Music
Press
Three words: “Cops on Bikes.” The lead track on Facing New York’s new disc is simultaneously clever, funny and badass, wholly different
from the two-wheeled varietals of policemen which the lyrics continually mock…this is classic tongue-in-cheek with perfect deadpan delivery. The rest of the disc reveals a band continuing their use of changing time
signatures anchored by solid drumming in their mix of prog and Steely Dan-inspired jazz chords. I got hot just listening. And so will you.
- Filter Magazine
Three words: “Cops on Bikes.” The lead track on Facing New York’s new disc is simultaneously clever, funny and badass, wholly different
from the two-wheeled varietals of policemen which the lyrics continually mock…this is classic tongue-in-cheek with perfect deadpan delivery. The rest of the disc reveals a band continuing their use of changing time
signatures anchored by solid drumming in their mix of prog and Steely Dan-inspired jazz chords. I got hot just listening. And so will you.
- Filter Magazine
Facing New York is a band that easily defies pigeonholing. Their brand of heavy-handed melodies infused with a jazz-like swagger is remarkable — especially considering what it means to be an "indie rock" band these days. Convention is hardly their main concern, as evidenced on a song like "Comin' Up," a tune that is disjointed yet oddly melodic. The arrangement of drums and keys seems so out of place; however, it works together with Eric Frederic's lush vocals to provide a smooth, harmonious ride. Get Hot is imbued with the Bay Area trio's ultra-cool, smooth sound, even smacking of grunge in certain parts. The standout track, "Hardwood Floors," treats listeners to velvety jazz organ layered over Frederic's inspired lyrics, which tell a story about futility in getting over a past love. For those few brief minutes, he takes us on his journey and makes us feel his pain, offering his song as consolation. However, it is Frederic's sentiment in "Give Love" that truly solidifies the band's effort. He sings, "If I don't survive/I'll play with Roman candles in my afterlife." I hope the band survives awhile. If not, I'll be shooting off fireworks right there with him. - Phoenix New Times
Facing New York is a band that easily defies pigeonholing. Their brand of heavy-handed melodies infused with a jazz-like swagger is remarkable — especially considering what it means to be an "indie rock" band these days. Convention is hardly their main concern, as evidenced on a song like "Comin' Up," a tune that is disjointed yet oddly melodic. The arrangement of drums and keys seems so out of place; however, it works together with Eric Frederic's lush vocals to provide a smooth, harmonious ride. Get Hot is imbued with the Bay Area trio's ultra-cool, smooth sound, even smacking of grunge in certain parts. The standout track, "Hardwood Floors," treats listeners to velvety jazz organ layered over Frederic's inspired lyrics, which tell a story about futility in getting over a past love. For those few brief minutes, he takes us on his journey and makes us feel his pain, offering his song as consolation. However, it is Frederic's sentiment in "Give Love" that truly solidifies the band's effort. He sings, "If I don't survive/I'll play with Roman candles in my afterlife." I hope the band survives awhile. If not, I'll be shooting off fireworks right there with him. - Phoenix New Times
A few months ago, I found out the IT guy at my work was in an electro band.
"Seriously?" I remember asking incredulously while making copies. As he illustrated the sounds of his craft for me, I was delighted to know such a decidedly different side of a dude who's prescribed to figuring out networking problems, not how much Moog to add. I love that about people; we're a multi-faceted bunch.
I've always seen Eric Frederic with his project Wallpaper, a spectacular venture of mirthful, sharp commentary and party band antics. But the faux bling, auto tune, and Ray Bans for the ages were put to rest for Frederic's other baby, Facing New York at Bottom of the Hill for their record release show. If Wallpaper is the wild child of the family, then Facing New York is the more contemplative but cunning older brother, who has a thing or two to say and show as well.
The new FNY record Get Hot took three years to make -- in between losing members, going back to college, and a couple of emergency trips to the hospital for Frederic's strained vocal chords, a collection of songs about the process of acceptance in the midst of the quarter-life crisis syndrome emerged. There aren't a whole lot of albums geared toward the 20s battle of identity and alliance, and Get Hot tackles both while providing some humorous elasticity.
