The Greatest Tragedy in Punk Rock History - The California punk rock of the mid-late 90s that I loved is dead. And not tragically so, either. Personally, I like the way that it has evolved. It has grown up in the same way that many of us who were fortunate enough to be in our late teens and early twenties at that time have. I have always thought it sad that Face to Face got caught in the middle of that evolution with no straight way forward through a hypocritical fanbase that was resistant and unwilling to change.The fact is that this album was, at the very least, breathtaking. It should have gone down in history with albums like Something to Write Home About, but instead was honored with hatred and even violence, simply because people couldn t accept that a band they loved could evolve and grow up.I was at an indie record store the other day that deals in used albums and I happened to come across this album...8 copies of it. It s not the first time I had seen several copies of it in a used bin. Every time I see it, I can t help but think of how great Face to Face could have been. Here s a funny thought - Face to Face was further from selling out at that time in their career than any other. Ignorance is Bliss weaves the dying California pop-punk and vocal hooks into an expansive emo masterpiece. Poignant thoughts on relationships and growing up are poured heavily throughout the record, and are accented by reflections of self. From beginning to end the record is a voyage from anger to guilt (Overcome, In Harm s Way, I Know What You Are), introspection to sadness (Prodigal, Lost, Nearly Impossible), resurrection to redemption (The Devil You Know, Maybe next time).The lyrics are better, the melodies are catchier, the music is more ambient, expansive and amazing than on any of their other albums. This record is truly amazing. I encourage every F2F fan to go back and rethink it if you re the reason I keep finding it in used bins. They deserved a better shake than they got in the Great Evolution. So did this album. All of their other work pales in comparison, as does much of the work of many others. To have missed out on this album is truly tragic.
Not the same FACE TO FACE - I remember when this was released, FACE TO FACE was one of my favorite bands. DON T TURN AWAY, to this day is still one of my favorite albums ever made. This is not the same style of music at all. The fast, melodic style of 90 s west coast skater-hardcore is gone. This is a grown up album full of slower, moody rock which is a major departure from their earlier material. To me, it was a major disappointment. Some of the songs are still good, but this band should have a different name, it s not FACE TO FACE after this record.
Seven years later... - I remember when this album came out summer 1999. At that point Face To Face had been dormant for nearly two years (a hefty stretch for them). Now, after a full year in the studio, they were finally releasing their fourth full-length studio album.At this point in my life, at age 19, I had come to the conclusion that the punk scene had had spent my high school life defending was beyond repair. The supposed punk rock values were completely self-centered and self-serving. Sell-out was rhetoric applied to anyone who stepped outside punk s clearly drawn boundaries. Major labels, MTV, large venues -- none of this would do for a true punk rock band. Heaven forbid you try to stretch past breakneck tempos and power chords.When IGNORANCE IS BLISS finally dropped, I was mezmorized. Trever & co. showed that they had more up their sleeve than Disconnected and I Won t Lie Down. No punches were pulled in the production, besides decidedly un-punk song structure, they also added string arrangements (thus elevating the song Burden from excellent to ethereal) and ambient sounds that enhanced the mood of the record. It was, and is, flawless.So naturally, the punk rawkers despised it. Their website was flooded with barely coherent complaints. When they headed out on tour shortly after the album s release they were met not only with disapproving crowds, but with violence (which, in part, led to guitarist Chad Yaro s departure the following year). The tour had to be cancelled.Face To Face then released two more albums, both returning to the punk stable, which is unfortunate. In 2003 they called it quits after sufficiently placating their fan-base.So now, seven years later, the dust has settled. What of Ignorance Is Bliss?Don t Turn Away is a punk rock cliche. Reactionary smacks of damage control. How To Ruin Everything is a band bored with their music and each other. But Ignorance Is Bliss stands as strongly as ever. With the lyrical brilliance of Heart Of Hearts or Prodigal, or the musical beauty of Everyone Hates A Know-It-All or Lost, it all proves that, for at least a little while, Face To Face was truely one of the greats.
You don t even know.... - Let me tell you how good this album is. I named my son Trever Keith after the lead singer of Face to Face. This is the only punk album I ve ever heard that actually made me feel the music rather than just hear it. By far the best work Trever Keith has ever done. To me, punk is not a sound. It s an ideal, the way you are. Trever Keith had the most punk ideals out of any other lead man I ve listened to. He came in, said what he had to say, and Face to Face left the scene.
Fantastic well written album - This is such an exceptional album. Not many punk bands have this kind of talent shown with this kind of song writing. Face to Face took a different direction with this one. It is much slower then the rest of their faster punk style albums. Many F2F fans ragged on this album saying it wasn t punk and then F2F changed back to their original sound for later albums which I believe really limited their growth as a band.