Trophy Scars - Never Born, Never Dead
Rating
RIYL
David LynchPsychedelic Blues
Progressive Jazz
Tom Waits
Release Date
07/19/2011
Tracklist
1. Ectoplasm2. Messengers
3. Snake Oil
4. Angels
5. Never Dead
6. Never Born
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As any band that has gone great lengths to live up to their previous expectations, Trophy Scars never stop to rest their creative gears. With two and a half years come and gone since their last full length Bad Luck, Trophy Scars have had little downtime in between. Last winter saw the release of Darkness, Oh Hell, the darkly upbeat, awe-inspiring, sound blistering masterpiece by the ever growing and ever changing native sons of New Jersey. On Darkness, Oh Hell the boys took their now comfortable and mastered sound of blues/post-hardcore/psychedelic rock and incorporated it with a broad soundscape of orchestral jazz that any true fan of the genre would salivate over. Now, mid-summer of 2011, we have their latest release Never Born, Never Dead and the next big question for Trophy Scars is, can Trophy Scars live up to their prior achievements? This time around Trophy Scars returns with their ever-growing tight song structures and gloomy jazz approach that they have become familiar with over the last few years. Here on Never Born, Never Dead the boys hit hard with guest spots by artists from their label, The Same Ghost Collective, as well as a slew of sound samples collected from the likes of Charles Manson and cult classic hits like Lost, Adaptation, and more. "This vastly conceptual EP follows and revolves around one man's journey through many different lives in reincarnation. From a gruesome murder scene in the Mojave desert to a beautiful and desperate exchange of vows in a cancer ward." All of this seems to look real nice on paper, put together what does it sound like?
I. Ectoplasm: Introduction track. Here our adventure into NBND begins with a few soft keyboard/organ elements, some quiet choir chanting, and a recording of the infamous Charles Manson.
II. Messengers: Here we move onto NBND's first single. The music and story flow into a psychedelic blues orchestral sound with haunting, skin chilling church organs and female gospel leading the helm. On this fantastic track of smooth progressive jazz we learn about our protagonist, Stagger Lee Reincarnate, who is on a high-speed car chase fleeing from the authorities. With his wife dead from the pursuit and his entire life spent in waiting to actually live his life, he vows to avenge his mistakes as he takes on the police in a final guns blazing showdown.
III. Snake Oil: Right out of the gate this explosive track starts in with hammering and heavy bass lines followed by a thick layer of guitar solos. The entire track is lead by passionate piano melodies that keep you interested from start to finish. We are treated to some more haunting gospel singing that notch this track onto the list of Trophy Scars' greatest hits. The drum progression here ties it all together for the perfect balance to such an eerily moving track. On this track we have Jerry singing about the all too known woes of every man's pain: females, love, and bad relationships. With lines like, "A wasp swarm fills up the cathedral in June. I’ll flood your wedding day romantically removed from the truth," there is an intense feeling of Jerry Jones' despair. This track is lead out with a soothing yet eerie medley of the enchanting vocalizations of Desiree Saetia, Trickster Fox, and a beautiful piano solo that leaves you somewhat melancholy and wanting more.
IV. Angels: On this track we are greeted with some light piano keys and Jerry romanticizing about yesteryear. This track's progression is driven by what I believe to be some of John Ferrara's best guitar work at hand and is smoothly rounded with Andy Farrell's unrelenting blues bass lines. This track stands as a great piece by its self and opens up the door for the final two-part ending to this already top-tier EP of 2011.
V. Never Dead: Here is part one to this EP's two-part conclusion. The song kicks off with mesmerizing drumming by Brian Ferrara, and a warm little duet of Jerry and Desiree Saetia singing about two lost souls rekindling a love fifty years in the making. The pace and balance of this song is a lot slower and has a happier balance than 90% of any other Trophy Scars song to date.
VI. Never Born: So here again the track starts off with a slower, happier pace, and here the psychedelic blues vibe shines hardest from start to finish on this song. The lyrical content speaks of death, but the notion here is that one is never truly alive nor ever really dead. Towards the conclusion of this track we are treated to some beautiful trumpets, noteworthy piano, and a chilling symphony of a haunted church choir. It is a highly uplifting ending to a deeply depressing piece.
