Customer Reviews

Austere

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Mars Volta went on to experiment in a different kind of rock sound, Sparta sticks with the sound that At the drive-in had nurtured for 6 or so years before they went different ways. Austere sounds like a mix of Relationship of Command and In/Casino/out, with a lot of tweaking on the Pro Tools, giving the EP somewhat of a techno feel that was very foreign to any of the ATDI album. This release did not quite live up to the standards that the 3 members in Sparta had set before with ATDI, the songwriting was shaky and erratic, but it was still good anyways.

I keep comparing them to ATDI and Mars Volta which is unfortunate because Sparta still seems like they are experimenting with their sound and haven't quite finished messing around. But this is not a bad thing, as this was only an EP and only their first release as Sparta. I look forward to their Full Length release in late summer of this year.

Wow this is an intersting new sound that Sparta has. I read they are the 3 remaining members of At the drive-in. I didn't really care for that band, but what Sparta has put out is a great new sound. If I had to compare it to something I have heard before, I would have to say it sounds like a cross between A perfrct cirlce, and The Cure. This is how interesting of a sound that Sparta has developed. I would recomend this record only to people with an alternativly open mind. If you are into more of the straight forward rock sound of todays modern music or numetal as it is called, you may not like Sparta. I myself am open to any type of weird rock music, as long as it has some substance and uniformity to it. Sparta definitly has this sort of Quality to their material. I first heard "Mye"-track 1, and was sold. I then had the pleasure of hearing "Cataract", which was followed with "Vacant Skies", this is where you can hear The Cure the most, and musically is A Perfect Circle. Sparta is an original sound all it's own really, and a very original sound at that... Just wish it was a full-length disk, and not just an E.P...

Austere is terrific; energetic, melodic, and honest. It's really straightforward and well put together, and the musicianship shows just like it did in ATDI ... these guys can play and write with the best of them. Jim Ward on vocals is nice too, he keeps a few ATDI-isms as far as singing style but also works with other styles too. Drum work is great as always, and the guitars are terrific. The full-length should be great ...

This album is great and the only reason I gave it 4 stars was that it only contained 4 songs. I know that it is only an EP, but after listening to it, I wanted more. I can't wait for the album to come out this summer. I saw these guys on tour with Thursday, and let me tell you, they were frickin good. If you miss ATDI, this album will fill any void. In my opinion the best song is "Cataract". It is so sick and the coolest song I hav heard in a long time.

Austere begins with Mye, a blaring number that screams "Next time I'll get it right". Well Jim, you sure as [heck] did. Musically, Sparta bares a resemblence to At-The-Drive-In (Sparta retains guitarists and drummer, with new bassist). Many of you may remember ATDI's super-lauded, major label debut on the now defunct Grand Royal records. Their two singles and videos, One-Armed Scissor and Invalid Litter Department, showed the exciting new direction that rock and roll would take in 2002 after eight years of drab, wattered down pop music. Vocals are done by ATDI founding member Jim. This time he takes up the lead vocal job instead of backing vocals. The fact that Jim did backing vocals was instrumental in the passion found in so many of ATDI's most memorable songs. Obviously, this helps make the two bands sound similar. They are not, however, the same band. This is evident by the fourth song on the EP, an electronica piece reminiscent of the one found on fellow Texas natives "And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead's" Relative Ways/Homage EP. The second song, Cataract, is also reminiscent of ATDI's "Invalid Litter Dept." and "Non Zero Possibility" with it's sweeping piano, sampled drum beats and anguished vocals. I wasn't floored by this EP (I was with ATDI's Relatonship of Command), however, i think that since Relationship stands as one of rock's greatest albums it would be unfair to compare the two. I'll wait until the band releases their full LP to make a judgement. I can say that Austere, while not necessarily offering anything new out of El Paso, does show a promising direction and future for Sparta (considering the impossible to shake legacy of the former band). I would also like to mention that the band's official web site ... had three songs up for download before Austere came out. If you can get your hands on them - Air, Cut Your Ribbon, and The Host - then it would be well worth it.

Looks like the ATDI split was a good thing after all, because now we have two excellent bands. Sure Sparta might not be as experimental or orginal as Mars Volta (and I will flat out tell you the Mars Volta is one of the best bands around right now) but Sparta rights perfect rock songs.

This is one of those rare emo discs (though I'm not entirely sure this IS emo) that is excellent. No whining, excellent lyrics, and unbelievable music to back it up. Just listen to Mye, that one song will get you addicted to the band. And now here I am antsy with anticipation for the band's LP late this summer, The Wiretap Scars.

Can't begin to say how much I love this ep..so much that I find myself listening to these 4 tracks more than most of my full length albums! Actually I feel like I've been left out, not until I discovered Sparta had I ever heard of At The Drive In. it really ... that I can never be able to see ATDI live...who I've been really getting into lately as well. Ther is soo much music out there, so much that ...and so much that is so amazing..."Sparta" ...thanks for keeping the music incredible!

This is a great ep. My favorite track is, of course, number 2. At The Drive In has contributed so much to the world of music it's incredible. When they broke up, I really felt we were losing something great. With the coming forth of Sparta, I feel like there will still be a strong source of original new music. I'm planning on seeing them at the Troubadour this week, hopefully I can make it in time to see them live...since I was never able to see ATDI live...that [stinks].

I think I might recap what I agree with that has been said in reviews previous to mine:

These guys sound a little like ATDI (more like acrobatic tenemant then relationship)

There's a definitive electronica undertone in all songs

This album is great, and a hopefully an example of what is to follow with their actual debut.

All this being said, there isn't much more to add. If you loved ATDI then get Austere, but don't expect the same old same old -- if you have no clue who ATDI is then get Sparta, you'll like it anyway. This band hopefully will become a staple of modern music in a time when good music is so sorely needed -- as arguably ATDI has.

I was shocked to discover that At The Drive-In had broken up. I thought their last album was something else, in a good way. Needless to say, I was shocked once again to find that 3 of the boys of ATDI had reformed and are now known as Sparta. I would describe their sound as a gentler ATDI. The old sound is still there, but with less aggression, but this isn't to say that it doesn't pick up in places. I like the idea of releasing an EP to keep the fans happy and now look forward to their full length debut sometime soon. If you're a fan of ATDI or are just damn tired of the [stuff] that's currently available, then I advise you to pick this one up. With some luck these guys will be around for some time.