I will begin the review of Fightstar with a brief, unbiased take on modern music. Let's face it: music today, especially music in the good ol' States, just isn't quite the same as it used to be. Although that opinion generally seems to be viewed in the negative, there are some musical artists that have been able to stand out from the crowd in a positive light.
This review of Fightstar is intended to introduce the reader to a band that has made an interesting take on a modern subgenre of rock. I would like to take this opportunity to share an appreciation of this band in my review of Fightstar.
Fightstar is a British alternative band out of the London area under Search and Destroy under PIAS Recordings and Trustkill Records (in America) . The current members are Charlie Simpson (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and keyboard), Alex Westaway (lead guitar and vocals), Dan Haigh (bass guitar), and Omar Abidi (drums). Their musical style is similar to a post-hardcore subgenre of rock with a twist. The use of piano, strings, and a choir also makes a few appearances, especially in their newest release.
Perhaps their biggest staple is Simpson's voice, which is able to hit a fairly large range for the genre and still sound great. One song that seems to show some of his vocal abilities is the cover of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek," which was featured on "The English Way" single release. The band generally performs in the UK, but has come to America once, which is said to not be the last time. They also do shows throughout Europe.
I suppose it would not be a full review of Fightstar without mentioning a bit about their releases. "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead" was an EP, released in 2005, showcased some of their original post-hardcoresque style. Some of these songs made it to their first full-length titled "The Grand Unification." The concept album was based upon the Neon Genesis Evangelion, though many songs seem to sublty display a deeper meaning in the form of a seven-year relationship gone awry, while demostrating their lyrical ingenuity.
A more personal aspect was displayed in their next release, "One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours," including songs dealing with breakups, global warming, and the consequences of war, which the musical composition compliments well. Their latest release, "Be Human," showcases a type of song that stems greatly from the normal rock scene. The use of less-typical instruments (strings, harmonica, a choir) really add a unique touch to their style.
This branch of modern British rock is difficult to describe as an American, and thus difficult to create a review of Fightstar. It can almost be compared to rock that is generally labeled as emo in America with a more traditional rock feel to it and a more important meaning behind the song.
One reason I have embarked on a journey to find music overseas, the UK in particular, is that the music by bands like Fightstar and Funeral for a Friend seem to exist because of a passion for the artform that is music and not because of a passion for money.
In addition to the mold that is post-hardcore rock, Fightstar encorporates beautiful vocal abilities and non-traditional rock stylings, thus breaking that mold in ways I have yet to see in many other bands.
The only real way to get a feel for it is to check them out for yourself. Their MySpace page features their newer material and some older. YouTube also features most of their music videos. Some songs I personally enjoy are "Paint Your Target," "Mono" (this song is just plain beautiful), "Build an Army," "99," "H.I.P. (Enough)," "The English Way," "Mercury Summer," and "Chemical Blood" to name a few.
Though they are definitely not the Beatles, Fightstar certainly deserves a bit of appreciation for stepping away from the conformity's of a lot of the modern music world, especially that of the cookie-cutter pop-rock genre.
Official Fightstar Website
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