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Fromohio

fIREHOSE

1989

Fromohio
Album Summary

Fromohio (stylized as fROMOHIO) is the third album by the American alternative rock band Firehose, released in 1989. The album maintained the acoustic and folky sound of If'n.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.89

Votes

10012
Genres
Rock

Reviews

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Tue Jul 27 2021
3

fIREHOSE s'est visiblement trompé au moment d'écrire son nom d'artiste en ne s'apercevant pas que la touche "verr. MAJ" était activée. Cette erreur en a entraîné d'autres parmi lesquelles on trouve cet album.

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Thu Mar 18 2021
4

I haven't listened to this in years and wasn't crazy about it at the time because it felt less aggro and heavy than their previous 2 records. Older and wiser I'm hearing influences I missed the first time — Grateful Dead, John Fahey, XTC — and am royally digging the way it all comes together

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Thu Dec 02 2021
4

Damn what the fuck? I thought this would be some grunge/punk screaming band from the name, but it is exactly in my taste of music and is really really good. How'd I not know about them before?

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Tue Nov 15 2022
1

This brings a whole new meaning to the word underwhelmed. I've been reading really shithouse student writing while listening to this and the palookas masquerading as students won out in the interesting stakes. I had to rewind the YouTube tape about three times as I was lost in a lost world of musical heads slowly disappearing up backsides. At least the students were creative in their mediocrity. Wow, a little bit of diddley dee twiddly dee guitar riffing, a bit of B grade Pixies bass mixed up front, some slightly off key warbling and hey presto here's a record that is...well I don't really know what it is. In My Mind is ok...sort of. Is this the late 80's version of prog rock, is this twee fiddling about what brought on grunge? These guys should have gonged it after The Minutemen and opened a nice bar where they could twiddly dee to their hearts content.

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Sat Apr 10 2021
4

+1 stars for indomitable midwestern charm

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Tue Aug 24 2021
4

Very fun album. Unique mix of prog, post-punk, indie rock. Always a big fan of a drum track.

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Wed Apr 20 2022
4

4.0 - This is a surprisingly tidy record with some excellent guitar work. There aren't any standout tracks but it all flows together surprisingly well. I hear elements of reggae via Clash, Talking Heads, REM, and a solid dose of the Minutemen. And Mike Watt sounds incredible on bass! Plus, it's obscure and midwest-American, so citing it as a favorite record will give you instant credibility amongst hipsters.

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Wed May 11 2022
4

It might not be an all-time classic, but THIS, ladies and gents, is why I signed up for the 1001 Albums journey! "Fromohio" was an album I'd never heard of by a band I didn't know, with no clue what to expect. The cover made me brace myself for some alternative metal, but then the first two songs had me absolutely reeling. "Riddle of the Eighties" kicks in with a breathtaking drum intro (one of many on the album, a flurry of cymbals and hi-hats) before a bright, jangly verse and vocal recalling early R.E.M. "In My Mind" follows up with an irresistible calypso-tinged rhythm, evoking Paul Simon's "Graceland" in the "white guys doing world music" vain. There's an amazing momentum and energy to it and I couldn't not bop along... Admittedly, the quality slowly thins out after these stellar first two tracks. There are snatches of great music across the rest of the record, particularly in the stomping "Time With You" (check out the squawking funk-style guitar), the restless punky energy of "Some Things", and the left-field barroom singalong "Liberty For Our Friend." There's also a lovely pastoral acoustic guitar solo and TWO short drum solos, as though we've moved into an early 70s prog album. On the other hand, there are some tracks that never quite seem to get going, or never land on a strong enough foot of inspiration. "Whisperin' While Hollerin'" and "What Gets Heard" are both led by meaty basslines but suffer from mumbled vocals and stop-start rhythms which break a lot of the momentum. "If'n" begins excellently but then drifts around all over the place, diluting each section's impact every time it takes off again. "The Softest Hammer" is a damp squib of an ending. I realised the drummer and bassist originally played in Minutemen- I've heard some of their tracks and looking forward to revisiting because they put in stellar performances here. As it is, very glad I got the chance to hear this one today. I don't know whether I'll stick with "Fromohio", but it's been such a fun discovery that I don't want to put it anywhere below a 4.