While the set started out a little shaky -- "Get Hot Reprise" seemed pretty unrehearsed -- it was "Man Up" that began to tie the band together. With Omar Cuellar on skins and Brandon Canchola on bass, a gaggle of music major friends Frederic accumulated while at UC-Berkeley trickled off and on stage to support tracks with hints of a brass section, additional vocal harmonies, and extra energy to the indie-prog groundwork that had already been laid out. "Cops On Bikes" then kicked off what ended up being an extraordinary second half of a gig, with lines like "How you gonna bust me in them little shorts?" and "Ever since the womb/ I've been stealing/alright?" permeating eardrums. "Full Turn" and "The Messenger" were also great demonstrations about the school of indie rock.
But I think it was "Comin' Up" that appeared to surprise me the most out of the night. It almost had a jazz-like quality to it with its swanky keys and subtle blips of synth weaving in between a near pitch-perfect drumline, Frederic's vocals seemingly floating through effortlessly and flawlessly. It's a fucking beautiful song that definitely had the most body and soul live, and I hope that it's a direction FNY might later take.
Closer "Me n My Friendz" provided both cheeky and solemn anecdotes about figuring out, well, everything: Yourself, where you belong, politics, that girl. I couldn't help but smirk and then laugh at the sheer absurdity in it all. I went to the show with my oldest BFF -- we've been friends since the seventh grade, and at 24 both feel like we're approaching the "WTF stage" portion of life. Hearing a record like Get Hot now sorta makes things seem a little more sunnier. We're gonna be okay. Bring on 30.
- The Tripwire
A few months ago, I found out the IT guy at my work was in an electro band.
"Seriously?" I remember asking incredulously while making copies. As he illustrated the sounds of his craft for me, I was delighted to know such a decidedly different side of a dude who's prescribed to figuring out networking problems, not how much Moog to add. I love that about people; we're a multi-faceted bunch.
I've always seen Eric Frederic with his project Wallpaper, a spectacular venture of mirthful, sharp commentary and party band antics. But the faux bling, auto tune, and Ray Bans for the ages were put to rest for Frederic's other baby, Facing New York at Bottom of the Hill for their record release show. If Wallpaper is the wild child of the family, then Facing New York is the more contemplative but cunning older brother, who has a thing or two to say and show as well.
The new FNY record Get Hot took three years to make -- in between losing members, going back to college, and a couple of emergency trips to the hospital for Frederic's strained vocal chords, a collection of songs about the process of acceptance in the midst of the quarter-life crisis syndrome emerged. There aren't a whole lot of albums geared toward the 20s battle of identity and alliance, and Get Hot tackles both while providing some humorous elasticity.
While the set started out a little shaky -- "Get Hot Reprise" seemed pretty unrehearsed -- it was "Man Up" that began to tie the band together. With Omar Cuellar on skins and Brandon Canchola on bass, a gaggle of music major friends Frederic accumulated while at UC-Berkeley trickled off and on stage to support tracks with hints of a brass section, additional vocal harmonies, and extra energy to the indie-prog groundwork that had already been laid out. "Cops On Bikes" then kicked off what ended up being an extraordinary second half of a gig, with lines like "How you gonna bust me in them little shorts?" and "Ever since the womb/ I've been stealing/alright?" permeating eardrums. "Full Turn" and "The Messenger" were also great demonstrations about the school of indie rock.
But I think it was "Comin' Up" that appeared to surprise me the most out of the night. It almost had a jazz-like quality to it with its swanky keys and subtle blips of synth weaving in between a near pitch-perfect drumline, Frederic's vocals seemingly floating through effortlessly and flawlessly. It's a fucking beautiful song that definitely had the most body and soul live, and I hope that it's a direction FNY might later take.
