| Million Dead Harmony No Harmony |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Bread and Circuses
2. Holloway Prison Blues
3. After the Rush Hour
4. Plan B
5. Carthagio Est Delenda
6. To Whom It May Concern
7. Living the Dream
8. Margot Kidder
9. Murder and Create
10. Achilles Lung
11. Bovine Spungiform Economics
12. Father My Father
13. Engine Driver
14. Harmony No Harmony
| Ranking: #7 for 2005 | |
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On 1 Lists
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2 of 3 thought this review was well written
Million Dead-Harmony No Harmony
Forget everything you thought you knew about Million Dead. Anything you’ve heard, thought, preconceptions, throw them away. The Million Dead who were making great fast-paced post-hardcore records (albeit only one) is dead. Ready? Because this is a big one.
If you owned “A Song to Ruin", particularly at the time of its release, then you are in for a shock. The fast, angry yet strangely upbeat collections of songs like “Breaking of the Back" are long gone. If you loved that album then get ready to be disappointed by this album, because it will actually sound really boring compared, which is ironic because this album is actually more exciting than “A Song to Ruin".
What “Harmony, No Harmony" essentially is, is prog-rock, but within Post-hardcore boundaries. Although proving Million Dead haven’t totally lost touch of their roots with energetic opener “Bread & Circuses" which could easily sit along side any track from the previous album. But those who aren’t tone def will know that, particularly with the guitar work, Million Dead have always had a technical edge to them. Granted, Cameron has been replaced by Tom Fowler (ex-Palehorse), but it was obvious they were going to replace Cameron with someone who can do the job, but better. This means that with this album, they have actually opened up to all their influences rather than just previously being a good, British, excitable At the Drive-in/Refused influenced Post-Hardcore band. Take grindcore/thrash ridden “Plan B" which actually includes blast beats, something a mere post-hardcore band would never dare do.
It’s fair to say a lot of people have known for a long time that Million Dead are a special time, even though before they weren’t doing anything radically different. Now, with “Harmony, No Harmony" they are doing something challenging, radically different, diverse and championing all their peers and influences. This album is the proof that they are special because they’ve actually bothered to totally redefine themselves, experiment, and make potentially what will be an incredibly important album.
There’s also evidence that Frank himself has progressed with the band, as he is no longer singing anti-capitalist, socio-political lyrics that again fall under the atd-i/refused bracket. Now, Frank is writing far more personal, experimental lyrics. Take recent single “Living the Dream", where he’s taking on a rock and roll persona and relating it to the desperate struggle to keep Million Dead alive.
But, this isn’t to say it isn’t without its flaws. After a few listens, after you’ve got your head round this huge album, you will actually return what you originally believed on a couple of songs, they are a bit boring. But then so was a couple of songs on “A Song to Ruin". The other main reason why not to like this is a bit more pathetic, but still valid, is that, it’s not “A Song to Ruin". This is such a radical change from the debut album that you will miss all the great moments from the last album such as “Breaking the Back", “I am the Party" and “The Rise and Fall". At times, where you could really relate and get into the last album, you do feel a bit alienated at this, just under an hour relentless noise.
But, these are much more minor than they sound, because there is no denying that this is a great album. Not perfect, but it took both At the drive-in and Refused three goes and many EP’s until they got it right…
Adam Turner-Heffer.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
More pragraphs would be great, as it would make the review A LOT easier and more pleasent to read. 
Digging: A Wilhelm Scream - A Wilhelm Scream
| | | Album Rating: 3
This is pretty high on my wishlist. MD are the goods.
/fondly remembers the time Julia visited R&M and spoke to me
Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland | | |
there you go, is it better if you bang a < /br > code in?This Message Edited On 06.19.05
| | | Album Rating: 4
The only new CD my local store isnt stocking so far, and the one that will easily be an impulse purchase.
The songs i've heard off this are a lot more grown up and prog based, so your review leaves me hopeful this will continue through the album
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It's a big change from their old album and they remind me a lot of ATDI... but I think it's still a good album in the end.
| | | Album Rating: 4
After digesting this album I can safely say its a big step up, although some songs do get tedious. But Living The Dream and Margot Kidder are great tracks. And the lyrics to Achilles Lung are brilliant, made for a non smoking ad.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
This is possibly the best album of the last few years in my opinion. Frank's ability to write lyrics as a piece of continous prose rather than lyrics that are just line after line of simple rhymes restores my faith in modern music.
My only issue (and it's a small one at that) is that the drums are triggered and are not just played out (in the traditional way) by the drummer (ben I think?). Julia's bass lines, and tom's guitar are refreshingly different, and although it's a lot more produced than A Song To Ruin, overall I prefer it.
To Whom It May Concern is a track that you missed out that I think deserves a mention. How many other bands can chuck a choir in and make it sound so right?? The massive chorus of Father My Father too - such large music, for such a relatively unknown band.
If only I'd seen then before they broke up  . Seen Frank with his solo stuff though - put on a good show.This Message Edited On 03.12.06
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I really hope I find this at a store somewhere, I loved A Song to Ruin.
| | | Album Rating: 5
i'm a bit confused that you seem to think its better that turner writes non-political lyrics because a few other hardcore bands take a similar political view. sorry if i'm misconstrewing your point but about a million more bands sing about the emotional stuff on 'Living The Dream' than the fantastic awareness anthems like bread and circuses. with all due respect, the best lyrics on here are by far the political ones. Holloway Prison Blues deserves to be hailed as a classic political song: the metaphors of the human body and the house of glass are excellent, and its refreshing to see turner isn't afraid of showing his intelligence, namechecking Fukuyama in a passage that's simple but shows a lot of understanding.
i too wish i'd seen them before they broke up. i had the chance at leeds fest '05 but i watched biffy clyro on the main stage who put on a disappointing show indeed.
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