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Tue Jul 27 2021
3

J'ai apprécié cet album mais n'ai pas grand chose à en dire, par conséquent je vais ici vous dévoiler la discussion étrange que j'ai eu avec un homme bedonnant sonnant à ma porte ce matin: Homme bedonnant: *suisse allemand incomprehensible* moi: "sorry ich spreche nicht sehr gut deutsch" (désolé je n'avais pas entendu la sonnette) HB: *suisse allemand incomprehensible* moi: "Nein ich habe kein Auto" (oui exactement, mon album de fIREHOSE était un peu trop fort) HB: *imite le chimpanzé* LL: "Sorry, schöne tag" (vous imitez fort bien le chimpanzé)

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Thu Oct 14 2021
1

I think I really would have preferred a 501 albums project, and then I don't think this would have made the cut. I was bored, I didn't enjoy the music or the singer's voice, and I just couldn't get hooked in by any of it. Two drum solo tracks? Not even if the second one is appropriately called, "'Nuf that Shit, George." Bleah. Next!

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Thu Oct 14 2021
5

I started off listening to fROMOHIO curious about what I was hearing, but not initially sold on the first two songs. It seemed a little unpolished and I wasn’t sure I was ‘getting it’. Where is this coming from?! Where was it going?! Then as the album progressed I started to recognize some real genius happening. Two drum solo tracks?! I thought I hated drum solos? “Let The Drummer Have Some” and “‘Nuf That Shit, George” dispelled that myth. The music is very well played. The lead singer sounds a lot like Tommy Shaw, which is great. Little lyrical and musical surprises pop up everywhere. At times the album has touches of punk, jazz, beat poetry, pop, rock, folk…. Once I stopped trying to figure this all out and just sat back I found myself totally enjoying the ride. Immediately after the album finished I started it over again and had no doubt this album is a 5. A welcome addition to my library that makes me happier with each listen. So glad to have been introduced to fIREHOSE. Fantastic, unique, awesome!

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Mon Sep 20 2021
4

One of the things I'm discovering I love about this album generator thingy, is that it's helping to fill in some holes in my music listening history. I've listened to some fIREHOSE, mainly If'n (the album) which I love but other than that covers EP and a other songs here and there, I don't know much else so I'm glad this one popped up.

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Thu Jan 26 2023
4

Funky, reminds me of chili peps. Thumbs up

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Tue Jun 01 2021
2

not bad at all yet completely forgettable at the same time.

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Wed Jul 14 2021
2

It's no Double Nickels On The Dime is it? And they've got their capitalisation all wrong there.

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Thu Nov 11 2021
2

Mostly below average - except they slipped in a beautiful acoustic blues piece (VStapol) amongst the dross. I had to check it wasn't Spotify playing up. Complete personality shift for 2 minutes, then back to more dross. 2 stars just for the that track.

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Wed Feb 03 2021
1

Like Captain Beefheart and post punk with all the interest, energy and innovation removed

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Thu Oct 14 2021
1

The first album in this 1001 series that I really didn't enjoy at all.

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Sun Mar 26 2023
1

If you ever needed a definition for ear rape, this is it. This "music" makes me physically angry. If I didn't stop this album halfway I would've gone out to the nearest school and punched a toddler. 1/5.

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Sun Nov 20 2022
5

10/10 awesome indie, good vibes

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Thu Mar 16 2023
5

Absolutely brilliant, from a band I had not really heard of. If it was out now, I'd say it sounds like Biffy and Razorlight, with hints of Pearl Jam and Incubus. However, this was before all of those bands! Always good to hear a wee drum solo too, as long as it's not too long. Couldn't be less than 5 🌟

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Sun Mar 26 2023
5

I'm just going to give this a 5 because I can't think of a reason why I wouldn't. It's a surprise, I've never heard of these guys before but I absolutely loved it. Not usually massive on instrumental heavy music over lyrics but it just sounded brilliant. The guitar and base on each track was just so catchy. The album flowed so well and I loved the little drum and guitar solos to break it up. I'm definitely going to dive into this bands discography

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Wed Jul 26 2023
5

I was NOT expecting to like this album this much. Every song was solid and I love the sound of the whole thing. Even the two songs where it’s just a drum solo are good.

