Review Summary: Decent album but they sold out? :(
The future looked bright for Lostprophets after breaking into the mainstream American market with the single Last Train Home off the album Start Something which went Platinum in America. While the album itself being hardly ground breaking, was received by many as a welcome break from generic mainstream rock that was polluting the radio at the time. When Liberation Transmission was announced, I eagerly awaited its release.
What I like about the album:
Most of the songs on the album are extremely catchy. There are catchy hooks here and there such as the opening riff off
A Town Called Hypocrisy.
Everyday Combat has a very memorable chorus that will probably be stuck in your head for a while. Lead single
Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast) builds up before another catchy in your face chorus hits you.
The undoubted highlight of the album would be the near flawless
4:AM Forever. Jamie Oliver’s keyboard in the background adds some interesting depth to the song will the drumming and bass help carry the song along. Ian Watkins pours out some heart felt vocals “Why don’t you hear me when I’m calling out to you?/Why don’t you listen when I try to make it through?” Lee Gaze even delivers an extremely cool guitar solo ¾ through the song.
Ian Watkins vocals have matured a lot from the days of The Fake Sound Of Progress when he had a rather nasally and mildly irritating voice.
What I did not like about the album:
The songs are less guitar driven; the riffs are certainly a lot lighter than their previous albums. Instead the band rely more on Ian Watkins new found vocals. His catchy vocals alone can’t save the album. The instrumentals are quite simple and bland at times on the album. It took me 5 listens before I remembered something off
Can’t Stop, Gotta Date With Hate. Other songs such as
Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances And Messed Up Chances) are too repetitive and just drag on.
Their record label have probably pressured the band to make their music more mainstream and accessible in the hope of selling more. The band have sold out, no doubt about that. The ridiculously long song titles bring Fall Out Boy and Panic At The Disco to mind. They are closer pop-punk now and have completely lost their touch of *cough* nu-metal on their first album. They are bound to lose many loyal fans because of this move.
Overall:
Quite a significant musical change for the band. Start Something was very different from The Fake Sound Of Progress and this another shift away from those 2 albums.
I give it a
3/5 overall.
Recommended songs:
4:AM Forever
Everyday Combat
A Town Called Hypocrisy
Rooftops (A Liberation Transmission)
My 2nd review; comments and constructive criticism most welcomed.
