THE FRONT BOTTOMS - In Sickness & In Flames
Pictured: Matthew Uychich + Brian Sella - THE FRONT BOTTOMS
Photo by: Mark Jaworski
Bringing the Heat In Sickness & In Flames
Written by: Darcy Moore - Sense Music Media
Once upon a time I was invited along to a lounge room gig to watch a prolific American punk muso Mikey Erg play an intimate solo show, while he was on tour in Aus. I left the show inspired to go home, pick up my acoustic guitar and start writing songs. Cut to 2020 and I can probably play 6 songs, and not well. Enter THE FRONT BOTTOMS: stir up their deceptively simple songwriting, my blind confidence, and I got that feeling back.
I’m unapologetically late to the party with these guys but I feel like I’ve know them for years. Just a casualty of their crooked smiled, Buddy-ol-pal, aesthetic. The FRONT BOTTOM’s 5th studio album feels the most polished so far, but it’s simultaneously hard to pin down. Example: the album’s title In Sickness and in Flames - a riff on marriage vows, and a line that immediately makes me an emo teen again - sets up a dark tone for the listener to expect. This is immediately flipped on it’s head with the albums bohemian opener Everyone Blooms with it’s catchy optimism.
Pictured: Album Cover - In Sickness & In Flames (2020)
The band is a master of disguise when writing catchy, upbeat acoustic style songs with darker and layered storylines. Camouflage, the aptly named first single off the record will make you dance around whilst singing about mental breakdowns. “I wear camouflage to blend in” is the songs upbeat chorus hook which does the opposite of it’s lyrical purpose.
By the 5th track we take a break with the first classic, melancholic sit-back song The Hard Way. The lyrics seems to directly contradict the care-free journey of the first track; most likely the band is just taking a well deserved, existential break and we can definitely loan them that. However, recess isn’t long and in the bridge of the song the tempo starts up again and leads into an arm-inarm type chorus, perfect for the pub.
In my nitpicking opinion, the slower melody and easily relatable lyrics were a nice change up for me and I wish he’d let me finish drinking my glass of red wine alone, before making me feel like I was surrounded by people again handing me beers. Now both my hands are full. Keeping The Hard Way slow would have built a more interesting tension in the record, and for the heavier tendencies in the next song - Leaf Pile (which has a good energy, and I can see being a show opener once touring starts, it sets up room for the band to start banter with the crowd) but hey, it’s still a great tune.
Further down the LP, the track Fairbanks, Alaska is the song we need for a quiet pick-me-up. The lyrics paint a picture of a place far away from where we are in Melbourne’s COVID lockdown grip. The songs video of a BBQ, socialising with friends I feel I know, make me think “what I wouldn’t give for a high-five and a hug”. Sad as that thought may be, Fairbanks, Alaska feels cathartic, is a happy keeper, and the video is a well done and simple accompaniment.
It is human nature to find connections or patterns in their surroundings, and that doesn’t stop in music. We know the cliche “THIS SONG IS ABOUT ME!” except - it’s not. But it feels good to say that. This is reflected because the album’s about the pandemic, except - it’s not. “In sickness and in flames” was actually finished before the COVID hit, which then creates a whole new meaning to lyrics and tones scattered through the record. It makes the songs suddenly utterly more personal to the writers, Brain Sellar (lyrics and guitar) and Mat Uychich (drums) but they are ones we can all find a connection in, and that feels good.
Pictured: THE FRONT BOTTOMS live in Glasgow
Photo by: Dominic Cassidy
The Verdict
This record gets better on repeat listens. Songs will stick out and you’ll discover personal gems. Overlaid sound clips of people having dinner mixed with sing-a-long chorus’ are spread over the album, which contribute to an hour or so that makes you feel like you’re with friends. Maybe it’s the band’s friendly congeniality, but, a feeling of socialising - albeit these days maybe a bit too nostalgic - is a warm welcome in these separated times. If a few songs can make me feel like I’ve got a few mates - I’ll take it.
7/10
Download
Get your very own copy of In Sickness & In Flames here
Social Media
Check out THE FRONT BOTTOMS on Facebook and Instagram