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Thu Sep 28 2023
5

5 stars for the band. I wasn't into this album at all, so I tried out whatever the top songs were on Spotify. The first two albums are superior in every way, but maybe this is the one that put them on the map? Regardless, I am thrilled I just discovered this band

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Fri Nov 03 2023
5

This album is so cool! I love the funky bass and the weird vocals, this is definitely unique in the best way. I'll definitely be returning to some of these jams, particularly In My Mind and Time With You.

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Fri Nov 03 2023
5

Ooooo this is FABULOUS! Incredible drumming, wide variety of styles, interesting lyrics...I'd be thrilled to see these guys in concert. Didn't take notes on specific tracks since I listened while moving but I loved it and can't wait to listen again!

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Fri Jan 12 2024
5

Love this record! Very eclectic mix of sounds across the different tracks -- mostly with a punk backbone but mixed in with funk, folk, jazz, etc. Very creative and high energy vibe that I could listen to for a long time without getting bored.

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Sun Feb 04 2024
5

punk influenced folk with a jazz form? Have never listened to Firehose before. First listen -- pulled in. Gave the album my phone number. It called back for a second listen. Excellent the second time through as well. Beautifully ushering the listener into a world where pop jingles and verse chorus verse are sent to rehabilitation to be something more interesting. A gateway album to better sound.

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Sun Mar 10 2024
5

very surprising. Some kind of farm punk.

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Thu Nov 26 2020
4

I guess I had mixed up Minutemen with some other band, because looking back I really enjoyed the earlier band's output as well. Good, short songs with enough instrumental goodness to whet my appetite, but not long enough to wear. Post-punky bass passages were certainly the highlight. I look forward to listening to the rest of the discography, which I hear is a bit different.

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Wed Sep 30 2020
4

Pretty good. Short. Guitar riffs go crazy

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Tue Jan 26 2021
4

Disco ameno y ligero, con un rock alternativo con reminiscencias de punk en el que se pueden notar la influencia del folk/country americano en algunos temas.

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Tue Jun 01 2021
4

Never heard of the album or the band but I really enjoyed this. Short and Sweet. Would listen to again.

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Sun Feb 28 2021
4

A really interesting move from Watt's Minutemen output. Sounds like they're creating the college-rock blueprint.

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Tue Jun 01 2021
4

I liked this quite a lot— lot of cool guitar work & I thought it flowed well from one song to the next. Had never heard of this band. “In My Mind” is really cool. I also kind of strangely liked “Liberty for our Friend”

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Fri Mar 05 2021
4

Ésta es la razón por la que decidí empezar con este proyecto. Encontrar grupos o discos que no conocía de antes. En este caso, no sabía de la existencia de fIREHOSE y no puede ser más lo mío. Qué maravilla. El disco creo que es bastante mejor en la primera mitad que en la segunda, pero estupendo de cualquier manera.

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Wed Mar 24 2021
4

Good rock, kick ass groovy basslines. Had not heard of them before.

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Wed Jul 14 2021
4

enjoyed that. sounded a hell of a lot more modern that it is. i listen to a fair amount of new crap that sounds like this album.

