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| VAST - Visual Audio Sensory Theater |
| Elektra April 26, 1998 Score: 8.0 Buy from Amazon.com |
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| Written by Drogyn Zundt Property of Entertain Me, Please |
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| I got this album after hearing the song "Touched" from the "Angel" (TV) album "Live Fast, Die Never." Well, boy was I surprised - not only is this album spectacular, it's now one of my all-time favorites!
Reading up on the album and on VAST, I heard comparisons between them and Nine Inch Nails. I wouldn't say that these are entirely accurate; there are similarities between "Visual Audio Sensory Theater" and Nine Inch Nails' "The Fragile," both having aurally complex compositions and songs with epic scopes. More than being like Nine Inch Nails, I find VAST to have its own unique sound, the mixing of interesting Gregorian hymn samples with convincing vocal working and compelling lyrics. This album focuses on the lead Jon Crosby's struggle with his faith. Each song has religious overtones, some explicit like with the song "I'm Dying" where he sings: "Jesus Christ / Are you the son of God? / I want to know / you ask that I believe." Other songs deal with his faith in other ways, whereas some songs focus on his overall stance on human nature and on his own personal demons (most notably "Touched" and "Pretty When You Cry.") This is an absolutely spectacular album that I am so glad to have discovered. Do yourself a favor and buy it asap! Here's a quick track-by-track run-through: "Here" - 8/10 A great opening song for the album. The instrumental is phenomenal and very heavy, making this one of the hardest songs on the album. Only the vocal grates at points. "Touched" - 11/10 Surprisingly, I like this song mostly for the singing/lyrics than for the wicked vocal sample. The climax of the song is absolutely awe-inspiring: "I'll never find someone quite as touched as you / I'll never love someone quite the way that I loved you." The singing is perfect, the lyrics are poetic, and the overall structure of the song is flawless. One of the most inspired, aurally interesting songs I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. "Dirty Hole" - 6/10 I'm not really a fan of this song. The vocal sampling is interesting and the lead vocal is great, but the song kind of drags on and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. "Pretty When You Cry" - 9/10 There we go. A very solid, pleasing song (that just happens to have somewhat offensive lyrics - is this a rape metaphor? 'Cause, yuck?). The instrumental is fascinating and the vocal sampling is great. "I'm Dying" - 10/10 This song really speaks to me. The lyrics are interesting and haunting; you get a really great sense of Jon Crosby's desperation and confusing regarding his religious affiliations. The Gregorian chant sample is the best on the album. I can listen to this song on for hours and not get tired of it. "Flames" - 8/10 A really nice, sublime song with a mellow guitar instrumental running throughout. The cello gets a little grating after awhile (make that really grating), but the singing is strong and the song sets up the rest of the album. "Temptation" - 5/10 A lot of people say they really like this song, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me. I like the heavy guitar in the beginning and the middle, but I can't stand the overtly Middle Eastern feel of the song and the weak vocals. Skip it. "Three Doors" - 6/10 Again, the Middle Eastern/Egyptian feel of the song puts me off. The instrumental feels forced and cheesy, but I like the techno beats in the middle along with the singing and the lyrics. "The Nile's Edge" - 10/10 Ahhh, that's better. This is an extremely mellow, aurally soothing song with a fantastic Gregorian hymn sample. Another song that I can put on repeat. I like the visual the lyrics create, and the vocal is very strong. "Somewhere Else to Be" - 7/10 The beginning sounds like "Warhead Storage" from "Metal Gear Solid" (PSone)! Except for when the main instrument comes in... Ehem, anyway, the sampling is good but the overall song structure feels weak and the vocal isn't interesting. The amazing Gregorian hymn sample of this song saves it from all-out sucking. "Untitled" - 9/10 Featuring the same excellent Gregorian hymn sample from "Somewhere Else to Be," this is a very strong vocal-free song that you can read and do homework to. Very mellow and haunting. "You" - 8/10 Another haunting song, though not as inspired and solid as other songs on the album. The song (and album) closes with a sublime Gregorian hymn that fades out with the low-key instrumental. |
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