Brazil

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

Reviewer Rating: 3

Contributed by: maverickScott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on April 30th 2004Brazil 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 mus.

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

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

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.