Saosin is an American alternative rock band. My first impression, and it’s not going anywhere, is that they sound a lot like 30 Seconds to Mars. Now the kind of music 30 Seconds to Mars play belongs to a genre they more or less own, unlike something like say metalcore. There’s still some space for a handful of bands to coexist. You don’t need to go around calling bands like Saosin clones just yet. Alternative rock is an easy label to apply, but I’ll try to describe in better detail the tone of their songs, from the album 'In Search of Solid Ground'.
Most songs have a fairly slow tempo. The bass lines are very pronounced and together with the slow pace and some of the chord progressions, lend most songs an air of despondency that I've grown to love with 30 Seconds to Mars. ‘The Alarming Sound of a Small Still Voice’ epitomizes all these things, and is my personal favourite from this album. It starts slowly, but picks up quick for a sensational chorus.
Video: The Alarming Sound Of A Small, Still Voice
On first listen, you get the impression that Saosin hit the sweet spot of alternative rock with their chorus and bridge sections. Most songs have melodic, catchy choruses and often stunning bridge sections. They seem very aware of this and that is their weakness. Some songs are rushed into the chorus without adequate development; this may serve to make a song appealing to first time listeners but the impact will fade soon. The guitaring is typical of alternative rock, with the addition of a fast picked, high pitched layer on top, again very reminiscent of 30 Seconds to Mars. There are no solos, and for most part Saosin shun palm muting of any kind at all. ‘Changing’, which was their first single off the album, is an excellent song. It has a brilliant chorus, a nice sounding stripped down bridge and ironically, some quiet palm muting providing a good lead up to the chorus.
Video: Changing
Vocalist Cove Reber is undoubtedly the life and blood of this band. He is a very good vocalist; and he does not try to overdo it with the unnecessary vocal flourishes that blight the efforts of others similarly gifted. His high pitched voice lends a couple of songs, notably ‘It’s All Over Now’ a distinctly punk feel. In the chorus sections, he seems to nearly, but not quite scream. That’s quite an enjoyable effect that I’ve grown to like with 30 Seconds to Mars.
‘Fireflies (Light Messengers)’, the last song on the album (and also the longest at over eight minutes) is a breathtakingly beautiful song. Starting off with soft keyboards, the song builds layer by layer and transports you into a little personal world where you will be all alone with your pensiveness. I can’t really put the idea across in words; it has to be listened to be grasped. ‘Nothing is What It Seems (Without You)’ and ‘Say Goodbye’ are two other great songs. They too, like ‘Fireflies…’ stick to a very slow tempo and do very well for it.
Video: Fireflies
‘Deep Down’, ‘Is This Real’ and ‘On My Own’ are faster and consequently begin to develop slight punk overtones. Nonetheless they are good in their own way, and I suspect, to another listener may even become the favourite tracks off this album. I must temper all the praise with a slight bit of criticism – the lyrics are quite clichéd and adequate at best.
Saosin do come across as an unpretentious sort of band. They know what they are good at, and they know what they want to do, with the unpretentious aspect being that the two ideals match closely. They are definitely influenced by 30 Seconds to Mars, and herein I must insert a few words of caution. If you do not like 30 Seconds to Mars, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy Saosin. I do, and I think Saosin is a great alternative rock band.
(Vocals: 9/10, Guitaring: 9/10, Lyrics: 7/10, Overall: 8.3/10)
Most songs have a fairly slow tempo. The bass lines are very pronounced and together with the slow pace and some of the chord progressions, lend most songs an air of despondency that I've grown to love with 30 Seconds to Mars. ‘The Alarming Sound of a Small Still Voice’ epitomizes all these things, and is my personal favourite from this album. It starts slowly, but picks up quick for a sensational chorus.
Video: The Alarming Sound Of A Small, Still Voice
On first listen, you get the impression that Saosin hit the sweet spot of alternative rock with their chorus and bridge sections. Most songs have melodic, catchy choruses and often stunning bridge sections. They seem very aware of this and that is their weakness. Some songs are rushed into the chorus without adequate development; this may serve to make a song appealing to first time listeners but the impact will fade soon. The guitaring is typical of alternative rock, with the addition of a fast picked, high pitched layer on top, again very reminiscent of 30 Seconds to Mars. There are no solos, and for most part Saosin shun palm muting of any kind at all. ‘Changing’, which was their first single off the album, is an excellent song. It has a brilliant chorus, a nice sounding stripped down bridge and ironically, some quiet palm muting providing a good lead up to the chorus.
Video: Changing
Vocalist Cove Reber is undoubtedly the life and blood of this band. He is a very good vocalist; and he does not try to overdo it with the unnecessary vocal flourishes that blight the efforts of others similarly gifted. His high pitched voice lends a couple of songs, notably ‘It’s All Over Now’ a distinctly punk feel. In the chorus sections, he seems to nearly, but not quite scream. That’s quite an enjoyable effect that I’ve grown to like with 30 Seconds to Mars.
‘Fireflies (Light Messengers)’, the last song on the album (and also the longest at over eight minutes) is a breathtakingly beautiful song. Starting off with soft keyboards, the song builds layer by layer and transports you into a little personal world where you will be all alone with your pensiveness. I can’t really put the idea across in words; it has to be listened to be grasped. ‘Nothing is What It Seems (Without You)’ and ‘Say Goodbye’ are two other great songs. They too, like ‘Fireflies…’ stick to a very slow tempo and do very well for it.
Video: Fireflies
‘Deep Down’, ‘Is This Real’ and ‘On My Own’ are faster and consequently begin to develop slight punk overtones. Nonetheless they are good in their own way, and I suspect, to another listener may even become the favourite tracks off this album. I must temper all the praise with a slight bit of criticism – the lyrics are quite clichéd and adequate at best.
Saosin do come across as an unpretentious sort of band. They know what they are good at, and they know what they want to do, with the unpretentious aspect being that the two ideals match closely. They are definitely influenced by 30 Seconds to Mars, and herein I must insert a few words of caution. If you do not like 30 Seconds to Mars, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy Saosin. I do, and I think Saosin is a great alternative rock band.
(Vocals: 9/10, Guitaring: 9/10, Lyrics: 7/10, Overall: 8.3/10)
