Wiretap Scars

i made a huge mistake with this album, i heard the demos before i heard the finished versions. if anyone else did this then i would think they would probably agree with me when i say that Jerry Finn, as he does with so many other bands, sucked the life out of this album. i like the songs, some of them i love, but none of these versions stack up to the demos, they all sound clinical and passionless in comparison. one large part of this is the damned vocal tuning Jerry Finn seems intent on putting onto EVERYTHING he records, but also it just lacks the soul that you can hear easily enough on 'austere' even. anyway, it is a good album, just don't listen to the demos if anyone offers them to you, otherwise you'll be ruined for this cd.

It's so refreshing to see bands that defy any simple categorization like "emocore" or "post seminal hardcore britpop skacore" or whatever the pretentious scenesters are telling us to listen to nowadays. I saw Sparta open for Pearl Jam on the first leg of the 2003 Riot Act tour, and I thought they were amazing in their honesty and powerful yet somewhat reserved energy onstage. I had heard a few songs long before the show ever came, so I was excited to hear that they were opening. After getting home from the show, I bought this album and have loved it ever since. I was and am a big fan of At the Drive-In, but Sparta is a completely different band in the sense that their music, lyrics, and vocals seem less forced and pretense-driven than ATDI. The music is mostly guitar-driven, but that's not to say that they sound like Thursday or something. These guys just deliver what they deliver without putting any kind of scene tattoo on it, without whining about girlfriends, and without screaming like babies. The music is incredible because it is very layered and textured, which is rare for a lot of modern rock bands right now. It takes the listener on an emotional rollercoaster (I know that's really cliche, but it's all I could think of.) There are times when it rocks really hard and makes the listener soar, especially on "Sans Cosm". Likewise, the ridiculosly beautiful textures on "Collapse", "Air", and especially "Glasshouse Tarot" just put a smile on my face every time. Look, stop comparing these guys to At the Drive-In and Mars Volta, the other "post- at the drive in break up" band. Mars Volta is OK, but Sparta makes them look like losers that missed their chance. Pick this CD up now and see them live soon. If they rocked like they did in the monstrous HiFi Buys Ampitheatre in Atlanta, GA opening for the stellar Pearl Jam, I can only imagine what they're like in a smaller, more personal venue. Nevermind the White Stripes: here's Sparta.

This album delivers! From the first song to the last song, its an amazing album. It has crunch in songs like 'Cut Your Ribbon', 'Red Alibi' and 'Air'. It also has deep melodic sounds in 'Collapse', 'Glasshouse Tarot' and 'Echodyne Harmonic'.
This cd is a must have, your cd collection is not complete without it. You won't regret it...i promise.