SO FAR

"Faust So Far" is a very easy album to review because there are tracks that are either really good or really bad, except for the opener. The opener is an oddball, repetitive number, but it has a cool, occasionally syncopated, guitar part with an awesome ringing tone that goes on forever. The second track, 'On the Way to Abamae', is definitely a favorite of mine, a nice guitar-and-organ soundtrack suitable for pastoral landscapes and a couple of kittens awkwardly trying to walk. After that we have a ten-minute proggy noise collage that I think lots of rock listeners will be able to relate to. An organ, a trumpet, a rock-n'-roll-n'-fall freakout (that will potentially exorcise the demon of boredom out of you), it's all there.

Now you've come a long way to find a strange number, the title track. It has always puzzled me every time I heard it or even read its name. Should I give it a second star just for the intro and outro? I don't think I really should do that because most of the track, that is less than five minutes of it, is nothing but a plain waste of time, a monotonous and cold texture. In other words, it has nothing to do with emotions or entertainment. Next patient.

Uh, this is one of my favorite patients. 'Mamie is Blue' is also monotonous, but this is where repetition really pays off. It is mean and it is unpredictable. As someone once said, "cuddle that porcupine". Also, don't miss out on the extraordinary sonic butcher (in a good sense) called 'Me Lack Space ?'. It happens to be my most favorite track of all on the record, so hear it at least once in your life if you haven't yet. Listen to and learn from those crazy Germans.

'I've Got My Car and My TV' is yet another weird moment that has nothing to do with entertainment (unless you care so much about the guitar solo) or emotions, even if it has a humorous (in a mediocre way) intro. The track that comes after that also has no value. The album's closer is quite a waste of time too. You won't be missing much. What they are doing on the album is beyond me. It's like as if the band decided to fill up the time of the record to please the label, "Virgin", under which they were working at the time.

Ratings/comments (if you have to ask):

1. 'It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl' - *** ; 2. 'On the Way to Abamae' - **** ; 3. 'No Harm' - **** ; 4. 'So Far' - * ; 5. 'Mamie is Blue' - **** ; 6. 'I've Got My Car and My TV' - ** ; 7. 'Picnic on a Frozen River' - * ; 8. 'Me Lack Space ?' - ***** ; 9. '? in the Spirit' - ** ;

Stamp: "I like it."

Share this FAUST review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Dayvenkirq
• Report this review (#613891)
• Buy FAUST music online with PA partners
• Show all FAUST MP3/Stream
• Go to FAUST page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to So Far page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for FAUST related discussions