lyrics often deal with the overly-cliche meme of heartbreak and loss, which often makes me think of “Emo”. So with that being said, their up-beat and up-tempo guitar and drum riffs, paired up with their touchy, rather over-done emotional lyrics, creates a feeling of some sadness. However, it barely begins to scrape the surface of my feelings, so I feel this album was more or less pieced together based on “What sounded good” as opposed to “What felt good”.

I’d give this rather dead-feeling album a 5.5/10. They pair up the guitar and lyrical work well, but they just don’t put any conviction in it.

Album Art/Video:
The cover art (See attachment) is of a female pulling her coat open to reveal a bulletproof vest over a schoolgirl uniform while she is standing in front of vandalized school lockers.

The hidden meaning behind this slightly baffles me, so I can’t say much here. However, if I were to take the “cop-out” way and just say my initial impression, it would most likely have to do with the declining safety in schools, but I doubt this is what they wanted to convey.

Perhaps it has to do with protecting one’s heart, since the heart is in the chest, and a bulletproof vest does provide protection.

It’s just like the Jaberwocky. It’s open for interpretation.

I’d give the album art a 9/10. I like how it’s complex with multiple meanings. There were no DVD extras released with the album.

Overall:
A good album, from start to mid-way. Half-way through I found myself shifting in my chair and wondering when the songs would change from a Major Key (Upbeat, happy) to something not so disgustingly sweet. Anything would have been acceptable.

It feels as if they tried to express some feelings inside of the blast beats and fast, palm-muted riffing, but it didn’t quite come through. It’s slightly frustrating, actually.

I would have to say this is a good album for a collection, and worth a listen if you’re into “poppier” music and “Emo” lyrics. They [Funeral For A Friend] try to convey a message, but alas, it gets lost amongst the rest of the music. To some, another generic post-hardcore band, but to others, a slightly different group trying some new things.

Overall, this album gets a 6.5/10. A good buy, but if you’re not up for something new, don’t buy it.