Music: “This is War” – 30 Seconds to Mars
Okay, I will admit that the only reason I even decided to review this record was so I could make fun of Jared Leto. Seriously, there are few people on this planet who merit as much derision as he does; Leto is the kind of Hot Topic, "look at my hair and eyeliner, but please take me seriously" rock star that John Mayer thinks is a phony. Sadly, we all know Leto's story; S.V.A. student (like Hilter, Leto too was a painter) becomes mediocre actor, blows up into 90's heartthrob (your sister still masturbates to Jordan Catalano), then decides to soil music forever by forming a band with his brother. Think Van Halen except without the talent. Leto sure is dreamy though.
30 Seconds To Mars has put out two albums before the release of This is War. Both of their earlier efforts are the kind of Prog-Emo records that you are supposed to grow out of by the time you leave high school. Their songs have the kind of lyrics that are written on notebooks owned by all the kids you hate, this is music for Twilight fans. This is War is far more ambitious than its predecessors; in what I guess is an attempt at evolution, 30 Seconds To Mars have opened up their sound a bit. They have sprinkled in more 80s style synths, and way too much Nickelback. This is an album with a message... A message of hope... Of a hope that you might like this incarnation of the band, after all Virgin has already sued them once.
This is War is a bombastic record; Kings and Queens has as much pomp as you would expect with a song of that title, and the eponymous track This is War is trying to tell me something about conflict or death or wa- Zzzzzzzz... There is more than just bombast though; This is War has all the mundane industrial you would NEVER want, just listen to the opening of Stranger in a Strange Land, that sound you hear in the background is Trent Reznor laughing. But wait, there's even more!!! Maybe you're itching for some trite Pink Floyd like instrumentals; fear not, L490 will gladly scratch that itch (make sure you stick around for the "monk-chant" outro), and Vox Populi shimmers with electronic claps, and a chorus of children who will all rue being on said track. Fuck, why did THIS record have to be an hour long?!?
In closing I would sum it up like this... 30 Seconds To Mars is a pox upon music, they are a blight on the aural landscape, and you should all write Leto emails begging him to stop. Do yourself a favor and download some Muse or Mars Volta if you are looking for some great Prog. This is War is an insult to people with taste, and harmful to your ears. There is nothing redeeming about this record, I would even be hesitant to put it in my iTunes for fear it would corrupt other albums in my collection with it's otherworldly suckage.
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Seems like you have some negative-glasses seing everything vice versa, mister. Or you just want to stand out of the row of professionals who appreciated the album at its true value?
Your review is ridiculous, it's not a review at all actually. Pure anger, hatred and venom. Tell me, your girlfriend broke up with you because of Jared Leto or what? Where's your professionalism? Do you have it at all?
It's sad when people being jealous try to get revenge like that. It makes you ridiculous, not the great 30 seconds to Mars album or Jared Leto himself.
That's fun there are still people who hate Jared because of his talent and success. You just prove he IS successful and talented and outstanding by your jealousy, thanks.
Here are what the "professionals" had to say:
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/30secondstomars/thisiswar?q=30%20seconds%20to%20mars
I am baffled by numerous points within your comment...
1) Who do you know that truly appreciates any 30STM record?
2) Do you really think that I hate Jared Leto? I am insulted by your flagrant use of hyperbole.
3) Did you really use the word revenge? That would be awesome.
4) How can you think that this review proves anything?
By the way my girlfriend is actually in a coma.
I don't know who you are and I don't understand why you wrote this "review"(if we can call it "review"), maybe you have nothing better to do..Your kind-of-review it's just a couple of words without sense. Cause you are not talking about your thoughs and opinions on the album, but you are just saying how much you hate them. This is not objectivity and professionality and I think useless comments like this don't deserve our, and especially, Jared and 30 Seconds To Mars attention, absolutely.
I am Giovanny Caquias.
I wrote this review due to the cruel hand of fate.
In my third paragraph I clearly give you my thoughts and opinions on the album.
But... You did give it your attention?
"...(like Hilter, Leto too was a painter)"
You are comparing Jared Leto to Adolf Hitler? I'm from Russia, you know. My grandparents were fighting against Hitler and his army. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FUCKING SMART TO SAY THIS SHIT.
