Mass Distraction [Enhanced, Import]

Span | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 1, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Import
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B0001DCXQ0
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,289 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Found

2. Dont Think The Way They Do

3. Peaceful

4. Papa

5. Stay As You Are

6. Missing In Stereo

7. On My Way Down

8. Buckle Under Pressure

9. Babys Come Back

10. Wildflower

11. When She Stares

12. Dont Think The Way They Do (Video)

Editorial Reviews

UK edition of the Norwegian alternative metal act's debut album features 15 tracks including the video for the song 'Don't Think The Way They Do', as well as 3 bonus tracks, 'The End', 'Found' (Video), & 'Papa' (Clean Version Video). Universal/Island. 2004. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary, April 6, 2005

By 

Chris Hanks "Minister" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mass Distraction (Audio CD)

I just listened to this all the way through for the first time and my head's still spinning. It's a little hard to describe all of the varied influences that converge onto what is Span, but the result is rich and novel. This is the second time a CD has made it onto my "10 for a desert island" list after its inaugural spin (the first being Elliott Smith's XO).

A gun-metal band whose energy level never drops below just above the speed limit, Span finds the time to be subtle and nuanced somewhere amid the controlled chaos: powerfully rich harmonies in "Stay as You Are," melodic voicings in "Missing in Stereo," the innovative chord phrasings in "On My Way Down," and a trip to the moshpit with "Baby's Come Back" are a few of the treats on this explosive-but-professional effort. It's seamless.

And as someone who thinks that the neoconservative corporate-conformist anti-intellectualism (the one that's got Americans thinking it a good thing to quietly and uncritically nod along while the bible usurps their Constitution and warmongering trumps diplomacy) sends a bad message, Span seems to have a good message: Conform at your own risk.

I have a 91-year-old friend whose birthday is coming up in May, and I'm getting her this CD. It's *that* good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These guys were born for this, July 21, 2005

By 

Robert A. Gunderson (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mass Distraction (Audio CD)

When I heard "Stay as you are" for the first time in a car commercial I thought "WOW! I gotta find out who these guys are!" After a little internet research and getting the CD I found that the rest of Spans music grabbed me with equal voracity. In my 30 some odd years of music buying (I'm 43)I've had a love at first listen experience only 3 times. That was Aerosmith "Rocks", Jeff Beck "Wired", and Primus "Anti-pop". I haven't been this excited about a band in years. I'm sure that younger listeners will find newer bands to compare Span to that I'm unfamiliar with, but to me they have a "Toys in The Attic" era Aerosmith vibe goin' on. That is not to say that these guys are a knock-off band, they have their own sound. And there's a number of other influences I hear, most notably (at least in my head) Stone Temple Pilots, Cheap Trick and Joe Satriani. But they have that same swagger and strut confidence and cockiness that Steve Tyler and company have. It's headbanging and at the same time toe tapping music.

As a long time lover of progressive rock (Steve Morse, Jeff Beck, Dream Theatre, etc.) most straight up rock and roll bands don't keep my attention. But Span, while having a straight up rock and roll energy to them, also have a highly developed sense of composition. They masterfully turn phrasings and change up beats without interrupting the flow. They know how to contrast pauses and silence with the heavy stuff to create an even heavier feel; something that few bands, even some great ones, understand. And you gotta love the singers voice (I wish I knew their names); this guy sounds like he's got some nads and he doesn't have to scream all day to prove it.

I also have to compliment the producers of this CD. Over the years I can't count how many bands I've heard that had great material that was either drowned in effects or had production values that made the sound thin. "Mass Distraction" doesn't have any production distractions. All that comes through is the music, loud and clear.

All in all, Span has every ingredient to become a HUGE success. Because of the diversity of musical tastes these days it's hard to say how huge, but having that perfect combination of brains, heart and balls I think Spans appeal will pull alot of people out of their boxes. This music sounds like it comes so naturally to them that they must have been doing it since the craddle.

P.S. to Chris Hanks: I whole-heartedly agree with your music review. But how about saving your silly-ass, simple minded political opinions for MoveOn.org or the blog zone. Just a suggestion.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Norwegian Wood, June 28, 2005

By 

Daly Mavorneen "Brimstone" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mass Distraction (Audio CD)

I decided to fork over the money for the double cd and I'm damn glad I did! This skany-gorgeous boy quartet from Norway combine the lyricism of Rob Thomas, the stalwart vocals of Steven Tyler, the industrialism of Rage Against the Machine, the melodicism of Marilyn Manson and the energy of Linkin Park (if their 3 performance videos are any indication) to produce an unlikely sound all their own!

Highlights include the incredible catchy and driving "Stay as You Are," (which scores the 2005 Nissan Xterra Car Commercial, "Guts + Dirt," where they sing "Stay as you are/And you won't make a difference/ Stay as you are/ And you`ll never mean a thing/I hope your fool's control in your little hole is worth it!"), the Foo Fighters-ish "Always Ends," and the Pearl Jam-esque "Jerome" (both of which are only on the bonus disk) and the stunning "Found" (which fortunately is found in 2 versions and in video form on the limited editon release). In one of those RARE CD Purchase Moments, I realised that there is not a single sleeper song on this disc! Damn, these boys are GREAT!