It’s probably no secret that I am a little bit preoccupied with DC post-hardcore. I’m not trying to hide it after all (e.g. a quick google search should shed some light on the name of the site). Fairweather, though, are a DC band that I suppose, at least semantically, belong in the genre but don’t really typify the style. “Lusitania”, the band’s swan song could easily be confused for what the cool kids are calling emo now (or like 3 years ago). I liked this record the first time I heard it. After buying it on somewhat of a freak impulse, I put it into my stereo so that the alarm function would play it when I woke up. I thought to myself in a sleepy daze: “this pretty much sounds like music I generally hate, except that it is really fucking good”. Thinking about it now, that is probably the best compliment I can give this album. I wanted to hate it, but I couldn’t. Once (if) you get past the aspects that made me think like this, you can appreciate what makes “Lusitania” stand out. A noticeable change from their first, more pop-punk leaning LP “If They Move… Kill Them”, Fairweather’s final record is a deeper and much heavier venture. Immense guitar riffs on nearly every track are the backbone of a moody, emotional record that contains some of the best tension building and release I can think of. The opening track “Derivative Opener” is a bit of a bait and hook (and a pretty deep piece of irony for reasons I don’t feel like elucidating) in that it prepares you to hear a new version of Fairweather, just not as new as it seems. Borrowing vocal stylings from big time 90’s emo groups and the production talents of J. Robbins (the), Fairweather crafted a deep album with a great mix of catchy sing-songing, tight guitar lines and just plain good tunes.
For fans of: The Casket Lottery, Saves The Day, Get Up Kids
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