Sparta – Threes

Try reviewing a Sparta album without mentioning At The Drive In at least once and you’ll find it very hard. Formed from the ashes of the critically acclaimed Texas band you will probably always associate them with former glories and that’s one of the problems with “Threes” – it just isn’t a “Relationship of command”. However is that really such a bad thing? It would be disappointing to hear Jim and Tony still trying to recreate their former band and luckily they’ve moved away from that. Now, try reviewing a Sparta CD without mentioning The Mars Volta. Again you will find it very hard as it’s a natural reaction for people to compare the two bands (see: +44 and Angels and Airwaves). I’ve never really been a great fan of either and that’s largely down to never sitting down and really giving them a chance until now. “Threes” is (and this is probably obvious to you) Sparta‘s third studio album to date and arguably their worst.

While tracks such as “Erase it again” are fairly decent mainstream rock efforts, they lack something really impressive and in many cases any sense of personality. This isn’t an issue for people tuning into the radio on a Sunday afternoon waiting for that Top 40 chart, but it can kill an album and it certainly does here. Compared to previous efforts it is a darker and more intricate in places but that doesn’t seem to add any character or interest. “Weather the storm” is perhaps one of the more instant tracks but that’s hidden away by songs such as “Atlas” which could easily be mistaken for a new Snow Patrol track but with slightly more bravado. However it would be wrong of me to dismiss them as just another radio rock album as “Taking Back Control” is a solid effort which highlights Jim Ward’s strong vocals and “Untreatable disease” is an atmospheric opening to the album.

It’s not that “Threes” is a bad album, as essentially it is very listenable and well produced, it’s just that it doesn’t stick long in the memory. They’ve attempted to make a mysterious and poignant album but it falls short and comes across more as a run of the mill rock offering.

Tom