Not every high school band that is around for three years gets its complete discography released by Polyvinyl. But, Friction lead singer and guitarist was Bob Nanna who went on to play in Braid, another sadly defunct band, and now in Hey Mercedes. That’s not to say there is no reason that Friction’s discography should be released. They are a tight band who performs passionate punk/emo similar of course to Nanna’s later bands.
Appropriately, Friction has the energy of teenage boys playing music together for the first time. However, unlike most high school bands, the Friction boys balance their energy with crisp, tight, well performed songs. The songs on the album are also surprisingly well produced, and have a continuity to them that is sometimes absent from discs made from singles, or combinations of albums.
Lyrically, the band is not going to shatter your mind, though they are above the game in terms of their experience at the time. The lyrics at least sound good, whether or not they mean anything. For example, “Auburn”: “Fifty layers under snow./Save the day and then walk home alone./(Slip by skim past. On the incline set at a meager slant)./ Shine faster fist to break the mold./ Mark a point for being cold.”
Friction’s discography is certainly something for fans of Bob Nanna and his later musical incarnations. Those not familiar, however, with Braid or Hey Mercedes, would best be suited to become their fans first, and make their way back to Friction. |