Northern Faces, returned last week with their highly-anticipated sophomore full-length, Fingers Crossed. This latest offering from the Albany-based alternative rock trio comes courtesy of their long-term partners, Equal Vision Records.
Fingers Crossed is the rare record that manages to balance diversity with cohesiveness. It contains the massive pop hooks that continues to draw so many people to their previous work, but the new, more personal writing approach has allowed for an album where it is evident the band came to those poppier elements organically. As Shortell points out “this record captures who the band is at this point in our lives. It’s like a tattoo, whenever we go back and listen to it in the future, it’ll evoke a vivid memory of who we were when we were writing it”. Fingers Crossed is a moment in their careers that Northern Faces will undoubtedly be very proud of for the rest of their lives, and one that fans will hold close to their hearts.
Bryan Shortell (Vocals/Guitars) about the release:
‘This is the most important record each of us in Northern Faces has made for ourselves personally. It’s autobiographical, and it wears our hearts on its sleeve. Every single line means something to us, and not a single word was written without intention. This record defines the last two years of our lives. It explains life from our vantage point as we try to navigate the balance between “real” life vs. following our dreams and doing what we love as we grow older, as the weight on our back seems to be growing every day. Sometimes inlife it really feels like it’s now or never, and I don’t think that statement has ever felt more true to us. That’s why we named this album ‘Fingers Crossed’.
The three singles from Fingers Crossed that have already been released succinctly paint a picture of how the record reflects that story. Behind the hazy, ethereal synths, driving percussion and massive hook of ‘Messin’ With Me’ lies the story of how the band felt when they decided to hit the restart button on the project midway through the writing process. On ‘Firecracker’, we see the band wrestling with the idea they ‘might not be good enough’ set to a masterful blend of modern indie, folk and classic rock. Finally, the uplifting refrain of ‘All I heard, is this has gotta get better / All I know, is we have to stick together now’ playing out over an inspiring soundscape on ‘All I Know’ serves as a beacon of hope – signifying the moment when the band’s unwavering resolve triumphed over their concerns.
Northern Faces fuse impossibly catchy hooks and melodies, unparalleled harmonies, blues-influenced instrumentation and a modern pop sensibility into a sound that feels both familiar and inherently unique. With over 6 million spins on Spotify and a performance history that includes shows and tours with a wide array of acts including The 1975, Royal Blood, Cage The Elephant, Awolnation, The Dear Hunter and X Ambassadors, Northern Faces are poised to take a well-deserved step forward into the mainstream with the release of their new record.
