Ian Luddy who is International Furlough came to be the way most solo artists come to be, because there's no one else. Why we even bother to try is clear but the end result seems to be more satisfying than the initial idea. Of course, no one knows that until it happens and some distance is gained. Even with this, Ian had another obstacle. Himself. He had to conquer the substance abuse issues to even see the limits of his writing process. Getting more perspective, he could now see the gains for the limits.
As for Luddy's influences, he's got all of the right ones. He references the soundtrack for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 game to even launch his interest. Off of that, we've got Motorhead, Reverend Horton Heat, and KRS-One to name three. That would send him down the rabbit hole for Rollins, CKY, Helmet, etc.
International Furlough Rocks Hardest When Solo
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"Rolling Face With Holy Rollers"
This track does not waste any time to settle in. Ian's vocal style reminds me of early Primus. There's a bit of weirdness on the guitar style to go along with it too. It's half punk with a avante garde bent. When we get to the bridge, I recall Rick Agnew style guitar playing. What really holds this song together is the drumming style which is so set into place, why would you try to change it. I would imagine that if he had spent any time in trying to figure this track out, the drumming was the idea that solved it. Towards the end of the track, we get some Tool style instrumentation which serves the drumming style well. I bet this could work up a crowd if played live.
"Haven"
This has to be one of my favorite singles so far. Clearly that Tony Hawk game got him off to a right start. This has skateboard energy all over it. I can only wonder how Luddy decides the energy that is set for these tracks. In a interview he did earlier in the year, he says that drums was the earliest instrument he attempted and that he sucked at it. If the standards of keeping a beat weren't natural to him, he would be right. In the same paragraph, however, he admits to how it fused together with his guitar playing.
"I first started on drums when I was 9 and played for about 2 years but I absolutely sucked and didn’t like it so I quit. Despite not liking it, drumming did influence how I currently play guitar because without those early years of drums I would not have the current percussive guitar playing style I do now."
Actually, does Ian abandon the drums entirely? He credits Ryan Elwood as session musician for this but, I can't imagine he didn't want to get a little himself. Nonethess, this helps make the opening to this track such a great rock intro. The way he also let's that guitar riff resonate at certain moments and other times, goes all heavy metal on them too. Goddamn, this just rocks out so hard!
And yes. I've been watching a lot of Beavis and Butthead lately.
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"Blind In One Eye"
With this one, there's a little more build. Ian starts us off with the rock riff but let's the bass come in a bit later, followed by the drums. This is a more traditional rock track. I did mention Primus style vocals but I also get some Al Jourgenson from Ministry. He has a monotone vocal style that's necessary for these tracks to work. In the same interview, he also says that after drums, guitar and bass, learning vocals was his last instrument and that it's still a work in progress. And again, this works because it focuses all of the attention on the rock heaviness of these songs. Since it's pretty clear that he's learned the best way all of these instruments work for him, he will get to a different point in his vocals that it might divide the room. In the future, some will say, "early International Furlough was better." Hell, there might even be a fight among his fans!
"Down On The Pharm"
This was the debut single that must have made a big impression for those who heard it the first time. This established how lean Luddy's songwriting is, and his guitar playing is on fire! I mean, that's a major stand out with all of these singles. That this song makes reference to pharmaceuticals is important. As a debut track, he's pretty much cleaning his hands of the addiction and profoundly revealing his new self. Powerful stuff.
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