I've got only 2 explanations:
a) You are too in love with Jared, but you don't want to admit it, you don't want to come out. Don't worry, it's just who you are, you can't fight it. Find someone who will love you and you will forget about Leto.
b) You are too in love with Perez Hilton and his fame, and you're trying to be like "Perez Hilton for the poor". I'm sorry, but you are just chip fake.
All I did was point out a common appreciation for painting. You have to be smart enough to know when someone is joking and not really comparing an actor to a mass murderer. It was a walks of life allusion.
As far as your explanations go... Why stop there? I am sure there are tons of other people you can imagine that I am in love with.
you've got a serious problem man..comparing Jared Leto to Hitler...WTF. this 'review' is a piece of shit. Even if I didn't like 30stm's music or jared..I don't think it's OK to talk about people like this. have fun wanking on Jordan Catalano, you know you like it, you fucking unprofessional asshole.
Your profanity is beneath me.
I would have to agree with much of the above verbage. This is more of a 'hate' rant than a review. You can add all the big, pretty words that you want, and it doesn't disguise your apparent, pre-determined dislike of Jared Leto. This isn't a review of "This is War", this is a hate rant for Jared Leto. It is very unprofessional and sloppy. You need to find another line of work immediately. Clearly you weren't meant to write reviews for MUSIC.
I am flattered that you found my sloppy words to be pretty, Stacy.
I agree with most of the ones, who commented before me.
1) You shouldn't compare ANYONE to Hitler!
2) "electronic claps, and a chorus of children" -> both is the FANS! (you really should do some research, before writing bullshit!)
3) Jordan has NOTHING to do with 30stm or this is war!
Gosh, I'm just speechless write now...
Get a life or become a bit more professional and stop trying to be like Perez Hilton, please...
1) I am sure there is at least one circumstance...
2) My apologies for not researching the origin of every mediocre sample and sound-wave uber-fan.
3) I never once said he did. Let it go.
I have never read any Perez Hilton... Maybe I should.
Really, you can't research one of the most promoted aspects of a record, the voices and sounds of thousands of fans worldwide, yet you want to review it? And you cannot even get the names of the tracks correct? A simple google search will correct your labeling of "Equinox" and "A Call To Arms" as the songs "L490" and "Vox Populi."
I mean, seriously, get your facts straight. You're writing a column. Shouldn't that be your number one priority?
What's with your fascination with J. Leto? Sure, go ahead and write a review about him when he's up for it, but you're suppose to be targeting an album written by a three piece band. You are aware there are two other members, S. Leto and T. Milicevic, right?
This should go without saying, but I'll throw it in anyway, how does Hitler fit into this column at all? It seems most unprofessional to compare a successful entertainer/ front-man of a band to a person who committed a genocide. So they both were painters? Your link is flimsy at best and contributes nothing to your review.
Maybe you should stick to playing in your band and not write anymore. It's just not what you're cut out to be.
Yeah, that's an error by the editorial staff. We just assume what iTunes tells us is always correct. Anyway, it has been fixed. Thanks for telling us what the real track names are so I didn't have to do any research!
What about the opening sentence of this review made you all think it was going to be objective?
I am flabbergasted by all of this vitriol. It does prove one thing though... The ladies sure do love themselves some Jared Leto. This is War is not the first nor the last record to have ever gotten a bad review guys; deal with it.
Sure I expressed myself in a rather strident and scathing fashion but you know... First amendment, poetic license, yadda yadda yadda. Besides Jared Leto? Its not like I was doing something absurdly radical like criticizing Prince or The White Stripes. Please get a grip on reality here. 30STM is not one of those bands that will ever be carved into the Mount Rushmore of rock and roll nor does it merit being treated that way. We didn't get this bad a response when we reviewed Raditude poorly and Weezer is infinitely more successful/respected than 30STM!
Finally... Way to reach for the ugliness within you when leaving your comments. They really brought a smile to my face and brightened my day... I hope you are all satisfied.
Did you really answer EVERY comment? OMG :D I bet it's because you've never had so much comments on your... mmm... "reviews"!
You liked my explanations? Well, here you go:
c) There's always envy around people who are really gifted. Someone think that it's not fair - "This bastard is a talented actor, great musician and a good-looking guy! And I'm just a shitty journalist! There's no justice in the world... OH WAIT, I CAN WRITE A BAD-BAD REVIEW OF HIS NEW ALBUM!"