From what I was told and led to believe we would have a brighter opus this time around, and it seems we had our promises kept. The boys really seemed to have honed their craft over the years and it truly shows. With tons of progression in sound and style, Trophy Scars have crafted another true piece of art, but here at the end of our journey that was Never Born, Never Dead we are left with textural and conceptual richness that leaves you in hopes that a full length will see the light of day before the end of 2012.
--Mike Duchnowsky
Comments
Baton Rouge
Not bad, dude. I particularly enjoyed the guitar work. I'm on the fence about his Tom Waits voice, though. Sometimes when he uses it, it's perfect, but every now and then it's awkward. I like that all the tracks have some space in them, though. It makes the whole thing sound pretty comforting.
Also, to again reference past events, it's pretty funny that you almost gave a five-star review to an album with Lost sound-clips. One day you're gonna realize how awesome that show was!
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
Jerry's voice isn't for everyone that's fo sho. Excellent EP.
I used to talk trash on Lost...now I've seen every episode.
West Haven, CT
I also used to talk shit about Lost, but Nick showed me the light. You should go and give this EP a rating Chinawhite. They also did a re-recording of "August, 1980" for those who bought it Via-iTunes. I think its a solid remake, I just like where the original brought me back when I heard it in 2009.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
August, 1980 is the only song they've ever done I wasn't into. That being said, the re-recording is growing on me.
Baton Rouge
What did Trophy Scars sound like before this EP? I listened to it on YouTube, and there was a lot of genre-bitching in the comments. This style's fine with me.
Boobs
http://thenicsperiment.blogspot.com/
West Haven, CT
The last two releases prier to this sounded pretty much like this but a little darker, sadder. This kind of has a more uplifting feel to it. I suggest you listen to Bad Luck.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Oh genres. They started off "punk/hardcore" and have grown from that ever since. In fact they've grown with me, with my musical tastes. It's like they are my musical tastes.
West Haven, CT
I just really love Jerry's story telling. I mean its a great little story about reincarnation and love. Going on forever and ever.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
NJ
I stopped really listening to this band when "Alphabet. Alphabets." came out, as I didn't particularly care for the million directions that album took, and I'd always skim through 30 seconds of the songs from their releases since then. That said, this album changed my entire way of thinking about this band. Being from NJ, it also struck a chord with me in the song "Angels," when Jerry says "I rode my bike all night just to see you across the bridge outside of Point Pleasant." That's the next town over from me, and I, too, have ridden my bike across that bridge. Definitely in my Top 5 of the Year so far.
Every time I see something screech across the floor, and latch onto some guy's neck, and he screams and tries to pull it off, I have to laugh, because man, what is that thing?
West Haven, CT
Listen to Bad Luck.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Dallas, TX
Yep. This band was nothing more than average to slightly above average post hardcore until Bad Luck, which is one of my favorite albums of all time. Every release since then has been quality and elevated the band's sound to something unique.
Great review, Mike, and great EP. Couldn't agree more though, this and Darkness just left me wanting a full length.
Coopersburg, PA
I really want to like this band, but I've always had a tough time getting passed the vocals. I've never heard a whole album though, only clips online so maybe I'll try this one out to see if it grows on me.
Lehigh Valley, PA
With Nick. Except I checked this out and I hated it.
Buffalo, NY
I've always thought Alphabets was so mediocre to the two EPs prior. Those EPs though, top notch. Haven't listened to anything since. Maybe I should give them a second chance.
Buffalo, NY
You are right. This is great.
West Haven, CT
Excellent.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
West Haven, CT
Hey thanks. This is my first review and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've been talking with Jerry a little and he mentioned the band making a double LP as their next full length. So hopefully that happens sometime in the near future.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Digital release of some old material done acoustic has been talked about also.
West Haven CT
Great review Mike D! I'll have to check this record out. You made it sound amazing and I've been sleeping on these guys.
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West Haven, CT
Every City, Vacant is coming soon. I've heard nothing but great things about it.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.