30 SECONDS TO MARS - This Is War

[TIM (2)]

Surprised no-one else seems to be into this band, but this disc is my top pick of 2009 and is just killer IMO. I know Leto gets a whole lot of bad press, but having seen them live I can definitely report that he has the perfect voice for this stuff. I know it's all a bit over-produced/polished, and there are too many of those chanty-choruses on here, but check out a couple of the new tunes. This is way more melodic/epic-sounding than their first two discs - which were both just pure Modern Rock. Below is a link to "Closer To The Edge" which is awesome & almost like a synth-pop song. Also check out "This Is War", "Hurricane", "Alibi", "Kings & Queens" - epic stuff...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv5yXCEimMc

[zacharyamelie]

Epic sound with over the top arms and eyes to the heavens type songs, yet they sound too much like U2 mixed with the epic anthem side of Creed. I can hear why you love it, but I don't know if I'd want to listen to an album full of 5 minute plus songs in this style.

[JC_AOR]

Surprised no-one else seems to be into this band, but this disc is my top pick of 2009 and is just killer IMO. I know Leto gets a whole lot of bad press, but having seen them live I can definitely report that he has the perfect voice for this stuff. I know it's all a bit over-produced/polished, and there are too many of those chanty-choruses on here, but check out a couple of the new tunes. This is way more melodic/epic-sounding than their first two discs - which were both just pure Modern Rock. Below is a link to "Closer To The Edge" which is awesome & almost like a synth-pop song. Also check out "This Is War", "Hurricane", "Alibi", "Kings & Queens" - epic stuff...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv5yXCEimMc

 

I just had a listen to 'Closer to the Edge' - pretty good song. I don't mind this band at all. I'll definately take your advice and give the whole album a go soon.

[Chris]

I like this band very much. I love the song"Kings And Queens". I also dig their older stuff yet I haven't heard the whole new CD yet.

[Jez]

Got Jo this for christmas as she really likes them. It's not bad in places and 'Kings And Queens' is a good song (very U2'ish). The rest is ok, but as TIM says, way to overdone on the crowd vocals which are all over the place. It wouldn't even get a sniff at my top 20 though.

[Geoff]

Can't remember if I dropped my thoughts on this in the 'first spins' thread before I left, but I was really surprised by this. The band hasn't really ever done much for me before and I'm not totally sold on this either. But, there is something very appealing about it.

 

On the negative side, it's a little self-indulgent, a little pompous and overdrawn... BUT, the songs do generally seem to be of a very high quality. Good lyrics and melodies... definitely one I will need to explore further.