#think sharp kid

Another post from the sadly defunct Semplesize site.

Last news from Furr was a new single out in 2019, but the link to their website doesn’t seem to work any more.

I hope they’re still together, ’cause this single kicked some serious backside!

    I hope you weren’t sleeping ’cause Furr are about to wake you up in no uncertain terms. The kick drum which introduces Think Sharp Kid might as well be a high velocity foot to your temple, followed very closely by a grunge inspired riff which slaps your face until you are fully cognisant.

Jack Byrne starts off by telling us to “dream small son, it don’t matter if you don’t make nothing to be proud of,” triple negative notwithstanding, he launches into it with gusto and seems to have fun bouncing back and forth between falsetto and tenor as the Electrix Six-a-like bass line carries the song along in the background.

In the first chorus we’re asked to believe that “an original idea is what I need,” but this is one thing that Furr are not short of. Leeds in the UK still seems to be one of the major breeding grounds for original rock music and this track sounds a little like the Josh Homme produced Arctic Monkeys effort Humbug, however unlike Alex Turner, Byrne doesn’t show any hint of a provincial accent instead going for a more Middle American drawl, but it suits the music like fine bamboo suits a panda.

In a small nod to the resurgence of all things Star Wars; fuzzy glow sticks hang around the heads of the band as they beat their instruments into submission. The middle eight consists of the song title being sung by Jack while Sam Jackson, Guy Read and John Roberts grasp bunches of the aforementioned light strips and shout the words back in response, looking vaguely like they want to break into an off kilter killer rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.

In conclusion I only have one thing to say to Furr – Shut up and take my money!

Wow, Furr’s new video for their latest single ‘Think Sharp Kid’ is pretty lit... like, literally lit (and I mean ‘literally’ in the correct context for once...)

The Leeds quartet perform in front of their own DIY rave backdrop complete with glow sticks (you can try this one at home if you like, just hang some glow sticks from the ceiling and stuff...), complimenting the hazy, Weezer-esque rock of the band’s debut track.

About the video, the band explain via Upset Magazine:

‘We had a lot of fun making this video, with a very (g)low budget we had to think outside the box a bit and we are really happy with the overall visual effect,” explain the band. “It was very much a DIY affair, and it took way longer than we expected to hang 150 glow sticks from the ceiling. We also had to hang black sheets over our rehearsal room to cover the bright pink walls! “It was worth it though, and we’re stoked with the final video and super excited to share it with everyone!’

For the audio review of ‘Think Sharp Kid,’ click here.

Leeds outfit Furr have been making a lot of noise in just a short amount of time. With vocalist Jack Byrne and guitarist Sam Jackson first meeting at uni a few years back, the duo soon hooked up with bassist Guy Read and drummer John Roberts (first performing under the name Humans As Ornaments) and some time later recorded and self-produced their first batch of songs.

They ended up pressing 200 copies of the finished product, with fans quickly snapping up every copy. And with already such a committed fanbase in their hometown, their first London shows back in December 2014 ensured they had labels and publishers taking notice.

Now about to release their debut EP, the hard work for Furr has truly paid off. Their first single ‘Think Sharp Kid’ has all the hallmarks of a scuzzy, grimy classic in the making, blending the calamitous drawl of Weezer with The Vines’ reckless nature. The kind of messy and swaggering lo-fi anthem that just doesn’t give a fuck... ∩(︶▽︶)∩

‘Think Sharp Kid’ is released June 3 via Riff Pop Records.