The four members of Helsinki's melodically rocking group The Rasmus formed the band in 1995 while still in high school because Finland's English music scene in their own words "sucked." Their debut, Peep, rapidly went gold in their homeland, making the members rock stars at the age of 16. They quickly recorded and released the follow-up, Playboys, which also went gold and earned the group an Emma, Finland's version of a Grammy. Their third album, Hell of a Tester, included "Liquid," a track that was voted Best Single of the Year by Finland's music critics. 2001's Into went double platinum in its native country, with its debut single, "F-F-F-Falling," going to the top of the charts. An international audience started to build, and the band toured throughout Europe. It paid off when 2003's Dead Letters climbed to number one in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
So here is the review of Dead Letters:
1) First Day of my Life
Gives a small taste of what is to come, distorted choruses and rolling bass under verses, vocals sound a little forced but still a catchy song. (3.5/5)
2) In the Shadows
If you live anywhere in Western Europe and haven't heard this song in the last year then you must have been living in a cave, first single off this album and frustratingly catchy. Simple song to play on guitar except for the power chords in the intro, I love this song but it's so radio friendly. (5/5)
3) Still Standing
More of the same fare, really catchy chorus of, "Can you stop the lies, falling from the sky, down on me, I'm still standing." Very similar to first track but the changes are an improvement. (4/5)
4) In my Life
This and the next song form the loudest, almost gothic element of the album, I don't like to call this gothic because the singer's voice doesn't fit this image, he sounds like he is still a little kid. Many different elements to this song, Gothic intro, Drumbeaten verses, Muse like chorus, back to Gothic post-chorus and bridge towards the end. (4.5/5)
5) Time to burn
Similar to last song, electronic intro before gothic guitars hit, bass rolls over verses to great effect, yet another catchy chorus, vocals are a little strained but still a solid song. (4/5)
6) Guilty
The forthcoming single in the UK and I can see why, REALLY catchy, I've been humming and singing this in various places for weeks now, similar to In the Shadows but even better. (5/5)
7) Not Like the Other Girls
The first ballad on the album and a great one at that, slower tempo as you would expect but it works really well. (4.5/5)
8)The One I Love
More catchy, radio friendly stuff that should have you humming in public places, louder than the other 5/5 songs but it's my favourite song on the album. (5/5)
9)Back in the Picture
The Rasmus try to make another single out of this song but sadly they are trying too hard, vocals are really streched and doesn't sound good. (3.5/5)
10) Funeral Song
The guitarist takes a rest here, not required at all, sounds like the singer is about to commit suicide, not a good song. (2/5)
That's the end of the normal album, the total marks are 41/50 but I would give this 4/5
On to the bonus tracks that appear on the UK edition:
11) F-F-F-Falling
Another catchy tune, off of their previous album Into. Really good song with a different rythym to the chorus, this is an upbeat, "let's party" style of song. (5/5)
12) If You Ever
Strange intro leads to acoustic first verse that fades into pop-rock chorus, typical pop-rock lyrics about leaving someone/being left etc. The outro is far too long to be effective and spoils the song (4/5)
13) What Ever
This song is nothing more than a catchy filler that hasn't had much attention, even the title has an error in it (should be one word) and yet more standard pop-rock stuff with a long outro. (4/5)
Overall the bonus tracks are rated at 13/15 and the extended album as a whole at 54/65 but I would raise the original 4 to a 4.5/5 simply due to the song F-F-F-Falling.
