Handsome Furs, the side-project of Wolf Parade's Dan Boeckner and his wife Alexei Perry, attempt to follow up on their stellar 2007 album Plague Park, with Face Control. At a first listen, there doesn't seem like a large difference. But multiple listens unveil a different and more complex sound. The album is much warmer and emotional than Plague Park, although the album does contain dense tracks such as "I'm Confused" or "Passport Kontrol". Handsome Furs still specialize in making rough and rugged synth tracks with searing, yet irresistible guitars. Album opener "Legal Tender" is a perfect example. Starting with jagged and grimy sounds, the song reveals a beautiful synth line towards the end as Boeckner's yelps unleash a sense of emotion that were absent prior. The highlight of the album is no doubt "All We Want, Baby, Is Everything". A sure single, it is definitely the most accessible song in the band's catalogue. An impressive album, Face Control matches, if not exceeds, Plague Park, which is saying something.
3 1/2 Stars
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