Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Sometimes a little messy, but overall just a vibe. I especially enjoyed their bass.
This was pretty good. It has the chance to grow on me. I'm putting it away as an album to revisit down the road.
Meh
**In-Depth Review of "Fromohio" by fIREHOSE** **Overview:** "Fromohio," released in 1989, is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band fIREHOSE. Comprising Mike Watt on bass, Ed Crawford (Ed fROMOHIO) on guitar and vocals, and George Hurley on drums, the band continued to build on the legacy of their previous band, Minutemen, while carving out their distinct identity. **Lyrics:** The lyrics of "Fromohio" blend a mix of personal introspection, social commentary, and abstract storytelling, a hallmark of fIREHOSE's style. Mike Watt's writing, characterized by its raw, honest, and often cryptic nature, stands out in tracks like "Riddle of the Eighties" and "Understanding." Ed Crawford's contributions, notably in "What Gets Heard" and "If'n," bring a more direct and melodic sensibility, complementing Watt's more esoteric approach. - **Pros:** The lyrics are thought-provoking and diverse, offering a rich tapestry of themes that range from existential musings to reflections on everyday life. The interplay between Watt's and Crawford's lyrical styles provides a dynamic and engaging listening experience. - **Cons:** The abstract nature of some lyrics can be challenging for listeners seeking straightforward narratives, potentially alienating those less familiar with fIREHOSE's or Minutemen's lyrical traditions. **Music:** Musically, "Fromohio" showcases fIREHOSE's versatility, blending punk, funk, jazz, and folk influences into a cohesive sound. The album opens with "Riddle of the Eighties," a track that sets the tone with its tight rhythm section and jangly guitar work. "Time with You" and "What Gets Heard" exemplify the band's ability to craft catchy, hook-laden tunes, while "Liberty for Our Friend" and "Understanding" highlight their more experimental side. - **Pros:** The musicianship on "Fromohio" is impeccable. Mike Watt's bass lines are inventive and driving, George Hurley's drumming is precise and dynamic, and Ed Crawford's guitar work is both melodic and gritty. The band's ability to fuse different genres creates a unique and compelling sound. - **Cons:** The eclectic mix of styles, while a strength, may also be seen as a lack of cohesion by some listeners. The album's diversity can make it feel disjointed at times, potentially detracting from a unified listening experience. **Production:** "Fromohio" was produced by Ed Crawford and Ethan James, and the production quality reflects a balance between rawness and polish. The album maintains a live, organic feel, capturing the energy and spontaneity of the band's performances. The production values are clean enough to highlight the intricacies of the musicianship without losing the gritty edge that defines fIREHOSE's sound. - **Pros:** The production effectively balances clarity and rawness, ensuring that each instrument is well-defined while retaining the band's energetic, live feel. The mix is well-balanced, allowing the complex interplay between bass, drums, and guitar to shine through. - **Cons:** Some listeners might find the production too raw compared to more polished contemporary releases. The live feel, while authentic, can occasionally come across as rough around the edges. **Themes:** Thematically, "Fromohio" explores a wide range of subjects. Tracks like "Riddle of the Eighties" delve into reflections on the past and the complexities of modern life, while "Understanding" tackles themes of communication and connection. "What Gets Heard" and "If'n" address the nature of artistic expression and the struggles of being understood. The album also touches on political and social issues, as seen in "Liberty for Our Friend." - **Pros:** The thematic diversity provides a rich listening experience, offering multiple layers of meaning and interpretation. The band's willingness to tackle both personal and societal topics adds depth to the album. - **Cons:** The broad range of themes can make the album feel scattered, and the abstract nature of some tracks may make it difficult for listeners to grasp the underlying messages without repeated listens. **Influence:** "Fromohio" stands as an influential album in the alternative rock scene. fIREHOSE's blend of punk ethos with diverse musical influences paved the way for many alternative and indie rock bands in the 1990s and beyond. The band's DIY attitude and commitment to artistic integrity resonated with a generation of musicians and fans alike. - **Pros:** The album's influence is evident in its pioneering blend of genres and its impact on the alternative rock movement. fIREHOSE's approach to music-making, characterized by innovation and authenticity, has inspired countless artists. - **Cons:** Despite its influence, "Fromohio" remains somewhat of an underground classic, potentially overlooked by mainstream audiences. The band's esoteric style may limit its appeal to a broader audience. **Pros of "Fromohio":** 1. **Inventive Musicianship:** The album showcases exceptional instrumental prowess, particularly Watt's bass lines and Hurley's drumming. 2. **Diverse Musical Styles:** The fusion of punk, funk, jazz, and folk creates a unique and engaging sound. 3. **Thought-Provoking Lyrics:** The lyrics offer a rich mix of introspection, social commentary, and abstract storytelling. 4. **Authentic Production:** The live, organic feel of the production captures the band's energy and spontaneity. 5. **Influence:** The album has had a significant impact on the alternative rock genre, inspiring numerous artists. **Cons of "Fromohio":** 1. **Abstract Lyrics:** The cryptic nature of some lyrics can be challenging for listeners seeking straightforward narratives. 2. **Disjointed Feel:** The eclectic mix of styles may make the album feel less cohesive to some listeners. 3. **Raw Production:** The rawness of the production might be perceived as rough compared to more polished releases. 4. **Limited Mainstream Appeal:** The band's esoteric style and underground status may limit the album's reach to a broader audience. 5. **Scattered Themes:** The wide range of themes can make the album feel scattered, potentially confusing listeners. **Conclusion:** "Fromohio" by fIREHOSE is a testament to the band's innovative spirit and musical prowess. The album's blend of diverse musical styles, thought-provoking lyrics, and authentic production creates a unique and compelling listening experience. While its abstract nature and eclectic mix may present challenges for some listeners, the album's influence on the alternative rock genre and its showcase of exceptional musicianship make it a noteworthy entry in the annals of rock music. For those willing to delve into its depths, "Fromohio" offers a rich and rewarding journey through the mind and soul of fIREHOSE.
