And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Worlds Apart

Let It Die

If this was a straightforward review, saying that this is an indecisive album fraught with disappointment and immaturity, equating it to much of the crap that already exists, singer Conrad Keely, who says that listeners only find similarities between music, focusing mainly on genre and not actual content, would be disappointed. Thus the individual pieces of this album will be addressed.It begins with a pretentious orchestral overture laced with screams of children. Whereas the instrumental has potential to do something new and exciting, the introduction of the vocals is anti-climactic. Keely is not as talented as the band requires. The voice quality he attempts has already been done well by musicians like Paul McCartney. The music is like that of one of the better 90’s rock bands such as Stone Temple Pilots. Even so, the laughter of children, bird noises, and disjointed editing take the focus off of the music and turn it into the animal it seems the band wanted to avoid; some dumbed-down addition to the Alternative genre.

Some of the melodies are enjoyable, though bits of the instrumentals are too repetitive. The mellow nature of “And the Rest Will Follow” is surprisingly pleasing, though Keely’s half-hearted squawks and the hackneyed lyrics kill that sentiment. The more classically influenced areas such as “Russia My Homeland”, are most successful as the craftsmanship is superior.

This album is not as great as expected by Keely’s pleading to listen to the content, though some bits are momentarily wonderful. The band should “let it die” and try again in a few years when the arrangement is more refined, the focus is stronger, and the egos are subdued.