This Is War - 30 Seconds to Mars

I thought I would take some time a do a music review. I know it sounds weird, but it has been a while since I actually paid for music (sorry RIAA). 30 Seconds To Mars is one of my favorite bands and on Tuesday they released "This Is War". What bothered me the most is their departure from a "Rock" sound with real drums and guitars in their first two albums to a mode "Depeche" sound with more synthesized and drum-pad sound.  Some of the vocals even sounds like T-Pain had his hand in making this album . . . but whatever.

1. Escape (2:23) - This is really just an intro, so let's not count this one as a real song. Singing actually comes in after the first minute with the main chant "This Is War" by the kids. (2*)

2. Night Of The Hunter (5:40) - Okay some french girl speaking in the beginning, and then some fake drum sound . . . decent song, I like it somewhat. (3*)

3. Kings And Queens (5:47) - What is up with the screeching eagle at the beginning of this song? It made me think of Nacho Libre when Jack Black was going to get the eagle eggs . . .
Anyway this is a great song and worth a listen. (4*)

4. This Is War (5:27) - Great song, even though it seems very repetitive, but not like I Gotta Feeling by those Black Eyed Punks.  This album is coming along like more of a story and as you can see by track 4 I have started liking the songs alot.  And yes the kids were chanting in this one . . . annoying, but I like the song anyway.  (5*)

5. 100 Suns (1:58) - This is actually a live acoustic song, although they could have remove the cheering at the end.  It reminded me of The Big Lebowski and the Nihilists because it keeps repeating "I believe in nothing" (2*)

6. Hurricane (6:12) - This is probably my favorite from this album.  Great melody and lyrics, and the kids chanting in this one was not too over the top. Crash Crash Burn (in a good way).  (5*)  Another version of the song with Kanye "I'm Gonna Let You Finish" West.  It was not included on the album due to contract issues with the record labels, but I prefer the version without Krappe West.

7. Closer To The Edge (4:33) - Great song . . . had it pegged at 5*'s but then hearing the chanting kids again, I had to take a star off.  (4*)

8. Vox Populi (5:43) - Kid chant . . . overplayed on this album at this point . . . and it is a "call to arms" song, again with the "This Is War" theme.  This is one of those songs you like and would listen to if you were alone, but I wouldn't play it if I had someone in my car with me.  (3*)

9. Search And Destroy (5:38) - Great sound and music . . . the vocals had a little Trent Reznor sound at the beginning . . .  I give this a 3* rating in iTunes right now, but I can see this moving up a star after I listen to this a bit more . . .  (3*)

10. Alibi (5:59) - This is that slow ballad . . . the one that shows up on an album once and a while, and it is quite beautiful.  Take a listen (5*)

11. Stranger In A Strange Land (6:54) -  Heavy synth at the beginning, reminded me of "Where Is My Mind" by the Pixies (song at the end of Fight Club).  Good beat and vocals, I like it.  Two thumbs up. (5*)

12. L490 (4:26) - This had the most annoying sounds that just got louder and louder.  If I could rate a song a negative I would.  This is actually an exit song, so who cares anyway.  (0*)

Overall a great album . . . but next time get rid of the kids in the songs.  Maybe it had to do with 30STM trying to get this third album out from being sued by their record label and they needed to put something out, but it seems like there was a lot of work in most of this songs in this one.