This is the one that I was thinking there would be a possibility of a surprise with. Not so much because of the band, but because they are so high among such worth contenders of the top spots.
But the reasons for me putting this album at #3 are simple: it is well made from start to finish, they are memories associated with it and it rocks.
I was first introduced to Lostprophets like most everyone else at the time, with the release of the song "Last Train Home." That tracks continue to this day to be one of the biggest sing alongs among people my age, no matter which musical genre you prefer. I will always remember the day I was visiting my family in California and my brother and I took a drive to Sacramento and on the way back we belted out this song. I also took the song "Last Summer" and set it to a slideshow of pictures from the summer between high school and college.
However, one of the main reasons I will always go back to this cd is it was one of the first ones to introduce me to how a band can make an album an entire experience. Now, this wasn't an experience in the sense of the album had a theme or anything. It's just that each song flowed into one another. Some with interludes and others it was just a case where the music didn't stop. I still compare current releases to this method of musicianship whenever artists try something similar (I'm not saying they were the first ones to do it - just that they were the first ones I heard).
But what is a good thought process without good music? Luckily, Lostprophets deliver in that aspect as well. With tracks that have been featured in racing video games (such as "To Hell We Ride"), a majority of the album is a pure shot of adrenaline. The quality doesn't suffer when they slow it down, however, as it is actually enhanced. I remember piecing together a music video in my head for "Hello Again" (ironically, it had them on rooftops, which would be the name of a single from their next album) and the closing melodic style of "Sway" is still one of my favorite tracks.
If you haven't heard this before, I urge you to give it a shot. If you have, well then I urge you to pull it out and give it another listen like I just did. And then sit there and rock out.
So I was reading this thinking that I don't know this band... and then I heard the Need for Speed song... and bam- I know that. Only because Matt plays it ALL THE FUCKING TIME so it's nonstop up in here. So I actually hate that song now. :) BUT the rest of it sounds like something I would generally like so I will put it on my list! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI remember when I heard Last Train Home on the radio I liked it and I downloaded it - but it was just that for me...a single song and I didn't really look into their other stuff. I'd actually forgotten about it until you posted this. It might be a geographical/age thing - I've just never been into this type of music aside from a few tracks on the radio.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised by this as your #3 - mostly because they're a band that are basically off my radar now. But I respect the fact that this is your list and your music that you love. I'm excited for the next few weeks!