Customer Reviews

Worlds Apart (Collectors Edition CD + DVD)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Perhaps it's fitting that the first line Conrad Keely sings on the new album Worlds Apart is, "Close the door and drift away into a sea of uncertainty." Leading up to the release of this album, there was a considerably high degree of anticipation and, yes, uncertainty. Critics and fans alike were anxiously awaiting and wondering how the Trail of Dead would follow up their unanimously hailed masterpiece, Source Tags & Codes. And it's pretty safe to say that it's not what anyone expected.

From the small number of reviews on here and the larger number reviews in the press, it appears that two divergent trends are beginning to emerge. Everyone, it seems, is at first taken aback by and even apprehensive about the band's new sound and approach. Many are disappointed. Worlds Apart feels nothing like their previous three releases, which all seemed to reflect a progression toward the perfection of a particular sound and theme. Source Tags & Codes was, of course, the perfection of that progression. Here, I believe, lies the root of these two divergent reactions. Either a fan or critic adjusts their appreciation through further listening and focus, and they begin to love the album based on its own merits, or the fan or critic automatically rejects the band's new direction, and they hold the album up as a failure compared to their previous releases.

Worlds Apart is not a perfect album, though it's far from a failure also. Perhaps it's best to conceive of this new album as the beginning of a new progression with its own logic and motives - the perfection of which has yet to be realized. Based on the previous achievements of this remarkably talented and ambitious band, it's certain that a new object of musical perfection will be created again soon.

In the meantime we have this wonderful release to listen to and enjoy. As I'm not very good at actual criticism, I'll just say a few words about some of the new songs. Will You Smile Again? is, in my mind, the band's most epic and engaging song yet - and very nearly their best. And The Rest Will Follow is a fun and tender anthem, and it will probably serve as the album's first widely released single. You'll find yourself singing along to it almost immediately. Caterwaul exhibits Jason's usual beautifully aggressive songwriting, but the song's production gives it a more polished and focused intensity. The end of this song is so enjoyable and exciting that you just might end up accidentally jumping out your window. Finally, Let It Dive is such a sublimely timeless ode to the end of a relationship that you'll swear it's a song that's been with you forever. Perhaps it's fitting, again, that Conrad ends Let It Dive with the words, "What's done is done, no reason to apologize. Let it dive, let it die, let it fade...." Indeed, Worlds Apart marks the end of an era for the Trail of Dead, and there's no reason for anyone to apologize. Let it dive, let it die, let it fade. And let the new era begin.

I understand and even sort of agree with many of the above reviewers who complain that the album is more refined, more polished, more controlled, more mature. Sure, and so was Sgt. Pepper's, Wish You Were Here, OK Computer, Amused to Death and just about every other truly great, great album. This, hands down, is the best new album i've purchased since i bought Radiohead's OK Computer. Hands down. I think a lot of fans were expecting the moments of brilliance in certain songs that ToD displayed before. This is a complete album, not just a collection of songs. Nearly perfect.

This album is excellent. From what I have seen so far it has only received bad press, and I can't really figure that out given the quality here. The music is as gripping as ever. I dont know if this is some backlash against a band that has achieved critical acclaim and street cred, and is actually really really really good; regardless, don't be put off by the reviews.

I downloaded a copy of the album something ridiculous like 4 months before it came out because I couldn't wait to hear it. The first time I listened to it, I was disappointed. There wasn't a song that had the barely-controlled chaos of "Totally Natural" or "Days of Being Wild." No songs had the same bleached-out vocals behind a mammoth wall of guitars like "It Was There That I Saw You." And there were no songs written or sung by Neil (who played on this album, but has since left the band).

But right about the 4th or 5th time listening through, I realized that I wasn't disappointed in Worlds Apart because of what it was. I was disappointed in it for what it wasn't. It wasn't Madonna. It wasn't Source Tags and Codes. Then I started listening to the album on its own merits and i began to notice layer upon layer of complexities that I hadn't before when I was sulking because it was different than ST&C.

