Customer Reviews

A Hostage & The Meaning of Life

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't see how they can compare these guys to The Mars Volta or Coheed and Cambria. I can hear the prog elements but it's more of a Rush kind of prog rock,shorter 3 minute songs compared to 12 minute epics. They are missing the one thing that would make them a true prog rock band: the songs just aren't as epic as a TMV or a C&C song. I think reviewers liken Brazil to these other bands because their singer has a high pitched singing voice. This is still an amazing album that is well worth your time. Go into it expecting Sparta rather than The Mars Volta and you won't be disappointed.

What a great album, I picked this up two days ago after seeing the comparisons to Coheed and Cambria and The Mars Volta. I was intrigued by the mixture of Sunny Day Real Estate and Yes that was mentioned on the cover. Anyways, I walked out of the store and was greeted with great 21st century emo/punk with ambitious keyboard lines and piercing guitar effects. These guys, to me, are MUCH better than Coheed and Cambria, and pretty much on par with The Mars Volta (Brazil's amazing use of the keyboard is justified by TMV's raw energy). Anyways, pick it up, I can't reccommend it enough.

This CD blew me away. It's so different than anything I've been listening to. The lyrics are thought provoking, and the music is great too. Who'd have thought a 2 minute track with no vocals (11) could be so interesting? It's like you're in some kind of trance. Anyone looking for something a little different should pick this up.

what more to say than this CD is immediately one of the few amazing gems in current progression of indie music. breathtaking, but not for everyone..

if you like Brazil, you'll enjoy Co&Ca, Mars Volta, Trophy Scars, Cursor, or check back into AtTheDriveIn..

I also saw Brazil for the first time at the Coheed show, and I have
to say they are one of the most impressive bands I have seen in a while. They remind me of a less heavy version of At the Drive In, and the singers voice is very much like Cedric's.
The lyrics are intelligent and the melodies are both catchy and
intricate. The piano lines makes the songs stand out a little more.
(especially when it goes along with the chorus melody). My personal
favorites are "io" and "escape."

The first non EP release by Brazil is an amazing one. Fluid and distorted guitar rifts, finger tapping rhythms, groovy base, normal and falsetto vocals. With these mentioned you might be thinking of bands like Coheed and Cambria and Mars Volta, however Brazil adds some of their own progressive emo flair with their unique piano addition, along with some other twists...can you say saxophone.
1) A Hostage: solid start to the album, good lyrics -"your lips are dripped with poison, the feeling will last forever", some cool distorted vocals, cool guitar, a good kickoff to "Hostage"
2) The Novemberist: starts off on a slower side, but builds towards the end, I like the cool, spacey guitar in this song.
3) IO: one of the songs I saw Brazil preform live. It was pretty amazing the vocalist actually got off stage and sang form the crowd for a little while, really cool song, cool little plugging piano on this song during the chorus.
4) Escape: Interesting lyrics during this song , and one of my favourite chorus' on the album, really cool bridge part with strong rhythm, and high pitched guitar turned distorted followed by piano.
5) We: Unconventional lyrical structure where all lyrics are sung by the end of the first conventional verse followed by amazing piano and guitar, and another run through the chorus
6) The Iconoclast: My second favourite song on the album, an amazing chorus with great guitar and lyrics, really cool piano parts, great bass and guitar near the end.
7) Zentropa: good guitar and bass on opening and one of the best guitar riffs on the album, I like the falsetto vocals (not Claudio high mind you) a really cool chorus
8) Fall Into: stellar base intro, accompanied with piano for the first chorus, kind of a groove song to start definitely one of the slowest songs on the album, which is great thing trust me, once it gets midway you'll agree too.
9) Metropol: My favourite song on the album, you have to hear it to believe it, quick vocals to start the verses, everything is tightly wound to perfection on this track; vocals, bass, guitar, piano, drums and wait till the 2 minute 30 second mark, if this doesn't impress you maybe you shouldn't be listening to progressive emo.
10) Aventine: the grooviest chorus on the album sweet piano with a real plugging along feel, I love the combination of lyrics and piano all throughout this song. Really cool breakdown "watch me, turn things around"
11) Form and Function (or for the Greek out there ÖοñÌá Í ÖγΗΚÉéÍR): fully instrumental song cool and funky flows seamlessly into the final track...
12) Fatale and Futique: Really cool base lines song retains the same structure as Form and function until the Amazing final verse of the album.