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Fri Apr 30 2021
4

I liked a lot Hearing some early XTC vibes

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Thu Jun 10 2021
4

June 9th, 2021 1.RIDDLE OF THE EIGHTIES- Awesome opener that let's me know that this will be my kind of album. 2.IN MY MIND- Sort of "island" vibes with the guitar. 3.WHISPERIN' WHILE HOLLERIN'- Heavier than the previous songs. Good stuff. 4.VASTOPOL- Instrumental interlude, overall a very quiet track. 5.MAS COJONES- Kind of an unusual track, but that's what makes this album so versatile. 6.WHAT GETS HEARD- Reminds me of something from DEVO's 1978 debut. Pretty awesome stuff. 7.LET THE DRUMMER HAVE SOME- Oh, he got some alright. 8.LIBERTY FOR OUR FRIEND- The whole damn band sings "all together now..." 9.TIME WITH YOU- Good drum and bass in this track. 10.IF'N- Real mellow stuff at both ends but a rocker in the middle. 11.SOME THINGS- Another one of the more rocking tracks on this album. Good stuff. 12.UNDERSTANDING- Overall, my favorite track. 13.'NUF THAT S*** GEORGE- Once again, the drummer had some. 14.THE SOFTEST HAMMER- Great slower-paced closing song >In Review: Overall, a great album. I had never heard of fIREHOSE before being recommended this, but I really enjoy their UNIQUE sound and I look forward to checking out more of their material. Even for the country/folk fans like myself, it's real solid stuff

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Tue Jul 27 2021
4

I thought I was going to like this more than I did

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Fri Aug 06 2021
4

First time I hear this band. Really good album! I was pleasantly surprised.

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Fri Aug 06 2021
4

Nice band, happy to discover them.

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Fri Aug 06 2021
4

didn't know this band at all, it was a good surprise

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Fri Aug 13 2021
4

Super Album sehr überrascht

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Mon Sep 06 2021
4

Surprisingly a great rock album that blends many different sounds from country to punk, and sounds very modern considering the number of bands in the 2010s in the indie and garage territory doing the same thing.

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Thu Sep 16 2021
4

tbh it made no real impression on me, and i already can't entirely remember what it sounded like. But I do remember being pleasantly surprised.

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Thu Sep 23 2021
4

Really digging this alternative gem

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Fri Oct 01 2021
4

Strange music based on cover, but I overall enjoyed the folksy and punky elements here.

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Thu Oct 14 2021
4

For the first two songs, I couldn't really tell what musical language these guys were speaking. Once the bass kicked in on the superbly titled Whisperin' While Hollerin', I started to understand what we were doing. And then came the spare and lovely acoustic guitar instrumental Vastopol which is completely unlike anything else on the album but doesn't feel out of place. There is more great bass, funky guitar, and playing with time signatures in Mas Cojones, What Gets Heard, Time with You, and If'n. There are a couple of drum solos, which are good if you like that kind of thing. Some Things is fast and catchy punk-lite (in a good way). I came away thinking that these guys are decent musicians who like having a good time and I had a good time listening though I don't know how often I'll come back to this.

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Fri Nov 19 2021
4

The ryhtmsection is great. The songs are fun. Don't really have something to complain about. Good album.

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Thu Dec 16 2021
4

I thought this was an interesting album, though I feel like I'm going to have to listen to it a few more times before I give an informed opinion. It kept my interest, though (which is good because it's a short album). The sound quality could be better, but apart from that it's an album that feels ahead of its time based on when it was released

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Mon Dec 27 2021
4

New band to me, really enjoyed this one, will listen to again.

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Wed Jan 05 2022
4

Cooler Sound. Da haben sich Kings 8f Leon wohl a bissl was abgschaut

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Fri Jan 28 2022
4

I love listening to these slightly more indie bands, it feels like "your favourite band's favourite band." This was a delight to listen to, with its postpunk/early alt sound.

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Wed Mar 02 2022
4

Inventive Indie rock. short, quickfire with some crazy guitar riffs. Liked it alot. 4/5

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Wed Mar 16 2022
4

Cool alt rock. Most of the songs are awesome, some are a bit harsh but overall enjoyed it!

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Wed Jun 01 2022
4

The instruments all sounded phenomenal, but the singing was more hit and miss.

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Thu Jun 23 2022
4

I'm sure my devotion to Minutemen is biasing my rating a bit, but this is a pretty fun listen.

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Wed Aug 10 2022
4

Loved that - a cracking rock album with lots of fun diversions, all tied up in 30 mins.

