The Century of Self

AlbumFeb 17 / 200913 songs, 53m 38s
Indie Rock Alternative Rock
Popular

Austin\'s Trail of Dead tread the line between indie-rock abrasion and mainstream rock accessibility with the rare ability to merge the two without sacrificing their musical soul. \"Halcyon Days\" trudges with the glorious pop power of Weezer sent through a cement mixer. The guitars create a whirlwind of monolithic power as the vocals coast down a smooth, resolving path while a long, instrumental break gives them time to explore the further reaches of their ambitions. The band uses both punk and progressive rock tendencies to invigorate its sound. Trail of Dead writes songs, but they also make records. And while \"Far Pavillions\" and \"Isis Unveiled\" might yield modest folk songs under their mammoth production, the songs\' sparkling dramas come alive with each trigger of agitated guitar, each stroke of lonely keyboard and each calibrated chime from the ensemble vocal choir. \"Bells of Creation\" begins with an ominous countdown that sends the band back to the ‘70s. \"Inland Sea\" visits Britpop à la the Cure of the mid-‘80s. \"Luna Park\" presents the band\'s demure side. No one-trick pony here.

6.8 / 10

Yeah, big deal-- we could be talking about any number of new jacks with a competent PR team. But this is ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead-- fiercely Austinite and not the kind of people you'd call "joiners."

A-

Texas noise-rock act …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead has always excelled at buffeting listeners with surging sound, though over the course of its last couple of albums, it’s made earnest yet largely unsuccessful efforts at broadening that attack. Worlds Apart and So Divided dabbled in psych-pop,…

6.8 / 10

The obvious story of Trail of Dead's latest is their departure from the major label world...

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Things haven’t gone so well for experimental Texan rockers ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead.

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3.0 / 10

Trail of Dead's 'Century of Self' is at times a stirring, effective rock album, but the band’s creativity is less vital than they think.

6 / 10

90 %

It was a shaky breakup between … And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Interscope.

Album Reviews: ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - The Century Of Self

4.0 / 5

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - The Century of Self review: It’s no Source Tags & Codes, and it’s certainly not the cluttered hit-or-miss of their later efforts, but The Century of Self is a fine achievement for a band in a potentially dangerous phase of their career.<script src=

6 / 10