Francisco The Man - Loose Ends (Album Review)

 

Francisco The Man - Loose Ends

(2014)


My copy: 2014 press by Fat Possum Records. 


Los Angeles band Francisco The Man released their LP Loose Ends in 2014 and then flew mostly under the radar. Loose Ends is by no means revolutionary, but the record is an underrated blend of indie psych and shoegazing with stable production that deserves more attention than it ultimately got. 

“You & I” introduces us to the band’s take on psych infused shoegaze with heavily echoed vocals that draw comparisons to the slightly dramatic crooning of Clinic. The mix is solid for what the album is going for: the guitar is mostly textural but matches the volume of the lead melodies while the rhythm section provides an incredibly stable backboard for the loose guitar noise. 

Perhaps where Francisco The Man loses attention is in the fact that these songs are still heavily stuck in a pop mindset, with faster jangly tunes like “In The Corners” or “Progress” failing to do anything that truly sticks out. The curse of having such a conventionally satisfying mix is that for the subgenres Francisco The Man are weaving in, none of the denser elements are able to rise above in a way that would really turn heads. On “Big Ideas” we hear dark, fuzzy guitar which is cool but the comfortable mix turns the track into a beach friendly version of a more bold band like Metz. 

Loose Ends shines the most when they use compositional skills to compliment the unique textural ideas. “Loaded” has a chorus that moves in phases, rejecting typical payoffs and drawing attention to the dynamics of the rhythm section. “In My Dreams” is an entirely rhythmic effort that plays with rising density and release. “It’s Not Your Fault” features jaunty pop chords that border on cheesy before a charismatic vocal performance and interesting ambiance save the track. “I Am Not” tackles the paranoid guitar tangles of a band like And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead… with a nod to post-punk that slowly loses its edge near the end. 

“I Used To Feel Fine” is the second eight-minute track which really convinces listeners that these guys should have ditched the pop emphasis and done a full blown psych/shoegaze prog record with some more unconventional production choices. “It’s True, It’s You” is a somber ballad that turns psychedelic with a wall of backing vocals that hang nicely on the atmospheric instrumentals: a solid closer overall. 

Loose Ends is a tasteful outing that sits just on the edge of greatness depending on the mood you are in when you hear it; Its inoffensive nature makes it difficult to stay embedded in one’s mind but everytime I hear it, I can’t help but enjoy myself. 

This album is incredibly cheap on discogs, there’s even a signed copy on colored vinyl for 20 bucks available as of this review.


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