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Fri Aug 12 2022
4

It’s folk punk, like violet femmes but cleaner sounding. I was actually quite surprised by this thing, fine there were no real stand out tracks but all throughout its half hour length I was kept interested! The only moment I would call weak is this really random track ( well there’s 2 of them actually) of just drumming for a minute, but eh wasn’t horrible. Overall it’s a 4/5 solid album very good in fact but no moments of much notoriety.

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Mon Sep 05 2022
4

Very fun album. Unique mix of prog, post-punk, indie rock. Always a big fan of a drum track

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Fri Sep 16 2022
4

This one really surprised me. Never heard of this band, but the mix of 80s new wave, punk, and folk sometimes sounded like a sonic bridge to 90s grunge. No song sounded that same but it was a very cohesive album.

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Mon Sep 26 2022
4

This album was new to me and required some repeated listening. Really liked it (it might not compare to the Minutemen's Double Nickels on the Dime, but that album is perfect and would be hard to match anyway).

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Mon Nov 07 2022
4

I saw them in concert back in the early 90s in a small club. They were awesome. I like Flyin' The Flannel better, but this is a solid album.

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Fri Nov 18 2022
4

How DIY should be – hooky and tuneful, with some likably raffish edges. "Riddle of the Eighties" and "Liberty for Our Friends" and "Time with You" and "Understanding" are standouts within a very coherent and consistenly strong set of songs. The melodic folkie bits passages are the perfect leavening to the grittier and punkier bits.

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Wed Nov 30 2022
4

Not a band or album I was familiar with, at all. But this was really interesting and I think I liked it a lot!

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Wed Nov 30 2022
4

Seems like an album i should have already listened to. With a band coming from the ashes of another, it's hard not to compare. Definitely more experimental then the Minutemen. Not sure if I'd listen to this over Double Nickels but a good listen regardless.

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Wed Nov 30 2022
4

Perhaps there most even album by them.. What I do like is the great bass playing by Watt esp on songs like Mas Cojones and What Get's Heard. Some catchy tunes as well like In My Mind and Time with you. Good album and has a lot to offer.

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Thu Dec 29 2022
4

first impressions : from ohio ?!???, 14 songs but only 32 mins so i guess the songs must be quite short which could be a good thing as some of the best ones are imo, band name looks cool and the cover is epic but i have absolutely no clue what im looking at in the first photo LMAO, the face looks very menacing tho >:) after listening : instant head bopping, very upbeat and head-boppy, cool drums and guitars, i liked that they gave each part of the band their moment with vastopol and let the drummer have some :DD favourite song(s) : riddle of the eighties, whisperin' while hollerin', vastopol (very nice guitar) !! BONUS !! : what gets heard (i like the ending part and the speak singing) rating : i liked it more than the last one style and sound-wise and think id be more likely to listen again so 4/5 i think :))

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Mon Jan 02 2023
4

Another album I had never heard. This is a fun, genre-bending, late 80s album that I probably would have really dug back then if I had been aware of it. I had no idea that members of the MINUTEMEN went on to do other things, including fIREHOSE, but that explains the cleverness and amazing musicanship on this album. An interesting and hard to pin down piece of work.

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Wed Jan 04 2023
4

Never heard this before, liked it

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Wed Jan 11 2023
4

Alt-rock from before that was a thing

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Thu Feb 16 2023
4

For every moment that I didn’t like, or that I thought was weird, there’s another that I really like. Gets Daley near the end but I’m looking forward to listening again. 3.5

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Sun Mar 05 2023
4

Workin' out them simple things day by day Words and dreams just cross through my mind I been sympathizing, compromising things to say But everything's been going my way Well should I stay, should I leave How can I be here Words and dreams all pass through my mind, and I still Spend some time with you Never heard of this band or album before. Not bad. Bluesy guitar, good vocals, pretty good. 4/5

