Brazil - Hostage And The Meaning Of Life
Rating
RIYL
The Mars VoltaElliott
At The Drive In
Coheed And Cambria
Dismemberment Plan
Les Savy Fav
Label
FearlessTracklist
1. Hostage2. The Novemberist
3. I.O
4. Escape
5. We
6. Iconoclast
7. Zentropa
8. Fall Into
9. Metropol
10. Aventine
11. Form And Function
12. Fatal And Futique
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A couple years ago, when I was first getting serious about music I started frequenting the now defunct MP3.com. I can't remember what I was looking for, I think I was just browsing, and I came across this band called Brazil. I downloaded a couple songs off their EP and was really intrigued. This band blended together sounds and styles that I'd never heard before. Their songs "Monolithic" and "Erasure" were on just about every mix cd I made in 2002. Fastforward a couple of years to today. Brazil's full length debut drops April 20 on Fearless Records and it is easily the most ambitious and challenging release that the label has evertaken.
Enough of the background, let's get into the meat of "A Hostage and the Meaning of Life." The disc starts out with some feedback and then blasts into the title track "Hostage." You are immediately hit with huge guitar riffs and some intricate piano work. Then as quickly as the barrage hits, it backs off into zylaphones and jazz organs giving a very futuristic mood. Throughout the record the mood is intense. Brazil challenges you to try and take it all in, and at times it is difficult because of the musical complexity. The interesting thing about this album is that it seems to tell a story, not just with the lyrics, but with the seemless way the songs run together and compliment each other. The guitars wail, always clear and always clean and the bassline is always moving and intricate. Musically the thing that strikes me most though is the way the piano part always compliments the guitar lines. Too often in today's music scene the songs are based on the piano, and I think Brazil really does it right by letting the always dueling guitar parts go at it.
There are a couple drawbacks from this record. First is mentioned above-the complexity of the music. At times Brazil seems to try too hard. I think a lot of people will not be able to get through this record due to the complexity; it is one of those records you have to concentrate on. Another is that the lyrics are oftentimes cryptic. I've listened to "A Hostage...." countless times in the past few weeks and I'm not sure I have the lyircal content figured out yet. The last drawback I see is the likeness to Mars Volta. Really, these two bands sound VERY similar and it's sad because many people will automatically dismiss Brazil because of this (eventhough Brazil's EP "Daesin" came out way before "Deloused..."). Personally I think this record is amazing. Brazil took their time and made this record right. The musicallity of this album at times give me goosebumps and it takes a lot to do that. This is definately an album that will be in a lot of critics top ten of the year, mine included. To me this is the best release of the year so far.
JohnnyL
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