Liberation Transmission

by

Lostprophets

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When I first heard "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" on Muchmusic (Now known as Fuse) I couldn't shake the sheer intensity and musicianship of the song. So three years later I track down the band's debut CD and couldn't get it out of my CD player. Every track was interesting and so unpredictable that the CD deserved repeated uninterrupted listens. Then, when I heard "Last train home" I was so psyched that I went out of my way to order that CD from Amazon before it was released, and was not disappointed at all with the new style because they still kept their originality and unpredictable edge. With the release of Liberation Transmission the songs are mildly predictable and sickeningly overproduced. I can count on one hand the number of songs that really reach out and grab you on this CD. In fact, if I didn't know any better I'd say this album sounds like Start Something impersonating the Fake Sound of Progress. I'll just run them down in a list.

Everyday Combat: This is a great song, one of the best songs that they've ever written. Definitely as good an opening as We Still Kill the Old Way and Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja.

A Town Called Hypocrisy: Despite the fact that the words on the chorus don't flow very good, the song is solid and very pleasing. One of the album's higher points.

The New Transmission: This song has traditional prophets dripping all over it, except for its overproduction which takes something away from it.

Rooftops: A little too reminiscent of Last Train Home for me, this is one song I feel they should have spent a little more time on writing, the lyrics are just a little too simplistic.

Can't Stop Gotta Date With Hate: I disagree with the people who say this sounds a lot like the All American Rejects song. I can see a similarity, but then again, I see huge similarities between Stockholm Syndrome by Blink 182 and We are Godzilla you are Japan (the drumbeat), but I don't agree they sound the same. This is a very poppy but cool song.

Can't Catch Tomorrow: Ok, this song is where the strange/ridiculous song titles start for this album. There's nothing too great about this song, but it's definitely not one to skip.

Everybody's Screaming: Quite a bit too emo and overproduced for me. Not one of the album's highlights.

Broken Hearts...yadda yadda yadda: I love the 80's tinge that this song has, I would compare this to Start Something prophets.

4:Am forever: My personal favorite of the album, a great song that could have fit in very well with The Fake Sound of Progress.

For all these times son, For all these times: A fairly typical prophets song that presents no surprises but a nice catchy chorus. Another very overproduced song.

Heaven for the Weather, Hell for the Company: Starts off slow and gets loud later on. A very good song, another highlight.

All ways Always: A great song but it leaves you wanting more, it should not have been placed at the end.

Would I reccomend this CD? If you haven't heard their previous work then this CD may make you feel like you've won the lottery, but if you have, then it will still be pretty enjoyable. Not as much as winning the lottery though.

First of all let me say that when I heard about this album's coming release, my hopes jumped to an all time high. I had expected something just as good or better than their previous albums.

This album had good intentions but it shows that with a news producer, their sound took more of a mainstream hit and fell right among the pop-sounding bands that rule the teen stations. I must say i am disappointed with this album, however there are some decent songs. For example:

Everyday Combat is a high energy song that continues a bit from their sound of Start Something. Broken Hearts, Torn Up Letters introduces a more Taking Back Sunday/emo sound to their already alternative agenda and serves for a nice blend. 4 A.M. Forever steers their melancholy intentions with mellow riffs and hard vocal choruses that provide an echo of hope for the album.

All in all, I do not recommend this album very highly.