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Austere
Sparta
Austere
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (4) - Disc #1

When At the Drive-In called it quits just before becoming massive, it seemed like they had blown a one-shot opportunity. Not so. While vocalist Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez went off and formed the self-consci...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Sparta
Title: Austere
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Dreamworks
Original Release Date: 1/1/2002
Re-Release Date: 3/26/2002
Album Type: EP
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, Indie & Lo-Fi
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 600445084421, 0600445084421

Synopsis

Amazon.com
When At the Drive-In called it quits just before becoming massive, it seemed like they had blown a one-shot opportunity. Not so. While vocalist Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez went off and formed the self-consciously weird Mars Volta, the Afro-free faction of ATDI--guitarist Jim Ward, bassist Paul Hinojos, and drummer Tony Hajjar--handily carried on under the new guise of Sparta. This quick-to-the-point EP, produced by Jerry Finn (Green Day, Blink 182), features the familiar sound of clipped rhythms, oblique vocals, and fuzzed-out guitars, but it also sounds insidiously fresh. Tracks like "Mye" and "Vacant Skies" update ATDI's taut fury with a most agreeable luster, while the pure force of the music remains respectfully undiminished. --Aidin Vaziri

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CD Reviews

Good but not great... yet
Umpeik | Philadelphia PA | 08/11/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)

"While Mars Volta went on to experiment in a different kind of rock sound, Sparta sticks with the sound that At the drive-in had nurtured for 6 or so years before they went different ways. Austere sounds like a mix of Relationship of Command and In/Casino/out, with a lot of tweaking on the Pro Tools, giving the EP somewhat of a techno feel that was very foreign to any of the ATDI album. This release did not quite live up to the standards that the 3 members in Sparta had set before with ATDI, the songwriting was shaky and erratic, but it was still good anyways. I keep comparing them to ATDI and Mars Volta which is unfortunate because Sparta still seems like they are experimenting with their sound and haven't quite finished messing around. But this is not a bad thing, as this was only an EP and only their first release as Sparta. I look forward to their Full Length release in late summer of this year."
GREAT NEW SOUND!
dan the man | San Antonio, Tx. USA | 07/30/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow this is an intersting new sound that Sparta has. I read they are the 3 remaining members of At the drive-in. I didn't really care for that band, but what Sparta has put out is a great new sound. If I had to compare it to something I have heard before, I would have to say it sounds like a cross between A perfrct cirlce, and The Cure. This is how interesting of a sound that Sparta has developed. I would recomend this record only to people with an alternativly open mind. If you are into more of the straight forward rock sound of todays modern music or numetal as it is called, you may not like Sparta. I myself am open to any type of weird rock music, as long as it has some substance and uniformity to it. Sparta definitly has this sort of Quality to their material. I first heard "Mye"-track 1, and was sold. I then had the pleasure of hearing "Cataract", which was followed with "Vacant Skies", this is where you can hear The Cure the most, and musically is A Perfect Circle. Sparta is an original sound all it's own really, and a very original sound at that... Just wish it was a full-length disk, and not just an E.P..."
Sparta Pumped Out a Really Good First EP
sporke | South Pasadena, CA United States | 06/26/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Austere is terrific; energetic, melodic, and honest. It's really straightforward and well put together, and the musicianship shows just like it did in ATDI ... these guys can play and write with the best of them. Jim Ward on vocals is nice too, he keeps a few ATDI-isms as far as singing style but also works with other styles too. Drum work is great as always, and the guitars are terrific. The full-length should be great ..."