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Wed Mar 08 2023
4

"fROMOHIO" is the third album by American alternative band fIREHOSE. It was noted as a continuation of the acoustic and folky style of their previous album "IF'n" and a funk, jazz and Minutemen punk fusion. It sounds like a lot but it kind of makes sense after listening to this. I thought of a lot of other bands throughout. fIREHOSE was a band formed by bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley after the death of Minutemen guitarist/vocalist D. Boon, the dissolution of that band and combining with guitarist/ vocalist Ed Crawford. Drum cymbals and funky guitar highlight "Riddle of the Eighties." It's enjoyable. It's low-fi electric rock. I immediately think of the Meat Puppets. That's a good thing. Next, "In My Mind" changes things up with a idiosyncratic guitar, bass and guitar. "What Gets Heard" has a funky bass and drums. Angular guitar. A guy talking as vocals. OK, now I hear Primus. Oh no. Never worry, all of sudden we're going Irish folk in "Liberty for Our Friend." Actually 60's folk. Unbelievably, very nice harmonies. Where'd that come from? For me, this whole album really clicked with "Time with You." More straight-forward rock. Mike Watt really grooving with a funky R&B bass. A happy song. "Some Things" sounds so 80's indie. My favorite song on the album. More punk. Great melody. Hurley on drums killing it. Very heart-on-the sleeve and reminded me of The Replacements' "Buck Hill." Actually much better. The album ends with another good song in "The Softest Hammer." A classic rock guitar and the soft-loud-soft song dynamic. This album took awhile for me to warm up to but when it did. Wow! The second half of this album is fantastic....just classic 80's indie rock and that will get me every time. Well, most times. The rhythm section of Watt and Hurley is worth listening to this album alone.

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Fri Mar 10 2023
4

- Big fan of the funk elements - Mas Cajones was super funky - Jazz influenced for sure

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Fri Mar 10 2023
4

- Great guitar and bass work - Folky but not too folky; blends different genres well - Short and very enjoyable listen - Favorite songs: If'n, In My Mind

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Sun Mar 12 2023
4

My partner didn't like this album very much, but I think it's quite alright. Definitely has an interesting style to it. Nice and short too. I will say, the first twenty seconds of the album are probably the best part of the whole thing. My favourite song was Time With You.

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Sun Mar 26 2023
4

Good album. Definitely not what i expected from an album titled "Fromohio" from 1989. Wasn't a big fan of "Liberty for our friend", only real song on the album that wasnt great. The singer was good, but god damn the guitar and drums really brought it here.

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Mon Mar 27 2023
4

As always, I was disappointed to receive another post punk 80s Brit-Pop album, but this one was very refreshing compared to others I've gotten. Experimental and original content that expanded the genre instead of just playing in it. In my opinion, the album was a little slow, but had a surprising amount of range I appreciate the effort and risk on some of these tracks. I enjoyed this album a lot more than others of the same genre on this list. 4/5

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Fri Apr 07 2023
4

Never heard of these guys before - but I was intrigued right from the get go with the funky guitar riff intro. The instrumentation is great, a wonderful mix of acoustic and electric guitars, super funky bass and a variety of percussion that all come together into a playful treat for the ears. Having two entire tracks dedicate to just drum solos seems like a bit of a bold choice, but maybe that was the guy's requirement to feature. Fav Tracks: In My Mind, Liberty For Our Friend, Understanding

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Tue May 02 2023
4

I thoroughly enjoyed this! I didn’t know that there was a post-Minutemen project and this took all the bits I really like about their sound and condensed it to a much more palatable project than the 80+ Double Nickels on the Dime (which is still a great record, it just loses my attention a bit towards the end). This on the other hand was a really exciting and enjoyable blend of punk stylings with those trademark killer grooves throughout

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Sun May 21 2023
4

This album is funkier than you'd expect from a 'forefather of grunge' type of album. The mix of funk, folk and punk is really a joy throughout most of the album. It's really only the final track that lets it down, a sort of precursor to the bland dirges of Pearl Jam and their ilk. For the rest of the album it skitters about in lovely ways. It's so close to five starts - I will definitely add this to my collection

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Thu May 25 2023
4

I expected to hate it but this was shockingly really cool! I love the free flowing nature of all the songs, and the variation of genres throughout. 8/10

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