I can hear some influences for jam bands like OAR?
Surprisingly interesting.
Noh ei yhtä anneta.. kun 30 min ja ihan ok tavaraaa..
it's music alright
I listened to this one twice through because I couldn't understand why I wasn't into it. I think what it all comes down to is that there are elements here that just don't gel. A bunch of interesting ingredients that never quite come together for me.
Some great music, some almost throwaway, but all of a piece, which is pleasing. Interesting to hear really disparate elements being pulled together, often in the same song. It makes the music on fROMOHIO difficult to pin down, a curious hybrid of punk, folk, FM rock and funk. Mike Watt is a cool guy.
I never heard of this band before but I liked it. Added to my music.
never heard of them. A one hit wonder? I liked one song Liberty for our Friends.
A little all over the place at times. The songs weren’t bad. There were some cool guitar parts and bass lines. As a whole I don’t know how much I liked this. I didn’t not like it but I don’t see myself listening to it again.
Well thAt was an awesome discovery! Didn't know the surviving band members from Minutemen started another band!?
A strange one but pretty good fun to listen to. Solid alt rock which doesn't take itself too seriously.
The mixture of the alternative and folksy sound with the grassroots punk attitude is pretty cool. I'll just give it a neutral 3 stars because I think the unfortunate name would throw off my rating.
6/25/24. This one was fun, never heard of this group before. It almost sounds like a template for the 90s alternative explosion that was coming.
3/5
Can't really explain it, as I've heard much, much worse music, but it just did not hold my attention. I had to start songs over 4 or 5 different times because I found myself not really listening to them. And then when I did it was just fine. A few songs were pretty bad, and 2 different drum solo tracks on a 30-minute album is just unnecessary. It started out pretty well, but it lost me pretty quickly. A solid \"meh\".
Eclectic. Seems like something from the 90s - probably ahead of its time, but still sounds pretty indie. I expected something harder, but this definitely isn't that. Not familiar with Minutemen, so wasn't sure what I'd get. It's not bad - nice and short. 3.5
For some reason I was not expecting to dig this, but Fromohio is a tight, adventurous record that does not at all sound dated.
On some tracks you can definitely hear the early R.E.M. inspiration. I really dig that. The rest of the album and all the short drum thingies are a bit of an unorganized mess though. Quite entertaining, but a mess nonetheless.
There's some really good stuff on here! It's a fun album I might come back to.
I had never heard of this band before. Pleasantly surprised. If you're into 80s indie rock sounds, you'll like this one.
Surprised by this, usually the unknown bands are shit but this was good. Guitar work on this is killer!
Too alternative
Enjoyable 90s (well 89 technically) indie rock. As a big indie rock fan I definitely enjoy it. I don't think it's particularly notable in the context of this list though which dings it for me. Also, the cover art is awful.
This was quite enjoyable and short.
At the first sight of the artist's name and the album cover, I thought this was going to be some weird ass, experimental post-punk stuff. It wasn't bad, but I'll probably never listen to this album again. 2.4*
Not my thang.
There's such a mix of genres and styles. Watt said they made records to promote tours, a notion you can see on this album. This is no shortcoming in this case and even if it seems that they haven't decided on the direction the band should take, this may be intentional.
Some varied styles. Kinda like clean punk. Sounds like it came from Ohio.
It was ok!!!
As far as firehose goes I’m only a fan of “Ragin’ Full On”
Jag kan respektera det, och det fanns absolut fina stunder på albumet. Men som helhet känns det både som att det försöker så mycket, men också samtidigt som att det ger upp hela tiden. Når aldrig riktigt fram. Inte för mig. Också druckit för lite idag så mådde illa under trumspåren hell nah Bästa spår: time with you (VÄLDIGT mysig faktiskt!!)
Hmm asså vissa låtar var bra men det var så många korta låtar som inte var minnesvärda Bästa låt: In my mind
The Minutemen were awesome, I liked the first fIREHOSE record better than the last minutemen record, but this sounds like they got old. I liked them better when they were young. Good but not great. Favorite song: in my mind
It's pretty obvious, even if you didn't know, that this band is related to the Minutemen. Scattershot of genres, songs that wind and twist in ways you wouldn't expect. I've never been huge on them, mostly interested in them in a passing curiousity sort of way, and it's no different here. Favorite track: "What Gets Heard"
Correcto.
This was okay. Not something I think I needed to listen to before I die. I don’t really have strong feelings about this either way. Was leaning towards giving this a 2, but I really liked the song “Understanding” so I bumped it up to a 3.
Dull, no idea why it's on this list
Hmmmmmmmmmmm Abzug fuer bloeden namen
Not what I was expecting. Pretty decent jam band playing a variety of styles well.
Fromohio is an odd mix of a lot of different styles. They are pretty raw. My first thought was Violent Femmes but there is more punk. The start and end of the album are good, the mix is not 6.4/10
Forgettable.
My genre but not my jam
in many ways, this album was unremarkable--and even the music and vocals not being bad, only average, makes it even more unremarkable. i was annoyed at firehouse's efforts to be edgy, because it wasn't even interesting. the lyrics were boring, not clever or engaging. i can't figure out why this album is here.
Okay. Why is this album on here? It was listenable, but that's about all I have to say. It's so generic and underwhelming.
I can't really tell how much I like this record. It has all the ingredients of something I should love, but for some reason I feel something is missing. The playing is all really spectacular throughout and I love the drum solos sprinkled through. Not something that I would probably seek out to listen to, but all good stuff
Pretty good. I never really "got" The Minutemen but this was a solid listen. Not great, but solid.
I liked the 'live' sounding recording of this. Most tracks were hit and miss. Not really my thing but okay.
