LOVE LUST FAITH + DREAMS

I've been seeing a lot of mixed reviews mostly regarding the bands move to using synthesizers and ditching some guitar work, a common move in this new technology/electronic age growing rapidly throughout the world. I find this record to be quite a gem in Thirty Seconds to Mars' discography mainly because each record has its own identity and this one's is the most unique and creative in my opinion. While I love their first two records, both of them have such common elements of alternative rock and post-grunge while their last two records blend so many awesome genres that the music just speaks for itself regarding how awesome and creative it is. I personally the love the record, I wouldn't change a thing about it. I do not call those who have been long time fans 'traitors' if they don't particularly like the album because it is certainly a departure from their previous endeavors. I do however believe that people should keep an open mind and honestly they should just appreciate the music and what it means not only to themselves but to other people. Mow back to the record, I will now proceed by conducting a song by song review with a few words describing why the rate the song that appropriate rating. Enjoy.1. "Birth" 9/10 - It's a strong opening, something that pumps up the listeners, prepares them for the excitement that proceeds after the brief introduction. I love the brass section, so strong, powerful, great opener.2. "Conquistador" 9/10 - One of the more rock oriented songs on the record, great riff, great lyrics, terrific vocals. One thing I've always loved about 3STM is Jared's strong vocals and powerful delivery. This record in my opinion properly projects Jared's magnificent voice.3. "Up in the Air" 10/10 - It took me a couple tries to like this song when it was first released as a single because I wasn't used to the electronic 3STM. Once again, the vocals are very powerful and the lyrics are inspiring. The guitar riff is incredibly catchy but my favorite part is the breakdown with the pounding drums, it's the little things on this record that I enjoy so much. Overall, one of the best songs on the record, it really grew on me and I consider it a masterpiece.4. "City of Angels" 10/10 - My god, what a song, the lyrics are beyond jaw-dropping, the little piano flurries are just beautiful. Another reason I love 3STM is their use of multiple instruments, choirs, orchestras, it's just a great blend and it works so well, especially on this song. I cannot describe how beautiful the second verse is with Jared's dual recorded vocals, the lyrics, did I talk about those yet, absolutely wonderful.5. "The Race" 9/10 - Great song, violin riff is an original way to start a song, the lyrics are of course beautiful. It took me a while to get into the chorus, I just found it a little strange but it has grown on me and I truly enjoy this song. The addition of the guitar later in the song is nice to hear but by this point in the record, I have begun appreciating their new musical approach, very inspiring, very unique.6. "End of All Days" 9/10 - Very gospel like song, Jared's vocals are amazing, the pianos are lovely, this is a true ballad with soul. I really hear Queen blended with Muse in this song, it's very beautiful. I haven't much to say about this song when it comes to particulars mainly because it's just a tremendous progressive electronic song without highlights within the song.7. "Pyres of Varanasi" 10/10 - I love this! An instrumental with a beat and soul. The violin riff is so catchy, the synths are energetic, the orchestra is strong (sounds like Inception score), great backbone, great employment of obscure instruments and vocal sounds, great song!8. "Bright Lights" 10/10 - The lyrics are the real highlight of this song, beautiful expression of words behind some great synth effects and a catchy beat. It's one of those songs that you're not sure if your going to like which was my impression when I first listened to it. I fell love after a couple listens though, it's a grandiose, powerful song, love it! One of the highlights.9. "Do or Die" 11/10 - This is a song that has been receiving acclaim from most of fans and hell yes I'm going to jump on the bandwagon. This song is energetic, powerful, catchy, there isn't a reason to love it. This is Thirty Seconds to Mars at there best, when everything melds and converges beautifully. One of the highlights, the second best song on the record in my opinion.10. "Convergence" 9/10 - I like it, wasn't sure if I liked it for a while. The xylophone gets a little irritating but I grew to love it along with the continuing progression of instruments joining the beat. Shannon writes great instrumentals, I wish there was a little more action but I appreciate the progressive nature and the beauty behind the instruments.11. "Northern Lights" 12/10 - The absolute best song on the record, from the strange opening riff, to the pulsing bass drum beat, to the attractive synths to the incredibly awesome chorus with the raging vocals. The lyrics are awesome, the vocals are loud, proud, and so strong. This song has everything to me, I love it!12. "Depuis Le Debut" 9/10 - Kind of like 100 Suns except much better in my opinion, it's a pretty song but not exactly the way I would of ended the record. The lyrics sum it up nicely but I would of either liked this song to be a full song or a song to precede this one. The synth riff though is very catchy and the orchestra is very 'a propos' to sum up the feel of the record. It's the end of an incredible journey.I cannot recommend this record enough, it's not often that I can say that I walked away from a record blown away by the originality. It's not as long as their previous effort nor close to has heavy as their first two records but it has its own voice, it's own purpose and I respect that. Buy it, download it, I don't care, just listen to it, give it a chance, walk in with an open mind and you won't be sorry.

