Furthest From the Star

Who?

A four-piece not-so-standard pop band from Austin, Texas. Their debut EP, This Fire Is Four Alarm, is being self-released by the band.

How is it?

This Fire Is Four Alarm combines many of the over-played aspects of the genre with those that seem to catch a lot more attention. For example, the band may use fairly standard vocal approaches, as well as incorporating a synth, but in the places where most bands fail, such as their guitar and drum approaches, Furthest From the Star tends to step it up a bit. While they may fall into the standard pop instrumentation in many places, there are also plenty of places that are more reminiscent of Four Year Strong and the like. This is most obvious in the introduction to "Even If It Means Waking Up."

Even in the places where they stick to the common goal, Furthest From the Star find a way to stick out. That is, even if they decided to do everything by-the-numbers, I think it would still be quite an enjoyable listen. Their vocals are tight, the synth work is actually interesting, and the tracks are extremely catchy. Combining this with the things they actually excel at, they've managed to surprise me quite a bit.

If you enjoy this kind of ultra-upbeat rock, then This Fire Is Four Alarm is definitely worth a listen. They've combined the things that everyone's getting pissed off at in the genre with those that actually make it fun to still listen to. Give Furthest From the Star a chance; you may be as surprised as I was.

Recommended If You LikeFour Year Strong; Hit The Lights; Honor Bright; Since Forever
- Absolutepunk.net