Oude leden van Minutemen, wat ik erg leuk vindt. Dit album laat echter minder een indruk achter. Alsnog prima om naar te luisteren maar niks bijzonders
not that bad
The album cover for some reason made me nervous I was going to really dislike this one for some reason. I ended up enjoying it a lot though! Part of me feels like rating a 4 is a little high but somehow a 3 feels too low. Others have said similar but it really gives the impression of good musicians having a jam session/having some fun. Somehow reminds me of when my dad, uncle, and grandfather used to go down to the basement in my childhood home and just play music. They are much more skilled than my family (though they definitely were not bad) but it has the same "feel". Can definitely see me returning to this. The only downside was I did majorly struggle to understand the lyrics on first listen. Depending on those I could see this being bumped down to a 3 but going with my gut here.
It had it's moments, but most of this didn't land for me. Favorite track: If'n
Nichts, was irgendwie im Ohr bleibt!
that was fun!
A surprising out of nowhere, solid three. Never heard of them before. Enjoyed it
Appreciate what they are trying here, but doesn't land quite right for me 2.5*
Bra folk rock. Dette er dyktige musikere som gjør bra ting. Jeg har prøvd å definere 4er-album som album det definitivt er verdt å høre på en gang, og siden dette er noe såpass annerledesog dyktig at jeg synes det kvalifiserer til en 4er. Personlig smak gjør at det ikke havner høyere. Jeg liker spesielt godt at det er en dyktige musikere som lager en crossover mellom rock og country. På grensa til prog, som jo er en personlig favoritt. Personlig så synes jeg at sangene blir noe korte, og at albumet blir noe oppstykket på grunn av det. Hadde de utvidet en del av sangene med 2-3 minutter, kunne de utforsket mer av hva som gjør hver sang god, mens dette blir mer som fingermat for ørene. Album som dette er noe av det morsomste med prosjektet, å finne band som jeg absolutt aldri har hørt om, men som allikevel tilfører noe nytt.
I really like this. I had listened to the Minutemen a little bit years ago and really like them, but never really listen to firehouse at all. Some really great instrumentals just straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll.
A slightly killer, some filler collection of ramshackle acoustic-led punk that offers some surprisingly catchy numbers to hear. Favorites: Riddle of the Eighties, In My Mind, Whisperin' White Hollerin', Mas Cajones, Liberty For Our Friend, Time With You, If'n, Some Things, The Softest Hammer.
Decent
This was a very forgettable album. Overall folk rock, but the production felt a bit thin without a heavy bass. Definitely more laid back and not polished and had more of a garage band sound. At times, things felt disjointed and off-tempo. It was really hard to understand the lyrics, but that was probably for the best as they were all pretty nonsensical with stupid rhymes.
Ok idea. I wasn’t a big fan of the Minutemen album, so wasn’t surprised by not really feeling this either. Some good slap, but not the kind of funk vibe I enjoy. 2/5.
I really wanted to like this one, but I just didn't get it Seems like not much was going on, except of some nice textures from the band. Just didn't feel like much at all
it’s okay not special in any way
Sin más.
Całkiem przyjemne. Szybko mijają piosenki. Ciężko jakąś bardziej zapamiętać, ale ogólny wydźwięk dobry. 4/5
Love the bass
kinda nice, kinda forgettable 2.7
Understanding, in my mind are my favs on the album. Actually really enjoyed this lol. I listened twice through.
Bueno
Sounds like a band idc about. 2.5
Fine
Hadn't heard of these. I'm not sure how this album made it in here. It's okay, no more than that.
pretty good!! fun fun guitars
Album 393 of 1001 fIREHOSE - Fromohio Rating : 2.5 / 5 Listened through and I mostly remember twangy guitar punk. Just a meh. Nothing I'd go back to, on purpose.
I feel like I should like this more than I actually do. I like a lot of bands with similar sounds, but this one just isn't clicking for me. Maybe it's too DIY for me or something idk. Interesting album though, it is always moving and is constantly providing interesting idea, nothing overstays it's welcome. A lot of great bass parts too. I wish I liked this one more.
I love this. And I had no idea it existed. Enjoyed the Minutemen's Nickel on the Dime record, and here we've got that rhythm section and writers. Love that bass. It's just low key epic. Really nice and tight 30 minutes too. Listened to it a few times today. Look not every track is a classic, but oh my god that bass and crisp drumming is such consistently high quality. Guitar ain't half bad either. Faves - Some Things, Understanding, In My Mind, Mas Cojones
Alright
Riddle of the Eighties 3.2 In My Mind 3.3 Whisperin' While Hollerin' 3.3 Vastopol 2.5 Mas Cajones 2.8 What Gets Heard 3 Let the Drummer Have Some 2.7 Liberty for Our Friend 3 Time With You 3.3 If' n 3.3 Some Things 3.3 Understanding 3.4 Nuf That Shit, George 2.8 The Softest Hammer 3.6 Score: 3.107142857
I'm not especially given to noticing a baseline but the bass was consistently the best thing going on here. Overall this album is fine, extra star for what's going on down low, but I see no reason this album should be on this list.
3/5 Best Track: Riddle of the Eighties
Felt like I should have liked this more than I did. Overall just meh.
Rate this album.
Understanding //
I really like finding albums like this through this list. Maybe that's the point, but there is part of me that wonders how it got on here--seems like an indie or local band feel. If this is on here, where's Head of Femur? Anyway, it's a:
I expected to like this one, since it was an 80s band from Ohio that may have been similar to other bands I enjoyed. However, it was a very mixed bag. A few tracks were fun but most of it was uninspired for me.
