Fucked Up is one of those bands that people violently disagree about. For every person going, “They’ve gone soft compared to their first stuff” there is someone out there having their life changed by the music. Their fan base is that polarized. There is no doubt that there has been a direction taken in their songwriting that keeps building with every release, which leads us to this behemoth. A double LP “rock opera” or “concept album” or whatever you want to call it. The bottom line is that it is a ballsy, daunting undertaking that, like the band’s fan base, is going to go extremely to one side or the other. Well, I’m no expert in the world of concept records (other than to know that it is usually the realm of the like of Rush. Or Yes. Or Pink Floyd.) but I can tell you that Fucked Up grabbed my attention from the very beginning of the first record and threw me into it head first! The music is both energetic and beautiful. The hooks and grooves latch on and carry you away. Then there is Pink Eyes. His growl lies over top in a way that may seem uncomfortable upon the first listen, but it quickly makes sense. It belongs there. He is the storyteller and the characters. The songs convey the emotions involved in each act of the play. Upon following along with the lyric/story sheet (a necessity for a punk like me), my mind was blown. It was one of those magic moments that only happen when you hear one of your all-time favorite albums for the very first time! The hairs stood up on the back of my neck, my cheeks tingled, and I’ll be damned if I almost didn’t shed a tear or two. The band has created something that moves out of the average artsy punk or hardcore band and into something that I don’t really know how to describe. Now with all that I have said, you know that the very next review above or below this one could be saying the exact opposite. That is the nature of Fucked Up. If you already have an opinion of the band, then you already know what you will think of this. For me David Comes to Life will sit proudly next to my other favorite concept record Führers of the New Wave.
–ty (Matador)