Simply put, the album is a masterpiece. It make take a few listens, especially for old fans, but it's phenomenal. It's not as noisy or immediately awe-inspiring as ST&C, but that doesn't make it bad. That makes it different. And since when is artistic growth a bad thing? They didn't sell out to Interscope. They made ST&C while at Interscope!

Some favorite songs: Will You Smile Again For Me is epic in every sense of the word. Worlds Apart has a certain poignancy that has been ruined by everyone quoting the one line in there about MTV. And The Rest Will Follow is a phenomenal song on par with any of the melodicc songs on ST&C. Let it Dive reminds me of Another Morning Stoner from ST&C. All White sounds like the Beatles in their prime. Listen to the end of The Best and you'll hear a reprise of Worlds Apart which is also poignant in terms of the themes of the two songs.

If you're nostalgic for the old TOD, with the guitar smashing and noise and mayhem, go see them live. They still do that and play "Richter Scale Madness" and "Half of What" and it's a phenomenal show in its own right. But accept the fact that bands with talent grow musically over time. As much as I wanted another album full of songs like "Days of Being Wild" and "Mistakes and Regrets" and "Mark David Chapman," I know that I'll always have those songs and they won't be diluted by the band futilely attempting to duplicate them for the rest of their careers. So enjoy the album on its own merits and quit complaining about how good they used to be. No one cares about your indie cred.

I'd heard some of Trail's previous stuff online, but hadn't really connected with it. This album is different: cohesive, powerful, funny, emotional. A wild ride from the very start, all the way through. "Will You Smile Again For Me" completely blows me away, every time. The wailing and the "candy store" chorus refrain at the end of "The Best" is a great moment. "And the Rest Will Follow" is very Smiths-sounding, and is made for summer road trips. Just get this music, kids...

Trail of Dead's previous album proper, "Source Tags and Codes", was an unrecognized masterpiece, a gem of an album that was and is severely overlooked.

"World's Apart", however, is almost the exact opposite. Ideas are half-baked, the music is no longer raw and rawkus and doesn't really carry TOD's signature sound, and, overall, it seems like the band has lost its way, however briefly. I can appreciate the artistic craving to expand and experiment, but this album provides a testament to the contrary, and would have been better if cut down and combined with "Secret of Elena's Tomb."

'Ode to Isis' is a worthless throw away lead in track that segues into 'Will You Smile Again,' which starts off like we're used to hearing TOD sound - explosive, powerful - but it plods along in the middle of the track before finally closing as it began. The middle section of the song sounds like a Velvet Underground outtake with too-simple drums and bleating lyrics.

This album really starts with the title track, a short and rollicking commentary on the downfall of American culture. 'Summer of '91's balladeering sounds like the younger sibling or cousin of ST&C's 'How Near, How Far,' which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's slow pace doesn't sit well buffering the title track and 'The Rest Will Follow' (whose ringing guitars and pounding drums make this a standout track despite the half-assed lyrical delivery) but it is clear the band put a lot of thought into the track.

'Caterwaul' and 'Let it Dive' (about the disintigration of a once-fruitful relationship) are simply superb. 'Wolrds Apart' through 'Let it Dive' is unarguably the ablum's peak, save the completely worthless 'A Classic Arts Showcase,' which tries to make a poignant statement about our TV consumption but really says nothing.

'To Russia My Homeland' is a nice orchestral breather and 'All White' is thankfully short in its Pink Floydian tribute. 'The Best' is decent but not memorable, while closer 'The Lost City of Refuge' takes a cue from "OK Computer" and runs with it; it's a superb, mellow closer to the album.

This is clearly not TOD's best effort (in fact, in my opinion, it's their worst) but there are valuable gems hidden in the muck. Cut the first two tracks, 'A Classic Arts Showcase,' and 'The Best' and this album soars to a five-star diamond. Faithful TOD fans (as I consider myself to be, despite this unfavorable review) will find something to love, but this album doesn't deliver like we all hoped it would.

