The sophomore slump, a common affliction among groups releasing the follow-up to a critically acclaimed debut album, is a dilemma all musicians are wary of. The pressure of living up to one’s first record can be too much for some groups. After Andy Falkous joined forces with the other members of Future of the Left, they released a debut that lived up to the reputation of their former bands, Mclusky and Jarcrew. Curses received wide critical acclaim, allowing Future of the Left to become its own entity, rather than just another derivative side-project.

The success of Curses caused the faint of heart (me) no small worry. Was it possible that Future of The Left might had reached their creative peak just as they were starting out, leaving us without a suitable follow-up to their unique and original musical stylings? Luckily, fans can be assured that there will be no disappointment in Future of The Left’s angry, intense sophomore album, Travels With Myself and Another. Instead, be prepared for more of the same: nonsensical but brilliant lyrics, and more of the fast paced riffs that hooked you in back in 2007. Expect a step up in the complexity of music, which now makes joyful use of harmonies and vocal interplay. Don’t expect something more accessible, something that your friends and family will all understand. Travels With Myself and Another will only connect with those who have acquired a taste for the same strange and angry music Andy Falkous created with Mclusky. Although some listeners just won’t see the value in Future of The Left’s new sound, those of us who do appreciate their unique style have been blessed with what I believe is one of the best albums of the year.

The group wastes no time in letting you that they are still mad as hell. “Arming Eritrea,” the first song on the new album, begins with a simple, but eerie guitar intro. Within about 20 seconds, you are thrown into the powerful vocals and hard riffs you expect when listening to Future of the Left. “Come on Rick, I’m not a prize! I’m not a cynic or one of those guys” screams Falkous, as the song speeds into an emotional chorus riff, allowing the whole band to unleash the same energy as their singer. “The Hope That House Built” is the perfect lead in to “Throwing Brick At Trains”, moving from a raw, eerie feeling of hopelessness to a polished, fast paced anthem that will have you breaking a sweat even if you are sitting still. While many of the songs on Travels With Myself and Another provide vital aspects of anger and frustration to the album, the lyrics still contain levels of randomness and humor. The closing track, “Lapsed Catholics”, begins with a metered and rhythmic dialogue about movies between the band members, before the track delves into a loud, angry finish that takes you by surprise. It is this kind of deftness and fluidity that allows the entire album to be such an enjoyable listening experience.

At the end of 2008, Future of The Left cut short the remainder of their tour in the U.K., China, and Australia in order to work on a second album. The time was clearly well spent, as the album they released is a fantastic, angst driven work of art. Throughout the album, the band will keep you guessing what they are going to do next. And whatever you guess, you will never be right, and you will never be disappointed. The work put into this wonderfully raucous rock album has pushed Future of The Left far beyond any limits we may have imposed on them in the past. With releases like Travels With Myself and Another to live up to, some will assume that surely this is the peak for Future of The Left. However, I am already eagerly anticipating their next record just to see how far they’ll push the envelope.

Track List
1. Arming Eritrea (2:57)
2. Chin Music (1:56)
3. The Hope That House Built (3:41)
4. Throwing Bricks At Trains (2:36)
5. I Am Civil Service (2:17)
6. Land Of My Formers (2:47)
7. You Need Satan More Than He Needs You (2:46)
8. That Damned Fly (2:07)
9. Stand By Your Manatee (2:08)
10. Yin / Post-Yin (2:54)
11. Drink Nike (2:33)
12. Lapsed Catholics (4:15)