At the Drive-In - Relationship of Command
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Music CD Cover
Artist: At the Drive-InEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2004-11-09
Music Label: Fearless Records
Soundtracks:
- Arc Arsenal
- Pattern Against User
- One Armed Scissor
- Sleepwalk Capsules
- Invalid Litter Dept.
- Mannequin Republic
- Enfilade
- Rolodex Propaganda
- Quarantined
- Cosmonaut
- Non-Zero Possibility
- Extracurricular
- Catacombs
Free Music Notes for Relationship of Command
Free Music Review: "I Must Have Read A Thousand Faces"
Hit: 5 Stars
I hold At The Drive In in very high regard. They more or less opened the doors of "indie" (both the genre and the community) music to me when I first heard "In Casino Out" a few years back. And it's very true that over the years ATDI have constantly evolved their sound and furthered themselves to the highest extent, and during their time together produced some of the most accomplished and beautiful music ever. While I wouldn't necessarily describe ATDI as a "hardcore" alternative to The Mars Volta, there's definitely a more rock based feeling and vibe to the band then the much more spacy atmospheric TMV. "Relationship Of Command" is definitely the rawest and fiercest At The Drive In record (rivaled only by some of their earlier EPs) and it is essential listening to anyone who takes a liking to independent music of any sort, and anyone who has become a fan of recently-spawned-ATDI bands Sparta and TMV.
There's a lot of things that make "Relationship Of Command" the best offering ATDI ever released, and the main one is Ross Robinson. While he was most noted for his production of nu-metal bands during the 90's (although he has produced everything from the Cure to Vanilla Ice), his being behind the knobs in the studio most definitely took this album to the next level. The guitars shine without being too singled out, the drums and bass give a strong backing presence without being lost or forgotten somewhere in the background, and Cedric's voice is rightfully pushed to the forefront. The sound is very raw, but clean enough for almost any fan to instantly feel at home with. This makes putting the record on and automatically getting into it an easy task, as it won't take many listens for this album to grow on you. After his production for Glassjaw, I knew that Ross would be the perfect person to bring out the best in ATDI, and honestly he does just that.
As far as talent is concerned, you'd be hard pressed to find any band out there with more talent than these five guys. While their not playing blazing, technical guitar solos, or hitting you over the head with tons of double kick or crazy drums fills, they are far removed from standard three chord patterns or simplistic nature. The band has evolved significantly since their previous EP "Vaya", and one can really tell the difference. Omar and Tony's guitar playing molds together perfectly to create a rich and hypnotic feeling on mellow hits like "Invalid Litter Dept." and "Quarantined", while showing they can hit aggressively with the opener "Arcarsenal" and the electronic-rock groove of "Cosmonaut". The rhythm section of Jim (bass) and Paul (drums) is among one of the most accomplished in music, while they don't necessarily need to show off significantly for that to be seen. Paul's drumming really shines on the aforementioned "Cosmonaut" and "Arcarsenal" though. And as far as Cedric is concerned, he's never given a better vocal performance. He can go from insane yells/screams to moderate rock choruses, even melodic breaks at times. The whole vocal range is made good use of. Omar's backing vocals are also very nicely placed throughout the record.
If all that wasn't impressive enough, then simply add in the lyrical content of this album. Cedric has always been one of my favorite lyricists, and "Relationship Of Command" sees him at his finest. Just look at tracks like "Invalid Litter Dept." which boasts "yeah, they had plans for him / they had spun the last of the pimps / corduroy, satin nailed jewelry lips / while the guillotine laughs again / dancing on the corpses' ashes." Poetry has never sounded so good over music, and really it puts a lot musical acts today to shame, when most are singing about broken hearts and break ups. Cedric's lyrics are amazing in that everyone can interpret them differently, yet all agree they are among the most well written in music. One can really only appreciate the beauty of this album after you have read the words to the songs.
