Austin Sound Check

Fansaw (noun):
1.  A kind-hearted active listener with a dedication to and belief in the healing power of rock… who brings a friend!
2. A dedicated fan of Full Service, Austin’s premiere rock/reggae/metal band.

I’ve been a fan of Full Service for much longer than I’ve been writing this blog. Legions of Fansaws have flocked to Full Service since their days as a three-piece, as heard on 3 Will Ride Forth. Lately, Full Service has garnered a lot of well-deserved attention due to their outside the box / guerilla-style Takeover Tour. For those of you who are new to the FS game, I present A Fansaw’s Guide to Full Service.

Continue reading after the jump for a cliff-notes style guide (with videos!) to the best of all six Full Service studio albums. Starting with 2004’s 3 Will Ride Forth all the way through The Dig, released in January 2008.

You can see Full Service live at Flamingo Cantina on Halloween (10/31).

Bonus: See if you can spot me in the video for Bo Ding Is Not A Crime

3 Will Ride Forth - Released November 2004
In the four years since this album was released, Full Service has added a fourth member (Smell on percussion) and changed bassists (Twinky-P now handles the low end). As a testament to Full Service’s songwriting abilities, many of the songs from 3 Will Ride Forth are crowd favorites. Request Single Note Slayer or Battleship to get served, old-school style.

Irie Love – Released April 2005
Irie Love features the acoustic stylings of the Brothers Kepner (guitarist/MC Bonesaw and drummer/vocalist Hoagman). Recommended songs include Olivia, 542 and Lizards in the Tree. 542 features outstanding guest vocals from Freebleeder lead singer Jon Millican.

Sawngs – Released December 2005
A mere seven songs, Sawngs is my favorite Full Service album to this day. Starting off on a poignant note with Oh Kill Me, through the irreverent Bo Ding Is Not A Crime (amen, Full Service, amen!) and the powerhouse Ate Enough, Sawngs will grab you from the outset. Winding down on a more mellow note, Homies and Water set a nice peaceful mood after the thorough rocking you’ve received on the first half of the album. Check out the video for Bo Ding Is Not A Crime, below.

Recess – Released September 2006
A close second in the race for favorite Full Service album, Recess is nineteen tracks of pure FS goodness. Your Emo Band, Ramona, Undertow, Alpine, Black is Back, Yanamo and A New Way are the standouts on this one. The high pitched scream on Your Emo Band belongs to none other than bassist Twinky-P and yes, he also screams live. The video for Alpine is below. It’s homemade, but also one of their best. A true South Austin classic.

Good Question – Released April 2007
A short, three song EP, Good Question features a revisited version of Late January (from debut album 3 Will Ride Forth) and Hi Ho, the lead track from January 2008 album The Dig.The Dig – Released January 2008
The most recent album from Full Service is no exception to the rule: this band can write great songs! Try Hi Ho, Tasteless Gravy, Blueberry Farm, Hotter in the House and Do It Again. You’ll thank me later. The video for Blueberry Farm, directed by Curtis Pollack, is below for your viewing pleasure.

Some of the Full Service tracks I’ve recommended above are available for free download on Full Service’s website.

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