Film School
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Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Film School is a band with impressively eclectic influences (Pink Floyd, The Who, obscure electronica, metal, drone, alternative '80s), a grandiose collective musical history, and a healthy bout of critical acclaim. "As their name implies, Film School creates sounds with a cinematic eye...This four-song EP is a compact 23-minute trip that proves this San Francisco quintet have serious dibs on becoming leaders if Haight-Ashbury is ever to rise again" - CMJ. Rave live reviews in the NME and The Fly followed their UK visit in September 2004, supporting TV On The Radio. The Sunday Times Culture Magazine hailed them as one of the new bands that "should be huge", and Music Week included them in their rundown of the "eleven buzz bands on the brink of greater things."
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Customer Reviews
John L Murphy Said: An homage to the early 80s indie Brit guitar-distorted pop I loved ( Oct. 20th 2009 )
Not The Cure but an amazing simulation for much of this San Francisco-based but very Brit-indie styled band's debut. Greg Berton sounds more like Robert Smith as the songs progress, until by track 5, "Breet," I defy you to tell the difference. That's an oblique form of not only flattery but admiration, for I liked FS' take on early/mid-period Cure as much as the original band. Track 6, "11:11," starts off like "10:15 on a Saturday Night," and FS can summon up the nagging, melodic, puffy malaise of their influences well.
The last songs edge into My Bloody Valentine's less-distorted, earlier pop style; and The Verve perhaps can be recalled in these grooves, which rely heavily on atmospheric density and mordant moods. (This move towards more distortion and less Cure-like structure will continue on their 2007 follow-up, "Hideout," also reviewed by me.) I like this approach, even if the shift away on the latter portion from Smith-like vocals only accentuates the album's previous reliance on a venerable indie-pop template. I'm confused by the promotional material from their apt label-- given its forebears-- Beggars Banquet. I hear no trace of "The Who" or "drone" or "obscure electronica," not to mention "metal," and barely a trace now and then of "Floyd." I do hear "alternative 80s" clear if not always loud.
So, this may not be what those following the blurbs may expect, for the advertising words don't match the sounds here often unless "alternative 80s." It's perhaps a good choice for those already nostalgic for the days of "college rock" on the original artists released by Beggars Banquet, however. In this homage and reply to these bands, Film School provides a record that does not update these predecessors so much as thank them.
Daniel Leithauser Said: Closer to "The Cure" than MBV ( Jan. 21st 2008 )
After reading reviews that Film School sounded like My Bloody Valentine... or some more polished version of it, I might have to disagree. Upon the first couple of listens I was thinking... is this "The Cure" or a new "TV21"? The vocals and arrangements are not too far off. I guess I can see the MBV shoegazing comparison from the swirling guitars, but not much else. I could point those interested to some current shoegazing bands... Fleeting Joys, LSD and the Search for God, and Japancakes re-interpretation of Loveless, as some great examples of where this category is going. These bands mentioned here do have sites on myspace and music is available on Amazon--take a listen....
ApostoL 12 Said: Meditative Feel ( Aug. 1st 2007 )
Recently heard "Like you know" on a snowboard video. Immediately got hooked. Excellent cd to snowboard/skate to.
Shane O' Sullivan Said: A timebomb album ( Feb. 6th 2007 )
This album sat in my collection for almost 3 months before I sat down one day and listened to it properly. Man was I blown away, so much so that I listened to it for around 5 weeks solid. I can now look back and say that it was probably the best album I listened to in the whole of 2006. Take a listen to "Ms. Connection" (not on the album) to get a taste. It's an instant click song. Super album!
T. Treat Said: CD of 2006 ( Jan. 20th 2007 )
I would say this was my favorite CD of last year. I am a fan of the "shoegazer" sound. (I saw My Bloody Valentine in 1992 at the old 9:30 club in Washington DC. Pretty good show as I recall - even if they did just play feedback ala "Metal Machine Music" the last 15 minutes or so.) Anyhow, I think this CD is very good. I haven't heard their '01 release - I plan on getting it someday. I think my favorites on this CD are "He's A Deep Deep Lake", "Like You Know", and "Pitfalls".