Customer Reviews

Wiretap Scars

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Ok, I just got this CD, and it's just simply amazing! Honestly, I wasn't too familiar w/ ATDI, and what I did hear I didn't get into. But I saw Sparta open for Weezer and I was captured by the sound. The lead's voice is loud and raw. But it's also high-pitched, which is a nice change from some of the lower, gruffy-sounding leads of some bands [] you hear on the radio. When he screams the lyrics, he doesn't sound as angry as he may be trying to come across. Instead, it's almost soothing and has a good amount of harmony with it. I've listened to the CD just a few times now, and the lyrics don't seem the kind one can easily relate to. However, they're deliberately intelligent (and not random, as they first sound). Guitars and drums are heavy, and just make this band and this CD a winner. Song #4 ("Collapse") will just tug at your heart strings! I don't care if 0 out of 100 people find this review helpful, this CD's kickin' and just buy the damn thing! DO IT!

#1: Everyone should stop trying to link Sparta to At the Drive-In, musically and lyrically. These are two different bands here, and comparing the work of one to the other doesn't do them justice.

#2: The Mars Volta should never be compared to Sparta. There is nothing that links these two bands besides the obvious starting spot of ATDI.

Those being said, one has to approach the CD without comparing it to either of those two bands and simply see it as a debut of a new band from El Paso. From that aspect, this CD is absolutely phenomenal. Filled with catchy hooks, grinding guitars and aggressive drumming, Sparta's first full length, Wiretap Scars, is an immensely powerful debut from a band that prides songwriting over flash and gimmicks.

Instead of trying to be deliberately artistic and overly theatrical, Sparta doesn't do either and lets the songs themselves be the carrying force for the band's power. Songs like "Collapse" are melody-laden and beautifully arranged, perfectly exploiting the dual guitars and stark, naked beauty if Jim Ward's voice. While the more aggressive tracks ("Cut your Ribbon," "Sans Cosm," and "Air") are absolutely splendid rockers, the real parts of the CD that shine are the melodic, slower ones. Songs like "Glasshouse Tarot" (named after the Glasshouse in Pomona California) and "Echodyne Harmonic" (now fully mixed after being "de-mixed" on the Austere EP), which slow down the pace, have beautiful driving beats and soft, enchanting melodies that captivate the listener like nothing else. The increadibly tight playing of the band as a unit is what keeps the music going, as Tony's superb drumming keeps the entire album on check.

Pick this one up for a fresh sound. It's not quite emo, not quite hard rock, but it's certainly one of the best albums of the year.

Come two of my favorite albums from 2002, the Mars Volta's Tremulant EP and Sparta's Wiretap Scars. This review will be short, but will point out a few things.

In terms of raw power, between the former ATDI bands, Sparta rocks harder, the Mars Volta is more pretentious yet completely different. It's easy to see where the influences from the juggernaut of At the Drive In came from. Undoubtedly, former fans and former detractors alike will all have an opinion on who is better. I have mine, but this is a review.

In terms of accessibility, there's no question Sparta is easier on the eardrums. The Mars Volta's pretentious fuzzy dub sound and outlandish recording techniques are very different from this album. Again, this isn't a positive or a negative, it just is.

Sparta weighs in, in their most brilliant moments, with tracks like "Mye" and "Cataract." Both are absolutely addicting. Their sound is actually quite eclectic. Their self described term, I believe, is "Tejano Emo", and I'm hard pressed to argue that point.

At the Drive In were revolutionary. I nearly cried the day they broke up, but I realize that there were two different visionary forces pulling this band in different directions. As it stands, both the Mars Volta and Sparta are set to change your perceptions. Buy both today. You can't possibly be disappointed.

...I was upset when At The Drive-In broke up and I am loving both The Mars Volta AND Sparta, but 31+ dollars for an extra song that you get on the Austere EP is a bit much. Just buy the regular Wiretap Scars and the Austere EP.

Yes, Sparta is good. Very good.
But so was At The Drive-In.
And so is Mars Volta.
All of you that write reviews that bash Mars Volta more than they exalt Sparta don't know the meaning of a review.

It'd be like saying "the Beatles are good because the Rolling Stones suck." (just an example, I like them both equally)

I bought this CD after hearing it played in a music store. I guess I'm the only reviewer here that never heard of these guys or of their previous band before I bought the CD, so my perspective is a bit different from the rest.

Musically, this band seems to be a mixture of grunge rock/metal screams and crunch guitar with the (pseudo)intelligence and melodic sense of art rock. They're obviously smart and it shows in the lyrics (if only you could acutally understand what they are - more on that later).

Unfortunatley, the musical textures and melodies seem to be immature and somewhat cliched. When I lisiten to the CD, I like what I hear, but someplace in the back of my head a little voice keeps saying "where have I heard this before?" It's too familiar to be original, yet it is very appealing and a good listen. I am surprised to learn that these guys have been around (albeit in a different band) for some time as this effort sounds very much like a good solid first recording from a young band with a lot of potential.

