Further Seems Forever: How To Start A Fire : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

After losing its frontman, Chris Carraba, to greener pastures (otherwise known as the wildly popular band Dashboard Confessional) emocore fivesome Further Seems Forever not only made another album, but one that rocks with the potential power to make Carraba wish he'd never left. How to Start a Fire burns with incendiary power-pop guitar riffs and smolders with intensely emotive vocals. Jason Gleason, Carraba's replacement as both singer and songwriter, brings both a harder edge and a softer underbelly to the band's sound with vocals and melodies that dangle at both ends of the spectrum. On the wistful ballad "On Legendary," Gleason croons with honeyed introspection, while he peppers the tortured "Against My Better Judgement" with aggressive wails and anguished screams. The rest of the album follows suit, alternating between angry songs of self-abnegation and quiet, melodious songs of transcendence. "I am redemption," Gleason sings with moving believability on the almost hymn-like "I Am." Chris who?

KRISTIN ROTH
(February 11, 2003)