That's sad.
d) You are just an idiot.
That's very sad.
e) You really like Jared Leto and his music, but your boss commanded you to write this... mmm... ok, we still call it "review". And now you are really ashamed of this "review", but just can't admit it.
That's sad too.
But then again... did you read his little bio, I mean who is the guy really? Half the time when you read this sort of a review/article, it is from some" never heard of it" Collage campus paper, and the person is all of 19, or they are perez hilton wannabe's (not much to reach for but hey). The internet lets everyone and their dog... have a blog, I would never have seen this, ever... but for google alerts. Give the guy a break, he is just looking for his five minutes of fame, his girlfriend is in a coma, (she can't give him any attention obviously) Not everyone is going to love 30 Seconds To Mars, but enough of them do, and that is what counts :P
PS At least his name is cool, somewhat.
PSPS perez hilton is not capitalized purposely.
http://www.myspace.com/modakaiband
Unsigned band on My Space,Giovanny plays guitar. They have 1400 friends...so yeah, another case of one band member shit talking about another band, for no apparent reason ;)
This makes me proud and vaguely turns me on.
that last chick even cyberstalked you as far as the modakai MYSPACE! swoooooooooooooooon
I've always thought of Jared Leto more as a Mussolini personally.
But seriously, are we really that outraged about this hack? Is this really happening? Also I love the snide comments about how Giovanny is answering to some kind of pecking order, or something. As if on Cultureblues.com he would have submitted a pro 30stm (worst. acrynom. ever.) article and some editors would have been like "dude, we're trendy here, let's fix this shit". There's no such thing as a subjective review. Let's all grow up.
I think the fact that every comment ranting against this review is from a woman really reinforces the 30STM is popular because of Jared, and not necessarily his singing 'talent'.
To those fans, sorry but 30STM is nothing fancy, they have captured you in the same way Britney Spears captured the 16-40 year old single male market. Though at least Britney seems to have realized she's just a show these days, even if her fans refuse to admit it. For those living under a rock this past year please go google 'leave britney alone' or 'it's britney, bitch', youtube may even be a better idea.
This is War is mind numbingly boring to read, and there's no way in hell I'm going to subject my ears to it. The teenybopper rhyme scheme, the repetition of the -exact- same line until you want to scream. These are reasons why the song sucks. For the record no one could sing the song in a manner that would make it good without taking an axe to the lyrics.
Ugh I can't believe this post is what got me to make my first comment on the site instead of on facebook.
What bothers me about this "review" is not that is a bad review, you can think whatever you want about This is War, it's your opinion and I don't care... but what really bothers me is that you did this horrible review just because you hate Jared Leto... Sorry, but that's not very professional.
And next time do some research, because you can't make a review if you don't even know the titles of the songs.
Haha, I couldn't resist, this is just too good! It seems that people in our culture in today's world would have some understanding (likely exceedingly rudimentary as evidenced by the grammar, spelling and evident love for horrendous music) of the way in which we express ourselves in our various forms of media. Snark is not relegated to the Perez Hiltons or the Talk Soup guy, but has permeated our culture to the nth degree.
If you, being someone who is clearly reading this on the internet after doing some sort of search, do not understand this mode of expression, I suggest that you click on that little x in the upper right and move on with your life. Or analyze why it is that you become incensed when someone has the gall to smack talk your musical boo. The best thing about it for me is that not only did you get sucked into ‘net rage by responding to what you feel is a personal affront to your coolness, but I got sucked in as well. This fact amuses me completely and pretty much made my day.
I agree with this writer in that the music of this band is clearly garbage and oriented to the same sort who swoon for the Twilight guys and keep Hot Topic in business. I do believe it has some merit in that regard as an innocuous springboard for pre-teens to test the waters of rebellion and begin to individuate from their parents.
I also happen to have prior intimate knowledge of the genius of this particular writer and can attest that he is not jealous (of Jared Leto anyway), an idiot or gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. As for the whole Jordan Catalano bit, he was amazing and if the writers of MSCL had written This is War this review would have had an altogether different tone.
Well, I for one really enjoyed your "review." Did it do justice to the music? Does it appropriately represent Jared Leto and 30STM? I don't fucking know, never heard the album and don't plan to. The last time I listened to this shitty, blatant exploitation of B-list celebrity status, I was flirting with the freshman 15 and wondering what happened to all the "My So-Called Life" reruns on MTV.
