FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND are a classic example of a band you can admire. Their rags-to-riches-within-12-months story is staggering; their Gold-selling status is impressive; their adherence to non-stop gigging is second-to-none and their overall commitment cannot be faulted.
All of which would be fine if we were taking about a team in the Champions League or some such scenario (and typically for an Emo-related band, this single comes with a press release bragging about the band's achievements in the marketplace), but we're talking rock'n'roll here, or at least ought to be. And to me, that means much more than sales graphs and career curves, so if admiration is ever going to turn to love, Funeral For A Friend are going to have to raise the bar significantly in artistic terms.
Because, for all the well-drilled, buzzy riffing, counterpoint poignant lyricism ("You don't want me anyway/ so why should I stay?") and the clever-clever use of mobile phone conversations to flesh out the story, "Streetcar" is more of the same. It's loud, American-style Emo and while I admit is does threaten to break into Husker Du territory in places, it's no further on from the whiny teens who complained their girl dun gone thanks to breakfast television or whatever it was they were whining on about.
|
Still, judging by the bulletproof vest sleeve design, there's no doubt a typically off-the-wall video designed to help sell this to the masses, so y'know, "Streetcar" is surely only the next stop along FFAF'S apparently preordained ride to world domination. Besides, what do I know? I merely admire them. That feeling stops some way short of love.
|
