Liars - Drum's Not Dead Album Review

Liars

Drum's Not Dead

Mute

Album Review

An album that comes with a DVD containing 3 film versions of the album by different directors - essentially three separate videos of each of the 12 songs on the album! So, this is a creative-led art band. The album follows two fictional characters, Drum and Mount Heart Attack - the spirit of creative confidence and the embodiment of stress and self-doubt - through what is undoubtledly a 'concept' album. It is inventive, as if Nick Cave fronted Kraftwerk during a prog rock whim, brooding, intense, propulsive, yet the band are capable of Snow Patrol-like beauty and melody, as on the last track The Other Side of Mt Heart Attack. Is it for you? That depends on how much time you're willing to invest - it needs to be listened to in its entirety, and takes some concentration - as with any art piece, but there is a real reward at the end. Plus, you'll not be short of music videos...

Rating 7/10

Mike Rea

Adult Contemporary Essentials

9-10 Essential purchase

7-8 Good, definite buy if you've liked this artist in the past

5-6 OK only, don't say I didn't warn you

3-4 Poor, even for this artist

1-2 Awful