By: A. Estes

– Lady Gaga is coming to Phoenix! Get your tickets now! SHE SOLD OUT 3 SHOWS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN NYC! CRAZY!

It’s been 12 years. 12 long years since Far dropped the influential Water & Solutions and then proceeded to drop off the face of the Earth. In that time, certain band members splintered off into various projects (the most noteworthy of which included Onelinedrawing, Revolution Smile and Gratitude) while they could only sit back and watch as the emo/post-hardcore/whatever genre they helped to pioneer became the next big thing. Well, it is my pleasure to report that the band are finally back together and ready to reclaim their throne.

Produced by guitarist Shaun Lopez, At Night We Live is most certainly an energetic and refreshing return to the fold from Far, even if it gets off to sort of a rocky start. The opening track, “Deafening,” certainly makes a bold first impression, but songs like “If You Cared Enough” and “Give Me a Reason” plod along somewhat generically, sounding more like the bands Far inspired rather than the original sound they created oh so many years ago. Things pick up later on, though, with heavier fare such as “Fight Song 16,233,241″ and “Dear Enemy” adding a new dimension to the band’s sound while taking on a somewhat pessimistic tone that could have only been honed by the years of failed projects endured by singer Jonah Matranga.

Thankfully, though, most of the rest of the album sounds like classic Far, picking up where Water & Solutions left off. “Are You Sure?” and the title track will certainly transport you back in time, reminding you of just why Far were so pivotal while leaving you wondering why they have remained mostly over-looked throughout the years. Then there are songs like “The Ghost That Kept Haunting” and “When I Could See” that bare shades of Radiohead. The closing number, “Pony,” conversely sounds like an amped-up Weezer, finishing things on a high note and inspiring an instant repeat listening. In spite of some awkward moments that could be chalked up to the band getting their sea-legs back (it has been a long, long time, afterall) At Night We Live is about as good a comeback as can be expected. The band is in top form and appear to be having a blast playing together, while Jonah sounds just as good as ever. Hopefully the wait for another album won’t be as long and as painful as this one has been.

** Also possibly of interest...**

• October 14, 2011 -- Crosses EP Review – featuring Chino Moreno of Deftones and Shaun Lopez of Far (3)