Punknews.org LogoPunknews.org
| 

Sign In | create an account

 
Staff IconBrazil - A Hostage and the Meaning of Life (Cover Artwork)

Brazil

A Hostage and the Meaning of Life (2004)
Fearless Records

Reviewer Rating:


Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)


Published on April 30th 2004


Brazil hasn't come a long way in the 2 years since their Dasein EP. The band's formula is still the same - take all the bests parts of At The Drive-In, and dilute them with overproduced synthesizer effects. Their EP was lukewarm at best, but in that 2 year span the band has at least matured as musicians, if not artistically overall.

A Hostage and the Meaning of Life is a step up for the band as it actually warrants repeat listens. A good handful of these songs break the At The Drive-In mold slightly with well-placed piano, like the trio of "The Novemberist," "Io," and "Escape." Sure, the vocals still match Cedric Bixler inflection for inflection, but at least the music is a bit more adventurous at points.

Brazil is just struggling through an identity crisis, one that isn't helped by the production on this album. Alex Newport, the man responsible for both in/CASINO/OUT and Vaya was at the helm for this album's recording. You think he would have maybe pointed out some things like "A Hostage" being a poor man's version of Relationship Of Command opener" Arc Arsenal, or maybe just the fact that the overall vibe of the band isn't original in any sense of the word.

I don't mean to be unnecessarily harsh on the record, as there are actually some good things going on in here. The band makes good use of their piano player, and doesn't fall into the carbon copy file nearly as quickly as they did with Dasein. There's still a lot of work to be done with this band, but they're getting there.

MP3
Escape

Stream the entire album here



People who liked this also liked:
Remembering Never - She Looks So Good In RedDeath From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A MachineStars - Set Yourself On FireThe Decemberists - PicaresquePiebald - We Are The Only Friends We HaveBroken Social Scene - You Forgot It In PeopleBroken Social Scene - Broken Social SceneGlassjaw - Worship and TributeThe Death Set - ToOsker - Idle Will Kill

Please login or register to post comments.
What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
  • Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
  • Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
  • Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
  • Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.
    thejewvolta (January 2, 2006)

    this is a decent record I suppose
    I like it
    but
    its not even in close to being able to compare to ATDI

    Anonymous (May 11, 2005)

    how on earth can any of you idiots say that this band sounds like at the drive in. There is no way. You're all retarded.

    Anonymous (July 28, 2004)

    Information of Brazil???
    Click here --->http://www.brasil.gov.br/informe.htm

    Anonymous (July 28, 2004)

    Country: very beatiful!!! UDORA is great...
    Band: Very good

    Anonymous (July 28, 2004)

    Hey Sailor,

    Fuck you man... you are ignorant...

    Anonymous (July 9, 2004)

    listen, this album is incredible. i choose not to name drop bands such as "at the drive in" to show my "vast degree of music knowledge" but to just say listen to this record with an unbiased ear and try not to link it to a band that is a million miles away from similar. the opening song "a hostage" is gold. it sets the stage for the rest of this cd. "the novemberist" is fantastic. the chorus is unexpected and very well written. the lead singer's voice won't lull you to sleep as it changes and warps to the mood of the music. it is harsh and urgent as well as slick...very versatile. from song one to twelve, this record and all of it's dynamics, is refreshing to say the least. not to mention they put on one hell of a live show.

    Anonymous (June 23, 2004)

    This band does *not* sound like At the Drive-In. They sound like The Mars Volta who also does *not* sound like At the Drive-In. Furthermore, they add in a HUGE heaping of Yes influence into the mix. They are easily as good as ATD-I and TMV. This is the best cd so far this year without a doubt. Awesome melodies, impeccable song-writing, a vocalist who sounds like Geddy Lee mixed with Cedric, some of the best keyboards in a rock band... they are part of the new wave of prog and it totally owns. If you don't like this: you suck.

    Anonymous (May 6, 2004)

    brazil the movie - 5 stars
    brazil the band - 2 stars. they´re ok nothing else.
    brazil the country - 5 stars. i heard some brazilian bands like hurtmold, the forgotten boys, hateen, udora and they are awesome!

    Anonymous (May 6, 2004)

    awesome!

