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Hope Of The States come from a town in the UK, down south, named Chichester. Its not a very rock'n'roll place, I should know I live there.
The band were struck recently by tragedy, with the unexplained suicide of their guitarist Jimmi Lawrence. The album was complete at this time and Jimmi was reportedly as good as ever.
The band has an unusual instrumentation, it consists of two guitarists, bass, drums, piano/keyboard and the added spice of a violin. This is used to good effect on some tracks through the album.
Before I bought this album I had heard all three singles it spawned, Black Dollar Bills, Enemies/Friends and The Red, The White, The Black, The Blue. These had all struck me as interesting songs, particularly the latter.
Now the album...
The first track opens with a simple, slightly discordant guitar playing, slowly being built up ( note the interesting drum pattern ) up to a full stop...and then by far the most impressive, cinematic, epic piece of the album. A huge thunderbolt splinters your ceiling, an ice-cold tidal wave shatters through your window and the earth sunders beneath you as the epic strings disarm you entirely. A friend described the main section of this track as 'water flowing over you'. It really is a unique sound. But sadly its not replicated too much further.
Enemies/Friends is a solid indie track with little to say about it. Again, a slightly unusual drum figure works well with the rest of the arrangement. The next two tracks are somewhat mediocre and samey and don't really appeal to me.
The Red The White The Black The Blue however manages to knock me back to the floor as the opening track did, however in a different way altogether. The rebellious opening chords lead into a raucous battle against injustice. The chorus is close to being anthemic, probably if it weren't for the vocals poor quality ( which I'll come back to later ). I'd recommend this song to anyone, an impressive choice for a single too.
George Washington stands out more than the rest, a slightly Shins-esque number, that appears more jolly than the rest.
However the subsequent tracks are somewhat flavourless, following similar styles and patterns to tracks 3 and 4. Slightly disapointing as with the lyrics which drip into self-pity. However 1776 manages to give one last gasp, along with the secret track, at the final hurdle.
Pros:
- Good arrangements of the varied instruments.
- Solid (mostly), indie/post-rock/Radiohead + Coldplay-esque songwriting
- Fantastic cinematic, epic ideas
Cons:
- Best bits aren't used throughout the album
- Singer is poor, sings in a very similar manner throughout
- Lack of variety
Overral I'd give a 3.5/5 as the album has some astounding ideas on it but turns out rather lacklustre overral. A worthy purchase for any Radiohead or Coldplay fan.
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I think this album is absoloutley cracking even though ive ehard it twice..at first liesten i thought it was good, they had potential...but i know the songs will grow on me because i felt exactly the same on hearing the 3 singles...Jimi's death is a tradgedy but this band has something special..
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I've been looking forward to this album for a while now. On the strength of your review and modrocks comments ill probably be getting it as soon as i have the money.
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Hope of the States-The lost riots
2004/Sony Music.
[IMG]http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00027LEDI.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]
Tracklist:
1. The Black Amnesias
2. Enemies/Friends
3. 66 Sleepers to Summer
4. Don't Go To Pieces
5. The Red The White The Black The Blue
6. Black Dollar Bills
7. George Washington
8. Me Ves Y Sufres
9. Sadness On My Back
10. Nehemiah
11. Goodhorsehymn
12. 1776
Members(as played on record):
Sam herlihy-Vocals, acoustic, guitar...
Michael Sidell:Guitar.
Jimmy Lawrence-Guitar.
Paul Wilson-Bass.
Simon Jones-Drums, percussion.
Anthony Theaker-Violin, piano..etc.
Short history:
This is the bands debut album, and obviously their only album to date. Never has a band name been so apt to describe the music, it music may initally sound dark but there is most certainly hope to be found in these songs.
We have 12 tracks of screaming and echoing guitars, political croaking, pounding and millitary drumming, disjointed basslines and frantic violin playing. These are all talented musicians layering simple songs without a trace of pretence.
They have recieved a lot of hype from the everloving NME, but for once i think the NME are right, even though there seems to be a hit or miss feeling towards the band.
There is one key thing to mention, and perhaps it overshadows the release of the album itself; that being the death of guitairst Jimmy Lawrence during the recording of this album. When returning to the studio one day the band members were horrififed to find Jimmy hanging from the ceiling of the studio. So with the suicide of an important member, and more importantly their friend they decided to release this record with the tracks he had allready laid down for the record and release it as its what he would have wnated.
It may add a little extra poignancy to the songs on the album, but it must be understood that these songs were allready poignant, and what you hear was mostly recorded before Jimmy's death.
Songs:
1)The Black Amnesias
The record starts off with a 6 minute instrumental, which if you've heard the band may be suprising. Its a very fierce opening, and it gives you a very clear view of what is left to come on this album. The obvious dynamic post-rock type changes being very evident in this song, the music is just very dark and atmospheric, its what Godspeed would like to sound like nowdays. The best bit of the song is when everything stops and an acoustic is playing on its own, and before you know there is a wall of noise in your face again. A good opener.4.5/5
2.Enemies/friends
The hit single. Very melodic and you are introduced to Sam's deep croaking voice. The lyrics are very insightfull, 'All the prisons that you build wont hold us, just let us go'. The music is more based on melody in this song and there isnt really as fierce a change in dynamics like the opener.
The song closes with uplifting words that if you see them live will have you in awe, 'come on people, keep your friends close and your enemies wont matter'. The song is to be heard to understand. 4/5
3. 66 Sleepers to Summer
Starts off with an acoustic guitar and you get the first proper introduction to the use of stings, which has a prominent role in this song. This is a song that grows on you even though it has the most clear structure so far on the album, the verse/chorus.verse/chorus/interlude chorus. But it still sounds very good, one of the highlights. 4.5/5
4. Don't Go To Pieces
So you've just ahd the 3 best opening songs to an album in the last year, can this album make it four?...Well not exactly. The verse's display why a lot of people dislike Sam's voice. If you dont like his voice then this will sound horrible, it will just sound a bit weak if you like his voice. It also has an element of cheese, but it picks up a lot towards the end with a very good outro, so it gets a 3.5/5.
