Forty Feet Tall - “Shout”
Photo: Harper King
The classic song, “Shout,” by Tears For Fears, has been reimagined by Portland’s Forty Feet Tall. They offer a novel, post-punk rework to this timeless song. It emerges from a synth arpeggio before bursting full pelt into a driving drum beat. The EQ effect on the drums gives you the impression that you are getting closer to the drums as they begin to play, drawing you in.
The song has a classic/punkish pulsing bass that propels the rhythm. The guitars have a lush, raw and fuzzy tone as they riff away. There is a familiarity to the riff, but I cannot place my finger on it. The main vocalist spits out the lyrics, giving the song a nice, raw emotion and providing them with a sense of urgency. There’s a nice distortion over the vocal as well. It is subtle, but it suits this head banger of a tune.
All things considered, Forty Foot Tall’s rendition of “Shout” is a daring and brilliant rework of a timeless classic. Their original take on the song displays innovation and is definitely worth checking out. The band’s EP, Tunnel Vision, is due out March 24 and features the already released singles, “We Can't Go Back To Normal” and “Sleepwalking.”