JD and the FDCs - Recognise
We featured JD and the FDCs a while back, so when we were contacted about their new album, Recognise, I couldn’t wait to hear what they had been up to of late. Couple this with their role in the Loud-Stuff About To Break Tour this Summer, and I was ready to hear some damned fine rock n roll, courtesy of this Midlands 4 piece.
Opening with title track Recognise we’re immediately thrown into a melee of hammering guitar work, pounding bass rhythms and thundering drums. Despite the all out approach it’s important to remember that this is rock n roll, so it’s damned good fun from the off as well as being the sort of music that you dance to, not mosh. It’s rare to come across a band who can command a sound which is so well established yet straight from the off that’s what’s going on, immediately showing that if you’re looking for a band to give you a damned good time and a night to remember, then this could well be the way forward. Throw in a guitar solo for good measure and I’m sold, and this is only at the first track!
Moving into Ujpest Dosza the good fun theme continues, hammering on into a track which is going to get even the most hesitant fans up and dancing. Catchy from the off, this is the sort of track which is going to have people dancing, people singing and venues pumping from the word go, demonstrating that not only can they play, but they can also command the crowd when they see fit. Mirrors and Wires continues the all out approach, this time following a relatively simply chord progression yet managing to form a track around it which had me singing along after one listen. Opening with a soaring vocal over a multi-layered guitar, the track immediately adopts a beat and approach which will convert anyone who had any doubts, showing that this album could well be the moment this band have been waiting for. Personally, I rate this track amongst the best on the album and would recommend everyone check it out, it’s a great moment.
Burn This City Down, From The Shadows and The Secret all follow much the same conventions of the album so far, all showing that the band are capable and a force to be reckoned with, but it’s when No Way Out comes about that once again you realise why it is that you started listening to this album. Throwing in some intricate guitar work before the roving bass line ushers in the full opening of the track, this track holds surprise after surprise and once again stands out as a moment of sheer genius on the album. More punky in its approach, this is a track which has been carefully crafted for the live scene and one which almost showcases the abilities of the band as a whole. This Town Of Infamy marks a sudden surprise though, showing that JD and the FDCs are not a band to think you understand. Throwing in a moment of almost country style music, the sudden shift is intriguing, once again acting as a means to show that you can’t expect the expected on an album like this. There’s bound to be those who say this track doesn’t fit, but to them I would say shut up, I think it’s great – and yes I was singing along!
Never Gonna Stop removes all memories of the previous track and once again launches us full tilt into a solid rock n roll melee of guitars, drums, bass and raspy dirty vocals. Powerful from the off, once again we’re treated to a track which is going to become an anthem on the live scene, getting people moving along and chanting along to ‘never gonna stop’ as the track progresses. Anti-Destination League matches this rock n roll approach and raises it an ounce of punk just to show they’ve not gone soft. Despite the harder approach this is once again a catchy track, showing that if you’re looking for a band that is able to produce rock n roll as well as punktastic tunes then you’re not going to go far wrong here – it’s yet another moment of sheer genius.
Closing with Come Dig Me Out there’s once last chance to get up and throw some shapes, the final moments of the album combining different layers of vocals to form a track which could happily be played out on some pretty major radio stations. I hesitate to say they saved the best for last here, but this final track is definitely another moment on the album which you need to check out, a moment which will make you once again sit up and take note.
I don’t know what it is, but when I read what I’ve written here it comes across as disjointed, somehow not reflecting the continuity of the album which JD and the FDCs as produced here, and that’s wrong. What you’ve got here is an album which will make you listen, make you realise why you started listening to rock music and enthuse you about the live scene once again – so in short – get out and listen to it – this is one not to miss.
To find out more about JD and the FDCs, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Opening with title track Recognise we’re immediately thrown into a melee of hammering guitar work, pounding bass rhythms and thundering drums. Despite the all out approach it’s important to remember that this is rock n roll, so it’s damned good fun from the off as well as being the sort of music that you dance to, not mosh. It’s rare to come across a band who can command a sound which is so well established yet straight from the off that’s what’s going on, immediately showing that if you’re looking for a band to give you a damned good time and a night to remember, then this could well be the way forward. Throw in a guitar solo for good measure and I’m sold, and this is only at the first track!
