Fig Dish – That’s What Love Songs Often Do 2xLp - Blue Vinyl (/500)

Forge Again (2025, Reissue)

This is one of those records that I was worried would never come out on vinyl.  Despite how much I love Fig Dish, along with a cadre of friends whose taste in music I trust very much, I was worried they were being forgotten.  Then came last year's release of the 'lost' fourth Fig Dish album, Feels Like The Very First Two Times.  That got my hopes up that we might actually see the release of the band's two major label albums from the 90s.  And Forge Again followed through with the first of those two, That's What Love Songs Often Do.

Originally released in 1995 on Atlas/Polygram, this was Fig Dish's first foray into the major league feeding frenzy on 1990s rock and roll.  I can't say that I have a lot of perspective on how it was received upon release.  I was 18 at the time, and I don't think I actually stumbled across them until sometime in 1996.  And that stumbling occurred in the used/cut out bin of my favorite record store.  Though Fig Dish's appearance in that sort of bin was not limited to that one store, as I did see them there kind of frequently.  

Assured that the record was more than worth the dollar or two price tag on the CD, I picked it up and for the next 30 years never understood why they weren't more lauded and appreciated.  I love this record and always have.  It's got that perfect, huge 90s guitar sound that cranks through song after song of earworm-ridden hooks.  This is a band that really got how to put a song together for maximum catchiness, while keeping the tempo of the album varied and interesting.

This has been one of my most wanted albums on vinyl for ages.  The fact that I'm finally holding it, along with some pretty heavy hints that we're also going to get their subsequent album, When Shove Goes Back To Push, is cause for immediate celebration.  Thank you to Forge Again for releasing this classic and to Fig Dish for creating it.

Fig Dish – That’s What Love Songs Often Do:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kdHZsWRzBRvu89c0Zdn8CXu8hJCmf1NO0

Fig Dish - Feels Like The Very First Two Times LP & Flexi 7" - Green In Clear Swirl Vinyl

Forge Again (2024)

I've had this Fig Dish LP for a while and for some reason I have struggled trying to figure out what to write about it.  First thing first, it's great.  That's not the issue.  But I feel like there's some sort of story that I should be telling about my relationship to Fig Dish over the years.  The only problem is that it's not a particularly deep or profound relationship.  They have always been a band that I really liked and never understood why their CDs were always in the used/cutout bins next to The Figgs and Flop.  Writing that sounds like I'm taking a shot at those bands, but all three put out records in the mid 90s that I think are just outstanding.  If anything, the story of Fig Dish to me is that of a band that for whatever reason never got their due at the time.

Feels Like The Very First Two Times contains songs that were recorded for a planned third Fig Dish LP that was meant to come out in 1998 or 1999 I would assume.  That never happened, though when I listen to these songs, it takes me right back to everything I loved about Fig Dish.  The big, crunchy guitars driving through monster hooks with wry lyrics.  These songs are every bit as good as anything on their second or third albums (Thanks to Alan for reminding me about their first album that I always forget about).  Part of my brain then wonders why material this strong never came out at the time, but then the other part wonders if this album would have been received any different than the others?  I don't really know the answer and that's frustrating in some ways, but the fact that it did finally come out is really the thing I should be focused on.  And the fact that it's out on vinyl is even better.

This is easily one of the best records I've heard this year.  Sure, technically these songs aren't 'new' songs in 2024, but they've never been officially released before, so I'm definitely counting it as a top record of 2024.  I just hope this is the first of at least three Fig Dish records being released on vinyl as mentioned in the excellent liner notes.  I need those first two albums!

Fig Dish - Feels Like The Very First Two Times:

https://forgeagainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/feels-like-the-very-first-two-times