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Last Fair Deal Gone Down

Katatonia - Last Fair Deal Gone Down Audio CD

A fair review of the Katatonia "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Katatonia reviews here, or go back to the Katatonia tabs.

Band: Katatonia
Title: Last Fair Deal Gone Down
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-03-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Dispossession 2: Chrome 3: We Must Bury You 4: Teargas 5: Transpire 6: Tonight's Music 7: Clean Today 8: Future of Speech 9: Passing Bird 10: Sweet Nurse 11: Don't Tell a Soul

Odd at First... Then Grows on You...
"Viva Emptiness" is an album that gave me everything I never thought could be missing in the general blurry categories of rock and metal. I started Katatonia with "Viva Emptiness," and hopped around until I come to one of the only two albums of theirs I didn't have. But more than anything, in terms of poetic imagery, no band is as dark. (Time and again when I review these guys I always go back to the song 'Criminals' from "Viva Emptiness. ")

This album really caught me off guard. I admit, I didn't much like it at first; it was much better than 'Discouraged Ones,' but didn't really have any continuity; "Viva Emptiness," and "The Great Cold Distance" have a general theme and flow that emerges as you listen to the albums. This one was much more a collection of songs, and you can tell they were still fine-tuning their direction. . . they hadn't quite figured it out yet; mainly that there's one thing they've done consistently over the most recent albums: they've found a general mood and are able to entrance you for the duration of the album. "Last Fair Deal Gone Down," does not manage this, but the experience gets carried through by two of the best songs they've penned.

A notable experiment is the song 'We Must Bury You,' and I can almost imagine that they cut this song in the studio, thought they might drop it because in general it is bright and almost happy. . . and then Renske decides to turn it into a murder. A happy murder, he almost happily sings "We must bury you so deep that no one will ever find you. " Juxtaposing this violent imagery against the backdrop of music that borders on contemporary rock is a jarring experience. If you have an impish impulse, introduce Katatonia to a friend with that song.

The highlight for me, are the songs 'Dispossesion' and 'Teargas. ' Sonically they are more like anything you'll hear on "The Great Cold Distance. " Teargas as other reviewers have commented is a formulaic song. . . but it took me back 10-12 years as it discussed rejection from a male point of view;
"what is it in my eyes
a piece of broken glass?
is this the time I should be on my knees for you?
is this your way of telling
another has been found?
now I know,
it's teargas in my eyes. "

This song conjures all the best moments of Katatonia's switch from death to doom metal, poetically condenses one of the worst feelings we can experience in life, and is worth the price of ownership alone. .

Katatonia continue to evolve and release their most mature album to date.
Sure, there are certain ingredients that have remained built into their output since day one, with the desolate sadness and despair mixed with exquisite melodies prevailing throughout their existence. Over the years, this Swedish band has simply refused to rest on their laurels. Yet they continue to evolve with every release and "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" is no exception. Just as "Discouraged Ones" witnessed Katatonia shedding their skin and branching out from the wondrously hypnotic doom /death of "Brave Murder Day" into a more dreary suicidal rock outfit, "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" evolves further still with a level of professionalism and maturity not prevalent on prior albums.

Almost every aspect of the band improved for this recording and I consider it to be one of their very best albums. It may not be immediately obvious what the differences are that I speak of, but it comes down to the basics. The percussion for starters is far more varied and interesting than ever before, which transforms the somewhat repetitive nature of the more hypnotic sections into a totally different beast. Jonas' vocals are without doubt far superior to prior releases, leaving the awkward uncertainness behind for a much more confident and convincing performance and without losing the vulnerabilities that define his style. The guitars are heavier, have a much better sound and contain some truly breathtaking melodies ("I Transpire" for example). There is much more variation in this new Katatonia, no longer relying on similar moods for each of their tracks. The assumingly tongue in cheek "We Will Bury You" and "Sweet Nurse" for example break up the more typically Katatonia "The Future of Speech" and the magnificent "Tonight's Music".

As you can probably tell by now, I love "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" and while I will always miss their old "Brave Murder Day" sound, I simply cannot complain when every album they record is so consistently good. They continue to evolve while staying true to what made them so unique and emotionally affecting in the first place. Which is certainly a lot more than can be said about so many other bands that either remain stagnant or isolate their fan-base entirely over the years.

Dark, Urban, and Haunting
I picture a dark, chilly, overcast, February day in an industrial area of a city like Chicago, Cleveland or Pittsburgh. This record by Katatonia strikes me as very emotional and urban. It isn't glamourous. They have the trademark effect of the "deep weeping" (as I like to put it) lead guitar which makes them soooo unique. Standout songs are Dispossession, Chrome, The Future of Speech, and especially Tonight's Music. If you like dark style rock or metal like Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Lacuna Coil, or Anathema, I would highly recommend Katatonia if you've never listened to them. This record is the best of thier latest three. Tonight's Music and Viva Emptiness have some great songs too so I would recommend them as well. Viva Emptiness has a much more "alternative" sound to it, but its very similar.

Katatonia = yes.
If you're any kind of a Katatonia fan, or emotional rock fan, get this album. Well, let me start off by saying that this is Katatonia's best effort to date. And listen to it. Religiously. Depending on where you come from, yes, this album may be a little inaccessible at first. If you're a seasoned fan of emotional rock or heavy metal, or if you're just an avid music fan and dive headlong into anything that you listen to, then you should have no problem getting into this album from the first listen. It's not as heavy and the mix isn't as dense as their previous work, or their latest offering, Viva Emptiness. Which I guess makes it prog rock. But it builds up more to the climaxes, and more intelligently, with breath-taking emotional guitar work. Erm. . . everything on this album is full of hopelessness and despair. It just envelopes and embodies this entire album. . . the atmosphere is unbelievable. Katatonia became a much more professional, polished act with this album. The vocals on their previous 2 efforts, Tonight's Decision and Discouraged Ones, seemed a bit more forced. . . he, er - wailed a bit more, if you will. . . almost whined. And the vocals throughout this entire album seem effortless, but are more hollow and thoroughly depressing than anything else I've heard previously or since. Perhaps reflecting changes in their lives as well. :\ But he truly sounds like a man who's on his last stand. Though I'll let you listen to the album and find out for yourself.

Solid Release from a solid band
But this new album, as pretty much every Katatonia album, is made of depressing subject matter, and Renske's clean vocals are hauntingly perfect for this mood. I am glad that Katatonia is keeping away from their death vocals, although I didn't mind them much.

Quick rundown of some songs. . . Dispossession is a wonderful song, with the vocals and lyrics blending perfectly together. We Must Bury You is haunting and will send a chill down your spine. The Future of Speech is an awesome song that deals with the devaluement of words due to the internet. Passing Bird is lovely, and Sweet Nurse is full of sorrow.

What is good about this CD? I love the lyrics. They are full of feelings of hopelessness and despair, and the music compliments them so very well. This album has it's heavier moments (1,4,5,6) and it's softer tunes (9,10) it blends them nicely and is a good effort by Katatonia. I definitely recommend this album for old fans, and believe this would be a good starting point for new fans.

You can see a complete list of all Katatonia discography, or go back to the Katatonia tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.