song of the day: may 22/2011

Handsome Furs - I'm Confused
Album: Face Control [2009]

the montreal-based duo handsome furs formed in 2005 around the talents of dan boekner(co-frontman of wolf parade) and alexei perry. the husband-and-wife team released the atmospheric "plague park" in 2007, utilizing drum machines and world-weary melodies to distinguish the band's debut from wolf parade's own output. it earned accolades for its electronic twist on indie rock, with rolling stone likening the band to "a dingy version of the cure rocking some hipster dive bar," and the growing buzz prompted handsome furs' return to the studio in late 2007. despite initially planning to cut an EP, the inspired duo recorded an entire album instead, drawing upon its recent eastern european tour for lyrical cues. the resulting "face control" was issued in march 2009. at its core, "face control" showcases the handsome furs' wonderful way with song. the album feels weirdly familiar, full of gritty hooks that conjure up bruce springsteen and tom petty - you could call it computerized roots rock. most of the time, however, this newfangled approach to howling, heartfelt rock & roll feels really, really good. rollicking tracks like "evangeline," "all we want baby," and "i'm confused," with their gorgeously dark underpinnings, make it clear that "face control" makes good on all the promise 2007's "plague park" had to offer. for an album set in russia and made by an artsy indie rock duo from montreal, it feels shockingly down-home american.

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