London After Midnight - Violent Acts of Beauty
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CD Details
Artist: London After MidnightEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Extra tracks, Limited Edition
CD Release Date: 2007-11-06
Music Label: Metropolis Records
Soundtracks:
- Beginning of the End
- Feeling Fascist?
- Nothing's Sacred
- Heaven Now
- America's a F***ing Disease
- Complex Messiah
- Republic
- Fear
- Pure
- The Kids Are All Wrong
- Love You to Death
- The Pain Looks Good on You
- Nothing's Sacred [Extended Club Mix][*]
- Nothing's Sacred [Edit Club Mix][Edit][*]
- Nothing's Sacred [Original Demo][*][Demo Version]
- America's a F***ing Disease [Edit][*]
Music reviews of Violent Acts of Beauty
Music Review: LAM is back, with brains, wit and integrity intact
Rating: 5 Stars
It was a long time coming but Violent Acts of Beauty is here and its fantastic in every way. Many have talked about the "new sound" but that's a load of b*llocks. LAM is still LAM but way better. The production is stellar (the most immediately noticeable difference from previous CDs) but the lyrics are even more biting and witty than ever, and the music is original and driving. Each song is a little picture of our world in the the last 9 years since LAM released Oddities. And each song is even a little bit of theater. Perhaps 'concept CD' is a description that can be applied here, however each song stands alone very strongly.
While always exhibiting a political side, with this CD Sean Brennan is a little more in your face with two songs in particular, "America's a [...] Disease" and "Republic". "America's a [...] Disease" is apparently a homage to the legendary Gil Scott Heron's song "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" (according to Orkus music magazine interview). In it, songwriter Sean Brennan lays out a clear and disturbing portrait of the world's last super power. As much a critique of the people than the leadership, "America's A [...] Disease" is unlike anything you've heard from LAM in the past being that it's supposed to be sort of 70s in it's sound and lyrical style, but still very much LAM. Sort of like LAM's song "Kiss" but lightyears better.
According to the press release from the record label, "Republic" is "a .50 caliber shot across the bow of a warrior, and his county, who goes to war without questioning why". And in typical LAM style it bleeds sex, depravity and brains. Quite a combination.
The rest of the CD is of equal of higher quality. It astounds me that the depth of this CD, the layered meanings to each song and in the CD booklet art, has been lost on so many who have reviewed it here.
Take "Complex Messiah". A song clearly with a raging double meaning, supposedly a critique about God and man, but also generally- about creator and creation. Not that there's any God complex in LAM (that accusation is even preemptively addressed in the witty title) but Brennan opens up and unleashes on his own creation (or rather, perhaps those he's been forced to deal with as far as the live and business aspects of that creation are concerned, according to interviews). Very clever and just a cool song.
"Pure" is a tear jerker, no doubt. It's,,,,, pure. That's all I can say. Beautiful in every way. It moves you, I don't care who you are or what music you like. This gets to you.
"Fear", a song from the Saw II original motion picture soundtrack release in Europe, is an amazing song and the CD art clearly points out the humor and double meaning in the lyrics. Just fantastic. But the sound is really unique, jungle drums, heavy guitar, distortion all over the place. Another killer track.
Look, I'm not gonna go through each song. Just buy the darn CD. You'll be more than happy you did. It's the best release of the past few years. And definitely the best release associated with the goth scene in the past two decades.
LAM is back, with brains, wit and integrity intact. Those who are afraid of truth, originality, and pushing your boundaries, beware.
If you want another copy band who panders to the stereotypes of a tired old goth scene, who doesn't challenge you, who you'll outgrow once you're over puberty, this ain't for you. If you want subversive art that pushes the goth sound to new levels and deeper meanings, this is what you've been waiting for. Highly recommended.
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