AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD: The Century Of Self (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

At the end of 2008, the Trail Of Dead offered us a nice aperitif "Festival Thyme", now comes the main course, "The Century Of Self". This American band was successful with "Source Tags & Codes" in 2002, a success they had a hard time confirming with the following productions. This didn't seem to bother them too much though, as they offer us again a relatively adventurous and well inspired album... By their own admission, they almost recorded this album in live conditions that gives a very natural effect because spontaneity, energy and power are preserved. Of course, not everyone will appreciate this somewhat cacophonous, messy side of things, but that's too bad!

Difficult to characterize their music. Playing on power, they dress their melodies with influences from the 80-90's, in a musical patchwork where The Auteurs, The Alarm, Suede, The Waterboys or Oasis, jostle each other. Limiting oneself to these bands is a bit reductive and I wouldn't be surprised to hear other names, even coming from the 70s. There's this permanent torn violence that evokes the Who, this taste for melody and emotional flights of fancy peculiar to Mott The Hoople. Sometimes there's even a perfume by Slade, and punk scents from Television. In short, the cocktail is complex, but it often works. It even contains a few jewels that reveal themselves to anyone who makes the effort to look for them.

This album starts very strong, with "The Giants Causeway", already released on "Festival Thyme" under the name of "The Betrayal of Roger Casement and the Irish Brigade", but judiciously shortened and proposed as an intro. Then comes " The Far Pavilions " which accelerates the pulse, and evokes the warlike energy of The Alarm. Then comes the epic "Isis Unveiled" and its progressive deconstruction, whose torn sounds seem to come straight from a Fad Gadget album. It's a little masterpiece, the centerpiece of the album. "Halcyon Days", which follows, ensures this high level with an unusual construction, again almost progressive. A first part with the rhythmic typicity of "The Auteurs", which is enriched with choirs halfway through and then suddenly curls up to give birth to a stunning melody, guided by a delicate piano.

Then come two tracks that we could appreciate on the EP at the end of 2008; "Bells Of Creations", an epic and powerful march, and "Inland Sea", a pleasant lament. They are separated by one track, "Fields Of Coal", whose chorus, which is reminiscent of Slade's popular ballads, could hit the bull's eye during the concerts. After two slightly weaker tracks, we have a last and excellent surprise with "Insatiable" in which the piano and the choir are in good harmony and where the shadow of "Mott The Hoople" is once again hovering.

This musical work alternates the best and the worst in its second part. It has a draft side, which may discourage the less informed ears but it would be a shame not to go on an adventure with the "Trail Of Dead" to discover these few nuggets of inspired pop rock. This album will probably not be unanimously acclaimed, but it allows them to establish a reputation as a creative, sometimes adventurous and original band, not trying to fit into a well-defined niche. That's pretty good! - Official website

AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD

THE CENTURY OF SELF

SPV STEAMHAMMER

ROCK