I had never heard of fIREHOSE but I really dug this album. It didn't outstay it's welcome, coming in at under 32 minutes, but also had a lot of different feels throughout the album. There was some cool drum work and you could hear each of the four instruments doing their full work on the album
Ik snap niet wat dit in deze lijst doet. Zelfs als je minimaal 100 postpunk albums in deze lijst wil denk ik dat je deze weg kunt laten. De zanger kan niet zingen maar dat houdt hem niet tegen. Als je dit in een kroeg tegenkomt loop je weg vanwege de zanger. En dan nog dat gekke stereo-galmpje/flanger effect erbij op die vocal-track. Matig. Wel een gave hoes. Als ik hem voor 2 euro zou tegenkomen in een bak LPs zou ik hem kopen en mezelf teleurstellen.
I'm not really sure how I feel about this band/album. On one hand they have some pretty catchy tunes, but on the other hand there just feels like something is...missing...? I don't know, I guess this all adds up to a 3/5.
Didn't finish but first half was definitely enjoyable. It was fun because it was hard to even tell which decade it's from.
The guitarist carries the entire band.
Sometimes I wonder how and why the albums have been chosen for this list. This is one of the case.
Top Three Songs: 1) Liberty For Our Friends 2) What Gets Heard 3) Riddle Of The Eighties Bottom Three Songs: 1) ‘nuf That Shit, George 2) If’n 3) The Softest Hammer
Mmm.
No los conocía. Están bien pero tampoco impresionan.
At first, I thought "Who the hell is fIREHOSE?", then I thought "Why the hell is fIREHOSE?", and then I found out that it's the remnants of the people that made the song from Jackass. Quite a journey.
Not bad, but not really great. Can be talked into a 3, but it’s probably a 2
Sure. Whatever.
Boring
I'll give this one a single star, because I can't believe it's on this list. I mean, how is it even possible?
Even the band doesn't remember recording it.
I thought this would be something I was really into, but I didn't connect with the music, and I found the vocals more annoying than exciting or interesting. Watt's bass playing and tone is great, but that's really the only thing I liked about it.
From 😃 to 😔 real quick, wtf was that bait in the first song... Let the Drummer Have Some is a funny title, I liked it Actually, it was alright, subpar vocals but they were not too prominent (except for the last song, and it was awful)
The way the band name was stylized, the album name and the opening riff of the first song made me cheer in my head. "Finally a different album" I thought to myself. Unfortunately, that joy was cut short as soon as they started talking and I realized it was going to be another generic and uninteresting rock album
Favs: Whisperin while hollerin, if’n, softest hammer
Decent.
I don't know how to feel about this. I really like the instrumental behind the album, sometimes it is a little much but it fits in with a lot of my favourite stuff from the late 80's. I just did not feel it hit the heights I was expecting it too although it did really pick up towards the end. I mean I listened to it twice to make sure how I felt but I am still stuck. The vocals are strange, I have heard other voices like it and love them and some similar that I hate. It is just kind of there being carried by the instruments. I may have to listen to it again but I think that a 3 is fair because I would not rate it below 50% on my spreadsheet and I could find myself listening to it again. Stand Out Songs: Riddle of the Eighties Time With You Some Things Edit* Can't believe I did not make the connection, this is the bassist/vocals and drummer's project after Minutemen disbanded. No wonder I recognised it, Double Nickels on the Dime is such a classic Post-Punk album and it explains why I enjoyed the instruments, especially bass on this album. But it clear they started to head in a more indie/rock direction like a lot of bands at the time and I would definitely rather listen to Minutemen, but a cool project either way. If this is on the list I assume minutemen will be too.
Never heard of this band, but I am here for this! Cracking album with some great musicianship, enjoyable drums, bass and guitar at various points. Love it!
What an odd album to include on this list. I didn’t hate it at all, but there’s really nothing about it as an album that would make me want to listen to it again. I guess this might be the reverse of the reviews I read of British bands where North Americans are confused.
This was totally new to me. Its a pretty interesting mix of different tracks. A little straightforward, a little off the beaten path. I can respect it. It was enjoyable enough while making coffee and such. Not sure I'd return though.
Like, this is good. It's different than expected and sounds really interesting. But, I've immediately forgotten about it. It just has no staying power.
This album sort of plays like the demo made by that band in every high school that every knows will make it someday. Do they ever make it? I don't know. It's disjointed, has some decent playing, horrible vocals, mediocre production, and not enough fully fleshed out songs for a record so supplements with weird noises and "instrumentals" here and there. All in all, I feel like this is an album by a (seemingly) super new band that shows some promise but never got it together. 2.5/5 rounded down to 2 because I can't think of a reason to round up.
Nothing super memorable to me... some track were like a c grade Graceland
I liked aspects of this. Some of the guitar work reminded me of the Smiths. It was a neat sound.
Sounded a lot more Primus-y than the origin of Midwest Emo I thought this would be. An important carrying on of the Minutemen's legacy
The remaining Minutemen regrouped as fIREHOSE following the death of D. Boon, with the addition of Ed ‘fROMOHIO’ Crawford. I can certainly hear the Minutemen in there, but the songs are in general less terse and more melodic than the usual M’s fare.
Amazing
what a beautiful album..
Pretty varied and still fresh!
Meh. pretty good, I guess. 3 stars.
very surprising. Some kind of farm punk.
I love this album!
I don't know what's going on here and why this album is on this list. Being quirky and off-the-box? Maybe, but it sounds horrible at the same time. I couldn't stand the vocalist and the music was so uninspiring, I gave up halfway. Most likely I am missing something, an important piece of trivia to unlock this album, but after half an hour with fIREHOSE I am not interested in finding out what that is.
I liked this one
nothing notable
Not sure why this is rated so low. Fun punk, folk mash up.
This sounds like Against Me before Against Me existed. Its rad.
