Further Seems Forever: "The Moon Is Down" Released: March 27, 2001
Now Playing: "Wearing Thin"

Before Chris Carrabba transformed himself into Dashboard Confessional, he was pouring his heart out as part of the Pompano Beach quintet Further Seems Forever. In my opinion, this is perhaps one of the greatest modern day rock albums ever made. If you want to call it "Emo" or "Pop-Punk", it doesn't matter, this is an incredible debut album.

There is an incredible raw energy and fusion that this band achieves on The Moon Is Down. For a full 38 and a half minutes, The Moon Is Down draws it's listeners in and bathes them in a dazzling spectrum of crisscrossing guitar work, pulsating rhythms, and Carrabba's hauntingly painful vocals. The musical arrangement throughout the album is brilliant, the catchy hooks and melodies of the songs "Snowbirds And Townies" and "Pictures Of Shorelines" speak for themselves.

Carrabba has the unique ability as a singer to go from hushed whispers to high key screaming instantly. His songwriting is absolutely brilliant, if not ingenius. His themes concern themselves with relationships and the complexities that come with them. "I'm waiting to give you whatever the world may bring, I'll give you my life cause I don't own anything. It seemed like the bottle was all that I had, I'll give you my life, If you give me yours somehow." Anyone who has felt the pain that love can bring, can relate to his music.

The verses and choruses work perfectly together with the music, and everyone plays off of each other to stunning effect. I love the way some of the songs slowly build to a creshendo, and then take flight-i.e. New Year's Project. There aren't really any slow songs on the album, some are just more "toned down" at the beginning. After the first couple listens, when the immediate shock and awe of the album begins to wear off, Carrabba's introspective and often profound ballads of romance gone wrong slowly begin to take on a majestic and universal appeal. His abilities as a singer are completely showcased on this album. He can hold a note for an extended length of time, during which he is often screaming his heart out. His ability to communicate emotion through his voice alone, could allow him to go completely acoustic and be almost just as effective, which is what he has essentially done.

Some of the songs feel so pained and emotional, that they become transcendent and are spiritually uplifting in effect. I think that Carrabba had more chemistry with Further Seems Forever than he does with his current band Dashboard. Further Seems Forever was an incredibly talented band. His songwriting is more intelligent, and I think that it demands a certain technical life that it achieves here. The Moon Is Down is an album that doesn't hesistate or second guess itself, and that is why it is so powerful. His lyrics essentially embody themselves within the music and are brought to life. One of the best rock albums ever released. Highly recommended.

1. The Moon Is Down
2. The Bradley
3. Snowbirds And Townies
4. Monachetti
5. Madison Prep
6. New Year's Project
7. Just Until Sundown
8. Picture's Of Shorelines
9. Wearing Thin
10. A New Desert Life

Further Seems Forever's Myspace