The DVD included with the collector's edition is interesting but not necessary. A video for 'All Saints Day' is artistic but not spectacular, and the documentary basically shows the band dicking around during the making of this album. I'm not sure who would be interested by the two separate art galleries and Conrad's essay on music, which are also included on the DVD, but they are on there.

Several earlier reviewers command us to judge this album on its own merits, which is nearly impossible to do for any album from a band with a successful and storied past. But I suggest they listen again, take their own advice and realize that, simply, some of these songs are severely substandard, and that the album could be better served by the deletion of two or three songs. I have listened to this album non-stop (I'm listening to it as I write this) and the only logical conclusion I can reach is that this is simply one blotch on TOD's otherwise spotless recorded output. I feel that the experimentaion shown here will coalesce with their traditional sound to form a unique and beautiful sound in the future, but "Worlds Apart" is really a showcase of growing pains.

Trail of Dead have finally released Worlds Apart. I have had the recordings for months now, but still purchased it the day it came out. Why? Because it is simply that good........ I will admit that at first listen months ago, the first thing that I thought was that it wasn't Source Tags or Madonna. I didn't quite understand it. All I knew was when I saw them play and "Will You Smile Again" made me cry and "Caterwaul" made me so happy that this album has some of their absolute finest material to date. In all honesty, it's a recording that demands more listenings. And every listen gets better and better, believe me. They have released the best album in quite some time. I love the lyrics and vocals and artwork and everything about this band. Wow....and people are still dwelling on the fact that it's different, while it's called WORLDS APART(hint hint) Thats okay, I'll show newbies this album and they will be forever thankful for it. UNTIL NEXT TIME TOD

Growing pains? Probably all that and more. Those considering themselves "old school" fans will be horrified at the slicked-up production and the apparent influence swap of Sonic Youth for, I don't know, Dream Theater or some other prog behemoth. The band has made an attempt to move beyond their previous formula for success, stringing relentlessly catchy riffs together under a sheen of ear-bleeding distortion, in favor of risk-taking mood shifts and arena-rock (they've always had a little arena-rock in 'em) power chording. Vocals have been moved to the front, strings and piano have been added, Crooked Rain-esque complaints about the music biz run around on the lyric sheet. It doesn't work about half the time, but the other half it does hit you in the chest like the "old school" tunes. I never begrudge a band for trying to move forward (like people wouldn't be complaining about a retread of their last album--admit it, folks), so I'll be an optimist and hope that as Madonna was prelude to Source Tags, Worlds Apart may be prelude to one of the great rock albums of the decade. Guess we'll see in '07 or so.

I avoided buying this CD, put off by the early negative reviews, but finally picked up a copy, and I've been listening to it daily. My appreciation grows with each hearing. My advice: Erase "Source Tags & Codes" from your mind and listen without prejudice, several times, before making a judgement. "Worlds Apart" is not as easily accessible as "Source Tags," but it's a beautiful, complex, and compelling work in its own right. You will discover jewels with each listen. Bands that care about their craft sometimes put out ungainly, experimental works that initially confuse their fans, but stand the test of time: I'm reminded of Pink Floyd's "The Wall," or "The White Album," or Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk." "Worlds Apart" falls neatly into that niche. Thank you, Trail Of Dead, for "Worlds Apart"--I'm hearing you.

Worlds Apart is different from the rest of the discography of ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, but it's a quintessential piece in it. It's not as crazy-paced as the first album, which may turn off some listeners who were interested in the band at that time. Worlds Apart caters to the audience which enjoys orchestral-sounding rock--a small band that sounds like a whole orchestra.

Worlds Apart was my introduction to ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, and it was a gateway drug. Upon hearing it and listening through it a couple of times, I quickly purchased the rest of the collection. I found myself eagerly awaiting the November 2006 release of So Divided and to this day find myself rotating between the albums based on my mood, most often listening to Worlds Apart and So Divided.

If you're on the line between picking this album or another band's album, pick this one. You've wasted money on worse things, and more than likely you'll live ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead more than most of the bands you already listen to regularly.