Water & Solutions

{{Infobox album

| name = Water & Solutions

| type = Album

| artist = Far

| cover = Far_-_Water_And_Solutions.jpg

| alt =

| released = March 10, 1998

| recorded = April 1997

| venue =

| studio = Magic Shop, New York City{{cite web|url=https://narratively.com/far-from-home/ |title=Far From Home |publisher=Narratively.com |date= |accessdate=2019-05-24}}

| genre =

  • Post-hardcore
  • emo{{cite web|author=Jon Goff |url=https://www.popmatters.com/far-water2004-2495905595.html |title=Far: Water & Solutions (Re-issue) |publisher=PopMatters |date=2004-08-11 |accessdate=2019-03-21}}
  • alternative rock{{cite web |publisher=Lambgoat |url=https://lambgoat.com/features/394/least-hated-far-water-solutions/?fbclid=IwAR2QfSiIEGC5AbnfSp6lOJOR-4GjzIrP8enEX-seTU-_jyeght6o7I7D62s |title=Least hated: FAR 'Water & Solutions' |date=March 10, 2022 |access-date=March 14, 2022}}
  • alternative metal

| length = 41:10

| label =

| producer = Dave Sardy

| prev_title = Tin Cans with Strings to You

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = At Night We Live

| next_year = 2010

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Water & Solutions

| type = studio

| single1 = Mother Mary

| single1date = 1998

}}

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r341716|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine}}

| rev2 = Pitchfork

| rev2score = 5.8/10{{Cite web |last=DiCrescenzo |first=Brent |title=Far: Water and Solutions: Pitchfork Review |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/f/far/water-and-solutions.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816172232/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/f/far/water-and-solutions.shtml |archive-date=2000-08-16 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Pitchfork}}

| rev3 = PunkNews

| rev3score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |publisher=PunkNews |url=https://www.punknews.org/review/706/far-water-and-solutions |title=Far - Water & Solutions |date=November 16, 2001 |access-date=March 14, 2022}}

}}

Water & Solutions is the fourth album by American rock band Far.

Background

The album was recorded in April 1997, nearly a full year before being released in March 1998. During the 11 month interval, the band released the promotional Soon EP in October 1997, which contained two songs from the upcoming album, as well as a cover of the Jawbox song "Savory", and an acoustic version of the 1996 track "Sorrow's End". That year, the band also released a 7" vinyl split with Immortal Records label mates Incubus, and performed several songs from the still unreleased Water & Solutions on tour.[http://slikeus.com/far-water-and-solutions/ 'Water and Solutions', one of the beautiful records of the 1990s] Slikeus (In Portuguese), 26 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2019

Release and reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave Water & Solutions a positive four star review, stating it "finds the Sacramento-based alternative metal band coming into their own, creating a distinctive fusion of the sober, grinding guitars of Helmet and Tool" and that "the best moments of Water & Solutions show that Far have carved out their own alterna-metal niche." French publication Rocksound claimed in 1998 that the album's sound was "made up of the best elements of Deftones and Radiohead." In 1999, CMJ New Music Report referred to it as a "sonically flawless masterpiece."CMJ New Music Report (p. 27), 19 July 1999

More contemporary reviews have cited Water & Solutions as a progenitor to the 2000s emo rock movement, with PopMatters remarking in 2004 the record was "a few minutes before everything emo blew the hell up; the album and the band that made it disintegrated quickly after its release."

In 2018, Jonah Matranga went on a tour in honor of the album's 20th anniversary. The Pauses served as the opening act and Matranga's backing band.{{cite web |website=Brooklyn Vegan |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/fars-jonah-matranga-expands-water-solutions-tour-with-the-pauses/ |title=Far's Jonah Matranga expands 'Water & Solutions' tour with The Pauses |date=July 2, 2018 |access-date=March 14, 2022}}

Track listing

{{Tracklist

| all_lyrics = Jonah Matranga

| all_music = Far

| title1 = Bury White

| length1 = 3:09

| title2 = Really Here

| length2 = 2:44

| title3 = Water & Solutions

| length3 = 3:09

| title4 = Mother Mary

| length4 = 2:16

| title5 = I Like It

| length5 = 3:21

| title6 = The System

| length6 = 2:05

| title7 = Nestle

| length7 = 3:22

| title8 = In 2 Again

| length8 = 5:03

| title9 = Wear It So Well

| length9 = 3:30

| title10 = Man Overboard

| length10 = 4:57

| title11 = Another Way Out

| length11 = 2:59

| title12 = Waiting for Sunday

| length12 = 4:31

}}

Personnel

;Far

;Production

References

{{Reflist}}