REVIEW: Far, Water & Solutions (Epic)
- Jason Cahill
When Far released their major label debut, Tin Cans With Strings To You, many dismissed it as sloppy, noise driven rock. This assessment wasn't too far off, as Tin Cans' kicking and screaming attitude grew tiresome by the album's end. Now, two years later, the band have released Water & Solutions, an album rich in sound and surprising in its maturity. Fans of Far's previous efforts will be impressed with the band's growth and those listening for the first time will simply be impressed.
To begin with, Water & Solutions is an emotionally jarring and surprisingly focused album. Credit producer D. Sardy (Helmet) with having the good sense to pull back on the reins just enough so as not to smother Far's raw energy and honest approach. The result is an album as intense as it is good.
The music on Water & Solutions is reminiscent of bands like Catherine; soft, intense vocals giving way to an outpouring of guitar based rage. The album's first and finest track, "Bury White", begins with an almost anthemic, pulsing bass over gentle vocals, eventually culminating in a chorus of unbridled sonic release. "Mother Mary", perhaps the album's most radio friendly fare, is a powerful rocker, rich in melodies and an underlying intelligence. Other standouts include the tender, atmospheric "In 2 Again" and the blistering "The System".
The album's brutally honest and introspective lyrics more than make up for what they lack in complexity. Songwriter Jonah Matranga manages to give the listener twelve intimate, emotional selections, leaving almost nothing left to reveal by the album's end. While Water & Solutions does contain its share of typical "love gone wrong" songs, Matranga's heartfelt sincerity can't help but seep to the surface as it does so vividly in "In 2 Again" when he sings, "...I worry that everyone but me will be laughing at something I didn't see".
In the end, Water & Solutions marks a turning point of sorts for Far. Proof that underneath their hardened exterior and hard core roots lies a maturity and insight absent until now.
