Les Savy Fav's third album Go Forth retains the same post-punk decorum and menacing assault of 3/5 and Cat & Cobra, filtered through last year's gripping Rome (Written Upside Down) EP. Upon the first few listens, Go Forth provides an exciting array of off-kilter melodies and hardcore attitude. Unfortunately, the more you spin the album, the less it surprises.
This is not to say that Go Forth is bad just because the album fails to keep its secrets very long; it just doesn't have the ability to make you crave the entire album, which is vital for 12 songs that do not stylistically stray too far from one another.
The tracklisting is fairly consistent throughout, but the stronger songs reveal themselves quickly. In fact, the better half of the album is laced with the same intensity and vigor from the lauded EP, but usually never quite reaches the EP's visceral impact.
The album's main stroke of brilliance comes with album opener "Tragic Monsters" and centerpiece "One to Three". The former joins Built to Spill's "The Plan" and Nirvana's "Serve the Servants" as one of the best opening album tracks, while the latter showcases an abnormally plaintive Tim Harrington vocalizing over a laid-back groove that would even get Afghans bobbing their collective heads.
The intensity of Les Savy Fav's live show translates pretty well on the record. Produced by Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse), Go Forth is raw, gritty, and in-your-face. The guitars have just the right amount of crunch, the drums are balanced perfectly, and the basslines are thicker than the Soul Glo in my Afro.
Tim Harrington's vicious off-key vocals are at their most flexible and the lyrics are-- as usual-- quizzical and quirky. Ranging from humorous, narratives ("Adopduction") to intriguing metaphors ("Crawling Can be Beautiful"). In "Pills", Harrington spouts, "they're scared of the silence / but be scared-er of the sound / hearts are not only beating / they are all counting down / you're not ready for disorder / you're not ready for decay."
Go Forth has few serious faults, yet isn't a total winner. It has some great moments, and a share of weak moments. But overall, the album satisfies, and if you just so happen to be in the mood, will provide you and your loved one a sanctum to dream your night away together...
1. Tragic Monsters
2. Reprobate's Resumé
3. Crawling Can Be Beautiful
4. Disco Drive
5. The Slip
6. Daily Dares
7. One to Three
8. Pills
9. Adopduction
10. No Sleeves
11. Bloom on Demand
12.
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