...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Source Tags & Codes (2002)

Another boot fair punt here, and one I really had little idea on The name And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead ... gives some hint as to the sound.

Wikipedia merely describes the band as 'alternative rock', but I can help thinking that this has much more of the post-punk sound I'd hoped for (and been disappointed not to get) from the power-pop trio Green Day, a couple of albums ago.

I've really enjoyed this album. It's loud, raucous at times, with many more considered moments. Opening with a brief quiet piano section, we're straight into a broody mix of soundscape and demented punk vocals on It Was There That I Saw You and Another Morning Stoner. Baudelaire feels much more poppy, and familiar in style (a slighty harsher Strokes?), as does How Near How Far, these bookending the thrash of Homage.

The album takes a more moody, industrial turn with the excellent Heart In The Hand Of The Matter and Monsoon, before reverting to some more thrash in Days Of Being Wild, and while it's still a decent listen, especially the catchy Relative Ways, none of the following tracks really power home in the same way.

I can't help comparing this to the far more successful and popular American Idiot, reviewed a few days ago, and to me, this is a far better album. It's less safe, more varied and much more rewarding, that the Green Day, which I found one dimensional. Highly recommended.

Link to album tracks

4* - a refreshing blend of aural assault and more subtle tunes make this a fine hour's listening