    Anonymous (May 5, 2004)

    Anonymous (May 4, 2004)

    atdi ripoff

    Anonymous (May 4, 2004)

    this is the worst thing i have ever heard, not one thing new. Why must bands try to be someone they can't. At the drive in makes these guys look like baby's sucking milk out of their mothers breast.

    GYBE (May 3, 2004)

    It's seriously an insult to AtDi to say these guys are incredibly similiar.

    innocentbystander (May 2, 2004)

    This album is decent. Brazil were pretty good when I saw them open for Sparta.

    Anonymous (May 2, 2004)

    yeahh atdi rip-off for sure if more poppy stuff. and i'm from Brazil. Someday will rise a band calls "Venezuela", "Equador", "Argentina"....hehhehe

    hey_sailor (May 2, 2004)

    After listening to this album a few times it has really grown on me...I don't think it's fair to call them ATDI rip-offs, sure they are an influence but it's not enough to warrant all the negative comments from you guys...

    Romeo (May 2, 2004)

    This review was good, but heres how you could have made it better :

    1) The reviewer doesnt mention anything about Pele and come on, anything about Pele rocks hard, PUNK RAWK!!!

    2) Is Brazil REALLY from Brazil?

    3) I heard that guy from Soulfly was from Brazil, is his brother in this band?

    4) Is this the other half of Jets To Brazil.

    5) Jet... Brazil.... Jets to Brazil!!!

    Anonymous (May 2, 2004)

    At-The-Drive-In Rip-off? Sure, some of the elements are there but Brazil, an ATDI rip-off? The reviewer must be deaf or something.

    Anonymous (May 2, 2004)

    another lame band

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    yeah i saw them open for coheed and was like, "and they say claudio sounds like geddy lee?" ...but i like

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    are we forgeting how much their singer sounds like the guy from Rush!?

    hey_sailor (May 1, 2004)

    I actually said that they got the name from the Terry Gilliam movie...I was calling the guy who said they got the name from Jets To Brazil ignorant...

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    i really enjoy this album.

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    This band sounds more like another atdi-rip off band, christiansen. more poppy, and more poopy

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    Hey Sailor,

    the DID get their name from the movie Brazil, read some interviews before making ignorant accusations.

    Anonymous (May 1, 2004)

    i had never heard anything by this band after seeing a ton of articles about them on this site. i gotta say that the linked song is pretty good.
    it's no atd-i, but what is? i mean, not even sparta is atd-i, and they have 3 of the members.

    Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

    Never heard of the band,and for some reason not motivated to want to get to know them.

    Sara(no h)

    i-type-poorly (April 30, 2004)

    Brazil - The Movie: gets 5 stars.
    Brazil - The Country: gets 2-and-a-half
    Brazil - The Band: gets this score

    Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

    This band really doesn't sound that much like At the Drive-In. They are way more poppy. A closer compsrison would probably be the Mars Volta.

    Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

    ummm the song hostage sounds nothing like arc arsenal.

    hey_sailor (April 30, 2004)

    What a fucking ignorant comment...I'd bet money that these guys got their name from the Terry Gilliam film "Brazil" and it had about zip to do with the Jets. I guess bands are going to have to start making up their own words to make certain that there are no other bands using it in their name?

    Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

    I think the name is actually from the movie, Brazil.

    Anonymous (April 30, 2004)

    brazil. ha. what a name rip off of jets to brazil. if you ablsolutly need to name your band after a south american country, pick something new goddamit.

    StabbingGoldfish (April 30, 2004)

    this band will ALWAYS be marketed as 'FOR FANS of AT THE DRIVE IN"

    why listen to a carbon copy band when you can listen to the real thing?

    Features

    Exclusive Streams

    see more streams

    Newest Reviews

    see more reviews

    Punknews.org Team

    Managing Editor

    Adam White

    News Editors

    Kira Wisniewski
    Brittany Strummer
    Andrew Waterfield
    Katy Hardy
    Matthew Baldwin
    Armando Olivas
    John Flynn

    Video Editor

    Chris Moran

    Social Media Editor

    Justin August

    Copy Editor

    Amelia Cline

    Reviews Editor

    Joe Pelone

    Interviews Editor

    Richard Verducci

    Publisher

    Aubin Paul

    ISSN 1710-5366



    © Copyright 1999-2012 Punknews.org



    Other Places to Go

    Punknews.org Flickr Pool