Film School - Film School
by Anthony Strutt
published: 23 / 12 / 2005

Label:
Beggar's Banquet
Format: CD
intro
Haunting and powerful UK debut album from San Francisco shoegazing act Film School
San Francisco"s Film School finally release their debut UK album, which far from being a re-release of their debut US album, ‘My Brilliant Career’, consists entirely of new songs. Wrapped in a cover of red tulips, it is a wonderful record. The first track is untitled and is a mix of backwards noises and loops which run into their debut UK single ‘On and On’ which is awash with swirling guitars, brooding bass lines and drums that assist front man Krayg Burton’s haunting vocal. ‘Harmed’ ,has an edgy and rough sounding bass and a jangling rhythm guitar. When the lead finally kicks it way in, it is as dirty and raw as hell. Krayg’s vocal has to fight to be heard, but has an insecure Robert Smith feel to it. ‘Pitfalls’ features sharp guitars, while drums and bass give it its drive. ‘Breet’ is a mix of Goth rock and psychedelia, while ‘He"s a Deep Deep Lake’ sounds like early Ride, An acoustic guitar slows it down, before it returns back to full-on assault. ‘Garrison’ features backward loops, while ‘11:11’ has an upfront bass, guitar effects galore, and a vocal that treads into very dark territory. It end driving along at 1,000 miles an hour. ‘Sick of the Shame’ gives you the opportunity to allow your hearing to recover and is an acoustic number. ‘Like You Know’ recalls the Doors’ ‘The End’ , while P.S., which ends the CD, has psychedelic beats and an organ, edgy bass work and a sharp and clean vocal. An amazing debut !
Track Listing:-
1 Untitled2 On & On
3 Harmed
4 Pitfalls
5 Breet
6 He's a Deep Deep Lake
7 Garrison
8 11:11
9 Sick of the Shame
10 Like You Know
11 P.S.
interviews |
Interview (2005) |
![]() |
Californian indie rockers Film School have recently signed to Beggar's Banquet. With an album on its way in January, Anthony Strutt chats to frontman Krayg Burton about the group's British influences and development since first forming in 1998 |
reviews |
Hideout (2007) |
![]() |
Atmospheric and experimental second album from San Francisco-based shoegazing/rock outfit Film School |
On And On (2005) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
John Philip Shenale - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Loft - Interview
Vapors - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Shaw's Trailer Park - I Thought I Saw You
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Ringo Starr - Look Up
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart