Facing New York - Dogtown (2018-2019)

So I'm passing this along for a couple of reasons.

1. I thought this band had broken up, but maybe not? Their last album that I recall was Get Hot which came out 10 years ago, in 2008.

This new album Dogtown is being released next Friday December 14th, 2018.

2. I used to know a handful of people who loved them on various forums. Among the dredg and Kaddisfly fans, among others. I even recall they toured with Kaddisfly, maybe more than once on the West Coast.

3. While I bought their S/T debut album from 2005, not too long after it came out, as one of many of those cheap, used promos cds at Cheapo. I recall struggling with it, even after reading the glowing comments. I couldn't get into the vocals and low-fi production I found hurt it. I remember thinking on paper I should dig them, but there was something missing. But, I also remember 1 track "Styrofoam Walls" really liking.

Get Hot though I found more boring than the debut, so I kind of wrote them off and after no info about them for many years, I came to assume they were done.

Matthew Fazzi though went on to form Happy Body Slow Brain which I guess now is basically the same band under the name Rare Futures. And I do enjoy music under both their names, although I can't say I love them.

But I guess Matthew Fazzi isn't with FNY now, but they have this new album coming out next week, and there's already 5 tracks available to checkout below and on the other streaming sites.

I imagine there might some folks who find this blog who remember them and would want to check out this album. And honestly, the 1st track below I am kind of digging more than I expected. This might be 1 of those what-the-fuck gems (Small Leaks Sink Ships almost found that category back in 2015, after knowing them many years before and not being too into them. But now, I fucking love them of course).

Facebook from November 2nd

We are releasing our new album "Dogtown" on December 14th.

We are also playing two shows: December 12th at The Hi Hat in Los Angeles and December 14th at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

This link allows you to purchase a bundle that includes one ticket to your preferred show, an exclusive shirt and "Dogtown" vinyl.

http://facingnewyork.wun.io

See you in December.

https://facingnewyork.bandcamp.com/



1. Dogtown
2. Big Rev
3. Gods of the Good Shit
4. Hail Mary
5. Birth of Venus
6. Trouble
7. Shame
8. Heaven is High Hell is Low
9. Your Love

Rare Futures - No Ordinary Love (Sade)

The wife whose a pretty big fan of Sade, and I'm not getting much of a thumbs up from her. But I think this is tight. Quite smooth, and this kind of tune fits them well.

In speaking with Gavin Castleton at The Dear Hunter show last month, he mentioned they were releasing a covers EP titled Future Castles? including Sade and some others my wife enjoys.

I'll have to share more of them when they show up.

Happy Body Slow Brain - Dream of Water (2010)

2/5/15 6:15AM

https://www.facebook.com/happybodyslowbrain

In the Reddit AMA from last Thursday 1/29/15 Casey Crescenzo mentioned Matt Fazzi, whose the lead singer/instrumentalist from this band helped The Dear Hunter on tour recently, and I had never heard/heard-of them. So I went ahead and checked them out and this is a pretty sweet record. Full of lush textures and intricate melodies at times.

In reading a bit about Matt's background, he was in Taking Back Sunday and also one of the main people behind the band Facing New York who I was into for a little while in the mid 2000's. So, I'm not totally surprised I enjoy this band and this debut album of theirs from 2010.

Also if I had to compare them to 1 band, it would be Minus the Bear. Maybe the Planet of Ice period (which is my favorite MtB album anyway). With the sweeping tones and  the melody + atmosphere.

I also noticed they may be putting out a new record soon, which my timing for getting into them seems pretty good.


Interesting also to notice of all people thanks, 1 being Gavin Castleton.

My favorites? "Up Late" and "What About Us?" are pretty fantastic. Also "Time." "The Flight," "The Bridge" and I'd say especially the 2nd half of the record. But I've only listened to this album twice and I'm still taking a lot of it in.

But as far as their present state, I think they may be one of those bands who are getting better with time. I kind of always felt that about Facing New York. They were good, or had nice moments, but it may have only been a matter of time before they created something totally amazing.

I guess we'll see, I'm streaming some of their Sleep EP from 2012 now on their bandcamp, really nice, textured, atmospheric stuff.