Sparta's back in Threes
In 2001, At The Drive-In, one of the most groundbreaking bands to have an impact on the direction of current music, went on an “indefinite hiatus”. From the split came two critically acclaimed and influential bands, The Mars Volta, and Sparta, which included At The Drive-In members Jim Ward fronting the band, Paul Hinojos on guitar, and Tony Hajjar on drums.
Not many bands today are this difficult to categorize. Sparta doesn't really fit into just one genre; they're experimental/art rock at times, punk influenced, alternative rock, but with a post-hardcore twist. That's what I like about this band is the versatility, talent and flow of each album.
Sparta's first album Wiretap Scars was released in the fall of 2002 and showed that they were definitely going in a different direction than with At The Drive-In.
Wiretap Scars was a solid blend of well-written, artistic songs along with incredible production. Jim Ward had a unique way of structuring the songs and is able to keep the album interesting by mixing up the vibe throughout the album. The album portrays lighter rock songs with layered guitars and a backing piano (‘Echodyne Harmonic'), then unleashes a Fugazi influenced rock assault (‘Assemble The Empire'). Wiretap Scars really displays the versatility and talent of the band.
The follow-up to Wiretap Scars was the slightly more polished Porcelain, which was released in the summer of 2004. The album showed that the band had a lot more depth than any of their previous work. Porcelain featured songs with what feels like a much tighter writing style, a little more of a artful punk influence, yet with more emphasis on creating an atmosphere for the album. Songs such as ‘From Now To Never' and ‘Breaking The Broken' are great examples of Ward's creative structuring and songwriting.
Sparta recently returned with their third album, originally titled Threes and shows a slightly more mature, yet back-to-basics sound for the band. The album still features the textured and layered guitars, Ward's distinct vocal style and the production that fans have come to expect, but with a slightly more commercial sound. Don't get me wrong, by “more commercial sound” I am not calling the band sell-outs, rather the album just features a slightly more accessible sound.
One noticeable addition with Threes is new guitar player Keeley Davis to the band. Keeley's guitar playing has added a new element to the band, as well as the backing vocals and vocal harmonies not as often-heard on previous Sparta albums. The album also features more use of the piano and synthesizers, smoother distortion for the guitars, and more technical drumming helping give the album a fuller sound.
If you ever have the chance to see Sparta live, I highly suggest it. I'm not a big fan of seeing a band that when playing live sound exactly like they do on the CD, because I think that the songs need to have a little life put into them, but Sparta is one of the exceptions.
Not many bands today are this difficult to categorize. Sparta doesn't really fit into just one genre; they're experimental/art rock at times, punk influenced, alternative rock, but with a post-hardcore twist. That's what I like about this band is the versatility, talent and flow of each album.
Sparta's first album Wiretap Scars was released in the fall of 2002 and showed that they were definitely going in a different direction than with At The Drive-In.
Wiretap Scars was a solid blend of well-written, artistic songs along with incredible production. Jim Ward had a unique way of structuring the songs and is able to keep the album interesting by mixing up the vibe throughout the album. The album portrays lighter rock songs with layered guitars and a backing piano (‘Echodyne Harmonic'), then unleashes a Fugazi influenced rock assault (‘Assemble The Empire'). Wiretap Scars really displays the versatility and talent of the band.
The follow-up to Wiretap Scars was the slightly more polished Porcelain, which was released in the summer of 2004. The album showed that the band had a lot more depth than any of their previous work. Porcelain featured songs with what feels like a much tighter writing style, a little more of a artful punk influence, yet with more emphasis on creating an atmosphere for the album. Songs such as ‘From Now To Never' and ‘Breaking The Broken' are great examples of Ward's creative structuring and songwriting.
Sparta recently returned with their third album, originally titled Threes and shows a slightly more mature, yet back-to-basics sound for the band. The album still features the textured and layered guitars, Ward's distinct vocal style and the production that fans have come to expect, but with a slightly more commercial sound. Don't get me wrong, by “more commercial sound” I am not calling the band sell-outs, rather the album just features a slightly more accessible sound.
One noticeable addition with Threes is new guitar player Keeley Davis to the band. Keeley's guitar playing has added a new element to the band, as well as the backing vocals and vocal harmonies not as often-heard on previous Sparta albums. The album also features more use of the piano and synthesizers, smoother distortion for the guitars, and more technical drumming helping give the album a fuller sound.
If you ever have the chance to see Sparta live, I highly suggest it. I'm not a big fan of seeing a band that when playing live sound exactly like they do on the CD, because I think that the songs need to have a little life put into them, but Sparta is one of the exceptions.
