Release Date: 28 April, 1998
Audio CD
Tracks
- Here
- Touched
- Dirty Hole
- Pretty When You Cry
- I'm Dying
- Flames
- Temptation
- Three Doors
- Niles Edge
- Somewhere Else to Be
- You
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Rating 4.5
Chilling and seductiveI got this album after hearing the song "Touched" from the "Angel" (TV) album "Live Fast, Die Never." Well, boy was I surprised - not only is this album spectacular, it's now one of my all-time favorites!
Reading up on the album and on VAST, I heard comparisons between them and Nine Inch Nails. I wouldn't say that these are entirely accurate; there are similarities between "Visual Audio Sensory Theater" and Nine Inch Nails' "The Fragile," both having aurally complex compositions and songs with epic scopes. More than being like Nine Inch Nails, I find VAST to have its own unique sound, the mixing of interesting Gregorian hymn samples with convincing vocal working and compelling lyrics.
This album focuses on the lead Jon Crosby's struggle with his faith. Each song has religious overtones, some explicit like with the song "I'm Dying" where he sings: "Jesus Christ / Are you the son of God? / I want to know / you ask that I believe." Other songs deal with his faith in other ways, whereas some songs focus on his overall stance on human nature and on his own personal demons (most notably "Touched" and "Pretty When You Cry.")
This is an absolutely spectacular album that I am so glad to have discovered. Do yourself a favor and buy it asap!
Here's a quick track-by-track run-through:
"Here" - 8/10
A great opening song for the album. The instrumental is phenomenal and very heavy, making this one of the hardest songs on the album. Only the vocal grates at points.
"Touched" - 11/10
Surprisingly, I like this song mostly for the singing/lyrics than for the wicked vocal sample. The climax of the song is absolutely awe-inspiring: "I'll never find someone quite as touched as you / I'll never love someone quite the way that I loved you." The singing is perfect, the lyrics are poetic, and the overall structure of the song is flawless. One of the most inspired, aurally interesting songs I've ever had the pleasure to listen to.
"Dirty Hole" - 6/10
I'm not really a fan of this song. The vocal sampling is interesting and the lead vocal is great, but the song kind of drags on and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
"Pretty When You Cry" - 9/10
There we go. A very solid, pleasing song (that just happens to have somewhat offensive lyrics - is this a rape metaphor? 'Cause, yuck?). The instrumental is fascinating and the vocal sampling is great.
"I'm Dying" - 10/10
This song really speaks to me. The lyrics are interesting and haunting; you get a really great sense of Jon Crosby's desperation and confusing regarding his religious affiliations. The Gregorian chant sample is the best on the album. I can listen to this song on for hours and not get tired of it.
"Flames" - 8/10
A really nice, sublime song with a mellow guitar instrumental running throughout. The cello gets a little grating after awhile (make that really grating), but the singing is strong and the song sets up the rest of the album.
"Temptation" - 5/10
A lot of people say they really like this song, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me. I like the heavy guitar in the beginning and the middle, but I can't stand the overtly Middle Eastern feel of the song and the weak vocals. Skip it.
"Three Doors" - 6/10
Again, the Middle Eastern/Egyptian feel of the song puts me off. The instrumental feels forced and cheesy, but I like the techno beats in the middle along with the singing and the lyrics.
"The Nile's Edge" - 10/10
Ahhh, that's better. This is an extremely mellow, aurally soothing song with a fantastic Gregorian hymn sample. Another song that I can put on repeat. I like the visual the lyrics create, and the vocal is very strong.
"Somewhere Else to Be" - 7/10
The beginning sounds like "Warhead Storage" from "Metal Gear Solid" (PSone)! Except for when the main instrument comes in... Ehem, anyway, the sampling is good but the overall song structure feels weak and the vocal isn't interesting. The amazing Gregorian hymn sample of this song saves it from all-out sucking.
"Untitled" - 9/10
Featuring the same excellent Gregorian hymn sample from "Somewhere Else to Be," this is a very strong vocal-free song that you can read and do homework to. Very mellow and haunting.
"You" - 8/10
Another haunting song, though not as inspired and solid as other songs on the album. The song (and album) closes with a sublime Gregorian hymn that fades out with the low-key instrumental.
Download: "Touched," "Pretty When You Cry," and "The Niles Edge"
Overall Rating: 8/10 based on the individual song scores. The haunting tone/mood of the album and the strength of some of the individual songs means I really give "Visual Audio Sensory Theater" a 9.5/10.Gives me goose bumpsThis album is haunting to me. It just totally immerses you from the very beginning. I personally would not consider it industrial or gothic; it's kind of a mesh of both. It's so unique and amazing, it almost belongs in its own genre. The album is full of dark melancholy undertones mixed with very strong industrial-like beats. It has it all in my opinion; powerful, romantic, angry lyrics tied into this amazing music that gives you goose bumps every time you hear it. This is an album that you will crave to listen to over and over. Jon Crosby is an amazing vocalist and is extremely talented. ExcellentI've been meaning to write a review for this album for a while now, but I didn't know where to start.
Video Audio Sensory Theatre is one of those rare albums that you can play straight through and not want to skip around. It really is that good. It opens with the sounds of a large scale, foreshadowing the epic heights of sound and lyric that will come.
Crosby sings with of a loose woman on the song "Dirty Hole" which such reverable audacity that he makes it sound beatiful.
By far, the most intimate song on the CD is "Flames", with the lyrics "Just put me inside you/I will never ever leave."
"Untitled" is just a great track on its own, with the Gregorian chants fitting in perfectly with the guitar rhythm.
Gregorian Chants--that's another thing that I like so much about this album. Who would have thought to use that in their music except someone of such genius quality as Jon Crosby.
The album is perfectly ended by "You", my personal favorite, a surreal, calming song to end an emotionally devouring album.
Perfect. |
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