Built on the vocal talents of Jared Leto (a relatively well known actor but we won't dwell on that!), this is the second album from 30 Seconds To Mars and, on first impressions, its easy to see how its sold so well stateside.. Jared's vocals hit the sweet spot between Adam Lazzara and  Ville Valo with a dash of Chad Kroeger thrown in for good measure  (in a good way!!). The rest of the band back this up with a sort of TBS/HIM/Saosin hybrid that is certainly very listenable but I'm not sure it has any lasting value I'm afraid.... 

First impressions may in fact do this record a dis-service but deadlines dictate that I've only a certain amount of time to spend with this disc and I'm sort of on the fence about it.....It never dips below good and occasionally hits excellent and there is also the potential that it could be a close second to Fall Out Boy's “Infinity On High” as pop/punk record of the year. It could also be such a record of the moment that I won't be playing it at all in two months time. 

Time will tell on that front as at this point in time I can happily listen to the whole set repeatedly but, and it's a big BUT, I can't remember a damn thing about the tracks when they're not playing.......none of the infectious hooks of the FOB record are evident (which in fairness is a poppier proposition altogether).  This CD seems to offer more of an immediate gratification (which anybody who reads my reviews may note was my main issue with Lostprophets “Liberation Transmission” last year) but that might just mean its a grower. 

To take a random example “The Battle Of One” opens up with an insistent drum pattern that has it roots in Dead Kennedys “California Uber Alles” of all places but it builds into an epic rock tune with a pulsing bass and hypnotic guitar riff and Jared's impassioned vocal fits perfectly but within  two minutes of it finishing I can't recall any of the above, although I really enjoyed the track whilst it was playing!! 

Fans of any of the bands I've mentioned so far will not be disappointed by this collection of songs as there isn't a duff track here, anybody looking for an album to invest some time into won't find it here either. However, ask me again in 6 months and I might just give you a different answer!!

Let us know your views on 'A Beautiful Lie'

Track Listing

Attack
A Beautiful Lie
The Kill
Was It A Dream?
The Fantasy
Savior
From Yesterday
The Story
R-Evolve
A Modern Myth

Line Up

Jared Leto – Vocals
Shannon Leto – Drums
Tomo Milicevec – Guitar
Matt Wachter – Bass