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Album Details

• Artist: Lostprophets
• Album: Liberation Transmission
• Label: Columbia
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: mschmitt on 2007-02-13

It would be easy to pass these guys off for just another annoying band with horrible haircuts, I almost did. In some ways, they are. They do sport the horrible haircuts that look like a muskrat climbed onto their heads to die, and their music mixes pop and punk in an almost formulaic way. Their verses and melodies are very clear cut and easy on the ear, as is vocalist Ian Watkins’ voice. And of course, depressing themes of pain and hurt and all that fun stuff are wrapped in there. All in all, at first glance Lostprophets are a mix of pop, heavy emotion, and post-punk that are ready for the radio.

The Latin on the front of their cover reads, "Nobis, Pro Lemma, Vobis," or, "Us, For Theme, You." Hm, do I sense depth in this album? A turnover of the lyrics finds just that. Recurrent themes of never giving up, inspiration, and motivation are there, along with some of childhood pain, hatred of conformity, and death. Death is most obvious, especially in "4 Am Forever," a slow ballad about the death of a friend. "Why don’t you hear me when I'm calling out to you? / Why don’t you listen when I try to make it through?" Clich窠yes, but what is impressive is that themes get stretched across the whole album instead of just remaining in their designated song.

For example, death comes up again in "Rooftops," the masterpiece of the album. "When our time is up / When our lives are done / Will we say we’ve had our fun?" Furthermore, "I have no regrets / If it all ends now / I’m set." Here in this song is where Lostprophets turns it around and saves themselves from being easily labeled. The motto for the entire album comes out here, "Standing on the rooftops, / Everybody scream your heart out!" Sure life may stink and you’ve lost your job and your friend died and you have a crappy hair cut, but life goes on and do something about it!

This is the most exciting message from Lostprophets. The line "It's not over" is repeated both in "Everyday Combat’ and "Everybody’s Screaming !!!" Themes like this are a welcome change from the down and out, life-sucks-and-it's-over mentality. They go on even to attack hypocrisy and conformity in "A Town Called Hypocrisy" saying "Cause there’s no pride to be found / When you follow sheep around."

Lostprophets deliver a sad yet motivational message in their appropriately named Liberation Transmission. It's a breath of fresh air, and deserves the popular attention it will get.

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