:: Funeral For A Friend - Your History Is Mine: 2002 - 2009

Funeral For A Friend

For a band that’s only been around for a mere eight years, a best-of effort might come across as a little premature. But for whatever reason, for better or worse, that’s exactly what’s on offer from Welsh post-hardcore/emo rock act Funeral For A Friend. Listed in chronological order, the opening track ‘10:45 Amsterdam Conversations’ stretches as far back as the band’s debut EP release ‘Between Order And Model’ from 2002, where the band’s sound relied more on screaming vocals alongside the cleaner and more melodic vocals, while the follow up track ‘This Year’s Most Open Heartbreak’ is lifted from the group’s follow-up EP effort ‘Four Ways To Scream Your Name’ from 2003. As you would expect, the group’s critically acclaimed debut full-length effort ‘Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation’ from 2003 is well represented with four tracks (namely ‘Juneau’, ‘She Drove Me To Daytime Television’, ‘Escape Artists Never Die’ and ‘Red Is The New Black’), while three tracks from their well received 2005 sophomore effort ‘Hours’ are included on this effort (‘Streetcar’, ‘Roses For The Dead’ and ‘History’). Not surprisingly, only two tracks are aired from 2007’s disappointing ‘Tales Don’t Tell Themselves’ (‘Into Oblivion (Reunion)’ and ‘Walk Away’). But strangely enough, only ‘Kicking And Screaming’ is lifted from ‘Memory And Humanity’ from 2008, despite the fact that the album was considered a return to form from both fans and critics alike. While the selection and even-handedness of previously released material is questionable, it has to be said that the inclusion of four brand new tracks on ‘Your History Is Mine: 2002 – 2009’ certainly makes up for any shortcomings. While the first two tracks (‘No Honour Among Thieves’ and ‘Built To Last’) steer more towards the melodic direction found on ‘Tales Don’t Tell Themselves’, the latter two (the first single/promotional video clip ‘Wrench’ and ‘Captains Of Industry’) will definitely appeal to those fans that prefer the heavier side of the band’s sound. On the one hand, I can’t help but feel that compiling a compilation such as this on a band that’s been around for such a short amount of time is nothing short of a cash-in (especially given that Australia has been shorted the bonus disc of b-sides, or a possible DVD compilation of all their promotional video clips to date). But for diehards, ‘Your History Is Mine: 2002 – 2009’ does at least include four new tracks. And in the end, I guess that’s the audience this release is aimed at.