If your into Progressive emo, or even if you aren't... I suggest you go to www.ahostage.com where you can preview the entire album. And if brazil play in your town go and check them out because you won't be disappointed by either.

The first non EP release by Brazil is an amazing one. Fluid and distorted guitar rifts, finger tapping rhythms, groovy base, normal and falsetto vocals. With these mentioned you might be thinking of bands like Coheed and Cambria and Mars Volta, however Brazil adds some of their own progressive emo flair with their unique piano addition, along with some other twists...can you say saxophone.
1) A Hostage: solid start to the album, good lyrics -"your lips are dripped with poison, the feeling will last forever", some cool distorted vocals, cool guitar, a good kickoff to "Hostage"
2) The Novemberist: starts off on a slower side, but builds towards the end, I like the cool, spacey guitar in this song.
3) IO: one of the songs I saw Brazil preform live. It was pretty amazing the vocalist actually got off stage and sang form the crowd for a little while, really cool song, cool little plugging piano on this song during the chorus.
4) Escape: Interesting lyrics during this song , and one of my favourite chorus' on the album, really cool bridge part with strong rhythm, and high pitched guitar turned distorted followed by piano.
5) We: Unconventional lyrical structure where all lyrics are sung by the end of the first conventional verse followed by amazing piano and guitar, and another run through the chorus
6) The Iconoclast: My second favourite song on the album, an amazing chorus with great guitar and lyrics, really cool piano parts, great bass and guitar near the end.
7) Zentropa: good guitar and bass on opening and one of the best guitar riffs on the album, I like the falsetto vocals (not Claudio high mind you) a really cool chorus
8) Fall Into: stellar base intro, accompanied with piano for the first chorus, kind of a groove song to start definitely one of the slowest songs on the album, which is great thing trust me, once it gets midway you'll agree too.
9) Metropol: My favourite song on the album, you have to hear it to believe it, quick vocals to start the verses, everything is tightly wound to perfection on this track; vocals, bass, guitar, piano, drums and wait till the 2 minute 30 second mark, if this doesn't impress you maybe you shouldn't be listening to progressive emo.
10) Aventine: the grooviest chorus on the album sweet piano with a real plugging along feel, I love the combination of lyrics and piano all throughout this song. Really cool breakdown "watch me, turn things around"
11) Form and Function (or for the Greek out there ÖοñÌá Í ÖγΗΚÉéÍR): fully instrumental song cool and funky flows seamlessly into the final track...
12) Fatale and Futique: Really cool base lines song retains the same structure as Form and function until the Amazing final verse of the album.

If your into Progressive emo, or even if you aren't... I suggest you go to www.ahostage.com where you can preview the entire album. And if brazil play in your town go and check them out because you won't be disappointed by either.

Brazil is an amazing band. As was mentioned, don't expect the Mars Volta; they aren't quite so abstract. However, they certainly have a unique sound, involving keys and even a saxophone here and there. the lyrics are poignant and just make me smile in appreciation of the poetic quality.

A Hostage & the Meaning of Life is creative genius.

Difficult to define, with elements of rock, jazz, and

classical blended for a uniqely sophistocated CD. Brazil

is no longer what's next...it's what's now.

I saw this band open for Coheed & Cambria and I was immediately blown away! In fact they are the main reason I went two weeks later to see the same show in another state, they are just that great! As my friend put it, they are progresive without being "artsy". Every song just blows you away, amazing lyrics set on a canvas of great riffs and a beautiful piano in the backround. The only thing better than listening to this cd is seeing the band live!