Lost Prophets
The Fake Sound Of Progress

THE REVIEW

Browsing through various reviews on DeBaser, I wanted to check the rating given to the latest, in my opinion disappointing beyond all expectations, album from lost prophets. Disappointing not because it isn't nice or because they lack talent, but because I wanted a nu-metal album with their energy, but here it feels like listening to a harder poor copy of the Strokes. Anyway...

I noticed that the review of their debut album was missing. And it's precisely with their debut album that they quickly ascended to the top ranks of the most promising nu-metal artists. "The Fake Sound Of Progress" greatly resembles the sound of Incubus (another band I love) with strong influences from Limp, but with a lively personality that dominates the whole album. Needless to say, like the vast majority of nu-metal artists, the debut album borders on a masterpiece (in the nu-metal field mind you), but in this case, it represents the first good and well-placed step towards what will be the peak of "Start Something".

Moving to the pure analysis of this album, I would say that it begins with a thunderous explosion: "Shinobi VS Dragon Ninja", a track that made them known and that refers to the glorious video games that animated their lives. Then what happens... Title track with a very soft intro and distorted voice that quickly turns into a catchy and pseudo-powerful riff with a break and melodic part until the chorus. Why did I want to describe the second track of this album? Simple. Its structure is what characterizes their style, but that makes all the other songs predictable, except for "The Handsome Life Of Swing" which sounds like a hardcore track with a melodic interlude, definitely the most beautiful of the album. So, a monotonous and boring album. No, wrong, this is where their skill in juggling the various and precarious screams of the second vocalist (the DJ), the very use of the DJ which in other bands seems to have vanished and here offers brief intervals with scratches and entertainment like the same DJ of Incubus or Bizkit of yesteryears, the singer's voice reminds, albeit inferior, that of Brandon Boyd.

And so here flows "Five Is A Four Lettered Word" and "...And she told me not to leave" which manage to create an optimistic atmosphere that makes me feel good. Then comes the ballad "Still Laughing" which, if compared to other ballads, is quite atypical and less commercial and very nostalgic about things lost in life with a look towards the future not excessively optimistic. The lyrics, therefore, are adolescent with a mature spirit, but definitely "poppy". In conclusion, I would say that this lost prophets album excels in the Nu-metal mainstream easy listening panorama with melodies that easily stick in your head and certainly deserves a listen from everyone (I know now the criticisms will rain down like "what the hell lost prophets suck and will always suck", but who cares).

And maybe that's precisely what ruins a good performance: with the skill they demonstrate why didn't they dare? Why is everyone stubbornly destroying a new genre like Nu-metal? Why don't the old and dear Korn, Deftones, and Limp Bizkit of the beginning return who only they could hold up a genre and even bridge the "metalheads" with those who listened to the radio. Where are you?

PS:
Honestly, I loved this album back in the day and maybe someone else might find it very beautiful, but honestly, I wrote the review with a lump in my throat as I'm still shocked by their latest release. Why did you do this to me as well?