What I enjoyed most was the impressive showing of internet douchery; I'm tempted to start my own blog and rip Creed albums just to see who comes out to play.
This did raise a few questions/ideas:
Can we compare Osama bin Laden to Hitler? Angela disagrees. TERRORIST!
I'm confused. When did CultureBlues become a professional organization? Are your bloggers paid? Does that constitute professionalism (or "professionality" Maria)? If so, I have a resume and cover letter I'd like to submit.
Undeniable has a Google Alert set up for Jared Leto? HAHA.
"This bastard is a talented actor, great musician and a good-looking guy! And I'm just a shitty journalist!" Constance, this statement is not proven on either side; talented actor? shitty journalist? Pure opinions, which can probably be found in "reviews."
Thus, you are a hypocrite.
The point of my comment, or a "review" of your "reviews" if you will, is that this was a great read. I look forward to your next "review" and only hope the same rag-tag crop of 'tween fan club bloggers show up with more burning crosses.
These comments only further reinforce everything Giovanny has written in this review. Unfortunately these particular music lovers don't know anything about music, and don't know that this album reeks of rip-offs and contrivances. Didn't even catch that charming Smiths reference.
What are you gonna do.
Smarter readers will come in time!
You actually take the time to explain yourself, woah you're pathetic.
There really is nothing more pathetic than someone explaining themselves.
Kind of resenting the other commenters' remarks about most of us pro-30stm people being fans only for Jared and being carry-over fans from his acting.
I was a fan of 30stm for about a year before I realized Jared was an actor and I don't find him attractive sexually...I mean, good lord. He's nearly twice my age.
I digress...
This review really was more of a rant against Jared than the actual band. You seemed to pull together all the already pointed out remarks made from other negative reviews and just shoved them between all the Jared Hate.
Not gonna hate on you for your opinion though, because we're all entitled to it. But next time you write a music review, try not to be so biased.
I forgot to mention, the best part of my day is watching wannabe journalist get all ass hurt about what people say about them, it's absolutely classic.
The rest of your day must be really fucking lame.
I must admit, I’ve followed and enjoyed the exchange of arcane bon mots occurring on the board here. It is, in essence, a classic case of not being able to separate the artist from the art—if, for a moment, we can imagine Jared Leto as a legitimate “artist.”
What’s particularly noteworthy is that, while Leto apparently shies away from using his personal celebrity status to promote the band, it’s absurd to think that the band would have gained such a following without Leto’s preexisting fame. (Keep in mind that 30 Seconds to Mars was formed in the late 1990s, long after Leto gained notice on My So-Called Life).
To that end, if it’s acceptable for fans to discover the band through Leto’s preceding notoriety, isn’t it also reasonable to analyze the band's output with Leto’s idol eminence (however inexplicable or outdated it might be) in mind?
The fact is, it is nearly impossible for a reviewer to assess a 30 Seconds to Mars record in an unbiased and detached way, because the band’s very existence (and any mainstream attention) owes itself largely to Leto’s notoriety. A review of 30 Seconds to Mars' music, then, undoubtedly becomes an evaluation of Leto, himself. (Here, I’d like to cite reviews of Michael Jordan’s baseball performance, Paris Hilton’s album, or anything recorded by the artist Chris Gaines for further examples of this sharp truth.)
Should a review be unbiased? Of course not—what absurd drivel have some of you been reading? Show me a review that is neutral, and I’ll show you a reviewer who can’t find a job as a writer. To attack a review for attacking Jared Leto simply plays into the whole tumbling imbroglio and furthers the point that this band’s music has nothing to stand on, aside from a few creaky legs of failing and irrelevant television stardom.
Thanks for reading my two cents.
First of all - I really didn't even know people actually listened to 30 Seconds to Mars. (But the Twilight reference made me realize maybe I'm just in the wrong demographic)
Second of all - Is your girlfriend really in a coma? Do you play her 30 Seconds to Mars in an attempt to bring her back to he heavenly world where Jared Leto is a rockstar?
http://unrealitymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/drug_addiction_6.jpg
IS THIS YOUR ROLE MODEL!?!
wait, Jared Leto is in a band?