PFR

Item: The Late Great PFR
Author: Alex Klages

The Late Great PFR

(1997)

Reviewed by Alex Klages

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Label Vireo RecordsThe LighthouseUnsorted 1998

alternative rock ccm pop rock power pop

Usually, if a band released an anthology with such a pretentious title, I'd say to myself, "What's so great about them?" and then move down the CD racks to the next section. However, with PFR we have a case of a band poised on the edge of stardom prayerfully calling it quits right at the peak of their career, much to the anguish of their ever-growing fan base. True, Patrick Andrew has gone on to be part of Eager and Mark Nash is currently hanging around with Sixpence None the Richer, but it's just not the same.

Fear not, PFR fans. The three new tracks on this compilation are, to my mind, worth the price of admission alone. From the driving rock of "Name" to the Beatles-like "Fare Thee Well," the new songs demonstrate why PFR became as popular as they did in such a short span of time. And, then, of course there's the other 13 tracks - two from Pray For Rain, four from Goldie's Last Day, five from Great Lengths, and two from Them. The tracks provide a neat cross-section of PFR's style and abilities. There are such rockers as "Wonder Why" and "Pour Me Out," balanced with ballads such as "The Love I Know" and "Anything."

Perhaps I'm gushing a little in my eulogy, but I can't pick out a single song on this disc that doesn't belong. While I was a little surprised that "Last Breath," "Without You," and "Garden" didn't make it, I do realize that when making a compilation, one must stop somewhere.

In the final analysis, this CD is a solid collection of the wonder-filled Christ-centered rock we've come to expect from PFR. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't think that Christian rock can be good musically as well as lyrically. And, for all you PFR fans out there, the bonus tracks are a must-have, as the band says their final good-bye:

Oh, oh, oh, fare thee well Only time will tell what will become of all that we've begun La, la, la, life goes on We laughed and sang our song but songs come to an end So good-bye my friends Fare thee well.