Finger Eleven -
Them Vs. You Vs. Me
The members of alternative rock outfit Finger Eleven grew up in Burlington, Ontario and came together in high school as a hard-rock-styled band named Rainbow Butt Monkeys. Originally comprised of Scott Anderson (vocals), Sean Anderson (bass), Rob Gommerman (drums) and James Black and Rick Jackett on guitars, they won a rock band search contest on local radio and used the prize money to record their first album, 1995's Letters From Chutney. Gommerman left the band soon after, making way for drummer Rich Beddoe.
After various rounds of touring, the guys got to work collectively writing their new album for Wind-Up. One amazing feat was that the band had recorded over 100 songs and had to choose which ones would fit on the new album. Many of them were written by exchanging files over the Internet wherein one person would track a home recording, send it off, and then some one else would build on it and send it on down the line. March 6th 2007, will see the release of “Them vs. You vs. Me”, which features much more varied instrumentation and musical influences than previous albums. Influences ranging from dance, to country, to funk. This is clearly a cut above the churning metallic guitars, normally associated with Finger Eleven's past efforts.
This album is really different from any previous Finger Eleven album but at the same time, it’s absolutely marvelous. Each song is carefully crafted to have only the best mixes of guitars, bass, vocals and instrumentals. Beyond what one would expect to hear on a Finger Eleven album, “Them vs. You vs. Me” features assorted instruments such as keyboards, xylophones, banjos and violins. I find it difficult to choose only one or two standout tracks, as all of the songs on the album have great potential. There’s the upbeat, pop-rock hit single ‘Paralyzer’ that has been taking the radio airwaves by storm. It took a little longer to grow on me, but now I am definitely hooked. Tracks like ‘Lost My Way’ and ‘Falling On’ bring me back to the days of my favourite Finger Eleven album “Tip”. ‘Ill Keep Your Memory Vague’ has the potential to be as big of a hit as ‘One Thing’. ‘Gather and Give’ has the same pop-rock feel as ‘Paralyzer’ but is mashed together with classic rock and blues influences.
The last four years for the band have been something special. They have earnestly taken the necessary steps to take their music to the next plateau. I could see the progression through Tip (1997) to the self titled album (2003). But “Them vs. You vs. Me” unquestionably showcases the band’s development and maturity. This is the best music the band has put out to date, hand’s down. There is something for everybody on this album. Be sure you check it out when it hits stores, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 5/5
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