Moving into Ujpest Dosza the good fun theme continues, hammering on into a track which is going to get even the most hesitant fans up and dancing. Catchy from the off, this is the sort of track which is going to have people dancing, people singing and venues pumping from the word go, demonstrating that not only can they play, but they can also command the crowd when they see fit. Mirrors and Wires continues the all out approach, this time following a relatively simply chord progression yet managing to form a track around it which had me singing along after one listen. Opening with a soaring vocal over a multi-layered guitar, the track immediately adopts a beat and approach which will convert anyone who had any doubts, showing that this album could well be the moment this band have been waiting for. Personally, I rate this track amongst the best on the album and would recommend everyone check it out, it’s a great moment.
Burn This City Down, From The Shadows and The Secret all follow much the same conventions of the album so far, all showing that the band are capable and a force to be reckoned with, but it’s when No Way Out comes about that once again you realise why it is that you started listening to this album. Throwing in some intricate guitar work before the roving bass line ushers in the full opening of the track, this track holds surprise after surprise and once again stands out as a moment of sheer genius on the album. More punky in its approach, this is a track which has been carefully crafted for the live scene and one which almost showcases the abilities of the band as a whole. This Town Of Infamy marks a sudden surprise though, showing that JD and the FDCs are not a band to think you understand. Throwing in a moment of almost country style music, the sudden shift is intriguing, once again acting as a means to show that you can’t expect the expected on an album like this. There’s bound to be those who say this track doesn’t fit, but to them I would say shut up, I think it’s great – and yes I was singing along!
Never Gonna Stop removes all memories of the previous track and once again launches us full tilt into a solid rock n roll melee of guitars, drums, bass and raspy dirty vocals. Powerful from the off, once again we’re treated to a track which is going to become an anthem on the live scene, getting people moving along and chanting along to ‘never gonna stop’ as the track progresses. Anti-Destination League matches this rock n roll approach and raises it an ounce of punk just to show they’ve not gone soft. Despite the harder approach this is once again a catchy track, showing that if you’re looking for a band that is able to produce rock n roll as well as punktastic tunes then you’re not going to go far wrong here – it’s yet another moment of sheer genius.
Closing with Come Dig Me Out there’s once last chance to get up and throw some shapes, the final moments of the album combining different layers of vocals to form a track which could happily be played out on some pretty major radio stations. I hesitate to say they saved the best for last here, but this final track is definitely another moment on the album which you need to check out, a moment which will make you once again sit up and take note.
I don’t know what it is, but when I read what I’ve written here it comes across as disjointed, somehow not reflecting the continuity of the album which JD and the FDCs as produced here, and that’s wrong. What you’ve got here is an album which will make you listen, make you realise why you started listening to rock music and enthuse you about the live scene once again – so in short – get out and listen to it – this is one not to miss.
To find out more about JD and the FDCs, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
JD and the FDC's
I was put onto JD and the FDC’s by Big D from Noize Level Critical. With an impressive write up of achievements listed on their FB page and describing themselves as a Rock n Roll band, I was intruiged to find out what their music would be like.
As Never Gonna Stop kicked in I realised – it’s solid rock music incorporating punk elements to create a catchy and raw (yet well produced) sound. Using the guitars to drive the track from start to finish, this track is a rock anthem in the waiting – I would challenge anyone who says they weren’t singing along to ‘Never Gonna Stop’ by the end of the track – it’s impossible not to! There is also a video to this track on the bands FB page which is well worth a watch whilst you’re checking them out. As the track finishes though and Monsoon Is Now kicks in, the mood seems to change. Fading the track in, the track adopts a more punky edge this time – adopting a more raw edge to the vocals but maintaining that musical sound. What I really love about this track is that you can hear every instrument in the band doing it’s thing – the bass line for example roves all over the neck of the bass, something which is usually missed out in the mix.