When the Minutemen disbanded after the death of D. Boon, the remaining members, George Hurley and Mike Watt joined up with a fan of the Minutemen, Ed (from Ohio) Crawford to form Firehose. This union turned out quite good, as Crawford's enthusiasm and passion for the music pushed their sound forward for a more melodic rock sound, yet maintaining the rhythm section sound of the Minutemen. By the third album, Fromohio, the band had evolved their jazzy, fusion, funky sound to a more accessible and acoustic, folky sound, but had still had the energy of a straightforward rock band. A somewhat underrated record that I still listen to a lot and wished that music could still be this good all the time.
The only thing I knew about fIREHOSE was that they were mentioned in a Red Hot Chilli Peppers song... I've just looked it up it's "Good Time Boys" off of "Mother's Milk" and they are mentioned alongside Fishbone and Thelonious Monster, so I was expecting something in the 80s funk rock vein. But this is more folky, more... local-band-who-are-kind-of-interesting. I then read their bio on Spotify and saw the bassist and drummer are the remnants of the Minutemen, who, again, I don't really know much about but I think I listened to one of their albums because I fell in love with one of their songs for a day and a half. (It's called "This ain't no picnic".) But the Minutemen were also a big deal apparently so I wonder if the kudos for fIREHOSE comes from that. Some of this album sounds melodramatic in a Pearl Jam sort of way. But it's not really for me.
Was fine
New one for me. Quite enjoyed but did not really stick in my head…
This is not FireHOUSE - despite what I expected to hear when I hit play. But - very pleasantly surprised by this one. It seems ahead of its time - perhaps helping to usher in that in stream 90s “rock” sound. It’s has fun lyrics, sweet ass baselines, and was just all around fun. Loved it.
Kinda feel totally blindsided by this. Didn’t know what to expect. Loved it. Real varied album. Can’t wait to listen again. 4.3
Solid album that I enjoyed listening to. I was working and didn't give it the complete focus that I wanted to so I will add this to my library and relisten to it again.
Sounds like circus music mixed with rock and had an ugly child. It’s like if Kurt cobain wasn’t screaming so much. It’s some garbage grunge music in a quiet and calm tone, which is the opposite of grunge, but I want to give it a good rating for not being terrible 3/5 Worst track: vastopol Best(if it has one) : in my mind
Sound familiar? Two of the three members of the Minutemen started a new band. It's good punk influenced indie, but it's unnecessary to have this album on the list when Double Nickels on the Dime is already on there. Overall: 4/10
Folkissväng
This is a really special vintage by an all but forgotten small producer. I get undertones of Television and Meat Puppets with gorgeous notes of Steven Stills, the Feelies and maybe just a pinch of Primus! This would pair really well with mid-length mindless activities like airplane travel and interior re-painting!
I recognize the musicianship, but this album just didn't speak to me. Not my cup of tea.
Eh, it was ok. It was also the most unmemorable collected of music that I've listened to in some time.
Fine, but just fine.
A very average alt rock album. There was nothing in fROMOHIO that really stood out, or really captured my attention. Best: In My Mind Worst: Mas Cojones
I liked this. Not killer, but good. Simple rock songs played and sung well….but not great. I like their sense of humor. I’d listen to it again and that says something to me.
Favourite song - Time with you
Like an Indie Haircut 100. Not unpleasant but by 1989 the world had moved on. Lowscale and homogenised.
Pretty decent coming from Ohio. Reminded me of some 90s rock I used to like
It was ok. Not my fave. Sing I liked best: softest hammer
no me esperaba que estuviera bien.
A lot of this album has the energy of a group of friends messing around with their instruments in a garage. There are singalongs, jams and silly in-jokes. It’s low-key and charming. There's some good guitar rock with a lot of bright melodies. It sounds to me somewhere between The Kinks, Violent Femmes and your friend's band from high school (and I don't mean that as an insult at all).
Cool sound. 1980's/90's indie rock that sometimes has a surfer feel to it, sometimes a little bit of "Blister in the Sun", and sometimes even a little Red Hot Chili Peppers. I really like the looseness to it. This was a fun listen! I think if I was a kid and found this band I would have added them to my collection of "bands that are cool". I can definitely sit and enjoy this and have a good time. Sweet indie album cover.
I had never heard of fIREHOSE before. With 11 of the 14 tracks flagged as [E] as Apple Music, I was expecting some obscenity filled anger or sex-rock, but it wasn't really either. Unless it was mislabeled, most of the curse words must have flown over my head. This was just some quirky, but not really weird, less catchy...Goo Goo Dolls-like rock? I don't know. Some of it was OK, some of it was a bit dull. Average rating 3/5.
The more I listened the less I liked it - it had some glimmers of goodness that were then sabotaged, often within the same song. Looking them up on Spotify they have the smallest regular listening group I’ve seen yet and this is not even there most popular work - so it’s a little unclear how this album makes the cut for the 1001 from any metric, regardless of my taste and (lack of) appreciation of this work. Will not be giving it another listen.
This was such a strange album. I didn't hate it, I didnt love it. I just kept listening listening to it to see if I could get into it but i didn't. It was just odd, I felt like I should have liked it, but i didn't. Im confused!
I was really confused by this album - I disliked it, but also I think I liked it a little bit? It was so incredibly annoying to listen to, but at the same time I could hear similar sounds to Primus (a band I love), and some of the guitar riffs were interesting, and I like how there was some really push and pull within the music - but then I found it unlistenable and wanted to turn it off, then a little something would pique my interest again. Urgh - a frustrating listen. Mostly it felt annoying and musically immature. Maybe if I was younger I could be bothered to listen to this on repeat for a few days and break past the annoyance barrier, but I'm too much of a grumpy old lady to listen to it more than once.
