My iPod #92: Lostprophets - A Better Nothing

This was originally going to be the fourth single from "The Betrayed", but "For He's a Jolly Good Felon" didn't do very well commercially. That's a shame; for me this song is a lot more satisfying and probably would have been a good single.

Unlike "Felon", there's no story to tell in "A Better Nothing". It's much more introspective, and sure to affect many a person who probably feel like Ian did when he wrote the song. I will take lyrics like "My chest tightens, it brightens the light of the stars, revealing the scars, all the times that were ours," over "Mikey, where'd you get the Nikes?" any day.

I don't what to make it a song vs. song post though. It's all about what's in the title. "A Better Nothing" is a highlight from "The Betrayed". It's not a happy song, and yet it's not a sad song either. It's one that's about determination and finding yourself. I'm no lyrical analyst, so I can't provide you with anything more than that and, like other songs on the album, the track is full with shrieking guitars and a vocal delivery to admire by Ian Watkins. Even the backing vocals, which I believe are done by him, are good too. Too bad he's not so good when singing live. That's always something that's puzzled me.

The song also seems right into the next song on the album "Streets of Nowhere", which is more of a Liberation Transmission outtake than anything. Too poppy and cheerful for this album.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

Ooh, and also congratulations to the Royal Family. Whatever the baby turns out to be.

My iPod #5: Lostprophets - AC Ricochet

So here we go again. Another time but it feels the same. Got sick of waiting heeeeeeeere.

Hey guys, how's it going?

Just want to say thanks to whoever has found this blog and had a look at it. I only have 235 pageviews, but it's nice to know that people are actually seeing it.

Lostprophets...... I don't know what I can really say about them. One minute they'll have a really solid album, i.e. Start Something, and then come up with something that was quite below par for me. That would be Liberation Transmission. I haven't listened to Weapons, but I heard 'Bring 'em Down' and 'We'll Bring an Arsenal', and I wasn't very impressed by them. So I may just give it a pass. Too many 'gang vocals' for me.

So in late 2009 when I was reading all this news about how the band was gonna sound harsher, darker and edgier than before, I was really looking foward to it. The name 'The Betrayed' sounded very bold. And the artwork..... Well, nothing said 'this is a dark album' more than that album cover.

I download it from mp3boo.com, begin listening to it on iTunes.... and it was like Start Something Lostprophets never left. The guitars were all over the place, noodling solos everywhere with a bit of ballad here and there. Choruses to sing at the top of your lungs. Even the interludes were back! The interludes! SHIT.

The best thing was that I downloaded before the link went down, I think, and it was the Japanese edition which had this song, 'Sunshine' and the hidden instrumental, 'The Storm Is Coming...' on there too.

AC Ricochet is one of my favourite songs from that version of the album. It's a great contrast when you listen to this and 'A Better Nothing' comes on straight after with the piano. A very good listening experience. I think it was crazy that it was left off the UK edition.

Was 'The Betrayed' even released in the US? If it hasn't, just get the Japanese version. It's really the best one.

I'm not so sure about Lostprophets now... after all that stuff with Ian... and.... well you know.

Until next time.

Jamie.