Imagine you're in a band and you just recorded an amazing label debut album with powerful guitar licks and emotionally driven vocals. You have a sense of achievement and accomplishment in the fact that you've just spent months of your life pouring your heart and soul into an action packed project. Now imagine being the lead singer of that group and then ending your time with the band before that CD ever hit store shelves. Such is the case of emo rockers Further Seems Forever whose lead vocalist Chris Carrabba officially withdrew from his partnership with guitarists Nick Dominguez and Josh Colbert, bassist Chad Neptune and drummer Steve Kleisath. There were many factors in such a decision, but the remaining members of Further Seems Forever point out that the departure was mutually beneficial. Regardless of the membership drama, The Moon is Down sports lush, guitar driven arrangements, flushed out with Carrabba's emotional style, giving them a Brandtson meets Get Up Kids type sound. Although they are not as aggressive as Tooth and Nail label mates The Juliana Theory and the indie turned MTV band At the Drive In, Further Seems Forever is on a similar path of general market success, and will inevitably appeal to the fan base of such groups. The title cut is a moderate rocker with quick building riffs and backbeats, highlighted by Carrabba's high-pitched wails. A handful of songs stand out as Weezer-like anthems, which is certainly an appropriate comparison considering the fact that FSF was asked to contribute to their Rock Music tribute album. "Snowbirds and Townies" is an anthem listeners can approach with a slightly slower version of Weezer's "My Name is Jonas" playing in the back of their mind. "New Year's Project" is a heart wrenching somber tune that starts up in a calming manner only to fuel up with more of a plugged in, hard-hitting drive. The epic "A New Desert's Life" closes out the disc, highlighting the band's ability to switch paces, while showcasing Carrabba's varying range. The track caps off a thrilling national debut destined to make the hearts of listener's melt, while touching their heart with the harsh realities and tender triumphs of everyday life.
Other coverage for this album
ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by David O.I don't like "emo." I've never really known what it is exactly, but I tend to associate the term with bands that blend complex yet bland guitar parts with uninteresting scratchy vocals and dynamics that constantly shift from quiet (sad) to loud (still sad, but louder). Emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate have always stood above other emo bands because of the pop sensibility that subtly underlies…Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Brett MiottiIf you're like me you've been anxious for this release since practically day one of the announcement that four of the members from the legendary Strongarm were going to be making music together again. The album cover theme of airports and jet planes seems to be appropriate for this release, seeing as how Further Seems Forever fans have been waiting for this puppy to arrive for quite some time.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Ken MuellerWhen the members of hardcore band Strongarm decided to form a new band, they called on Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba to provide the vocals and lyrics. And the result is far from hardcore: an emo based sound with shades of post-punk thrown in for good measure. While FSF is a little late in coming to the emo game, and their sound at times is a bit formulaic, they are at their best when…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Bert GanglThe history of Further Seems Forever is inextricably tied to that of the Miami-based punk band Strongarm, from which the bulk of its members came. Fusing together the hardcore punk of Husker Du and the thrash metal of Sepultura for their sound, Strongarm released only two full albums for Tooth & Nail Records, 1996's Atonement and 1997's Advent of a Miracle, before packing it in. But, several…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Matt RiddleOne album down, one lead singer gone. Further Seems Forever has already had a tumultuous year and their album has only been out a few months. Their lead singer, Chris Carrabba, parted on good terms. The band has meanwhile replaced him with interim singer Jason Gleason. This has the possibility to change the scope of the band entirely. Gleason may be very talented, but one of the first aspects of…Opus 2001Reviewed by Jason MoreheadIf there's one genre that seems to be singled out for an unfair amount of maligning, it's emo. For many, there's something about the image of skinny white guys in tight shirts and horn-rimmed glasses screaming awkward lyrics about pain and betrayal that, well, just sets something off. And for those people, The Moon Is Down is ripe for the picking. After all, it's incredibly earnest, with those…Similar sounding releases
2004The Beautiful MistakeThis Is Who You Are
2004EmeryThe Weak's End
2004IncubusA Crow Left of the Murder...
2001Hey MercedesEverynight Fire Works
2000ElliottFalse Cathedrals
2003Benton FallsGuilt Beats Hate
