Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

The Chemistry Of Common Life opens with a little flute solo (or maybe a clarinet—the point being, an instrument that doesn’t belong in a Fucked Up album) playing in the background, delicately, soothingly, and pastorally. Of course, when you start thinking “wtf?” a trace of feedback kicks in and soon enough your speakers are struggling with lead-singer Pink Eyes’ nearly unintelligible growls and bellows. It’s the same old Fucked Up sound—but a bit more epic. The songs are unified by running motifs of birth, death, living and re-living. The hardcore edge is offset by eerie female voices (guest musicians Katie Stelmanis and The Vivian Girls), and the whole thing is ironically scientific. The title is taken from a 19th century book of the same name, which delves into the hallucinogenic properties of certain plants and mushrooms. It’s pretty trippy, yes, but never strays too far from the dirty aggression Fucked Up knows only too well. [Jorge Marticorena]