Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time (Liberation Transmission - Lostprophets)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Liberation Transmission - Lostprophets
Date:	05/04/08 (80 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb vocals, catchy choruses, and great use of guitar.

Disadvantages: The album is over all too soon.

Lostprophets formed as a band way back in 1997, more than a decade on and the band is still going strong with a fourth album set for release in Summer 2008. 'Liberation Transmission' was the third album released by the band and comes complete with a total of twelve tracks and a run time of just under 50 minutes. This I feel is the best album that the band has released thus far, it is powerful from start to finish and never do Lostprophets disappoint as a band as they blast their way through this terrific album.

'Everyday Combat' is the track given the task of opening the 'Liberation Transmission' album, given the quality of this album as a whole this is really no small duty. Although not an easy job, 'Everyday Combat' performs excellently in my opinion in providing the albums introduction; it is powerful, exciting, and hugely energetic also. There are no signs of lethargy whatsoever here, all members of Lostprophets are seemingly enjoying greatly what they are doing. The chorus for this track is absolutely fantastic, at all stages Lostprophets impress greatly as they blast through this truly exquisite opening track.

As Lostprophets progress forward into second track 'A Town Called Hypocrisy' the energy and enthusiasm of the band continues to shine through as another exceptional track of epic proportions is provided. Once more the chorus is immense here, something that can be said of every single chorus on the album in fact. I love every track on this album, there are a few here however that are particularly key and I feel that 'A Town Called Hypocrisy' is without doubt one of them.

The track chosen to be the lead single from this album was the almighty 'Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)' and to listen to this track it's not hard to hear why. As the bands vocalist Ian Watkins screams out the line 'Standing on the rooftops, everybody scream your heart out' there is a real venom in his voice, the lyrics are spat with real bite and great intention. You can tell that Lostprophets mean business here, the music is belted out with a real forceful nature which truly is excellent to hear. Commercial rock bands often fail to possess any real rawness, the music can often be too clean sounding and therefore not as effective as it could and perhaps should be; this is not something that is true of Lostprophets, always the music has a great bite about it and with each and every track the band is raw to the core.

Not one single track here do I have cause to complain about, each and every one of the twelve terrific rock tracks I have nothing but love for here. 'Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)' is another of my favourite tracks from this release, it is absolutely excellent in every sense with a chorus that is just phenomenal. The lyrics aren't exactly hugely intelligent, but nonetheless they make me smile and that's all that matters really. It's a fun track, one that lovingly pokes fun out of poseurs (which is quite amusing given that lead singer is the most fashion obsessed and image concerned individual of them all). It was about the time that this album was released that front man Ian Watkins had a haircut as his long straightened brown and blonde Toni&Guy stylised hair-do kept becoming curly when the band played gigs, to hear him singing the lyrics that he does here is therefore very funny.

'4:AM Forever' was the fourth and final single released from this 'Liberation Transmission' album, it has a softer edge from the other three that were released here and in my opinion is a greatly impressive offering from the band. It is not the best track that the band has ever recorded, but nonetheless an excellent one, a track that I myself greatly enjoy listening to. True to form the chorus is close to perfect here, and never does the track sound anything but entirely entertaining with enthusiasm in an abundance. Although it was the fourth picked single from this album, the fact of the matter is that it still was released commercially as a single and the reason for this is that it is a fantastically chilled out offering from Lostprophets. It's different to what they'd usually release as a single, but here different is good and '4:AM Forever' is fantastic.

So many different genres are covered on this 'Liberation Transmission' album, Lostprophets hop happily between pop, rock, and metal to great effect in order to emerge triumphant with an album that is packed full of energy, excitement, and most importantly of all twelve excellent tracks. As the album reaches its close with 'Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances and Messed Up Chances)' you feel a great sense of satisfaction about the brilliant record that you have just been listening to. Never is there a dull moment here, always Lostprophets impress with their finely crafted sound on an album that is expertly produced without ever removing the raw nature that is deeply engrained into the Welsh wonder that is Lostprophets.

Over 220 000 copies of this album have been shifted in the UK, it is a brilliant album from the Welsh alternative metal titans Lostprophets and I personally have nothing but love for 'Liberation Transmission'. Some may argue that this is not the bands best album, but I personally think that of the three that Lostprophets have released so far it undoubtedly is. This said, it's hard to compare the albums of Lostprophets as all three have been very different and perhaps all are equally excellent in their own ways. All I can say is that with 'Liberation Transmission' the band puts forward their best sound to date in my opinion, the music contains a fantastic raw energy about it and always the tracks here are hugely impressive and entirely encapsulating. 'Liberation Transmission' is an exceptional album from Lostprophets, I personally can't recommend this album highly enough and thoroughly suggest that if you haven't already done so to give it a listen.

Summary: 'Liberation Transmission' is in my opinion the highlight of Lostprophets career thus far.