Closer "Me n My Friendz" provided both cheeky and solemn anecdotes about figuring out, well, everything: Yourself, where you belong, politics, that girl. I couldn't help but smirk and then laugh at the sheer absurdity in it all. I went to the show with my oldest BFF -- we've been friends since the seventh grade, and at 24 both feel like we're approaching the "WTF stage" portion of life. Hearing a record like Get Hot now sorta makes things seem a little more sunnier. We're gonna be okay. Bring on 30.
- The Tripwire
Cops on bikes, in the those high socks, little school girls wear the same socks". OK, so it's hardly "Fucking the police" but this antiestablishment gutter poetry is damn cool - NME
Cops on bikes, in the those high socks, little school girls wear the same socks". OK, so it's hardly "Fucking the police" but this antiestablishment gutter poetry is damn cool - NME
Discography
Swimming Not Treading EP - 2004
Facing New York / Amity Split EP - 2004
Full Turn Single - 2005
Facing New York (self titled LP) - 2005
Get Hot (LP) - 2008
Photos
Bio
In early 2008, Facing New York found itself in the midst of an almost monastic paring down. The once five-manned modern prog powerhouse had become three, sharing meals and sleeping on the same floor of an old Berkeley homestead. Throwing their anxieties into the face of the mid-twenties tumult, they filled the blank spots of old members with new loves (Steve Reich and Fela Kuti), and hit the studio renewed: three solid dudes scratching at their collective, imperfect core. The resulting album makes no apologies for the truths they discovered—the humor, the confusion, the musicality, the masculinity, the ceaseless groove—and the sum of these parts is more than a rebirth. In both title and content, this is FNY’s long-awaited mission statement: Get Hot.
While Get Hot refuses to be bound to a style, its first song goes a long way to dropping the science on the album’s spirit. “Cops On Bikes” is all rhythm and open space, with field recordings and highlife-inspired guitar-work providing texture, and singer Eric Frederic lobbing tongue-in-cheek taunts at the titular antagonists. The track crests amongst hefty riffs and a gospel-choir chorus, then ends in laughter. The jarring artistry of Facing New York’s 2005 debut (think Led Zep meets D-Plan and Sly Stone) has been tempered by directness and levity. Second song “Give Love” goes unabashedly huge and bright from the start, while the title track, despite its mere 45 seconds, proffers a profound sing-along over an endless groove: “There’s what you do/And what you say/I get hot.” “All A This” continues with syncopated handclaps and percussion, then bounds forward on a deep synth gurgle that gives way to trumpet and vibes. And “Comin Up” may be the album’s most complex song—a mélange of chopped ’n’ screwed drum, bass, guitar, and Rhodes—but it’s truly an exercise in taut minimalism.
Get Hot is defined by its openness. Close listens reveal studio jabber and jokes, dog dishes and pots being played, and horns, reeds, and strings courtesy of East Bay locals. The self-produced album stays colorful and light, even as the rhythm gets heavy, or lyrics cut deep. “Hardwood Floors” could be a heartbreaking paean to lost love, or it might just be the perfect synthesis of Steely Dan and the Neptunes. “Gesture” sports all the proggy drama of a Gentle Giant song (wide vocal range, chambered movements, bits of flute), but it’s more triumphant than dooming. On the grinding “Man Up”—whose theme of action versus inertia appears throughout the album—you can hear Eric (a mic taped to either side of his head) walking away from the song’s surging guitars and opening a door onto a percussive jam. “How Gong I’m Gonna Be Lawn” is a many-hued opus, ghostly but warm, and “Get Hot Reprise (is what it is)” plays as an ambient comedown before the album’s last breath.
Closer “Me n My Friendz” is the topical foil to the irreverence of “Cops.” The politics here are personal and sobering, dripping with generational import. Over a bedrock of steady groove, Eric channels the exploratory spoken word of Barr, digging into the hollowness of searching for meaning and place. It’s an impressive lyrical work, and Get Hot’s rawest moment. It’s also proof positive that while the men of Facing New York don’t take themselves too seriously, they are indeed serious.
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