Fields : EVERYTHING LAST WINTER
July 17, 2007
Rating: 4/5
I’m trying to figure out how to pronounce, and spell, the subgenre that Fields fit into. Progmo? Emog? Punkemog? Punkeprogmo? Folprogmo? Profolkmo? Whatever it is, it simultaneously contains Prog Rock, emo, punk, and folk in one really great blend.
This new band uses folky acoustic guitar with atmospheric keyboards and ghostly harmonies and other freaky stuff as well in order to create their original stuff. And on Everything Last Winter, it’s used effectively. Itís the same kind of music youíd expect to hear around Halloween, though. And for me this is a great thing. It gets my creative juices flowing.
On the opening track, “Song for the Fields” you’re thrust into a driving Prog rock anthem following the same basics as Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, with Fields own elements put in there. The nervous drumming on “You Don’t Need This Song (So Heal Your Broken Heart)” sets a freak folk pace for a traditionally pop song. “Charming the Flames” is also a great song. It starts with a folky bit, and then slowly speeds up to an emo song far better than Taking Back Sunday’s “MakeDamnSure,” but will probably never hit the charts. It takes a long time for “School Books” to get good, but when it does, it gets really good. “Feathers” reminds me instantly of if the Arcade Fire had written their song “Haiti” during Neon Bible. And “The Death” is eternally a Halloween theme song, right there with the soundtrack for “The Nightmare before Christmas.”
With Fields, it’s Halloween again, and you can put your makeup on and pretend you’re the Grim Reaper. Now go get your candy.
Key tracks: The Death, Song for the Fields, and Feathers
Reviewed by Evan Greenwald
