Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best of 1999, February 7, 2000
I agree with previous reviewer it's slicker than the band's self-titled debut but that doesn't make it less. Overall I prefer the coherency of "Madonna" - in fact one of the miracles of this group is the way they make chaos coherent - even melodious. Another miracle is the drumming: best I've heard on any rock and roll record in years. Even the songs that didn't initially jump out at me have become favorites: for example I wasn't all that crazy about "Totally Natural" and then late one night I was driving down the freeway with two friends and when this song came on we all fell silent, listening as it started out slowly, then went into high-speed overdrive, getting even faster until it seemed to explode, then picked itself up from its own ashes and slowly, lyric by lyric, rebuilt itself into an even greater frenzy. It was like travelling through seven dimesions in the space of about four minutes. So what do these guys sound like? The only comparison I can make is the Sonic Youth of "Daydream Nation" - but that record and no other - and even then Sonic Youth has more of a high-end sound - less muscular and more offkey - than Trail of Dead. The only record of 1999 I like as much is Built to Spill's "Keep It Like A Secret" and as time goes on I think I'm beginning to prefer "Madonna".
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give SC&T a run for its money, May 31, 2002
This is why I love indie rock, every so often a band will come around that will just totally blow my mind away. We had Fugazi, At The Drive-In and now, even though I've found out about them a little late, we have Trail of Dead. Just like Sonic Youth did before, the music just pulls you in with a soundscape of crashing guitars, emotional vocals, and some of the best drumming known to rock. Mistakes and Regrets could have been a big hit, and the use of creepy interludes sets a perfect mood for the album. Totally Natural's tranquil to it's catharsis of noise leaves me in awe everytime and A Perfect Teenhood's wall of white noise is another highlight. While the band may have a huge Sonic Youth influence, they are in no ways a rip off of the band. Trail of Dead has a very original sound and I can't wait to see what lies ahead for the band.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intense, September 14, 2002
I'm surprised by the reviewer who says that Trail Of Dead cannot capture the intensity of their live shows on record. I saw them live recently, and they are still one of the most incredible bands I've ever seen live (and this was probably one of their tamer performances too). But I do think that Madonna captures the intensity of their live shows. Madonna is a lot harsher, chaotic, and noisy than their brilliant Source Tags & Codes, but the melodies and musicianship make for one of the best releases of 1999. Trail of Dead have been compared to Sonic Youth on this record, but they are in no way ripping SY off. Trail of Dead have more of an upfront hardcore-punk sound, are much angrier, and have less of an "avant-garde" or "art rock" slant. Again, the combination of melody and noise is brilliant; I was really suprised how intense the band sounds on this record. A few songs do fall apart ("Totally Natural" and the must-hear-to-believe "A Perfect Teenhood"), and the rest are played with much vigor and passion. The strings that are oh-so-prevalent on ST&C pop up here and there (including on some eerie interludes) and do seem to hint at what these guys were headed into for the future. And the album's closer ("Sigh Your Children") is so gorgeous, I wish it would have gone on much longer (two minutes is not enough). Trust me, see them live and buy the album. You'll be getting your money's worth both ways.
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~ And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
~ And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
~ And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
~ And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
~ And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
by ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead 
