Face To Face – Laugh Now…Laugh Later – Review

The album we’re reviewing today is the Californian punk rock band Face To Face’s new album. The band is known in Italy for having recently taken part in what is arguably the best punk rock festival in Italy, I-Day, in its 2011 edition, along with the likes of Offspring, No Use for a Name, etc.
Out in 2011, the album is pretty coherent, like most of the band’s albums anyway. Many powerchords, ofetn surrounded by melodic riffs and progressions from the rhythm guitar. Vocals are really straight-forward and clean, drums follow the usual punk rock rhythms, and the bass lines are pretty easy but neat and nice. The band obviously doesn’t disappoint its fans, and to celebrate their 20 years as a band – yes, they formed in 1991 – they decide to give us and actually give themselves an amazing album, which has no doubt traces of their personality, but is definitely more tough at times and more melodic at other times. Which is a really great combination for a very diverse album.
So let’s begin with the first song off the album, “Should Anything Go Wrong”, which was, by the way, a song played at the I-Day Festival we mentioned before. Great opening song, straightforward rhythm and not really melodic. Actually, it is probably the more raw song besides “Bombs Away”. Both really awesome songs! The second song is “It’s Not All About You”, pretty cool song, very melodic and with that usual powerchord structure that give it a very special sound. Around 1.13 into the song an amazing bridge goes on, really worth listening! Sublime vocals, also. The third song “The Invisible Hand” is again very very melodic and the vocals are predominant here too.
“Blood in the Water” and “What you Came for” are very similar, more fast and you can hear the punk rock where the band comes from in both of them, especially at the end of “Blood in the Water”! Song number 7 is “I don’t mind you and you don’t matter”, calm song with a beginning arpeggio with a slow and relaxing rhythm, with peaceful vocals, accompanying the guitar, and not the other way around, this time, which slowly become faster and faster until we get to the chorus, bridge and a faster finale to close the song.
Songs 8 and 10, “Stopgag” and “Pushover” are once again similar, melodic although the base is typically punk rock, with power chords at the guitar and usual rhythms at the other instruments. “All For Nothing”, number 9 on the listing, is the second most beautiful in the album, in my opinion, with amazing lyrics that give you a sense of emtpiness. Fluid track, and everything is coherent, from the verse to the ending.
“Under the Wrecakge” is definitely more aggressive, more old school punk rock, even though the rhythm isn’t what you’d call fast. The following song, “Staring Back” isnt exceptional, as it is pretty repetitive at times, and doesn’t add nor takes from the album. Although you gotta admit the interlude gives it some credit, with that usual adrenaline the band has.
With the last song “Persona Non Grata”, which by the way is two of the bonus songs (along with Staring Back), we find a great conclusive track, catchy like most of the songs, it is caracterised by a slow, calm verse, that leads into an explosive series of chorus, bridge and finale. One of the best in the album, and the last half of the song show how felt this album is from the band, closing with some calm last seconds to get us to the definite ending of the album..
Nice CD, not outstanding, but pretty good and I would advice you to listen to it if you haven’t, and if you like the genre and even better the band you won’t complain.
Here are the songs off this album they’ve played on tour so far: Should Anything go wrong,it’s not all about you,all for nothing and the invisible hand.
Album Mark: 7,5
Song-by-Song Mark:
“Should Anything Go Wrong” 7
“It’s Not All About You” – 8,5
“The Invisible Hand” – 7
“Bombs Away” – 7,5
“Blood in the Water” – 7,5
“What You Came For” – 7
“I Don’t Mind and You Don’t Matter” – 8
“Stopgap” – 7
“All for Nothing” – 8,5
“Pushover” – 7
“Under the Wreckage” – 7
“Staring Back” 6,5″
Persona Non Grata” 8
Phrase I liked the most:” I said it’s not all about you
You’re so cynical and vain
And I know you’d rather die than take the blame
It’s not all about you
You’re so cynical and vain
Yeah I swear you can’t get out of your own way ”
Off “It’s Not All About You”‘s chorus.