Posted By Ben W. on August 26, 2009

I was one of the fortunate few who saw Future Of The Left rock the Southgate House in Newport, Ky. last month. They played the parlour upstairs, which – for those not familiar – is an old, beautiful, cozy, musty room full of books, weird paintings, weirder wallpaper and a creaky piano in one corner. And a room that is WAY TOO FREAKING SMALL for a band as mighty as Future Of The Left.

Way way way way too freaking small.

But alas this is where they were booked. So me and 75 of my best friends crowded into the smoky echo chamber and thrilled to FOTL’s hour-long throttling of our ear drums.

How loud was it?

Well, by the second song the power dimmed, flickered and then just gave up, leaving us all in silence and dark.

Talk about raw power. Iggy would be proud.

In some ways the small room and anemic sound system only highlighted the band’s ferocity. They certainly had no problem filling the space with noise. The floor is probably still shaking. And of course they put their set across with their typical energy and hilarious between-song banter.

What we sacrificed, though, was Andy Falkous’ wonderful lyrics. You could barely hear his voice, let alone make out the words. And that is such a shame, because while their taut rhythms and monster distortion is awesome, it’s his absolutely singular lyrical voice that makes them such a special band. Quite simply, Falkous is the most original lyricist of the decade – often funny, often angry, always compelling. And their live show, as great as it is, does little to further his reputation as the preeminent esoteric poet of his time.

So I wanted to take this time to highlight my 14 favorite lyrics on their super-incredible-greatest-thing-ever album Travels With Myself And Another. Falkous shields his thoughts in a code of what can sometimes seem like nonsense. But I’m convinced it’s not nonsense. These are words worth reading, enjoying, puzzling over, re-reading again, puzzling some more, re-re-reading, analyzing and obsessing over.  Have at it:

• The problem with these people is they understand the obvious. The problem with these people is they understand their vices, not their faults. – “Lapsed Catholics”

• What kind of orgy leaves a sense of deeper love? – “You Need Satan More Than He Needs You”

• When in Rome, remember home is always here for you. – “Land Of My Formers”

• This one time, I was running through the fields, when I came across a dead guy with a letter in his hand.

So I scanned it, and though the grammar was OK, there was such a lack of purpose that it was difficult to care. But anyway… – “Stand By Your Manatee”

• Rationalize your own revolution. It can be easily compressed. Without the young and the desperate, they won’t have anyone left. – “That Damned Fly”

• Is a lack of emotion a curse? Or a skill to rely on? – “I Am Civil Service”

• God damn it’s gonna rain. I only brought my socks. The night might hide my shame, but she won’t dry my balls. – “You Need Satan More Than He Needs You”

• Turn around, face our deepest fears, re-imagine God as just a mental illness looming towards  the end of our days.

Think again how could we go wrong with supernatural creatures who control our fate? Could anyone tell? Would anyone care ? – “The Hope That House Built”

• Only the good die young, except for when they don’t, it’s not exactly fair. – “Stand By Your Manatee”

• He wasn’t heading for a glittering life. He’s just a one-town man with a one-man wife. – “Chin Music”

• There are words he could use to describe it, metaphors he should have applied. He’ll die in his bed on a summer’s night, with his hands on his adequate bride. – “Drink Nike”

• Someone should remind them that in this business bad acoustics are an awful start. – “That Damned Fly”

• Maybe it’s an old cliche, but sometimes things are better left expected. – “Stand By Your Manatee”

• Yeah, sure, Satan rules, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be practical. – “You Need Satan More Than He Needs You”

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Categories: Lists, Reviews
Tags: Future Of The Left