Album Details

• Artist: 30 Seconds To Mars
• Album: A Beautiful Lie
• Label: Virgin / Immortal
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2013-04-17

30STM were one of my favorite surprises when I discovered their self-titled debut album; spaced out, high-atmosphere alternative/progressive rock that essentially represented a somewhat watered-down and more accessible (not an insult) version of a sound I hold dear to my heart. There was really no reason to believe what would come after such a promising debut, but somewhere between there and A Beautiful Lie, the band collectively decided to abandon one essential element of their sound in favor of the current flavor of the times.

Gone is almost all semblance of the metaphorical space-oriented lyrical content, replaced with the sort of inward-pointing emotional excess that fits their more streamlined, thin musical approach. The combination of atmosphere and energy that made their debut such a joy to listen to is gone; in its place is something so blatantly commercially driven and uninspired that I remember feeling entirely offended by it when it was first released. Now, years later, the stain is somewhat worn but remains all the same. Jared Leto, whose graceful emotive vocals were a foundation of the first record, has resorted to a mix of his standard fare (one of the few saving graces of A Beautiful Lie) and a ridiculous mix of screamo-centric screams and shouts. The overall emphasis on youthful exuberance and teenaged angst, however appealing to the proper market, is lost entirely on me. This band had a very heady, very appealing template built, and their decision to dash it in the name of the almighty dollar (or a simply unappealing creative shift depending on how much or little credit you want to give) is embarassing.


Yeah, there are one or two tracks that still manage to hold appeal, revealing little else other than that there is still a very good band at work here. But it's nothing that could ever hold my attention, or earn my praise. While their popularity skyrocketed, they left behind more than a few individuals who were left to wonder what could have been...perhaps the next incarnation of Muse back when Muse weren't doing the same exact thing 30STM are doing; selling out. No other words for it, really.

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2011-10-23 placebo_junkie Said:

The second album by 30 Seconds to Mars, A Beautiful Lie, is definitely the best from the band so far, in my opinion. Each song seems to have been worked on until it was absolutely perfect. The echoey yet clear sound of the guitar gives the music an otherworldly feel. The drumming is absolutely amazing. Shannon Leto is surely one of the most technically talented and creative drummers out there. Of course, it's the vocals that really make each song. Jared Leto's voice is sharp and crystal clear, but has a lot of grittiness and edge, giving everything that raw, real feel. The lyrics are slightly dramatic, but they grab you and hold onto you. The dynamics for each song, both vocally and musically, are also really well done. Soaring vocals are intense, and there are a lot of dramatic pauses or loud choruses that work amazingly well and make each song interesting in a different way.
The only song I really don't like on the album is 'From Yesterday', which is just overly dramatic for me. Standout tracks include 'Was It a Dream?' and 'The Fantasy'. Both of these songs are powerful, one in a quieter, emotional way, the other in a loud, dynamic way. 'Battle of One' is an amazing, stunning, hard hitting surprise, and 'The Hunter', a Bjork cover, is also fantastic.

Rating: 9/10