Drum's Not Dead

I know a lot of people were disappointed with They Were Wrong So Drowned, but thank god it exists. Without Liars taking the steps necessary to record that album, Drum's Not Dead surely would not be around. I personally think this is the best album of the year so far - an album that is gradually becoming one of my all time favorites. Take for example the carnal ''Let's Not Wrestle Mt. Heart Attack'' with its reverberating falsetto, its off key guitars, and of course those heavy drums. This is one interesting song, my friends. In fact, that much sums up Drum's Not Dead in one word - interesting. Traditional song writing is not to be found here, and many odd effects and pedals are used to create something strange while still using familiar instruments. Most tracks really only use drums, guitar, and vocals with some occasional keys slipping in. If you're looking for something a little abrassive and a little out there, Drum's Not Dead could be it.

So I recently saw these guys live, and I must say that it was totally awesome to tha maxxx. This album is mainly made out of drums and guitars... if you have already heard/downloaded this record, I'm sure that is either obvious or amazing to you. This is definitely one of the most original, pioneering, hyped up albums of the year. Already placed on many tentative top-tens, it is being hailed as Genius... Now, we all know that in the indie-rock world there is "genius" (like "Digital Ash in a Digital Urn-who-even-cares-about-that-album-anymore-genius"... hahaha) and then there is Genius. This album is a thinking album, like most Genius tends to be. You can totally jam to it, but there is so much more to it than the tribal-beats howling sonic experience. This is definitely the best Liars to date. It's new, and ground breaking. It IS NOISE ROCK. Keep that in mind. If you can't take the heat, don't diss it.

Liars' Drum's Not Dead is a masterpiece of repetition and one of 2006's best releases. The first track, "Be Quiet Mr. Heart Attack!", immediately creates tension, allowing the succeeding number, "Let's Not Wrestle Mr. Heart Attack" to release everything gloriously. Liars diversify the sound by adding more and more into the cacophony with every measure-----there is something new to be heard here with every listen. While closing song "The Other Side of Mr. Heart Attack" prevents the record's perfection by making itself too plain and directionless, this is still a stunning, layered record, and well worth a purchase.

Storming the scene in 2001 to the pomp and circumstance awarded to them by fans and critics alike, Liars pulled no punches, nor any odd embellishment with the creation of 2004's They Were Wrong, So We Drowned, to (in all honesty) almost completely disastrous result. Unhappy to simply exercise caution and return to the safety of previous acclaim, and wisely dissatisfied to be unapologetically avant, Andrew, Hemphill and Gross have re-imagined the boundaries of popular music, and returned with copies of their new map, to be handed out. Whether other artists make similar leaps of faith and discover their own products of adventurous experimentation, or simply continue to travel courses plotted along the beaten path is of little consequence. What is of importance to note is that Liars have succeeded here, delivering an album that bears the markers of previous victory, as well as defeat, along with traces of both Drum and Mt. Heart Attack's influence.

Storming the scene in 2001 to the pomp and circumstance awarded to them by fans and critics alike, Liars pulled no punches, nor any odd embellishment with the creation of 2004's They Were Wrong, So We Drowned, to (in all honesty) almost completely disastrous result. Unhappy to simply exercise caution and return to the safety of previous acclaim, and wisely dissatisfied to be unapologetically avant, Andrew, Hemphill and Gross have re-imagined the boundaries of popular music, and returned with copies of their new map, to be handed out. Whether other artists make similar leaps of faith and discover their own products of adventurous experimentation, or simply continue to travel courses plotted along the beaten path is of little consequence. What is of importance to note is that Liars have succeeded here, delivering an album that bears the markers of previous victory, as well as defeat, along with traces of both Drum and Mt. Heart Attack's influence.