Faces (Chris Caffery album)
| Faces | ||||
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| Studio album by Chris Caffery | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Black Lotus Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
16 |
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running time |
76 min 19 sec |
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Chris Caffery / Nik Chinboukas |
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Faces is a 2004 solo album by Chris Caffery , lead guitarist for the band Savatage . If Caffery's earlier Doctor Butcher project is not considered a solo project, “Faces” is his solo debut.
Due to the bonus CD " God Damn War " accompanying the album, the album is often listed as a double album under the title "Faces / God Damn War".
Factory history
After completing the tour for the album " Poets & Madmen " in 2002, Savatage took a longer break. The band members used this break on the one hand for the commercially very successful side project Trans-Siberian Orchestra , on the other hand singer Jon Oliva and guitarist Caffery prepared different solo albums in 2003 and 2004, because Oliva would not return the band before the age of 25 in various interviews -anniversary of the release of the debut album "Sirens" from 1982 in prospect.
As Caffery stated in interviews that he composed all the songs of the album alone and played them in his apartment in New York district of Astoria ( Queens ) and demo recordings a computer. Caffery then recorded the songs at Spin Studios with Nik Chinboukas as co-producer. For the sessions, Caffery also hired Savatage drummer Jeff Plate , bassist Dave Z., who was involved in various other projects, and keyboardist Paul Morris, who was already active with Doro and Rainbow . The two follow-up albums " God Damn War " and " WARPED " were recorded at the same time.
The album was released across Europe in September 2004 on the Greek record label Black Lotus Records and distributed worldwide by various companies. In the USA , the album was only released in January 2005.
There were two editions, one in a jewel case and one in a digipak . Both editions included the bonus CD " God Damn War " with a playing time of around 40 minutes. In addition, an edition was published in 2006 that comprised three CDs in a digipak and also included the follow-up album "WARPED". The release of the album was preceded by the single "The Mold", later the EP "Music Man" was released. In addition to the title songs and other songs from the two albums, both releases contained previously unreleased pieces. In the run-up to the album, Caffery also published a version of "Pisses Me Off" on his homepage, which lacked the vocal tracks, and asked his fans to send him their own versions of the song.
In the winter of 2004 and spring of 2005, Caffery toured America and Europe with a new line-up.
style
The style on the album is broadly similar to Savatage's , but it has a wider range of influences.
The album features fast and heavy pieces that correspond to Doctor Butcher's interpretation of the term " Power Metal ". "Faces" and "The Mold", for example, correspond to this scheme. There are also medium-paced to slow songs, which are mainly determined by a multitude of alternating riffs , such as "Pisses Me Off" or "Fade Into The X". However, the songs "Remember" and above all the "Abandoned" introduced by the instrumental piece "Preludio" are clearly more in the symphonic Savatage style. Characteristic features of the band such as the typical choir singing can be found in practically all songs, in addition, Caffery's rough vocals are very clearly reminiscent of the Savatage singer Jon Oliva in places .
Out of the ordinary, however, are songs that are arranged much more calmly, such as the semi-acoustic "Music Man", on which Caffery processes clear blues influences. Similar elements can also be found on other tracks, so overall Caffery's album sounds much more diverse than the works of Savatage.
In terms of lyrics, Caffery does not present a continuous concept on this album as on the last Savatage albums, but a selection of stories about everyday problems, life stories and experiences. In contrast to this, the simultaneously recorded “God Damn War” / “WARPED” presents a politically committed concept on the subject of war .
Track list
Faces
- Alas (1:34)
- Faces (4:36)
- Fade Into The X (5:14)
- Pisses Me Off (5:25)
- Remember (4:02)
- The Fall (4:04)
- Music Man (4:52)
- Life, Crazy Life! (4:32)
- The Mold (5:04)
- Bag O 'Bones (3:31)
- Evil Is As Evil Does (3:20)
- Never (6:43)
- So Far Today (4:49)
- Jealousy (6:06)
- Preludio (4:56)
- Abandoned (6:51)
Total playing time: 76 minutes 19 seconds
All songs were written by Chris Caffery. Caffery's friend Kemp Muhl co-wrote the lyrics for “Pisses Me Off”, and “Bag O 'Bones” was written with Steve Broderick.
The Mold
- The Mold (5:03)
- Fade Into The X (5:14)
- God Damn War (6:33)
- Fright Knights (6:38)
- Forever We'll Be (5:12)
Total playing time: 28 minutes 40 seconds
"Forever We'll Be" is not featured on any Chris Caffery studio album; "Fright Knights" was intended for the " WARPED " album, but was omitted for reasons of space.
Music Man
- Music Man (4:52)
- What Child Is This? (4:10)
- Christmas Is (4:16)
- Forever We'll Be (5:20)
- Pisses Me Off ( radio edit , 4:23)
- Abandoned (8:27)
- Amazing Grace (1:39)
- Pisses Me Off (4:20)
Total playing time: 37 minutes 25 seconds
“What Child Is This?” And “Christmas Is” are new tracks, “Pisses Me Off” has been shortened. "Abandoned" is available as a compilation with the shortened "Preludio".