For the review of Lower than Atlantis, or in short LTA, I have received both their latest and their debut effort as I understand. Reviewing these you might say is a two for the price of one review.
Of course I will do some reviewing on both albums but I would like to capture these two album into one review. In doing so it gives me an opportunity to establish and talk about the differences and likenesses of both these albums.
The first and probably most difficult part is the labelling of LTA's music.
Let me start by stating it is very entertaining from the first until the last note of both albums.
LTA are based in Hertfortshire, England and have been around trying to rule the musical worlds since 2007. The band consist of four young fellows, Mike Duce, Ben Sansom, Eddy Thrower and Dec Hart respectively playing guitar(2), drums and bass. Mike also takes care of the singing duties.
Going over their reportoire you will find influences by Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Foo Fighters and The Ataris to name but a few.
FAR Q
FARQ is the first effort of LTA to see the light of day, originally released in Europe in 2009, it now will also be released in the USA. On FARQ we find a band searching for their sound, trying to establish a name for themselves. Working hard, making honest music. FARQ contains 12 songs with a total length of no more than 41 minutes, you might say a short CD for these days where most bands try to cram the thing full with almost 80 minutes worth of music.
Kicking everything off, setting things in motion is a song appropriately called "FARQ", pronounce it not top clear and you will end up saying that one infamous four letter word that is so commonly used nowadays. "FARQ" kicks off in style very fast, running towards the end with loads of heavy riffing on guitar, a slightly uneasy backing from bass and drums.
The influences of let's say Sonic Youth and Blink 182 become apparent in the second track, the just 1:52 long "B.O.R.E.D.", a super fast track, racing straight into the next sonic speed song entitled "Taping Songs Off the Radio". LTA continue and continue with fast songs lots of riffing and now and again some real catchy bass and drum lines like the intro to "Face Full Of Scars". "Mike Duce's Symphony no.11 in D-minor" is also one of these noteworthy songs, with very clean guitars. The vocal lines thoughout the album remain kind of the same, suiting the type of music very well by the way, same goes for the lyrics let alone the titles of the songs brilliant at times, showing the bands sense of humor. Although I really enjoyed listening to the music on the album, I found that the production could have been done better
Track listing:
1 FAR Q (4:14)
2 B.O.R.E.D. (1:52)
3 Taping Songs Off the Radio (2:52)
4 I'm Not Bulimic (I Just Wanted To See How Far I Could Stick My Fingers Down My Throat)(4:50)
5 Eating Is Cheating (3:24)
6 No Belts (3:39)
7 Face Full of Scars (3:26)
8 A/S/L? (2:41)
9 Down with The Kids (3:50)
10 Yo, Music Scene What Happened? (3:21)
11 Mike Duce's Symphony no 1 in D-minor (3:11)
12 EXTRA!, EXTRA!, Read all about it (3:30)
WORLD RECORD
The second album by LTA, World Record, was released earlier this year. Greatly anticipated this second album was released in april this year worldwide.
With FAR Q, LTA already delivered a succesful debut album with music in the veins of Blink 182, Sonic Youth and Green Day. I have received both of these album at the same time and sarted listening to World Record first, not knowing that this was their last effort. The biggest improvement between both albums is production, FARQ is a great album but somehow lacks the openness World Record possesses. The compositions have also slightly improved, but not that much, as compositionally FAR Q was great already. Overall tempo in the songs also dropped a bit making the album less energetic, but more easy to adapt to.
The heavy riffing and vocal lines from album one are still there, but the tempo drop made the influences of a couple of other bands far better noticeable. A band as Foo Fighters or even Smashing Pumpkins comes closer. I also believe the music can be compared to that of the Manic Street Preachers. The band hasn't lost the sense of humor, nor in the lyrics nor with the song titles.
With their debut LTA had done a step to become famous, they just increased this with a giant leap forward on World Record. If the band is as good live as on their second album you are in for a fabulous treat at their concerts.
Track list:
1 (Motor)Way of Life (3:11)
2 Beech Like The Tree (2:24)
3 High AlL Five (3:41)
4 Uni 9mm (3:24)
5 Another Sad Song (4:36)
6 Marilyn's Mansion (1:39)
7 Deadliest Catch (3:45)
8 Bug (1:51)
9 Up In Smoke (3:09)
10 Working For The Man By Day, Stickin'It To The Man By Night (3:13)
11 Live By The Remote, Die By The Remote (3:50)
12 Beside Myself (4:07)
13 Grounded (2:36)
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