I love 30 Seconds to Mars, & have all their CDs. Their new CD didn't totally shock me when I only heard one song w/ backing & rhythm guitar (Conquistador) & 11 tracks all synthesizer & percussion backed. Jared Leto has been moving towards synthetic sounds since This is War & past bands like Foreigner broke up because Mick Jones (the main song writer & leader of the group) wanted to take the band the electronic route w/ songs like "I Wanna Know What Love Is", "Urgent", "Break it Up", & "Goodbye Yesterday". Whereas, Lou Gramm insisted & fought to keep the band in guitars like w/ "Double Vision", "Dirty White Boy", & "Head Games". Still all 12 tracks on Love, Lust, Faith, & Dreams are excellent, dramatic, multilayered polyphonic songs, w/ two and a half that have no lyric. This CD feels influenced by Eastern tradition & Indian culture & feel, despite its pounding, pulsating beats, deep synthetic bass (& guitar bass, too). It seems like 30 Seconds really wanted some dj to convert their tunes on this CD to club mixes. Many of the songs are easily sent into this techno genre like the initial release, "Up in the Air", but the same could be done to "Northern Lights", Big Lights", & "Do or Die". Regardless, I love every song on all 4 of 30 Seconds' CDs. Jared Leto is really talented & his brother Shannon, is a really untraditional, eclectic, sometimes surprisingly subdued in his drum accompaniment. Like his almost nonexistent drums in the 1 song he contributed to the CD: "Convergence", which is an instrumental. Shannon's rolling, surreal, patterned beats are so in tune w/ the music Jared is creating & in most cases playing all or most of the non percussion instruments. If I had to say anything derogatory about 30 Seconds to Mars it would be w/ Jared Leto's lyrics, which on all his albums seem to include units of distance: "100 Suns", "93 Million Miles", "Year Zero". & Jared never writes a love song, a happy love song. He's the awesome king of writing hateful, bitter, condescending, screw you lady lyrics like "The Kill". I've come to love this about him, but there's one song on Love, Lust... that is happyish... "City of Angels". The song commemorates his teenage rebellion & being lost but becoming a success thanks to the "comfort of strangers". I have been to LA., people generally run from you if you say hello, but Jared finds all the good (money, acting, band) in one of the most desperate cities in the world. For what seems to many as desperation & downtrodden, Jared confirms as pertinent, transcendent victories. Wish all life worked that way. One last observation, Jared quit writing melodies that were at the very apex of his vocal register, namely the screaming, screeching he does on A Beautiful Lie & This is War, but not so much on their freshman self titled CD. Lots of thumping & jumping on this CD. You can't go wrong here. Every song is masterful & reflective.

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Ho iniziato molto tardi ad ascoltare i 30 seconds to mars perche e' un genere molto particolare. Oltre a i'll attack, from yesterday e the kill non conoscevo altro.Con l'album this is war mi hanno conquistato. Questo non e' all'altezza del precedente ma comunque bellissimo!

Cuando empezo haber criticas de este album, no tenian sentido, si nos adentramos de principio a fin completo de cada album de 30STM nos podemos percatar que el nuevo sonido de LLF+D siempre estuvo ahí. El arte del album es sin duda sencillo pero grandioso ya que deja a la especulacion de que trata el envolvimiento del disco. Un sonido increible con canciones diferentes en muchas formas sin duda es un gran disco.

Another masterpiece of 30STM.

Favourite band, so happy to get my hands on the vinyl - I love it!