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[ Most Prolific Band of 2000 -
December 21, 2000 ]
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Most Prolific Band of 2000
written by Steve Reynolds
Remember the '60s? Nope, I don't either.
But after immersing myself in weeks of painstaking research
(okay, it was really just a couple of beers and 30 minutes
online), I came up with the conclusion that bands were A
LOT more prolific back then. The Beatles, The Stones, The
Kinks, and Aretha - these great artists would routinely
crank out tow albums a year, maybe even more. Today, that
kind of creative output has gone the way of Paul Simon's
hair. Fortunately for you, dear reader, and me, one group
of musicians has come along this year to bring back the
heyday of the prolific rocker. These folks are known as
The Figgs.
 This
New York-based trio has been around for 13 years, starting
out before they could even get learner's permits. Guitarist
Mike Gent, bassist Pete Donnelly and drummer Pete Hayes
have seen their fair share of the ups and downs of a musician's
life. Their first label went under, their second label barely
released their next album. But with all these forces against
them, these guys have continued to make high quality power-pop-rock
songs that Matchbox Twenty and Vertical Horizon would sell
their left nuts to achieve.
 In
2000 The Figgs have released three albums, each focusing
on a certain aspect of the band. February saw the release
of For EP Fans Only (Hearbox Records). These seven
songs display the poppier and softer side of the band. "When
You Rest" and "Please, One More Time" are tender songs about
rock's greatest topic, love, that will get you singing after
just one listen.
[ buy For
EP Fans Only or visit
Hearbox.com ]
 Up
next in June was Rejects (Philthyrex), a vinyl only
album that compiles various studio leftovers into a coherent
whole (like The Who's Odds and Sods). These 13 songs
fly by in a blur (clocking in just over a half hour), showing
the fast and loud side of The Figgs. Tracks like "Rollerskate"
and "She's Fine" are punk-like gems that say what they need
to say, and then wrap up in less than 90 seconds. But the
absolutely highlight is "Fucks Off," a song that sounds like
The Faces and the Sex Pistols had one very tuneful child.
[ buy Rejects
from the Figgs site ]
 And
then in October came Sucking in Stereo (Hearbox Records),
in which The Figgs prove that rock music can still be dance
music. "Reaction" and "Opening Night" are rooted in those
primal guitar and drum rhythms that kids danced to back in
(you guessed it) the '60s on American Bandstand. As a matter
of fact, if Dick Clark wanted a true Rockin' New Year's Eve,
he'd book these guys. Sucking is the exact opposite
of its title - it's one of the best albums to hit my ears
in 2000, and puts an exclamation point on the most productive
year for one band since The Beatles released Rubber Soul
and Revolver just six months apart. To quote a friend
of mine, "Dude, Figgs Rock!"
[ buy Sucking
In Stereo or visit
Hearbox.com ]
December 2000
Figgs photos by Kevin
Ure
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©
Figgle 2001-2003