In case we needed a reminder of the singular songwriting voice of long-time Rochesterian Seth Faergolzia, his former freak folk band Dufus’s retrospective album “Greatest Almosts” provides the necessary jolt. Faergolzia’s gymnastic melodies and zany use of group vocals take the fore in this 16-song set culled from the band’s 20-year run. But it’s the indefatigable spirit and silliness of the songs themselves that steals the show.
My introduction to the dizzying, joyful musical world of Faergolzia was in the mid-2000s as an undergraduate student, with the unpredictable songs “Freedom” (from 2004’s “Ball of Design”), “Tutu” (from “The Last Classed Blast,” 2006) and “Giving Inn” (“Legend of Walnut,” 2007) capturing my imagination. All three cuts find their way on “Greatest Almosts.”
The punk energy of “Dufus,” the rock opera vibes of “Fun Wearing Underwear” and the metal riff driving “Mor Girl Cops” capture Faergolzia and company at their most wonderfully unhinged. “Outerspace Odyssey” features the tastiest guitar hook I’ve heard in a long time. The album closes with what is arguably the band’s most beautiful song — featuring Faergolzia’s signature large instrumentation — the impossibly intimate “Silence.”
With a plethora of songs from which to choose, however, the poignant late-’90s tune “Weemamoo” is first and foremost in my mind. Half folk song, half jam vibes, the lilting music backs Faergolzia as he details the struggle between being yourself and being for someone else:
But now you’re digging your roots into the soul of another… You can’t imagine life without the one who’s breaking your heart.
“Greatest Almosts” was mastered by Deerhoof drummer and co-founder Greg Saunier, and features cover art by iconic underground artist and musician Jeffrey Lewis. The album is available on vinyl, CD and digital platforms.
