For Sure... (Fake Sound Of Progress - Lostprophets)

Member Name: n1x0r

Product:	Fake Sound Of Progress - Lostprophets
Date:	21/06/01 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant debut from young british rockers, no tracks are real 'let downs', a wide variety of styles and influences

Disadvantages: a few slightly weaker songs

'The Fake Sound Of Progress' is the debut album from young British band the Lostprophets. This is varied and thoughtful yet still heavy and occasionally brainless rock.

It uses a blend of styles with many different influences becoming apparent throughout the album. For more information on the band and general information about them please check out my 'lostprophets in general' opinion because I do not want to re-hash all the same material on the same band, just under a different title.

The album kicks off with the most apt name anybosy could ever some up with. 'Obscure Intro' is the name and it does exactly what it says on the tin! This is 35 or so seconds of strange noises which seem to be like those from a fairground or arcade on closer listen. None-the-less what is important about this track is, in fact, the track that it precedes...

The strangely named 'Shinobi Vs Dragon Ninja' is a strange affair. It is the bands first single and was only reacently filmed in central London so expect this to be on the airwaves soon! It opens with a 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' opening guitar which is instantly recognisable for any Lostprophets fans, leading into a mish-mash of sections that all seem to fall together perfectly. 'Shinobi Vs Dragon Ninja' is one of the best openers (even though its not actually the first track on the album) I have heard in a long time and has become something of an anthem already among those who have heard it. The lyrics on this song seem to have something lacking in the way of that they dont actually make that sense, more a case of rhyming (or, more often than not, not rhyming) couplets put together. However the chorus is singalong and the song comes to a fantastic musical climax. This is seemingly a band who do not do things by halves.

This explosion of sound is followed up by something a little bit more subtle. The third track, 'The Fake Sound Of Progress'
, is a heavy but calm song with very gentle verses not too dissimmilar to earlier Incubus recordings that gradually builds up into a powerful chorus. This is another standout song on a very superb album. The song contains a few different sections and because of this doesn't seem the slightest bit long despite clocking in at well over 6 minutes. The subject of the song has been at debate between myself and my friends (anybody who does know please tell me!) but that is not important as this is another song that builds up a slightly off-beat ending which is most certianly unexpected but seems to round off this shout/sing-a-long song very well before going into one final chorus which shows off the lead singers fantastic, sometimes haunting, but always touching, voice.

Track 4 is the first of the albums four interludes. A simple looped drum beat with a man talking over the top of it telling the story of boy who prefers to stay at home than go outside. Ends bizarrely with a manic laugh.

The fifth track, titled (strangely - and this is right) 'Five Is A Four Letter Word'. It is about the lead singer questioning the relationship he is in and eventually deciding ''I wish that you were dead''. This song, musically has very opposing verses and choruses. The verses are gentle and sung very well, whereas this builds up into a shouty style chorus. Something that is hard to describe to somebody who hasn't heard it. This song, as the others, ends in a fury and, while not standing out particulary for me, doesn't at all take away from the album.

Now for something far more mellow...'And She Told Me To Leave' (track 6) is a track filled with emotions and also beautiful music. Every instrument is played superbly on this track and really touches me whenever I heard it. It seems to get a bit heavier as it goes into the chorus but instead of reaching boiling point like many of the other songs this one just simmers away
and is now, although not at first, one of my favourite tracks on this album. The title pretty much gives away the subject of this song. This song is also another showcase for how good a singer Ian Watkins is. A fantastic song.

Track seven is yet another interlude. This time it is just the DJ doing whatever it is he does. On this point, at first I saw no point to these interludes but now, after a good while of listening, I see that they brake up this album superbly and act as a way of stopping this album suffering from a case of sensory overload at times.

Track 8, 'Kobraki' is possibly my favourite Lostprophets track I have heard. Slightly more rock and heavier than the previous songs this track contains some excellent drumming including a few excellent small bridges from the drummer himself. This is another one of their songs that has a quiet verses and screamalong choruses. The emotion changes that comes across in this song are superb, with lyrics about betrayal being put across superbly by the singer once again. The song ends with a DJ drum-loop which leads into the next, very different, track...

Track 9 is titled 'The Handsome Life Of Swing'. I haven't the foggiest as to what it is about as this is a real pick-and-mix of lyrics. This track is yet another that contains very different influences throughout it, with there being far too many to list. Overall, I'm not sure what it is that makes this track, but this, the shortest track on the album, is superb.

Track 10 is the third of the albums interludes. This interlude is very soothing and makes a change from the seemingly relentless aural assault.

Track 11 is the counterbalance to the interlude that preludes it. 'A Thousand Apologies' is hard to write about because of it's Faith No More style singing inthe way of nasal singing followed immediately my ferocious shouting. This track is a slight let-down considering the quality of all th
at has come before it, but that may be just my own personal opinion.

Track 12 is something totally different to everything else on this album. 'Still Laughing' is reminiscent of Incubus as they are today. A beautiful song with beautiful lyrics that may not seem too special on their own but coupled with an extremely piercing (in a good way) voice, this is a mellow, chilled-out favourite of mine. Excellent.

This is followed by the final interlude of the album. This one does do a job in the way of 'breaking up' the songs but I personally find this particular track slightly irritating with the constant scratching and looped drum beat.

'For Sure' is another beautiful song but this time it is slightly more uptempo. This is a perfect summer song. Beautiful lyrics and singing for the choruses that never fail to grab my attention. The verses on the other hand are simply sumlime and easily the most sing-a-long-able on this album. The track then takes a slight turn as it comes near the end. A fantastic closing that gives us some touching screaming (if thats possible) before going into one more gentle chorus, sounding like a heavier and more up tempo Coldplay.

The penultimate song on this album is 'Awkard' which kicks off with a heavy, thumping bass and guitar dual assault before chilling out somewhat. Im still not sure what this song is on about as it is another mish mash of lyrics that seem to be interpreted differently every time I hear them. Not a standout track at all, but not by any means bad.

The closing track is a superb ending to a brilliant album. 'Ode To Summer' is the name of it and it is nothing short of brilliant. A fantastic mix of styles once again in the very same song that all fit together in a way that cannot be described. More soothing than most of the other tracks but still upbeat and somewhat happy in a reflective way that makes you think about what the singer is saying.


Overall, this is a superb album and I strongly suggest for you to hunt down a copy and keep new British acts like this alive.

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