Sweet F.A. (album)

Sweet F.A.
Studio album by Love and Rockets
Released	19 March 1996
Genre	Alternative rock, electronic
Length	61:02
Label	American
Producer	Love and Rockets, John Fryer
Love and Rockets chronology
Hot Trip to Heaven (1994) Sweet F.A. (1996) Lift (1998)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Sweet F.A. is the sixth studio album by English alternative rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1996 on American Recordings.

Background

Sweet F.A. mostly exchanged Hot Trip to Heaven's electronic sound for a harder rock sound, showcasing more conventional songwriting. Despite the presence of loud guitars common to the airwaves in the late 1990s ("Sweet Lover Hangover" was a minor alternative radio hit), the album follows the structure of a classic head album, growing more experimental and disjointed as it progresses, culminating in the aggressive electronic dance of "Here Come the Comedown" and the chaotic "Spiked".

The title refers to "Sweet Fuck-All," a modern variant of "Sweet Fanny Adams", which is common British naval slang for "nothing". "Fuck all else" is prominently sung by Daniel Ash throughout the title track.

"Natacha" was written for Natacha Atlas, a friend of the band who appeared on Ash's first solo album.

In April 1995, during the recording of Sweet F.A., a fire broke out in the house owned by American Recordings, where the band were living and recording. All of the members were uninjured, but their visiting friend Genesis P. Orridge of Psychic TV was injured escaping the fire. The band lost their gear (a photo of a burnt guitar was used for the album cover) and months of work on the album.^[2]

Track listing

1. "Sweet F.A." – 4:07
2. "Judgement Day" – 4:21
3. "Use Me" – 4:10
4. "Fever" – 5:01
5. "Sweet Lover Hangover" – 5:11
6. "Pearl" – 4:12
7. "Shelf Life" – 3:23
8. "Sad & Beautiful World" – 5:57
9. "Natacha" – 4:53
10. "Words of a Fool" – 6:34
11. "Clean" – 5:38
12. "Here Come the Comedown" – 3:47
13. "Spiked" – 3:59
14. "Sweet F.A. (Reprise)" – 1:13

Personnel

• Daniel Ash – guitar, saxophone, and vocals
• David J – bass and vocals
• Kevin Haskins – drums and synthesizers

References

1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Sweet F.A. - Love and Rockets". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
2. Steve Gdula. "Love and Rockets Set to "Lift" Off". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 12 May 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2012.