Shape Of Punk To Come

Could this be the greatest album ever made? I believe if it isn't it must come close. Unlike most albums, where it seems the band involved is trying to create a complete album around two or three decent songs "the shape of punk to come" is mind-blowingly awesome from start to finish. Each song is as powerful as the last one. Songs like "New noise", "Tannhauser/derive" and "Liberation frequency" are unlike anything anyone has heard before. Completely breaking the traditions and rules of punk and any other genre for that matter, "the shape of punk to come" steps foot into completely unchartered territory. I mean a ten minute punk song with ochestral violin playing throughout?
Refused disbanded on the eve of this album's release. And I for one think it was possibly a smart move. "The shape of punk to come" is a once in a lifetime album. The music cycle usually goes like this:
1. band release a few e.p.'s maybe a full album or two
2. band releases awesome career high cd
3. band releases follow up cd, usually not as good, but more mainstream, band becomes famous
4. band spends rest of life in mainstream releasing mediocre albums becomes hated by their original fans
If you don't believe me just look at bands like Korn, 311, blink 182 and Limp bizkit. By stopping after "the shape of punk to come" Refused ensured that they would never become a popular, mainstream band. More importantly they in effect 'froze time' in our minds. What i mean by this is that when we think of refused in 20 year's time, we will think back to our last memory of them (circa this album's release) which is subsequently their greatest moment. Whereas when we think of Korn we'll think back to their last woefully mainstream albums rather than the greatness of their self titled debut. I believe this is why Kurt Cobain and Nirvana are considered so great. Cobain killed himself at the peak of his popularity and greatness, and that greatness is how we will all remember him. Had he not killed himself I am sure he would have suffered an Elvis like demise.
Some speculate that Refused intended to split before they made the album, using the song "Refused are f*cking dead" as evidence. If this is true it would explain the bizare experimentation on this album compared to their previous relatively conventional hardcore offerings. Refused had nothing to lose. Bands usually feel the need to obey the rules of their genre ie, punk songs cannot go for more than 3 minutes etc. Refused break all the rules and I think, for me, is what makes this album so great. The fact that Refused are a Swedish band also is significant for me, as almost every other European band tries to mimmick it's American counterparts. Refused did not.
The shape of punk to come is one of the best if not the best album of our times. It blends punk, metal, electronica and various other styles. If you haven't heard it yet, nows a good time to do something about it.

I never recieved this wonderful album.. This makes me sad because I wanted it so bad.. Last time I buy from this website

I don't like to have to rate this album so low, but I can't quite bring myself to go any higher. There's so much good music here that it annoys me to have to listen to decades-old political prattle screamed at top volume, almost without relief.

I'll start with Refused's "Manifesto" so I can get right back to ignoring it. Did we not get the memo about guitar players changing the world? Am I really supposed to be impressed by someone trying once again to use hard-edged rock music to breathe life into Marxism's abandoned corpse? How is this supposed to be the shape of punk to come when it covers the same lyrical territory that the Clash and Rancid have beaten to death?

"This Manifesto is very much for real." No, it isn't. It's not even a manifesto. It's a CD. Manufactured and sold like any other. You too are part of the system. Deal.

Next point is the howling. I realize it's the new cool way to vocalize. No band would dare go hardcore these days without making sure the frontman puts a couple of tracks on plastic sounding like a buffalo with it's throat cut. And after a few listens, it gets distinctly less irritating. All the same, a little more actual singing on the album would make the screams actually seem to reflect a genuine emotional peak as opposed to "Gee, there's the rythmn riff, I better start shouting."

That said, the music does rock. Skillful and varied playing, achieving both power and speed that impresses more and more with every play. If this becomes the kind of music that punk outfits play, I'll be pleased. Now if we can lose the "Look Mom, I'm a rebel" routine, all the bases will be covered. I mean, why should I plop down $ to listen to someone hearken back to the spirt of 1968 when for the same money I can have the MC5 take me there?