Handsome Furs, the Canadian indie-rock duo of Dan Boekner (Wolf Parade) and his wifey, Alexei Perry, has been nudging its way toward notoriety of late, though their fan base remains small. Their newest release, Face Control, reaches for a wider audience by offering everything a lover of modern indie-rock could ask for: quirky vocals, synth riffs, and sprightly guitar work.
Boekner’s gruff vocals and jagged riffs often recall the Ramones or even Bruce Springsteen, most notably on “Talking Hotel Arabat Blues,” which exudes a hard-working, Wolf Parade-ian spirit. The album, however, is not without diversity and complexity, delicately balancing flashy synth-driven pomp (“Legal Tender”) with more meat-and-potatoes, guitar-centric rock. Lyrically, Boekner and Perry explore various thematic elements throughout the album, from the devil-may-care attitude of two lovers in “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything,” to the serious pinings for nights full of drugs on “Thy Will Be Done.” Overall, Face Control hits nearly every pleasure point of your typical entry-level indie rock fan; you may consider picking up a copy for yourself.
Voice’s Choices: “All We Want, Baby, Is Everything,” “Thy Will Be Done,” “Legal Tender”