5. The Red The White The Black The Blue
The recent single and one of the shortest songs on the album at just over 3 minutes. Its a fast paced rocker with awesome lyircs about blind pride. The chorus sings 'the red, white and the blue has always been what led you'. I also like the lyrics 'Board decisions, bored children, watch the world through gunshot eyes'. Before you know it this songs pace has taken you to its end. 4.2/5
6. Black Dollar Bills
Many people's favourite HOTS strack. It starts of similar to the 4th track, just with better vocals. The solitary piano and voice sounds stunning, with a very unique atomosphere. Its a very dark attack at corporate America basicly. When Sam sings 'no more hopes for anything, when theres nothing at all' , its one of the highlights of this record. Then an instrumental chorus/interlude comes in where Jimmy's guitar takes centre stage for the rest of the song. You see what a loss he was because his playing is so emotional it cant help but make you feel both hope and despair. Its just the highlight. 5/5
7. George Washington
It's strange to have such a happy song after the previous one, but somehow it works. Its very country-esque in a way and its the song that made me buy this album. Its very jolly, and its back to the post-rock style outro's too. Just simply a very good song about what seems to be the Aerican civil war. 5/5
8. Me Ves Y Sufres
Long intro, then piano comes in over droning guitars. Vocals sound very like 'mercury rev' in this song. It contunies in this fashion with the repeating piano riff just building in tension and volume with all the instruments slowly joining in. Its a more personal song with Sam singing 'dont waste your sympathy on me'. Then the song climaxes with that same piano palying...the climax also builds in volume and then it ends..its a very atmospoheric album track. 4/5
9. Sadness On My Back
A strange song. Stars off with a quite jolly piano. It has a very good vibe to it and the rest of the instruments join in and then it just rocks out. It reminds me a bit of the band keane with guitars and more energy..and obviously a better song. The outro sounds a cross between 'ok computer' and 'the bends' era radiohead. The theme of the song just seems to be how good citizens like ourselves have to suffer at the hands of others.4/5
10. Nehemiah
Starts off with guitar and bass. The bass being a little louder than in the other songs here. Its more of a rocker and has an increidbly hummable and uplifting chorus. I saw them play this at glastonbury and on 'later with jools holland' and it sounded very good. The outro is also a highlight, 'people come on make a stand, come on people if you try you can'..its a very heartwarming song. 5/5
11. Goodhorsehymn
Starts off with an organ and strings, its once again like Mercury Rev. Then piano comes playing on top when the vocals come in, so far theres no guitar. Then the screeching guitars come in and the mood of the song changes. Its a lot like the dark Godspeed moments. theres a lot of sections and its stop/start all the way. 'If you're happy when you sleep tonight you're lucky'....'If you're lonely when you sleep tonight im sorry'. And theres a quick climax and its over. 4/5
12. 1776
Before you know it it's the last song. Its a medium paced song with more instrument layers than the others. It sounds quite happy compared to a lot fo the songs on the album, but im sure they just wanted to end on a 'happy' note. It doesnt quite hit you like the other tracks but tis still good, maybe its them trying a little too hard. The chord progressions being a liltte progressive, its trying but for some reason it doesnt quite get there....but it ends with a swirling harp. 3.5/5
So there you go, Modrocks first and probably last review. I was bored and im digging this album a lot. I will give it a 4.5/5 just for being original and having a message, which a lot of bands dont have now...or bands that havent been in the top 20 of the singles chart.
Reccomended tracks:
Read the review:mad:
[IMG]http://d.hatena.ne.jp/images/diary/mohri/2004-01-18.jpg[/IMG]
Jimmy Lawrence.
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very good review. it made me check out the band, only to find that hardly anyone has the album for download. but i'm downloading black dollar bills as i type. so thank you for the review
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Its a question of liking the vocals i think, but the album works very well as a unit. Hope you like.
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That was an awesome review. I have only heard "the red the white the black the blue", but seeing you praise the rest of the songs makes me definately wanna buy this album. I will be getting it!
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Just went to add this to the List..and it's already been done. Sorry modrock. Threads merged.
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Poop!:upset:
Well at least it consumed some of my time.
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its ok. you're still appreciated. 
pssst, and i think your review was better anyway :thumb:
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Ok, thank you very much
Did you listen to that song?
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yep. i liked it a lot and i'm still looking forward to the rest of the album. and that high-pitched siren-ish sound reminds me a lot of the sounds in "Monheim" by Godspeed!
and i do like the singer's voice. i cant explain why, but i just do. and great lyrics; some of the best i've heard in a while ('cept for maynard, of course)
now i really want to hear that george washington song after this one.
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Bump. Everyone needs to listen to this band now.
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^Maybe I should. They're coming to play near me soon.
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wow! you live in chi? i live in portsmouth. don't like this and much tho.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
The singing ruins everything 
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I dunno. I kind of think of the guy's voice as being in the same vein as Efrim Menuck's in A Silver Mt. Zion; it has to grow on you a little bit.This Message Edited On 02.07.07
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Bump. Everyone needs to listen to this band now.
Saw a download for this on a blog. Will check out and review if it's as good as it sounds.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Black Dollar Bills is still one of the best songs of the decade.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Bump.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Planet Sound
John Earls
Rebeca whatsherface
Gamecentral and the worms.
Sigh.
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