Considering that Fucked Up has written many songs with killer lyrics, and white-hot guitar work, and prominently feature musicians in the band with names such as Pink Eyes (a.k.a. Father Damien) on lead vocals, 10,000 Marbles on lead guitar, Concentration Camp on rhythm guitar, Young Governor guitar, Mustard Gas on bass, and Mr. Jo (aka Guinea Beat) on drums, you'd think their music would get much more exposure than it currently does. But, while not totally obscure, Fucked Up's new album The Chemistry of Common Life certainly contains a few hidden hardcore/punk gems. And when I write the word "gem" behind "hardcore/punk" please take that seriously, as I would call myself a highly critical fan of the genre. I don't hate it, of course, but you will rarely find an album such as this at the top of my listening pile.

Some highlights, for sure, on the album include: "Magic Word," "Twice Born" and what I would consider the most pop-ish song on the album, "Black Albino Bones." But, beyond that, I tread lightly. What happened between the year of 2006, when they released their debut Hidden World, and 2008, with this current release that made Fucked Up less messy, and more contrived? This latest effort seems to be more adapted toward wider audiences, meaning more polished sound and production.

I depend on Fucked Up to deliver songs about challenging the status quo, questioning conventional wisdom, and they do so with a sucker punch to the face. And this album seems to fall short of what they have generated in the past. The Chemistry of Common Life seems less passionate, less intense and more dull than their old out of print pressed 7-inch recordings, or even their last album Hidden World. While this latest effort is decent and not without its standouts, it's not the best they have done, and overall it seems less punk rock and more radio safe. With less intensity in this latest effort, Fucked Up may have well gone from Fucked Up to Mildly Confused.

Similar Albums:
Cloak/Dagger - We Are
Paint it Black - Paradise
Kid Dynamite - Kid Dynamite

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Ayn Averett
10.09.2008