Datalog: Released Mar. 10. Website at www.ns.net/~darges/far.htm
File Under: Emo-core
R.I.Y.L. (Recommended If You Like): Jawbox, Quicksand, Sunny Day Real
Estate
Water & Solutions is a perfect example of an album where a single moment, an otherwise negligible detail, speaks for the entire recording. That moment occurs during the album's first song, "Bury White", and it is the sound of vocalist Jonah Matranga gasping for enough breath to hold his next throat-shredding line. More than the wrecking ball rhythms or the furious guitar chugging, that split-second is indicative of the Sacramento, California, quartet's intensity. Even though Water & Solutions finds the group shedding some of the metal tendencies heard on its debut in favor of a more moody, emo-core style, Far is, first and foremeost, a loud rock band and its songs are designed to knock you flat on your ass. There's a formula at work, although Far's songs don't sound formulaic: The shift from a relatively peaceful moment to a hail of chords and beats is no less effective because of its predictability and all of these songs are immananetly catchy - and moshable. Meanwhile, Far bucks convention with songs like "Water & Solutions", which subverts its catchiness potential through its use of syncopation. "In 2 Again" features a heavenly string arrangement that is the perfect complement to the plodding bass part, and "Bury White" ends with an eerie, unexpected synth sequence For Far, divinity is in the details. >>>Jenny Eliscu