Firehose- Kind of a crappy sounding recording like homemade demos but It has some amateur charm. The music was kind of interesting.. It’s kind of all over the place though ( multiple drum solo tracks?) I like Riddle of the 80s Time with you. Some things Understanding Softest hammer I like how minimal it is with just one guitar and bass. I never heard of this band and I’m not really sure why it’s on here, would want to hear more about who this influenced. Not sure how to rate? 2? 3? 2.5 2.5
Sounds like a demo. Not sure why this is on the list, maybe it’s influential in some way but I didn’t find it very interesting. The guitar playing was ok but all the sounds were pretty bad and the mixing is terrible/nonexistent. Also didn’t like the vocals. 1.5
Why in the hell is this Album on here?! What is special or ground breaking about this? I feel like I’m being trolled
the album is kind of ok. i didnt like the first 4-5 songs maybe because its not my taste, but overall its good, its a country music album with rock. idk music sorry.
Boorning
Pleasant to listen to.
Ok
Somehow I missed this band in 1989. But now that I hear it, I don't feel like I missed anything. Not offensive, so above one star, but I don't think I'll seek any of it out again.
the spelling of the artist had me fooled that i would like this album a lot. not something id return to own my own
Solid. Each song is so fun and different. I bet I could listen to this again
"Fromohio" by fIREHOSE, released in 1989, showcases the band's raw energy and eclectic musical influences. As the follow-up to their debut album, "Ragin', Full-On," this record continues to deliver the band's signature blend of punk, funk, and alternative rock. Tracks like "Brave Captain" and "Under the Influence of Meat Puppets" highlight fIREHOSE's dynamic musicianship and Mike Watt's distinctive basslines. However, while the album demonstrates flashes of brilliance, it occasionally suffers from inconsistency in songwriting and production quality. Overall, "Fromohio" serves as a solid addition to fIREHOSE's catalog, offering moments of excitement and innovation, but falling short of reaching the heights of their best work. With its mix of highs and lows, it earns a respectable 3/5 rating.
This is the kind of album that makes me grateful for this list (and app of course). Never would have heard this in my life. Really enjoyed it, seems like the middle ground between rock and the rage against the machine/grunge movement to come. Love it
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.
Never heard of fi Rehose. But I think the album title means fro mohio, which is a nod to some frozen yoghurt variety that I've never heard of. Sounds like a quintessential 80s garage band that you'd expect to see laying in someone's backyard during a high school or college party. Some acoustic riffs, some funky bass beats. But altogether not something that ties together very well. Let the Drummer Have Some... what does the drummer want????? I'm terribly confused.
It starts pretty strong with Riddle and In My Mind... unfortunately it is pretty midlin' after that. A bit experimental low-fi alt rock with a Television vibe, but unfortunately nothing seems a complete enough to engage too deeply. Somewhat interesting, but not enough good to push it higher.
Punk..funk. pfunk? Pfunk........
Riddle of the Eighties - 7/10 In My Mind - 7/10 Whispering’ While Hollerin’ - 7.5/10 Vastopol - 7.5/10 Mas Cojones - 7/10 What Gets Heard - 7/10 Let The Drummer Have Some - 7.5/10 Liberty of Our Friend - 7/10 Time With You - 7.5/10 If’n - 8/10 Some Things - 7.5/10 Understanding - 7/10 ‘Nuf That Shit, George - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 73/140
I liked the funky little guitar lines but otherwise not memorable
Meh
It was ok
Rosa lo-fi upptökur og lítið merkileg rödd, en á köflum skemmtilegir hljóðfærapartar og áheyrileg stef. Lögin eru ófullkomin, sum algjört meh, en önnur lofa góðu en renna svo út í sandinn, t.d. Time with you, hvað er með viðlagið þar?! Ekki beinlínis leiðinlegt en voða lítið bitastætt.
este disco no es para mi si lo escuche pero no me gusto mucho
An okay rock album, but not sure why it’s on this list
Luke loves firehose and is really disappointed it was this album, which he claims is their worst one. I felt indifferent about it tbh. Totally fine, some I liked more than others. Wasn't blown away
I think this was fine, quite good but nothing amazing
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: In my mind, Riddle of the eighties
I had never heard of this band, and there wasn't much about the album that spoke to me. I wouldn't know how to categorize it, as it went from punk to rock to folk. Some songs were catchy, but as a whole it sounded under-produced. Someone's cup of tea, but not mine.
delightfully funky
Feel like The Minutemen is more influential and this is a continuation of their (and Mike Watt’s) legacy. Definitely hear how much of an inspiration to 90s alternative and even to some of the early 00s indie bands
Sin más.
I quite liked the guitar sound but the overall package wasn't for me
Mostly just annoying. Short though.
Cool band, Cool sound. Don’t know how i never heard of them before. I listened to a few of their other albums and actually prefer their older stuff. But this was good.
nope no folk type music it’s too close to country
Never heard of them. Never want to hear them again. Don’t know how this was even considered for the chart. I gave Marvin Gaye a bad review yesterday which I feel bad about after this. Unlike this lot he was at least musical. This is straight into the bin.
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.
Pretty milquetoast but enjoyed a lot of the guitar 🎸
Interesting - quite liked
A fun listen and wouldn't mind hearing it again.
This was a lot of fun to listen to as it took me back to my roots.
This wasnt terrible but it wasnt good. No one song excited me or made me feel anything at all. A very generic alt rock album. Also not sure why every song had the explicit tag. I didnt hear a single swear word.
Nah. Not for me. Too indy coffee shopy.
Rock alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Sin más.
Just fine.
Oh yeah. This one was fine but forgettable...like immediately forgettable.
Anyone else pronounce it Fromo hio? Anywho, not bad. But also pretty forgettable.
Underwhelming. Didn’t rate the songwriting.
I swear Some Things sounds just like a Replacements song. It'll come to me eventually. This is pretty good, covers a lot of ground in half an hour. I gave it two listens to see whether anything would jump out. The vocals pull it to a 70s rock kind of sound, and it shies away from embracing some of its best moments. It's hard not to notice the lack of edge compared to the Minutemen. I bet this band does have a full album worth of songs that I'd give a 5. This one's a 3.5 & I'm rounding down. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Mike Watt can do no wrong? Maybe?
