Customer Reviews

Philosophy of Velocity

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Jonathon Newby must have a set of pitch pipes tuned to Cedric Bixler's vocal cords, because there are times that his singing inflection is a dead ringer for the current Mars Volta vocalist's style. "The Philosophy of Velocity" itself plays like a sequel to that band's 2003 release, "De-Loused in the Comatorium"--a punk's brisk run through poppy fields planted with lyrical razorwire. Although Newby's lyrics are considerably more "down-to-earth" when put up against contemporaries like the Mars Volta, it's the uniquely energized crunch of this album that should earn Brazil a spot in today's music scene beyond "that band that sounds like At The Drive-In with a piano."

Their "Philosophy" bumps shoulders with various facets of Omar and Cedric's bands, but at all the right moments: opener "Crime (And The Antique Solution)" busts out of the start-gate with a punishing-yet-trippy think-it's-a-guitar riff and a vocal inertia that should win over naysayers within a few bars. The music is complex, but with stronger reliance on polyrhythm rather than the inclusion of "strange" rock instrumentation.

"A Year In Heaven"'s grand chording on piano suggests epic jazz-blues at first, but delivers a soupy feast of guitar experimentation and self-harmonizing from Newby, still underscored by the same piano. The song later enters an acoustic finger-plucked passage supported with woebegone electric piano arpeggios, then revs back up for a grand exit. Then we go down "The Remarkable Cholmondeley Chute System" in just under 50 seconds, and come across "Breathe," a song which bears little resemblance to the Pink Floyd song of the same name, except perhaps in spirit. Among the most straightforward rockers on "Philosophy," "Breathe" still manages to sound like nothing else being produced today. Even the Mars Volta don't sound like this anymore.

Few modern artists possess the fearlessness required to repeat the experiments of yesteryear, and even fewer of them have the talents to come out of such re-experiments with something listenable in hand. Brazil have done it with their latest record. Even if it's only a trip down memory lane, "The Philosophy of Velocity" is a trip any fan of concept albums and madman experimentation can't afford to pass up.

A lot of ppl have been comparing this band to the Mars Volta, which I don't agree with. Nobody sounds like the Mars Volta. No, Brazil has their own sound. At the center of their sound is the piano. The band plays a progressive style of rock that accompanies melodies and at times, catchy songs. I would compare their style to 70's rock but with a modern twist. This stuff sounds very epic with production from Dave Fridman(Flaming Lips, Thursday). Just check out the track 2 "Crime". I was sold after that track alone.

it's so hard to find a song, and even more so an album, that is put together so well that it tells a rich and endearing story, with multiple facets that come at you from every angle. i've listened to this album straight through so many times, and every time i listen to it i hear something new and fascinating. conceptually from start to finish, it is inspiring and awesome. great producer, great mastering, great band. i always bitch about how music in general just ain't how it used to be (in reference to Queen, Rush, or any solid rock band in the 70s and 80s) and Brazil has tried and succeeded in making something real and beautiful again in music. http://www.braziltheband.com

Brazil has been one of my favorite bands for a couple years now. A Hostage...
is a top 20 album for me; naturally I've been waiting for their next effort with great anticipation. Once again they do not dissapoint, fellow fans and I. It has many similarities to A Hostage, that makes them unique. It's a little more accessible than A Hostage, but it shows that their pop sensibilities excel the majority of music today. Breathe, Crime and Antique, and You never Know are my personal faves.

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I missed these guys when they were still together - thankfully I found them at all. If you like prog rock, if you like straight-up rock, and if you wish that they had a kid, you should check them out. If you like Yes, if you like At the Drive In, you win!

from dasein to philosophy this badn has been blowing my mind. that track on one of the tack action cds is also amazing. check it out. you wont be sorry. unless your turned off by creative, smart music whos vocals kinda sounds like rush at times. (its a good thing)

not a great cd, i bought it for .80 i guess thats what i get