A technical quibble - while the guitars and drums are recorded very well, the bass is, well, it's there someplace but it leaves no impression. The biggest problem by far, however, is that the vocals are so far down in the muddy middle of the mix that they are pretty much unitelligible. This is not helped by the fact that the singer has a thin and plain singing voice (which reminds me very much of the guy that sang in the band Yes a million years ago)that lacks any stand out or distinctive qualities. He is, however, capable of a hearty scream/yell that is used to great effect - or would be if the vocal mix had been done better. Tip to the band: change producers on your next album. Tip to the drummer: Don't rush! Subdivide!

Bottom line: Some good tunes, appealing texures and melodies, interesting lyrics, nicely set off by agressive crunch and grungy power. Sparta shows potentential, but they're not there yet.

i made a huge mistake with this album, i heard the demos before i heard the finished versions. if anyone else did this then i would think they would probably agree with me when i say that Jerry Finn, as he does with so many other bands, sucked the life out of this album. i like the songs, some of them i love, but none of these versions stack up to the demos, they all sound clinical and passionless in comparison. one large part of this is the damned vocal tuning Jerry Finn seems intent on putting onto EVERYTHING he records, but also it just lacks the soul that you can hear easily enough on 'austere' even. anyway, it is a good album, just don't listen to the demos if anyone offers them to you, otherwise you'll be ruined for this cd.

Not a fan of reviews that have to compare everything to all other releases by same artist (or that artist's family, friends, roommates, pets, therapists, etc.), so let's check out Sparta as if no other incarnation had previously existed. After all, that's how some people will come to it (...). The first single, "Cut Your Ribbon," seems like a fitting opener, but it doesn't really give you any idea what the whole record sounds like. You'll certainly get a taste of the half-screaming/half-singing vocals of Jim Ward and especially of drummer Tony Hajjar's ability to carry the music, but you miss out on what some here have termed "experimentation" or "adventurousness." This may not be a completely new approach as those terms would imply, but I think that the tracks often labelled in this way are the stand-out tracks. They push things a little further than most radio-friendly bands while still maintaining a certain pop sensibility to them. This probably won't make them the most influential band in history, but it makes them a band that has stayed in my CD player continuously since I picked the CD up. I suggest giving it a try,...

Everyone who knew ATDI makes judgements on the Mars Volta and Sparta, saying one is better than the other. I think both bands are great and there is no reason to choose one being better than the other. This a very good album on its own merit. THIS BAND IS NOT ATDI, and NEITHER IS THE MARS VOLTA. If you want to hear ATDI, my advice is listen to ATDI.

this album is awsome. all i can say. u need to pick it up...heres a review of each track
1.Cut your ribbon - 10/10 - Hardest song on the album and probably most recognizable. the intro is awsome. lyrics are real good also.
2.Air - 10/10 - this song is awsome also. starts out soft and then comes in with a powerful chorus. this song for me paints picture in my mind and for this song it kinda feels like you are a pilot...you have to hear the lyrics and song to completely understand
3.Mye - 9/10 - the lyrics in this album are awsome, and especially in this song. the 2cnd guitar part (paul im pretty sure) has an awsome part, while jim strums some chords during the part before the chorus. it sounds awsome...the end is the best part with powerful lyrics.."these shores arnt out of reach"...in the middle of the song is also good with Jim and just the bass(matt) playing
4.Collapse - 10/10 - along with cataract this song is my favorite song on this album. everytime i hear Jims solitary voice along with with pauls beautiful guitar rythem it gives me chills. not too sure what the song is about, but i really like the lyrics.the electronics in it is cool too, such as the keyboard.
5.Sans Cosm -7/10- this song is pretty good. just not one of my favorites. i do like it alot though. powerful chorus and as always good lyrics.
6.Light Burns Clear - 8/10 - real good song...soft intro..awsome lyrics..."looking back, with perfect symmetry, mistakes were you, mistakes were me..." "static screams deaf the masses but what do they have to say"... another powerful chorus.
7.Cataract - 10/10 - favorite song on album. starts with electronic keyboard thing and drum beat and then an awsome distorted guitar rythem comes in. when jim sings again with the rythem it gives me chills...its awsome, powerful chorus...and the outro is awsome with the guitar , keyboards and jim saying "away...." in the background...its geniouse, a must hear off this album.
8.Red Alibi - 8/10 - starts out with a hard guitars , gets soft, and again another powerful chorus. real good song off the album.
9.RX Coup - 7/10 - pretty good song. not one of my favorites but its not bad.
10.Glasshouse Tarot - 9/10 - an awsome song. awsome intro, both guitar parts blend real good. amazing lyrics "i dont snap like you want me to, becuase it still hurts my eyes when they turn red" "yah the tarot broke, open the glasshouse, so this might just be the saddest day ive ever known" great song.
11.Echodyne Harmonic - 10/10 - this song is amazing. the piano is beautiful. jim is also a really good singer and you can tell in this song. my favorite part in the song is the outro thing where he sounds like he is on a phone saying "fading out,now were fading out"...awsome guitar by paul also
12.Assemble the Empire -9/10- awsome song, very powerful screaming outro and an excellent way to end the album.

in conclusion , this is one of the best albums out there today...there is nothing better than this out there today in the crappy music world that we live in now...ps. drums are really awsome also...i said good stuff about all band members except the drummer tony...he is always awsome as usuall.