Bland. I think my cat liked it, though.
I mean it is fine, nothing wrong with it, but nothing about it stands out. Doubt I would ever want to listen to it again.
A pleasant surprise of an album, and one I definitely wouldn't have listened to without this site. Always appreciate solid technique from a punk group. Will need to re-listen to figure out what tracks stand out by themselves.
At first I thought this said Firehouse and I thought good at least there will be one good song. Unfortunately it is fIREHOSE. This album is so middle of the road. It never quite gets good but it isn’t really bad. It’s music purgatory.
I’d listened to Ragin’, Full on and If’n, but not this one, and I’m glad I did : )
Good 80s indie. Great little funk bass lines and Wire-like guitar. Totally new to me, but a good find.
I don't exactly hate it, so I guess it's fine? But I'll never go out of my way to seek it out again. If someone wanted to redo this list so it's a tight 1,001 on the nose, they'd surely cut this one. In fact, the more I continued to listen the more I realized I actually do despise it.
Kan næppe kaldes musik.
Good! Liked the instrumentals.
Might just be worth exploring
sometimes does some jazzier / experimental instrumentals that i really appreciate and then quickly quits for some reason. Riddle of the Eighties being the clearest example. otherwise it's a pretty good rocky album with neat vocals
i love love love the energy, it does feel kind of unfinished in certain places but it has charm
It's ok
Wasn't sure how I felt about this at the start. Was mostly indifferent. However the instrumentation just kept me really intrigued. And I ended up really enjoying it. Not sure if I'll go back or check out any more of their stuff so in that case 4 stars.
Led me down a fun rabbit hole yesterday. This album had a solid radio station to follow it up
Altijd lastig, fIREHOSE
Beetje saai ofzo? Ik kan er de vinger niet op leggen en zou het dus nog een keer moeten draaien, maar daar heb ik dan weer geen zin in.
Ik kon hier vrij weinig mee.
Op een paar onsamenhangende nummers na was dit eigenlijk best tof!
Decent rock music that I think holds some potential. First time listening to anything by them.
Slightly proggy, slightly grungy, but struck me as more proto-jam band than anything else. Not my thing.
not great
Nothing special and I kept zoning out. It quickly became background noise.
Pretty below average album for me, no standout songs and wasn’t blown away by the band.
Meh!
I am struggling to say anything about this. Some of the riffs were good but no songs were memorable
Not what I was expecting lol
In My Mind, this was Ok. Some Things on this album just weren’t my favorite, but maybe I wasn’t Understanding.
Never heard of or need to hear from again
I liked more than half of this album a lot. Some of the tracks were odd, experimental, I guess. That's all that kept it from being 4 stars for me Solid 3.5.
I enjoyed this one!
Something different! I like it
Not as good as I hoped but not bad. Reminded me of college radio.
Speciaal
music is still better than Ohio is a state...
A chorus or two would be nice, just feels like a bunch of guitar riffs shoved together
Cool
8/10
Early punk can’t really sound too bad. I liked it
Rock alternativo bem chocho, foi difícil ouvir até o fim
It was a pretty good album. Like the guitar riffs
Very good bass album
It's hard not to go to the Minutemen comparison and that's an unrrasonably high bar. This is perfectly solid in its genre and I enjoyed it.
I liked it! I missed this when it came out, but I enjoyed it a lot!
Pretty weak, nothing grabbed me about this, but at least it had a short running time, so it wasn't unbearable.
The production is fucking horrible, the mixing is awful, druming sounds boring, drum solo songs are whack, bassist is trying to hard to be quirky and interesting, but he is a bassist, guitar is flacid and lame., vocalist sounds like an angsty nerd. Good time for a reminder that this list (not the website, godbless ya) was made by some random fucking guy. This album is piss.
Actually like, pretty good. Color me surprised. An easy listen in a good way.
Really liked this.
Some cool stuff. Inconsistent throughout the album
Rock à la fois familier, qui coule de source, et original. M’a bien accrochée
I don't know why this is on the list. I did not enjoy it.
Whisperin' While Hollerin' stood out the most. Music was alright, nothing worth adding to a playlist for me.
Accessible, good indie rock/alternative rock from the late 1980s. Its sound is more 90s than 80s actually. It is a good album though none of the songs stand out or that special in my opinion.
Not my style of music today.
I was pleasantly surprised by some of this. A real eclectic mix of songs, occasionally pretty melodic.
Like a mashup of the worst parts of R.E.M. and Cake, which is a shame because I love both those bands, but I hated this...
3.5/5
I remember these guys!
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!
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.
Listened Before? N This was interesting. Just sort of a minimalist indie rock album. Not terrible. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: In My Mind
Indie rock. Neither bad nor good. 3/5
Interesting crossover of Modest Mouse and moe.
Slow start to the album with crappy vocals and *off* timing that wasn't even in a good syncopated way. I really didn't enjoy the album, but the Spotify algorithm kept rolling and did eventually play a song of their I liked that wasn't on this album: Time With You is really good.
SST and fIREHOUSE were staples of mid-late 80's skateboarding culture. Also, there's a lotta cool things that originate Fromohio... I remember getting excited whenever I saw a fIREHOSE cd in the used bin at Tower, but most of the time, my excitement would turn to disappointment because there were a shit-ton of used CDs by a band called "FIRE HOUSE" ... some lame hair band from the 90's (sorry Firehouse fans). If'n and Ragin' Full On are better albums, but it's nice to see these guys on the list.
