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The Receiving End of Sirens

The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi
2007
Triple Crown / EastWest

The Receiving End of Sirens - The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Marcel
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Published on December 14th 2007

How do you define the Receiving End of Sirens? Too "punk" to be "progressive" but too "progressive" to be defined as "punk." So is the case of their second album The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi.

Based on the concept of 16th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler's theory of the tonality of the solar system, TREOS bring to the table much of the same from their debut and more. Not since the glory days of `70s prog-rock has an album been written on such a unconventional topic, but with that being said, TREOS pull it off with much originality and variety that to this day make them very hard to define them in a set genre.

The triple-pronged vocal attack on almost every song gives The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi a lot of depth and variety and is evident on songs like "Saturnus" and "Stay Small." TREOS establish a continually atmospheric sound that builds more of an air than their Thrice-via-Artist in the Ambulance-esque debut tended to provide. The lyrical content behind the album is very interesting and quite compelling, based on the theory that each of the planets in the solar system produces a tone as they orbit the sun. The Earth produces the notes Mi, Fa and Mi on the vocal scale, which Kepler said stood for Misery, Famine and Misery. This theme runs quite rampantly through the album, especially with a song like "The Salesman, The Husband, The Lover."

The music on the album is powerful enough to transport the listener away to the somewhat dark yet artistic nature of the concept behind the album. Combined with the experimental nature of the synths that plague the album, the solemn melodies and very muchly abstract lyrics ("I fell in love with an empty place"; "Your most soothing song won't lead this sheep astray"), it's enough to make the listener divulge into the darker side of their mind.

After all is said and done, TREOS have produced what could be one of the most underrated albums of 2007. Definitely one to have in your ranks.

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Posted by Bipedcasserole on 2008-03-28 18:05:10

Marcel: normally I don't do this sort of thing because everyone knows individual music aesthetic is personal and cannot be validated or qualified, but...please stop reviewing terrible bands and telling people they're good. Please. In no universe is Madina Lake even one-quarter decent. You're not a bad reviewer; just pick shit that doesn't huff it.

Posted by RyanGP on 2007-12-23 17:44:41

A really bland album. The ideas were there, they just failed to deliver on them.

Posted by 655321 on 2007-12-21 16:50:27
My Score:

Score is for the person that can tell me what the hell this band name means

Posted by theDrivingSnow on 2007-12-20 15:59:58

This sentence is written by someone without an understanding of the diction employed therein:

"Combined with the experimental nature of the synths that plague the album, the solemn melodies and very muchly abstract lyrics ("I fell in love with an empty place"; "Your most soothing song won't lead this sheep astray"), it's enough to make the listener divulge into the darker side of their mind."

Some general advice: do not use words unless you know how to use them.

-"Plague" (and to a greater extent "rife") evince the important distinction between connotation and denotation. While "plague" may mean literally to cover or permeate, its negative connotation is inseparable from this meaning. One should neither use "plague" nor "rife" to signify an omnipresent influence. One is plagued by problems; one is rife with fleas.

-"Muchly" needs no analysis other than clearly being an unintentional and awkward neologism.

-One doesn't "divulge" into any area of one's mind; one divulges information. Prepositions are also not used after "divulge."

Posted by counterfiction on 2007-12-16 11:58:56
My Score:

I thought this record was indeed overrated. While the albums lacks a little variation it's still leaps and bounds better than their previous effort which was an immature popularity-grab.

Fine job, I'm looking forward to see what comes of their next record.

Posted by thus_spoke_sean on 2007-12-16 02:14:31

treos, your bias is hard to ignore.

if you want to chat with me privately about the album you can reach me at swalsh@vno.com, rather than beat around the bush about my comments.

the term plague congers negative imagery no-mater what it's definition may be. my point was that another word that DIDN'T conger negative thoughts of rats and death might be better to describe something that the review thinks is positive.

did you get all that or did you need richard feynman to write a book about before you could think ti as cool?

Posted by treos on 2007-12-15 14:29:04

im stoked
good review
plagued (df.) infested 2. (df.) -be present in...

nuff said

Posted by tenwestchaser on 2007-12-15 11:07:06

The concept and artwork alone are almost enough to make me want to go buy this. Kudos for originality and artistry.

Posted by thus_spoke_sean on 2007-12-15 00:52:54

i'm sorry, but this review fucking sucks.

i don't care how much about the band you read off some other website, reviews are supposed to describe what you like/didn't like about the album. how does it sound? what did it make you feel when you heard it? tell me why you did or did not like it. I don't care one way or the other as long as you are coherent:

you talk about the synths in a positive manner but say they "plague" the album all in the same sentence.

my god, this review is almost as bad as this album is.

Posted by damnitsderek on 2007-12-14 22:31:01

The Receiving End of Michael.

I saw this and immediately thought of Totally Michael. I am now listening to him, which brightens my day, and I thank you for that.

Posted by icapped2pac on 2007-12-14 18:52:36

I might check this out, but right now I couldn't care less about it because the band Transit (whose EP Brian favorably reviewed not too long ago) posted a new song from their upcoming full length. Check it, seriously:

http://www.myspace.com/transitma

-shameless plug now over-

Posted by fattony on 2007-12-14 15:59:52
My Score:

This album was one of the most disappointing of the year. When Casey left, he apparently took all the band's awesomeness with him.

Posted by Archangel on 2007-12-14 15:36:58

Respectable review, and this album is definitely not as good as Between the Heart and the Synapse... which itself only has a few really solid songs.

Posted by whatchokesbegin on 2007-12-14 13:47:13
My Score:

First of all, it's really lazy to call bands pretentious, because while the word is thrown around all the time, I don't actually see anything pretentious about this band.

That being said, this album is nowhere near as good as their last one.

Posted by danperrone on 2007-12-14 13:02:31
My Score:

Pretentious

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2007-12-14 12:42:14

The Receiving End of Michael.