Beautiful Lie, A [ECD] - 30 Seconds To Mars

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Good album
Disadvantages:	some not so good songs

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Now, I know no I'm not meant to like this band but secretly I do. I find the mix of their music, lyrics and vocals go perfectly creating an amazing sound. I'm not a huge fan of this band but I do listen to them on a weekly bases and it is very different from what I'm use to listening to compared to the industrial or the doom music. I first liked this band by simply one day watching the music channels (I think it was Scuzz TV) I had heard one song before by them but I didn't like it to much. I think what made me stop and listen to the song was the music video I found it entertaining and then the song soon followed and I stayed watching it for the song.

ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO MARS:
30 seconds to mars are an American rock band from Los Angeles in California. The band started in 1998 by 2 brothers, the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist and the drummer and was soon joined by the bass player and key bordest followed by different guitarist until they stuck with one.
The line up now is

Jared Lento-the lead singer and guitarist, 36 from America who is also known as an actor starting with the TV show: "My so called life" and has played in films such as Requiem For a Dream, fight club, girl interrupted, panic room and many others.

Tomo Miličević-the lead guitarist, 29 from Bosnia and Hertzegovina, plays a Gibson Les Paul (Jealous much? Lol) and BC rich bich and is the younger brother of the model and actress Ivana Miličević.

Shannon Leto-the Drummer, 38 from america and the older brother of Jared Leto. He is also an occational actor having a small roll in the film Lost highway to which his brother also starred.

Their first album was realised in 2002 but wasn't really a success with mixed reviews and didn't lead to much publicity. As much as their second album. Their second album Tilted "A beautiful Lie" was realised in august 2005 and was a big success in the rock world giving them a MTV2 award for a track of the album at the MTV music awards. The album has also reached Platinum for selling over 1 million copies.

THE ALBUM 'A BEAUTIFAL LIE':

1st song Attack:
Starting of with electronics then leading in vocals followed by the guitar bass and most noticeable drums but not so loud but gets harder during the chorus. The second verse is he same as the first verse music wise apart from the music stopping for a bit during the middle. The song was also released as a single and a video was relapsed and the highest position it reached in the chart was 22 in USA modern rock.

2nd song a beautiful lie:
Another song that was released as a single as reached at its highest point 11th in the Portuguese charts. The video was shot in Greenland however it was originally going to be shot in the north pole and Alaska. This song starts of heavy with a lot of distortion of the guitar and hard drums and bass. Then goes quieter during the verse with no distortion on the guitar but not much quieter. One the chorus hits the song has gone back to a heavier song, with screaming vocals.

3rd song The kill:
Possibly their most noted song and video, it was realised as a single, the single got to number 3 in the usa modern rock chart. The video is related to the film the shinning with bits of the film shinning being redone. The song is very good with good range of vocals. It's once of their heavier songs and has good lyrics and music. I really like this song and it is one of my favourite and is the first song I heard by this band

4th song was it a dream:
this starts with what sounds like rain and then the drums came in followed by the guitar for the first minute or so after the vocals kick in, the song remains slow and calm during the verse and picks up sound during the chorus but not lots then back down to a calmer pace in the 2nd verse. The song in general is very calm with amazing guitaring.

5th song Fantasy:
Starting of with guitar then coming in with drums and bass. When the vocals come in it almost seems as if Jared it whispering then at the chorus it gets a bit more upbeat leading to Jared partially screaming. The same happens through out the two verses and choruses. After the music is going with an occasional oh oh then it goes into the chorus again. Very good song.

6th song Saviour:
It starts of with what sounds like talking then goes straight into the music, in my opinion Its not done so good the start and the whole song seems a bit sloppy keeping nearly at the same tempo and doesn't seem to change until a bit in the middle where is total goes slow but the goes back to the original sound, So not a good song by them in my opinion.

7th song, From yesterday:
This song was released as single and reached number 1 in the usa modern rock chart. The video looks like its been done in an oriental country. The music is slowly but nicely introduced with all the instruments. As the chorus comes in the music gets more upbeat with harsher vocals and louder music and gets even louder after the second chorus. I do like this song; it produces good lyrics, vocals and music.

8th song story:
I like this intro; it kind of reminds me of what Nirvana would do. It starts of with the guitar with no distortion and then the vocals. Then the chorus comes in with the drums and bass (I think the bass) come in but it has a soft melody which really suits the song and the lyrics and the sound of the vocals. It really works. A very good song by them.

9th song R-Evolve:
Once again this starts of with the guitar and vocals but the drums and bass come in very quickly after. I think this song would really speak to a lot of people, mostly teenagers. I like how they are able to mix the harsh vocals with calm music for a lot of the song. The music gets faster and harder after a couple of music yet so does the vocals resulting in Jared screaming and hen everything just going quite then the instruments coming back in with the vocals.

10th song Modern Myth:
I really like this song, its so calm and peaceful it starts with guitar and vocals after the chorus a violin comes in. there isn't much to say about this song apart from its beautiful; the music, the lyrics the vocals it's the kind of thing you would just sit in you room and listen to and have a good cry to (not in an emo way though =)

11th song Battle Of One:
This is an unlisted track and to be honest isn't that good, heavy for 30 seconds to mars and wit scremo vocals. It's probably the worst track on the album and doesn't have much to it in my opinion.

12th song Hunter:
This is a cover song by Bjork. Its very different sounding, I've never listened to the original but I do like this version of the song. There isn't much music to it just what sounds like some sort of drums and Jared singing soulfully along to the song with so much emotion. As the song goes on there is some what sounds like some violins added. Good song, not one of their best but still decent.

I would recommend this CD to anyone that is a rock/emo music fan, it has a good range of vocals, music and lyrics. it is possible to by this CD from most music shops or for a cheaper price on EBay or Ebid. The band is similar to AFI, Taking back Sunday and Flyleaf.

Link:

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_Seconds_to_Mars

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thirtysecondstomars

Offical site 30 seconds to mars site: http://www.thirtysecondstomars.com/

The song "The Kill": http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=qF1wZQzpeKA&feature=related