I've heard of Mike Watt, and been aware of his status in the 80s indie music scene, but was never acquainted with his work. Then we listened to the MINUTEMEN 300 albums ago, and I was pleasantly surprised. At least, that's what my review says. I unfortunately don't remember it. 655 albums in, there are a growing number of 4-star reviews of discovered music I thought I might go back to, but haven't found the chance to or remembered to. fIREHOSE is likely to wind up in exactly the same place in my library of forgottens. I was worried at the very start, but wound up really enjoying it. Watt's base grooves carry many of the songs, and most tracks savvily hit the sweet spot of unpolished and intentionally crafted. But since I whine and moan about modern bands with ridiculous spellings or capitalization (or lack thereof), I would be remiss if I didn't call out the MINUTEMEN and fIREHOSE for possibly being the forerunners of this goofy trend.
This does not sound like and 80s album to me. It’s not heavy metal/rock and there are no synthesizers. This sounds more like proto-90s alternative to me, which was a pleasant surprise.
And interesting and somewhat diverse post-punk entry from the late eighties in middle America. Mike Watt (bass, vocals), Ed Crawford (guitar, vocals) and George Hurley (drums) built a brisk (30 minutes!) and catchy one here. In particular, the rhythm section of Watt and Hurley keep things both steady and infectious. I hear things in this album that were clearly still resonating when I was actively consuming my local punk, jam and rock scenes in the early 2000s. Don't sleep on the vocals or the melodies, either. Good album. For sure worth at least a full listen.
Good stuff. I was a big Mike Watt fan in high school when I was first learning to play the bass, though I haven't listened to either Firehose or the Minutemen in a long time. I still love how effective he is at making simple bass lines ground a tune.
Good album. I liked it and it's very much like Minutemen, which is not surprising. I prefer Double Nickels on the Dime though. 3.5/5
That was pretty good! I’ve heard the name before, not really the music, but I like the variety of influences they have and the guitar tone. I could have seen this blow me away as a teen. B
fIREHOSE From USA Genre: Alternative Rock 1989 3rd Listen: 2.5, 3 Standouts: Liberty for Our Friends, If'n Others: Riddle of the eighties, In My Mind, Whisperin' White Hollerin', What Gets Heard, Some Things, Understanding 14 fairly short alt rock songs. All are fairly good. Liberty For Our Friends really stands out as a great track. Of the list of the top 10 to 15 Firehose songs, none of these songs typically make the cut. But, as a whole...the album works. 4/5
Mostly just finding this annoying. They are all over the place and amateurish, but not in a charming way.
I like their bass forward sound, but I don't love the vocals. The structures keep you on your toes, but I'm not sure why this is even on here when The Minutemen are already present. I'll give 'em a 3 for their generally intriguing idiosyncrasies though.
Unique structure in these songs that's for sure. But, it's not exactly a fun listening experience. I can appreciate the gesture though.
Amazing, never heard of them. Always up for unexpected funk.
They had us in the first half, not gonna lie. The first half inexplicably annoyed me (5.5/10) and the second half I loved (8/10). 6.75/10, then. Fave track: Time with you
Kinda amusing but again not anything special.
Overall it’s not “bad” but I really didn’t vibe with this. Honestly I couldn’t wait for it to be over halfway through, and was bored by most of the songs.
I liked a couple songs. Overall, meh.
Never knew this was the leftover members of the Minutemen.
I actually love this band but I still have no idea why this album is here. I actually kind of prefer both of their previous albums.
You know, this one grew on me. It feels like a lot of really great song concepts poorly executed but, as it went on, I started to get into the rhythm of... whatever their vibe is. By the end, I found that I was actually surprised and a little sad that it was over. Don't misunderstand, it still felt like nobody actually WORKED on these songs. It seems like they just played 'em once or twice and then hit record. I wonder what this would have sounded like if they'd taken the time to actually workshop these songs and craft these ideas into something more. The bones of greatness are there. They just didn't do the work and it's a shame.
Nice little rock album that gets you into some work. Some highlights missing but another listen might change that.
was having fun, first half was very Minutemen. liberty for our friend was a super snooze. second half was kind of dull
Vintage alt-rock sound from the late 80s and early 90s. Interesting college radio station fare but not even the best examples from the era. The early tracks are the best. The band has a quality overall sound and the experimentation in the latter half of the album is interesting. Overall, representative but not the most memorable or peak listening for the time, genre, or craft.
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
Very solid alt-rock album with a couple of standout tracks like "In My Mind", "What Gets Heard", "Time With You", "Some Things" and "Understanding". The only songs I did not like on this album were the two drum solos not because they were bad but because I felt that they broke of the flow the album had. Overall though very solid album but I do wonder if I would have included it given my previous criticism of the list including too many alt-rock and new wave acts. That being said I have no clue how influential this album was or how important it is to the genre since it is not a genre I am super knowledgeable about. Either way it still was very enjoyable and was an 8-8.5/10. Also side note, I was looking at the list and realized that he included no Whitney Houston album. I know she did not have the strongest albums but to not include a single album from one of the greatest singers of all time and one who I think has an argument for the greatest vocalist of all time. You include 6 Elvis Costello albums and can't include one Whitney. I recognize the fact I don't love Elvis Costello but 6 albums is ridiculous.
Ewwgross. The music was fine tho (2.5/5)
Ehhh I dunno, one of those ones so mediocre you don't feel inclined to write about.
Was very disengaged from this. Also very distracted so it's my fault, but it felt quite run of the mill and I don't have any inclination to give it another run. Production and vocals not there for me, some fun instrumental passages. Fave track: Liberty For Our Friend
Lots of energy and fun playing, but failed to really grab me in a hugely meaningful way. Was fine, and don't necessarily think it was bad in any way, just didn't quite scratch an itch like a lot of other rock from the late 80s does. Two and a half. Fave track: Time With You
No matter how many times I listen to it and how hard I try, I struggle to remember anything about this. Nothing really stands out at all and it’s just a pretty forgettable experience. Don’t really know why it is on the list to be honest…