Album Details

• Artist: 30 Seconds To Mars
• Album: 30 Seconds To Mars
• Label: Virgin / Immortal
• Year of Release: 2002
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-10-07

This is a questionable review for the underground-minded ME ethos, but let's not split hairs on what is and isn't music. As we cover a wide array of genres, so should we dabble in the more well-known and established acts out there. If only to show our uinderstanding that any band can make good music worth hearing, whether they sell 100 or 1,000,000 units. Not many here would doubt the impact of a Led Zeppelin, and look how many records they sold.

Not that I'm comparing 30STM to them, mind you. This band is one that many passed off instantly (and even more after their most recent cring-worthy emo disaster) as a gimmick, or a flash in the pan. "Jared Leto?" they said, "Nothing but a pretty-boy actor, he's got no chops as a musician". Fair enough, but his debut album with 30STM says otherwise. I didn't even know who the guy was when I first heard this one, and maybe that helped me avoid any premature prejudices. I find myself still engaged by these spacey alt-rock jaunts, engaged mostly by Jared's powerful and expressive voice, and quite often by the catchiness of the riffs as well. It's not quite progressive, but it tries to be at times. Songs like "Capricorn" and "Edge of the Earth" instantly throw the hooks in but it's the closing gems "End of the Beginning" and "93 Million Miles" that represent best a band who's talents are not enough to cast a bigger shadow than their frontman's acting career. And that's a damn shame, because 30 Seconds To Mars is nothing but a quality piece of music. Not everyone will agree, but it's a certainly that A Beautiful Lie doesn't go platinum if it's not for the (far superior) first step they took here. This was their catapult to stardom, the following record would just be a cashing in and has me seriously doubting they'll show anything of their early selves on future works. I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep spinning this little diamond in the rough. 

User Reviews and Comments

on 2008-10-11 hstisgod Said:

Good review, and even a good album for a starlet creation. Either way though, how the hell does someone get off comparing 3STM to Rush? Kevin, please tell me you didnt do that..
Not Rated