Customer Reviews

Centuries Before Love & War

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

 

 

My wife and I went to a Twilight Singers (Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs) concert in Nov. 06 w/ special guest Mark Lanegan. The Stars of Track and Field opened. And while the Twilight Singers were good, SOTAF totally blew the Twilight Singers away. I had no idea who they were and were thinking they were a cross between The Postal Service and Sunny Day Real Estate. Of course it turns out they've toured with members of Sunny Day previously. The Postal Service comparison is due to some of the electronic elements in the music, Sunny Day Real Estate due to the structure of the songs, moments of intensity and moments of quiet. The songs all build into a crescendo or climax that is incredible.

I picked up the album at the concert when it was with a very minor label and have listened to it extensively. The one weak track is With You due to a weak chorus and ending. Every other track is strong, especially Centuries, Movies of Antarctica, Real Time, Arithmatik, and Say Hello.

Do try to check them out live. These guys are incredible.

I wish I could have given this CD 4.5 stars. I absolutely love it. I was unfamiliar with SOTAF prior to hearing them at SXSW. Their performance was very moving, and the recorded representation is equally beautiful. I had read a few reviews that compared them to other bands that I like, but was surprised at who they actually made me think of after hearing the CD.

Simon and Garfunkel.

Yeah, that's right. The vocals reminded me a lot of classic S&G harmonies.

Hello darkness my new friend :)

There isn't really any need to mention various other bands that their music may remind you of. Just know that all of those other bands are great.

This CD is a wonderful listen. Very powerful in all the right places. It's kinda dark (in a good way), kind of peaceful, and full of imagery.

I got the CD, plus a t-shirt, for .05 (yes, five cents) off of a well know online auction website. Plus shipping (which was still an insane deal).

Although some of my friends/bandmates don't share my love for this CD.....they're all lame, pretentious dorks.....so I feel confident in my declaration.

Being a guitarist, I love the guitar work on this CD. It is soaring in places and minimal in others. Quite tasteful in my humble opinion.

I bought this cd marked down at a local record store and couldn't be more impressed. The timing of the harmony within the bridges and choruses are f'n perfect. Check out #8 "Say Hello". I love it, but I'll probably just burn a copy for myself and give the other to someone special :!

Saw them open for Shiny Toy Guns, and was truly blown away. This CD is incredible, I do not understand why they are so unpopular. They are very underrated, if more people heard them, they would get the recognition they deserve. Every song is beautiful and the lyrics are impressive. I would describe the sound as dreary and sweet. Check them out!

The great thing about today's music scene is that whenever I feel that it's grown stale and has nothing new to offer, I hear a band that proves me wrong. This time around, that band is Stars of Track and Field, and God bless them for it. They're a refreshing dose of originality and talent.

Probably my favorite local band. They are amazing in concert, I've seen them twice at the Doug Fir in Portland. I have another 5 track cd from them that is pretty hard to find.