First things first: Farewell, My Love is not a good name. Let’s just sweep that under the carpet and move on. Advertised as a band for fans of My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World and AFI, let’s – again – forget about that and move swiftly onwards. Whatever you might think about the aforementioned parties, there’s no comparison to what – let’s be honest now – were some of the greatest bands of a generation.
So what’s the deal with new album ‘Above It All’ then?
Lengthy introduction ‘Welcome to the Beginning’ isn’t just a blatantly obvious title but the song also manages to make a string section mightily off-putting in less than 100 seconds. Chad Kowal’s nasal vocals verge on unbearable during lead single ‘Burn Out The Night’ but there are moments of potential there: after all, a catchy chorus and a melodic middle eight do a good pop song make.
Let’s not judge too much, however. There is a market for this brand of over-produced alternative. In the same way bands like Black Veil Brides and Blood on The Dancefloor have enamoured teenage loners everywhere, you’ll find plenty of group photos of the band and their fans gesturing the sign of the horns or throwing a fist in the air. ‘Crazy’ is made for an audience that’s easily pleased, with simple lyrics (“I’m crazy, baby”) and a radio-friendly tune.
An enthusiastic guitar and questionable electronic sound effects drive ‘Don’t Wait For Me’ along, while ‘Never Stop’ makes a feeble attempt to be a powerful, singalong anthem. It’s not actually as easy as you might think to dislike it, though; while it’s easy to get all high and mighty about a band, there are some moments of promise in among the drivel. They’re few and far between, but they’re in there, whether it’s a hook that gets you interested or a solo that gets your attention.
The lyrics of ‘Who Are You’ are definitely, 100%, absolutely going to be written out as a subliminal Tweet or mysterious Facebook status and – again – it’s got a chorus that you might get on board with if it was written by a band you loved already. There’s also no excuse for the auto-tuned ‘Last Goodbye’ though as it crawls towards a disappointing ending.
While some bands make us nostalgic, Farewell, My Love might make you nauseous. Think back to the questionable music that got you through being a teenager, though. This band could be providing the same for someone else today and isn’t that really all that matters? You might want to give it a miss but for someone else it could be an inspiring alternative anthem…
KATHRYN BLACK