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Year in Rock 2011 Nominee: ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD
Pure Radio Cosplay

From: Tao of the Dead
Released: February 8

Perhaps best known for their 2002 breakthrough Source Tags & Codes (and its infamous Perfect 10 from those lovable trendsetters at Pitchfork; they've since expressed regret in the form of relegating them to overeager prog worshiping status and dogging them with mediocre-to-average reviews ever since), Trail of Dead is one of those rare beasts in rock music; as much pressure and suggestion has been forced upon them since the dawn of their existence some 17 (!) years ago, Trail of Dead have steadfastly stuck to their guns and done whatever in blue blazes they wanted to.  When this meant frequently smashing their shit onstage, they smashed their shit.  When it meant mixing furious rockers and grandiose, way-over-the-top theatrical flourishes (most notably on 2005 release Worlds Apart), they heaped sounds upon sounds upon noise.  When it meant illustrating an album cover and all of its accompanying artwork entirely in ballpoint pen, blue ink was spilled.

This year, they've done it again with Tao of the Dead.  With artwork taken from mainman Conrad Keely's planned graphic novel (don't ask for a synopsis; it's pretty self explanatory from the cover, no?), Tao was recorded in a blistering ten days and divided into two parts: part one consists of 11 tracks, all in D tuning, while part two is a one track with five parts, all in F tuning.  Take away all the forced restraint and very busy cover, though, and you're left with a shockingly concise record.  Even including the 16+ minute suite at the album's end, the whole thing clocks in at a manageable 52 minutes.  And many of those tracks breeze by with nary the threat of an orchestral outburst.  Sure, this band undoubtedly still lives in Fantasy Land, but by getting back to basics they've reminded us (and, likely, themselves) of a simpler time; when they were fighting to be heard above the Creeds and Nickelbacks, and making a lot of beautiful noise in doing so.  You know, before those trendy blogs came along and thrust a white-hot spotlight on their dingy corner of rock.

For your consideration is Pure Radio Cosplay, a jaggedly delicious number that simultaneously laments and celebrates the very industry they've uncompromisingly tried to conquer for the better part of the last two decades.  In it, Keely yells "It's been another dead year for rock n' roll".  Then, as though offended by the notion, "Who said so?"  Indeed, who?

(Sorry for the shitty fanmade video, it's all I could find.)
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