| Front by Front | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Front 242 | ||||
| Released | November 1988 | |||
| Genre | EBM, industrial | |||
| Length | 36:28 41:46 1988 CD issue 69:37 Epic CD issue | |||
| Label | Red Rhino Europe Wax Trax! Animalized Epic | |||
| Producer | Front 242 | |||
| Front 242 chronology | ||||
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| 1992 Epic release cover | ||||
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| Singles from Front by Front | ||||
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Front by Front is the fourth studio album by Front 242, released in 1988, and has been labelled as "easily one of the greatest industrial albums ever made". The album was reissued in 1992 by Sony Music Entertainment. The song "Headhunter" became an industrial dancefloor hit, accompanied by a music video directed by Anton Corbijn, and has since been subject to over 20 remixes.
Miss Kittin used "First In / First Out" on her mix album A Bugged Out Mix.
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  |
| MusicHound | 4/5 |
| NME | 9/10 |
| Record Mirror | 4/5 |
| Select | 5/5 |
| The Village Voice | B− |
Front by Front was one of Wax Trax! Records' most successful releases, selling more than 90,000 units in its first run. The album, and its lead single "Headhunter", elevated the public awareness of EBM and industrial music in the late 1980s.
In 2019, Pitchfork ranked it at number 6 in its list of the "33 Best Industrial Albums of All Time". In 2023, Consequence ranked it at number 9 in its list of the "50 Best Industrial Albums of All Time". Spin named it one of the ten essential industrial records.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Until Death (Us Do Part)" | 4:30 |
| 2. | "Circling Overland" | 4:43 |
| 3. | "Im Rhythmus Bleiben" | 4:14 |
| 4. | "Felines" | 3:34 |
| 5. | "First In/First Out" | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Blend the Strengths" | 3:13 |
| 7. | "Headhunter v3.0" | 4:45 |
| 8. | "Work 01" | 3:28 |
| 9. | "Terminal State" | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Welcome to Paradise v1.0 (CD edition bonus track)" | 5:18 |
| Total length: | 41:46 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Headhunter v1.0" | 5:01 |
| 12. | "Never Stop! v1.0" | 3:56 |
| 13. | "Work 242 N.Off is N.Off" | 5:18 |
| 14. | "Agony (Until Death)" | 2:43 |
| 15. | "Never Stop! v.1.1" | 4:24 |
| 16. | "Work 242" | 6:29 |
| Total length: | 69:37 | |
Notes
The 1992 bonus tracks were originally released on the Never Stop! EP, except for "Headhunter v1.0" which was originally released on the Headhunter EP.
Personnel
Front 242
- Jean-Luc De Meyer – vocals
- Daniel Bressanutti – keyboards
- Patrick Codenys – keyboards
- Richard Jonckheere – drums
Additional personnel
- Frédéric Boebaert – art direction
- Greg Calbi – mastering, remastering
- Alain Verbaert – photography
References
- ^ Raggett, Ned. "Front by Front – Front 242". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
- Miss Kittin - A Bugged Out Mix By Miss Kittin (CD) Discogs. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- Larkin, Colin (1998). "Front 242". Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Groves Dictionaries. pp. 2043. ISBN 1-561-59237-4.
- Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "Front 242". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p. 461–462. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- Fadele, Dele (3 December 1988). "Front 242: Front by Front". NME. p. 34.
- Jelbert, Steve (17 December 1988). "Front 242: Front by Front". Record Mirror. Vol. 35. p. 32. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- Scott, Danny (August 1992). "Front 242: Geography / No Comment / Back Catalogue / Official Version / Front by Front". Select. No. 26. p. 102.
- Christgau, Robert (5 September 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- Smith, Rod (27 March 2014). "Wax Trax: An Introduction". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- Dicker, Holly (21 August 2018). "Join in the chant: Inside the cult of EBM". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- "The 33 Best Industrial Albums of All Time". Pitchfork. 2019-06-17. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- "50 Best Industrial Albums of All Time". Consequence. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- Chow, Alexander (October 2003). "Essential Industrial". Spin. p. 60.
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