In college I'd always pop in a Starflyer 59 album whenever I wanted to fall asleep. Despite the sludge-heavy guitars, I'd be out cold halfway through. Don't get me wrong--I loved the band--but the same sleepy melodies in every song simply lullabied me into dreamland.
How ironic, then, that their mellowest album to date has been the only one to keep me awake all the way through. I figured Starflyer 59, like Smashing Pumpkins, had done about all they could do with their sound. Thankfully, so did they, surprising me with an amazing album where the heaviness takes a backseat to the lazy melodies, retro-rock vibes, organ, and even acoustic strummings. It's sublime.
In spite of obviously and intentionally borrowing from some well-known songs and bands from the late '60s/early '70s, The Fashion Focus is by far one of the best albums to come out in recent years. The tab for the bass line in "Sundown" ought to be written out next to the word "cool" in the dictionary, and makes that song a verified classic. I won't even go into the next track, "Fell in Love at 22." The stripped sound is a blessing, giving the few distortion droners much more punch, rather than having them all blend together as usual.
This is the album I've wished they'd make since drooling uncontrollably over "She's the Queen" from the maxi-EP of the same name. Nothing here quite that heart-stoppingly slow, but it's the same otherworldly lounge-of-sad-love mood.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadIf one were to chart the musical territory that Starflyer 59 has crossed since releasing Silver in 1994, one would have a very interesting map. With Silver they dived headfirst into the (by then) waning shoegazer scene. Think thick walls of guitar and breathy vocals straight off of a My Bloody Valentine album mixed with the dream-rock of Catherine Wheel and Swervedriver. Gold saw Jason Martin and…Exit Zine 1999Reviewed by James M. BranumThis album is very different from their earlier work. While Starflyer's unique guitars are still there, the keyboards are now out front and dominant. The entire album, with the exception of the song "Too Much Fun," has a lighter feel to it. When I first tried to review this album, I didn't like it. Even though the style was nice for a song or two, I grew tired of it. Instead of an album of unique…7ball #21Reviewed by Dan MacIntoshWith The Fashion Focus, Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 has put his focus squarely upon sonic variety. While the preceding album, Americana, stuck primarily with various surf rock guitar influences, this new release builds upon the elements Starflyer experimented with previously, adding a healthy dose of synthesizer, more pronounced back-up vocals and a lot less guitar feedback clouding the mix.…HM Magazine #74Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernIt sure was weird hearing the keyboard strings from the start of the very first track, and the occasional Beach Boy vocal added to it. If walls of guitars are the reason you like this band, Jason Martin & Co. have a little surprise for you. Starflyer has always had a way of taking something otherwise mellow, and crunching it together with rock & roll to concoct their own brand of music. And…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Corey WeltonStarflyer 59's most recent effort, The Fashion Focus, is the latest chapter in Starflyer's history of experimental Christian rock. My first experience with the band was the "silver" album, their debut self-titled CD. I quickly became quite fond of their characteristic dream-pop, distorted sound that was a delight to the subconscious. Perhaps I was just expecting more of the same, or perhaps I had…Similar sounding releases
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