The album hits heavy to start, opening with "Arcarsenal", and then going right into "Pattern Against User" and "One Armed Scissor", which are all among the album's most rocking tracks. The more mellow songs are evenly sprinkled throughout the album, enough to not kill the pace, but to offer up some nice diversity throughout. There's also hints of The Mars Volta sound which Omar and Cedric would go on to play found in songs like "Rolodex Proaganda" and "Cosmonaut". The reason the album stands as well as it does though, is that every song is an engaging and different experience. One moment one will be listening to the rock-fueled vibes of "Sleepwalk Capsules", and then instantly you'll find yourself in the enthralling "Invalid Litter Dept." These kind of change-ups are what make the album such a stunning accomplishment.
"In Casino Out" was the first ATDI record that I heard, and it made me a fan, but "Relationship of Command" is what kept me for life. The most unfortunate thing about this album is that it is the last piece of music the five members of ATDI ever made together. Most know that since this time they have gone on to form The Mars Volta (Cedric and Omar) and Sparta (Jim, Tony, Paul) respectively, but neither will ever evoke the same emotions in me which At The Drive In does. If you're new to this band, or if you've somehow managed to never listen to this cd before (highly unlikely I'm sure), then this is a must own. Everything about "Relationship Of Command" is stunning, from its production, to its musical performance, and right down to its lyrics. At The Drive In really went out in high fashion, and I guess if you're going to go, then this is the way to do it. Such a shame, but at least we have all this great music to remember them by. Check out the new bands, and get this immediately. "Dancing On The Corpses' Ashes."
Relationship of Command Poster
From 1994-2000, At The Drive-In held the attention of music fans and critics alike. During their career, they released three albums and numerous EPs. You can hear their influence today on so many releases across the rock genre. Members have gone on to form The Mars Volta, Sparta, and various other projects. "Displaying an earnest intensity befitting pre-irony U2, At The Drive-In are an exhilarating and exhausting experience--the sight of five young men ever pushing against and beyond the limits of physical and emotional endurance with crusader zeal"--Rolling Stone.Seemingly influenced in equal parts by hardcore punk, heavy rock, and modern industrial rap-metal, At the Drive-In provides music tailor-made for head-banging. Unlike such acts as Korn and Limp Bizkit, At the Drive-In isn't afraid to throw in the occasional semi-catchy melody, giving the uninitiated something on which to hang their hat. Other than that, however, there's little in the way of commercial concessions on RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND. Rampaging guitar riffs, turbo-charged drumming, and super-emotive, lung-challenging vocals are the order of the day. The lyrics are often a bit elliptical, so its sometimes hard to tell exactly what the boys are going on about, but that can work to their advantage too, allowing the listeners to fill in the blanks. Slightly more refined than some of their contemporaries, but undeniably hard-hitting, At the Drive-In stands proudly at the center of circa-2000 heavy rock, and RELATIONSHIP OF COMMAND is their battle cry. In early 2005, look for the "Anthology" CD of greatest hits, exclusive unreleased tracks, rarities, covers, videos, interviews, and exclusive live footage.
It's rare that a band can provide a visceral thrill--Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name"--and still work the gray matter as well. Here's a band that's refined the art. Hailing from El Paso, Texas, At the Drive-In come poised somewhere between the rabid showmanship of the Make-Up and the complexity of emo pioneers the Lapse, but through sheer adrenaline, they leave both bands choking on their exhaust fumes. Sure, they've got their unique selling point--lead singer Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez both sport immense Afros--but this band isn't about gimmickry. Recorded after touring with Rage Against the Machine, Relationship of Command is the punk-rock real deal, the angular hardcore dynamic of "One Armed Scissor" and "Rolodex Propaganda" (the latter featuring Iggy Pop) as focused and affecting as any recent American rock. "And the paramedics fell into the wound like a rehired scab at a fair-headed plant, an anaesthetic penance beneath a hail of contraband! / Dancing on the corpses' ashes!" spits Bixler on the album's high-water mark, "Invalid Letter Dept." What does it all mean? Do you really need to ask? --Louis Pattison
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