Friends Forever - Killball
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Though Killball is Friends Forever's debut CD, the trio from Denver have already made a name for themselves with what seem to be totally insane live performances that take place in their van outside of clubs all across the USA. Since the band wasn't able to perform their scheduled date in Pittsburgh this fall, I can't say much about their live performance, because, I also haven't seen the documentary of which they are they subjects. In a way, however, I think that comes to my advantage when reviewing this disc. Most of the opinions I've heard of KiIlball inevitably compare the disc to the band's live show, a practice that has both logical and practical benefits. However, to you, oh faithful fakejazz.com reader, you who will be listening to this disc in your bedroom or basement with no tour van in sight, lots of talk about the shenanigans performed by the band on the road will do little in regards to actual information of this disc. Perhaps discourse from another of your kind, uninitiated in the live ways of Friends Forever, can more successfully communicate the music that is Killball.
Since the band is from Denver, it seems obvious that Killball would be a concept album of sorts, a musical football game made as a tribute to the Denver Broncos. These aren't the Elway-less Broncos in those sleek yet ugly new uniforms that Friends Forever are lauding, either, but the boys in those somewhat garish but loveable orange home jerseys, players like Karl Mecklenberg and Vance Johnson. A game-in-a-CD, the kickoff and initial drive of Killball go well for the hometown boys. "Carnisaur Vs. Unicorn" and its choppy guitar lead and chanted vocals get the team an early touchdown, and the heavy synth of the instrumental "Win" is another winner. But soon after, the group begins to abandon their initial game plan (what great team wins by doing the same thing over and over again, anyway), and the results become more mixed. Like any football team, a few times Friends Forever commit a few turnovers, have to punt on a few three-and-outs, and are forced to settle for field goals rather than touchdowns. Killball even has a halftime performance ("Halftime Band," a red hot update of a classic cheer in "Charge!," and lots of cheering and the end of the game ("Winners").
At the end of the game, though, only the final score counts, and though Friends Forever come up big on more than one occasion on Killball, I'm not sure they do enough to win the game. Their high-octane attack seems to be the group's strength, but like classic football minds, they repeatedly hearken back to a slower-paced, more grueling attack, and I'm left to wonder if perhaps their team could have more effectively utilized its personnel over the duration of the game. The second half is a bit of a letdown, even with a song named after John Elway, and the team seems to lose their focus a bit. This doesn't bode well for their season, though, from what I can tell from Killball, Friends Forever are easily capable of an 8-8 or 9-7 season, which can easily get a team to the playoffs, and from there, anything can happen. I have a feeling that seeing Friends Forever play live is the far more exciting happening, but those of us who can't (or maybe just haven't yet) can only listen to Killball like sports fans in the days before TV, imagining what the spectacle must look like in person and wondering whether we'll ever get the chance to see the big game and experience Friends Forever as they're meant to be seen and heard.
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