Fall Heads Roll

by

The Fall

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Unlike with most of the Fall's releases over the past five years or so, I did not approach "Fall Heads Roll" with nearly as much skepticism as I did those other recent records. I believe that it was off their website or one linked to it that I downloaded some 2004 Peel Sessions of "blindness," "clasp hands," and "what about us." These were truly excellent recordings, with an intensity that reminded me much of "Hex Enduction Hour."

Their previous full-length "the real new fall lp" is a great album in its own right, and one that can really grow on you, but I just flatly disagree with those reviewers who feel it necessary to cast "fall heads roll" as a somewhat lesser version of it. On the contrary, this record has an intensity that the previous one too often lacks (even though it remains quite engaging). Moreover, the "softer" moments on "fall heads roll" (Midnight Aspen / Reprise) don't at all grate on the rest of the material (which was the major failure of otherwise good early 90s records such as "Extricate," ect), but they instead merge much more organically with their surroundings. One could tell from the last full-length that the Fall had regained much of the sharpness/wit that characterized early classics like "Room to Live" (i love those 'i hate the country' songs), and "fall heads roll" delivers in this area even more satisfyingly.

Mark E. Smith's new wife and keyboardist Eleni plays a significant role throughout the record, and it's great to hear the band gel around her and M. E. Smith. As much as some may hate the parallel, this new(ish) lineup could very well return the band to the creative and catchy heights they achieved in the best of the Brix period. One or two more successive albums like this and there will be little disagreement with such an observation. As it stands now, I'm not quite ready to uncross my fingers. As long as there's not another divorce in the near future (which would very likely thrust Smith into further self-conscious emotional griping that diluted albums like "Extricate"), I will do my best to remain optimistic.

Even in such a case, "Fall Heads Roll" will not become stale anytime soon. Truly a modern classic and, as the previous reviewer suggests, I will not accept any reaction less that enthusiastic from those friends who remain casual spectators into the world of the Fall. And in this case, I don't think I even need to worry about that.