F--ked Up's David Comes to Life is currently our Polaris featured album, and it was on the top of juror André Péloquin's ballot. We asked the BangBang blogger to share his thoughts on why the album deserves to take the prize this year. Péloquin argues that the punk rock opera should earn the band their second Polaris Prize, because the album stands apart from the competition as "a reflection on art."
Emil Michel Cioran once wrote that "music is a delusion which redeems all others." Although worlds – and miles – apart, the Romanian philosopher and Toronto's F--ked Up seem to share the same vision on this subject, especially on the hardcore darlings' latest work, the Polaris Prize shortlisted David Comes to Life.
Beyond the critical acclaim and mainstream success surrounding the album, there is a unique work of art that features excellent songs and poignant texts. But in addition, and unlike the other Polaris nominees, David Comes to Life is a reflection on art that interweaves delusions and metafiction without being pompous or dull.
Punk rock opera is, of course, a virtually untapped genre whose first trials were greeted rather coldly by purists. Despite the risk that such an undertaking could represent, the group went forward with a concept album, which pleased both hardcore hooligans and mainstream music lovers.
David Comes to Life is a grim love story – a far more sinister, and inventive, take on relationships than Drake's Take Care, might I add – and a deconstruction of its own universe. Before the end of this one-hour, 20-minute record, the protagonist becomes aware of the fact that he is, indeed, a character in a story told by a narrator who's also the villain of the story, simply because it is the role the narrator was given. Although this kind of meta process has been seen numerous times elsewhere – in Bertolt Brecht's plays, for example – it might be the first time it is applied to hardcore music.
Even without the "meta-punk-rock opera" aspect of the album, its essence – the songs – remains great. The lyrics arouse emotions without falling into a metaphor overdose (unlike Feist's Metals and Grimes's Visions, sadly), while the melodies remain effective and are delivered with flair. (OK, both Handsome Furs' Sound Kapital and Japandroids' Celebration Rock also share this fact, but aren't groundbreaking, unlike David Comes to Life.)
Many – including Damian Abraham himself – are speculating the band may be overlooked this year, as F--ked Up has already won the Polaris Prize, with 2009's The Chemistry of Common Life. The prize hasn't been around long enough for a repeat winner, so the argument goes.
The fact remains that David Comes to Life is simply the boldest, most inventive and intense album of the lot. Setting it aside because of the group's previous victory would be as sad as a workday in David's light bulb factory.
You can stream F--ked Up's David Comes to Life on CBC Music until Aug. 22.
Related:
F--ked Up on CBC Music
Polaris featured album: F--ked Up's David Comes to Life
Polaris 2012 coverage on CBC Music