¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!
¡Hey, Hey Pioneers! is the first full length album offered by the Minnesota five piece, The Farewell Continental Group of North America. This is a band who are no short of the ordinary, so as you can imagine, the album is slightly unusual. Indeed there isn’t a set stereotype in which this band can fit neatly; they seem to exist on the outer realms of typical cliques and clichés, and simply do their own thing – and you’ve got to admire them for that. In fact, it’s rather refreshing to see a band attempting something innovative and kind of whack, making a pleasant change from the “certain amount of crud that gets through.”
The album kicks off slowly, gradually building tempo, offering a blend of punk and pop numbers. It has a raw, energetic feel to it, avoiding the feeling of being over produced or too ‘polished.’ Over the course of the album, listeners are taken on a journey of highs and lows as they descend into the strange and weird world that is Farewell Continental. And by the hypnotic ending of Tiger Claw, it simply begs you to press repeat.
The album kicks off slowly, gradually building tempo, offering a blend of punk and pop numbers. It has a raw, energetic feel to it, avoiding the feeling of being over produced or too ‘polished.’ Over the course of the album, listeners are taken on a journey of highs and lows as they descend into the strange and weird world that is Farewell Continental. And by the hypnotic ending of Tiger Claw, it simply begs you to press repeat.
Vocalists Dr. Richard Kimble (aka Justin Pierre from Motion City Soundtrack), and Allie Fox (Kari Gray), frequently play off each other throughout, particularly in songs The Greatest Of All Time(How you feelin’ now?), and New Tiled Floor, making themselves seem like the John Travolta and Olivia Newton John of punk rock. To put it simply: A perfect pair. Along with the charm of the singing duo, this album oozes originality. With such a wide variety of styles, ranging from pure punk numbers like Who’s The Boss?, to pop hits including Dagger Dagger: Terror Terror, to the downright weirdness of A Story From The Bottom Of The Sea; listeners are undoubtedly kept on their toes. In fact, you’re not quite sure what’s going to be thrown your way next.
Indeed this album is pretty unusual to say the least. With the ever quirky lyrics from Mr Pierre, it adds a certain charm and fun to the music that makes it inescapable. Even if you aren’t particularly struck with by the music, you may find it rather challenging to keep the quippy, witty lyrics and driving guitar riffs from storming through your mind. But you have to admire this band for their oddness. They don’t appear to give a hoot about following what others do, or appealing to certain clichés: they go their own way. As Richard Kimble proclaims himself in his radio intermission during Radio Radio: Are you getting this?, “it’s really interesting when a band gets together and thinks I want to do something that’s been done before a million times” – but where’s the fun in that right?**As seen in The Motion Online**
