Sparta - Wiretap Scars
�I�ll take famous known Greek cities for 5 million Alex� is not quite what the El Paso, TX natives Sparta were thinking when they started their new project. Former At the Drive-In guitarist Jim Ward coaxed fellow Drive-In members guitarist Paul Hinojos and drummer Tony Hajjar to start a new jam aptly named Sparta with former Belknap bassist Matt Miller. At the Drive-In officially announced their split in early March of 2001. The members of Sparta got their start shortly there after. These four guys have been friends and bandmates in one sense or another since 1994. With Ward moving from just guitar to principle song writer and vocalist of the band, he feels that Sparta is a different type of musical expression for him and his crew then At the Drive-In. With the majority of the At the Drive-In albums, a listener would find themselves confused or perplexed about what was the chorus or the verse. However, this is not the case with Sparta. Their debut full length album Wiretap Scars, on DreamWorks records, displays a whole new moniker of the Texans. These fellows have distinct choruses and verses that sometimes repeat themselves, unlike any ATDI song. The Wiretap sessions are a more cathartic/alt-rock sound. Nonetheless, do not think that these guys have completely lost their emo-edge. Actually, Sparta is a grittier guitar sounding group. Ward and Hinojos completely redesigned the guitar tones to nothing like ATDI. A virgin listener of ATDI and Sparta would never be able to link the two bands together. The only similarities, other then the patented emo sound, between ATDI and Sparta are Ward�s yells. They are very comparable to those on the previous Drive-In releases. However, Ward�s singing voice is very remnant of the early 90�s grunge scene. His distinct tone resembles Perry Farrell of Jane�s Addiction or Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Nevertheless, these Lone Star state inhabitants bring a fresh flavor to the rock scene. Just when rock was headed to a more indie, returning Rolling Stones era with bands like The Hives and The Vines, Sparta comes loaded and ready to unleash a mega-rock fortress. Sparta is for all the original fans of At the Drive-In who are still mourning the breakup or for fans of Jimmy Eat World that want more crunch in their music. Sparta has currently released �Cut Your Ribbon� to all major radio stations and MTV. They have just recently started their world tour that spans North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
-AW
[email protected]
� 2002