Precious Fathers Self-Titled. Release Date : 2005. Label: White Whale. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. I've never been so sure what I think about really long intros or having an instrumental opening track or big batches of instrumentals. In the case of the recently-reviewed Socratic record, it was a huge hook and possibly the strongest song on the whole album. Sometimes it sounds like blathery filler. But here we're faced with an entire album of ambient, indie-rock instrumentals. These fellows don't sing a note. Part of me wants to yell about how dull non-lyrical rock music is, but on the other hand, it reminds you of how music is supposed to make you feel something rather than simply TELL you what to feel based on the lyrics. The emotion in this needs to be derived from the notes we're hearing. Through the rolling cymbals and the ongoing simple guitar riffs lain on one another and the trumpets, the songs climb and slide endlessly through 45-odd minutes in an almost jazzy fashion. The concept of distinct songs on something like this is interesting. They could feasibly just keep the same song going and going and going and changing up. But they choose to actually break apart the distinct songs. It's quite nice. The second track, "Upset Frankie Hustle," is quite nice. I wonder about song titles too... this is the feeling supposedly evoked by each tune? Judging by that, there was a lot of driving involved in the creation of this record. A lot of lonely desolate spaces. They drop us into a world of sad horns on "Gallant Foot." The album carries on. Pleasnt listening music, it'd be great for a lounge or something. Another interesting point is that I went through three years of college with one of the band members, who also does the album artwork. Weird! Small world. Song of choice : Can't reeeeeally decide... hm. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Precious Fathers website Published : March, 2006.