Tie Me Up (Tie Me Down) is a more rock n roll track than the others so far, adopting a more classic guitar line but retaining that wonderful bass line right there in the mix. Layering the vocals at times to create an even bigger sound, this track is once again catchy from the outset, creating a good time feeling and forcing you to tap your feet along with it. Sticking with this approach, Burn This City Down continues onwards in the rock n roll style, this time again though showing off some of the more punky edge (although only a little!) yet still being incredibly catchy from the moment it kicks off. Asking the audience where all the rebels have gone and where’s the original sound, I think the band have answered their own question with their music – it’s so refreshing to hear a band like this playing this style of music.
Stupid Music Played By Idiots follows on here and returns to the punk style from the outset, sounding almost like the Drop Kick Murphy’s at times, this is more frantic from the outset but again somehow keeps that catchy edge. I think this is my personal favourite track from the selection on their FB page, there’s something about it which takes me back to the music which I listened to which got me into metal and the like – more of this please!
Final track We Close Our Eyes finishes the selection in style – adopting a lead line over the bass line and simple drum line, this track is catchy from the outset sounding almost like it’s an 80’s power hit – what? It is? Oh yeah – the band have covered Go Wests We Close Our Eyes – and it’s good. I’m not going to say anymore than that, but check it out!
In all, JD and the FDC’s are a band I like, they play good solid rock music underpinned by punk and they’re damned good at it. I’m not surprised in the slightest that they’ve been successful so far and I am sure they’ll go on to bigger things – just make sure you keep playing this style of music guys!
Make sure you check out their Facebook page HERE to hear some of their tracks.
As Never Gonna Stop kicked in I realised – it’s solid rock music incorporating punk elements to create a catchy and raw (yet well produced) sound. Using the guitars to drive the track from start to finish, this track is a rock anthem in the waiting – I would challenge anyone who says they weren’t singing along to ‘Never Gonna Stop’ by the end of the track – it’s impossible not to! There is also a video to this track on the bands FB page which is well worth a watch whilst you’re checking them out. As the track finishes though and Monsoon Is Now kicks in, the mood seems to change. Fading the track in, the track adopts a more punky edge this time – adopting a more raw edge to the vocals but maintaining that musical sound. What I really love about this track is that you can hear every instrument in the band doing it’s thing – the bass line for example roves all over the neck of the bass, something which is usually missed out in the mix.
Tie Me Up (Tie Me Down) is a more rock n roll track than the others so far, adopting a more classic guitar line but retaining that wonderful bass line right there in the mix. Layering the vocals at times to create an even bigger sound, this track is once again catchy from the outset, creating a good time feeling and forcing you to tap your feet along with it. Sticking with this approach, Burn This City Down continues onwards in the rock n roll style, this time again though showing off some of the more punky edge (although only a little!) yet still being incredibly catchy from the moment it kicks off. Asking the audience where all the rebels have gone and where’s the original sound, I think the band have answered their own question with their music – it’s so refreshing to hear a band like this playing this style of music.
Stupid Music Played By Idiots follows on here and returns to the punk style from the outset, sounding almost like the Drop Kick Murphy’s at times, this is more frantic from the outset but again somehow keeps that catchy edge. I think this is my personal favourite track from the selection on their FB page, there’s something about it which takes me back to the music which I listened to which got me into metal and the like – more of this please!
Final track We Close Our Eyes finishes the selection in style – adopting a lead line over the bass line and simple drum line, this track is catchy from the outset sounding almost like it’s an 80’s power hit – what? It is? Oh yeah – the band have covered Go Wests We Close Our Eyes – and it’s good. I’m not going to say anymore than that, but check it out!
In all, JD and the FDC’s are a band I like, they play good solid rock music underpinned by punk and they’re damned good at it. I’m not surprised in the slightest that they’ve been successful so far and I am sure they’ll go on to bigger things – just make sure you keep playing this style of music guys!
Make sure you check out their Facebook page HERE to hear some of their tracks.