If It's Too Loud...

The latest single from Chicago's FACS is a mess. A giant, glorious, post-punk industrial mess. "General Public" is the kind of song most people aren't going to be able to handle. There is almost too much going on, so you're going to have to pay attention to it to fully grasp the song. FACS have piled layers upon layers upon layers at times. At other times, it's a relatively simple noise rock/post punk song. While it is grating at times (by design), the more you listen and the deeper you pay attention, the more beauty you start to find. Of course, that could just be Stockholm Syndrome kicking in. "General Public" won't be for anyone, or probably even most people. But if you love this kind of thing, this will quickly become a favorite of the year. Guitarist Brian Case explains the song: "The song is about roles, perceived and assumed, and how we translate that with each other. This song fell out complete, Andy Gill had recently died and we wer...

We've been following Chicago's FACS ever since they were Disappears. The trio has been reformed under the new moniker for four years now, and they keep toying with their sound. Their new single, "Strawberry Cough," is still their noisy, experimental brand of post punk, but they've begun branching out. FACS will always sound dystopian. That is part of their charm and sound. But "Strawberry Cough" has more of an almost electronic sound. There's a broken down future vibe throughout this song. FACS have never been an easy or even pleasant listen. This pushes that into a new level of discordant, in the best possible way. Brian Case of FACS says of the new song and video: "Strawberry Cough is about the world of interiors, and the line between where influences come together or split off. Going into record stores and having conversations with strangers, learning about new sounds, and finding something I've been looking for has been sorely missed ove...