You know how I’ve been having trouble deciding on which tunes to write about these last few weeks? Yeah… Well, that streak of indecision has come to an end and it’s all thanks to FTISLAND’s incredible new track, “Take Me Now.”
Having been mercilessly teased by FTISLAND over the past week or so, I was more than ready to check out their new album when it was released this past Sunday. What I wasn’t ready for was the overwhelming rush of feels that hit me as I gave “Take Me Now” a listen. OH. MY. WORD. Just listening to the track once was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
“THIS IS IT!” I cried to myself. “THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!”
After years and years of waiting for FTISLAND to break away from the pop-rock mold FNC has been trying to keep them confined to, they’ve finally done it. THEY’VE FINALLY BROKEN FREEEEEEEEE!!! (I’m so happy I could cry!)
It’s no secret FTISLAND’s journey to this moment hasn’t been an easy one, as the band has always been very vocal about their disappointments with their company. Over the years we’ve watched as this group has endlessly struggled to make their band their own and as they’ve struggled, their sound has slowly changed. Always pushing the boundaries, each album has brought with it a slightly harder edge and as this metamorphosis has taken place, I’ve fallen more in love with this band.
When FTISLAND released I Will last year, I was so happy for them. The entire album was fantastic and “Pray” was just… Ugh! It’s perfections, really. It’s just so good! But even as I sit here drooling over a song that’s over a year old, I have to admit that both then and now, it’s always felt like something in that album was missing. Even with the brilliant work that made I Will so great, I felt as if the band still hadn’t been allowed to unleash their true sound. It’s like even though they’d pushed the boundaries farther than ever, they still hadn’t broken free from the restraints of their company. 
Now, with Where’s the Truth?, I feel like they finally have. The entire album has a rough, raw feel that sidesteps the polish of the company and instead, delivers the true heart of the band. For the first time ever, I feel as if FTISLAND has released an album, rather than feeling as if FNC has released an album of tracks they forced FTISLAND to perform. Well… Okay… Maybe not the first time (because I really did feel that I Will was the closest the band had ever come to being free to be themselves) but definitely the second.
Where’s the Truth definitely has a strong J-Rock vibe which I think is fantastic. (Granted, I’m a huge lover of J-Rock to begin with and rock is the music of my soul so maybe I’m a little biased here but we already knew that!) It would make my heart immensely happy if FNC would allow FTISLAND to continue down this path and embrace the music this band is putting out, rather than attempt to curb it. FTISLAND was meant to be a rock band. It’s so obvious that this music is what drives them, what inspires them, what stirs their soul. It would be a shame for such incredible music to be squashed by a company simply because it doesn’t fit within their ideal genre. 
Honestly, I could see FTISLAND following easily in the footsteps of One OK Rock, touring the world, joining the lineup of a major American tour, bringing fantastic music to a whole new audience, because they’re just. that. good. All they need is the support of their company and a chance.
Obviously I’m more than a little enamored with FTISLAND’s latest comeback. The question is, what do you think of it? Is “Take Me Now” really as fantastic as I think it is or am I letting my bias run away with me again? You know I always love hearing from you so be sure to let me know what you’re thinking by leaving a comment below!