Pre-Order: Fucked Up - Year Of The Ox

BAND: Fucked Up

ALBUM: Year Of The Ox (12" Single)

RELEASE: September 28th, Merge Records

TRACKS:
Side A
1. Year Of The Ox

Side B
1. Solomon's Song

PRE-ORDER: Merge Records

INFO:

In keeping up with the previous post on epic punk songs, here's Fucked Up with their latest 13-minute single, "Year Of The Ox". This single is their fourth one in the Chinese Zodiac series, and features and a string section performed by New Strings Old Puppets and guest vocals by Zola Jesus.

Fucked Up aren't a band that are known for doing things the traditional way-- Their obscenely large discography, their MTV appearance during which they performed in (and destroyed) the bathrooms, or the fact that they played a free twelve-hour show in NYC, are all evidence of this. Hell, even their name should be evidence of this.

It is for this reason that it should be no surprise to fans of the band that this song strays pretty far from their hardcore origins, save for the ballsiness of attempting such a whopper of a song, and the fact that Pink Eyes' vocals sound about as smooth as scraping your own knees across hot gravel. In this case his yell is actually catchy, and combined with the mid tempo pace of the song, and the guest string and vocal performances, this single is sure to attract more attention for this band.

I have to say, I have their second album, The Chemistry Of Common Life, and though I like certain tracks, the fact that there are psychadellic instrumental tracks interspersed with hardcore songs makes it difficult to listen to front to back.

"The Year Of The Ox," however, nicely ties together the band's ambitions to do things outside the box, their hardcore edge, and their musical creativity. I mean come on people, it's a thirteen minute punk song with screams, female vocals, and an orchestra section. I would recommend this not just to fans of the band, or of the genre for that matter, but anyone looking to hear something new and original.

If you don't believe me, you can stream the entire thing here or here.

Evidently, the B-Side is meant to be a "gothic vampire love tribute to Twighlight," whatever that means.

Look, point is buy the vinyl, or just stream it indefinitely. Either way, listen to it.


- Frankie D