Review Summary: If you want a band "... that makes you dance", "and laugh so hard that you['ll] nearly wet your pants" - this is the right one. This is music as it should be. This is The Forces Of Evil
Friend or FOE? is the debut and only album by the supergroup
The Forces Of Evil, consisting of members from
Reel Big Fish,
Jeffries Fan Club and
The Scholars, to name a few.
What this album essentially is about is ska revival. The lyrics deals a lot with the topic of ska bands selling out, and how FOE's here to "
save the scene". This is most flagrantly revealed on the last track "Fight", where Aaron sings "
How come nobody plays ska anymore?/I guess they all forgot what we were fightin' for/They're grown up now and they want to be respected/And be a part of the business we rejected", while he wonders "
What ever happened to the bands that make you dance?/And laugh so hard you nearly wet your pants?/They wanna be emotional and that's so boring/Take out the fun and we're left snoring" over the bigband parody of a melody, combined with typical ska guitar, upbeat drumming and a genius bassline.
But the lyrics does not only deal with this topic. There's also lyrics that deals with rejection, not giving a ***, independence and depression. What makes the songs really stand out, is the way the lyrics are performed. You can't help but laughing when Aaron sings "
I'm so sick of trying to fit in/I don't even know where to begin/I've got friends but they don't know me/I want to tell the world to blow me/*** all you mother ***ers/*** you!", over surely amusing trumpets and trombones, which along with the guitar dominates the sound on the track "Angry Anthem". All kept in check by the tight drumming and bassline.
The songs on this album is primarily about fun. Having a good time. Skanking. Even though Aaron states "
Maybe it's all right and I'm the one that's wrong/Maybe if I die this sadness will be gone", you cannot help but laughing. The upbeat, harmonic, catchy and simply hilarious melodies on this album makes it easy to appreciate, whether you're a fan of ska or not.
The guitars are usually either very heavy and distorted, or typical ska picking. This is combined with driving basslines, that at times stand out from the guitars, and at times not. The drumming is usually atrociously fast, and in general very upbeat - keeping the melody flowing at all times. The trombones and trumpet makes the melodies even more accessible, catchy and fun. Especially on the track "Mistake", which is in my opinion the best track on the album with its high-school lyrics, about a guy who "[i] think[s] we made a mistake/But it's all right/I didn't like you that much anyway[/i}" after banging her neatly on the bed. These lyrics are kept company by an explosion of horns and guitars, with a heavy bassline and hard hitting, fast drumming. This is combined with Aaron's easily distinguished voice, which almost gives you a
Davey Havok feeling on this track.
There are also two cover tunes on this album.
The first one is "Go To Hell" by the legendary Long Beach ska band,
Suburban Rhythm, where Aaron sings that "
The cops/The bullies/They're always on my case/The morons/The dickheads/They're cramping up my space/The nazis/The biggots/The crime being done/The left wing/The right wing/Their preaching makes me dumb", which ultimately makes this the most 'serious' song on this album, even though the chorus is "
Go to hell/You little twit/Go to hell/You piece of ***/Go to hell/You low life twerp/Go to hell/You ***in' jerk".
The song is driven by very heavy and distorted guitars, and kept company by the other instruments - all handled beautifully, by the very, VERY capable musicians of FOE.
The other cover is of the
Van Halen (!) track "Dance the Night Away", which basically is the only track that is even close to slow. Nice guitars, and a truly captivating vocal performance.
As for the rest of the album - it's all good. From the unbelievable catchy melody and 'back off!' lyrics of "My Life", where Aaron states that he "
don't need your advice/Let me live my own life/I can *** it up myself!"; to the instrumental, 100% ska tune "Hey! Woo! Yea!", which even includes a nifty guitar solo.
While this album might not be the most original album ever made, or the album with the highest quality of musicianship ever made - I will no less still classify it as a 'classic' album. This album is highly addicting, and very enjoyable. This is one of those few albums you'll tear to shreads, listening to it for so many hours in a row. Even if you buy ten thousand 'great' albums after buying this one, you'll always end up putting this CD in the player from time to time, for the rest of your life. This is an album that will stick with you, and cheer you up, once you learn to appreciate it. This is a 'classic' album.
So what it all boils down to is this: if you're tired of all the sellout acts who've "
grown up now and [...] want to be respected/And be a part of the business we rejected", and rather listen to a band "
.that make[s] you dance/And laugh so hard you['ll] nearly wet your pants" - you should buy this album. In my honest opinion - this is the best ska album ever made. This is music as it should be. This is
Friend or FOE?, an album that would without a doubt make a grand addition to your record-collection. I believe that everybody should give this album a chance. You might just end up with "
pick[ing] up the telephone/and tell your friends they gotta fight to skank!" by the end of it.
Best tracks:
Mistake
Maybe I'm Wrong
Angry Anthem
Worst Day
Fight
