Emotionalpunk.com
Media Review
Music Quality: 9.0
Production: 9.0
Originality: 8.5
Tracklisting
2. Beware The Jubjub Bird And Shun The Frumious Bandersnatch
3. Ear to Ear
4. Parable Of The Sower
5. Il Tango Della Signora Francesco di Bartolommeo di Zanobi del Giocondo
6. A Dead Person Breathed On Me!
7. The Great Affair Is To Move
8. Harry Frazee and No, No, Nannette
9. For A Dreamer, Night's The Only Time Of Day
10. I've Got A Witch Mad At Me And You Could Get In Trouble
11. Cue the Sun
Much like their fellow Seattleites (i.e. Gatsby’s American Dream), Forgive Durden plays the same kind of schizophrenic-technical rock shown on discs like “Ribbons and Sugar” and “Volcano”. Yet, the one major standout for Forgive Durden is their affinity for flare and eccentricity. Gatsby has always been seen as an incredibly creative and innovative band, but Forgive Durden has covered so much more ground with this album and has displayed a sturdier understanding of pop sensibility. But don’t be fooled! Through this guise of a “pop” album, a complete rock-opera has been formed. With a sound as vivid and surreal as their artwork and animated shorts, Forgive Durden spins a story of humanity and all the vices that accompany that title. Welcome to Wonderland.
To begin to sum this album up is a daunting task. The intricacy of “Wonderland” manifests itself all the way to the deepest levels of the album. The way the songs flow so flawlessly while at the same time creating a completely new sound each time is something any band should aspire to. There is no track that is easily confused with another; it is as if Forgive Durden became a new band for each song. Opening with the rumbling rock n’ roll track “Ants”, our attention is seized by their satirical indictment on civilization. The catalyst of the despicable nature of Wonderland is made very clear in this track; it’s the greed and the fact everyone is giving into it. The people are saying to themselves “If you can’t save us, can this money?” This sentiment begins the journey through the eerily familiar world they have created.
From there on out, you hear of more greed and self-indulgence, as well as lies, love, deceit, and pity from the people of Wonderland. Each song is portrayed with the utmost wit and eloquence. Where does this band find the inspiration to write so well?! Not a single song is poor in lyrical quality, in fact, like a good book, I go back over them again and again because I keep discovering new meanings. Besides the lyrics, there is another quality of a good book present in the album, and that is the fact that while begging to be examined, “Wonderland” stays incredibly engrossing through-out the whole story. The melodies sound so natural and the instrumentals, oh man, the instrumentals are stunning. With sounds ranging from rollicking guitars, to horns, to Latin percussion, to banjo. Forgive Durden put every ounce of creativity they had into this CD and I feel that is the mark of a true artist - when you feel as though you have been invited along for every twist and turn of the album in hopes to share in their entrancement.
The potency of this risky musical undertaking rings true days after it has finished. Keeping your mind constantly reeling back to “that chorus” or “that line” and never letting you just settle. This was an album created to be picked apart and discussed, to be peeled layer by layer like an onion. Complexity has never been this much fun.