MUSIC REVIEWS
30 Seconds To Mars - A Beautiful Lie
Matt Jameson
30 Seconds To Mars introduced themselves to the music scene back in 2002 with a self-titled album. Despite a disappointing sales record, and general lack of A&R interest it was a fairly decent album. But the industry has no room for a decent album. In decade 2000, you gotta’ bring it if you want to be noticed. The odd thing about this band is they really don’t stand out. Their sound isn’t revolutionary or groundbreaking, and the lyrics are standard for this genre. But something compelling exists here and I just can’t put my finger on it.
30 Seconds To Mars is fronted by actor turned vocalist Jared Leto (the actor has appeared in “Fight Club”, “Requiem For A Dream”, and the MTV series “My So Called Life”). Thankfully, and quite respectfully this is the least known fact about this band. In his own words Leto proclaimed that he wanted the music to draw people in as opposed to simply banking on his name. That impressed me right away.
Despite having a great philosophy, their debut release failed to generate much industry interest and ultimately fizzled out without much of a bang. So it’s no surprise that for their second album, “A Beautiful Lie” they have streamlined their music quite a bit.
“The Kill” and the first radio single, “Attack” are the most recognizable and straightforward of the set, centered on giant choruses and catchy guitar riffs. “Battle Of One” is my pick for a favorite track of the album, mostly because I like odd ethereal alternative sounds.
“A Beautiful Lie” is a serious improvement for 30 Seconds To Mars (or 30STM as fans know them). The debut was a flop, but they have redeemed themselves with a much more solid album. Thankfully for most of you, this will be your first experience with 30STM. I recommend downloading a few MP3’s before purchasing the album, but if its good ol’ straightforward alt-rock you’re after: you found it.
