Who would have thought that a group commonly known for unapologetic abuse of their instruments onstage could write some truly gorgeous songs? With their first major label release (on Interscope, the same label that screwed over other indie favorites The Dismemberment Plan), the Austin-based ...Trail Of Dead prove that their spectacle of destruction can be easily gotten away with as this band has the chops to avoid being written-off as a mere gimmick.
The move to a major label by a free-thinking indie band always leads with charges of "sell-out," but Source Tags & Codes seems to not be tainted or tampered with any label demands or quips. Trail Of Dead have never sounded this gourgeous, brilliant, or intense. Strings frequently appear blending in seamlessly with the intense walls of guitar. Tempos, moods, and volume frequently shift. The band can write angry, breakneck bursts of noise ("Homage") or incredibly tuneful, almost brit-pop influence tunes (the title track).
"Relative Ways," maybe the most accessible track, still sounds like it could explode at any moment. As the first single, it's a good indicator of what to expect despite the restrained nature.
"Another Morning Stoner" is perhaps the highpoint, a beautiful, otherwordly tune that breaks into a great string bridge midway through. It's like a strange, grey dream that you only vaugely remember. It's perfect.
Need more convincing? Try "How Near, How Far" or "Days Of Being Wild," an upbeat noise-punk song that reaches an enormous level of intensity.
The best tunes on the album are so good, the other tracks may pale in comparison despite the fact that they are above average. Of course, that's probably the best flaw any band can have.
With music becoming more and more trite and watered-down in the mainstream, something like Source Tags & Codes being released on a major (with labelmates like Limp Bizkit at that) is quite astounding. But Interscope was right to release this. Definitely worth hearing. |
