30 Seconds To Mars - 'The Kill'
Sorry, this is quite a late review, largely because I've an inbuilt snob reflex against film and TV stars who want to start rock bands. Russell Crowe had one called 30 Odd Foot Of Grunts, which is now called The Ordinary Fear Of God, because that's the kind of thing Russell Crowe would do. Johnny Depp has had a few, here and there, and Keanu Reeves had one called Dogstar (Dogstar + Fightstar = Dogfight? Starstar?)...they're always over-earnest, and overshadowed by the superfame of the film star in question.
And on first listen, there's nothing really here to dispel that particular prejudice. I mean it's kind of hard to hear a rich and famous actor singing the self-pitying modern rockpainlyrics like a mutant hybrid of Chester Benington and Gerard Way without immediately wondering about his motivation for playacting the rock star in this fashion.
Plus there are times when - and again, this is a total prejudice on my part - I'm fairly sure that the next song I hear which contains those self-same self-pitying modern rockpainlyrics ("Come break me down, bury me, bury me" OH GROW A BLOODY SPINE WILLYA?) is going to be the song which finally makes this aged skull implode.
So, LOTS to overcome here, Mr Leto, do you think your band are up to the task? You DO? Oh you DO, DO YOU?
Oh, it seems you're right and I'm wrong. It's not fair to blame 'The Kill' because so many modern rock songs are just a musical finger of blame pointed at someone who has caused the singer some emotional discomfort. And it's not fair to dislike it just because singing about gritting your teeth and overcoming your problems isn't as inspiring as actually shutting the hell up and getting on with overcoming your problems (cos that's really just wallowing, see).
No, the thing with 'The Kill' is that it's got a killer chorus. Super-over-dramatic, massively hugely huge, and spiralling upward like a pea in a tornado. There's a bit where I'm almost sure you can hear one of Jared's tonsils flop out and whack against the studio wall, such is the intensity with which he is singing.
And frankly, if you're going to go that far to get into your pop star hobby, who cares if you're only acting or not?
Download: Out now
CD Released: September 24th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comments
INNIT LOL!!
XX
Great song lol. Anyway.....dunno what to say now. :S
i love this song! i think its about finding the real you, killing the old fake you, or perhaps going back to the real you rather than pretending to be someone your not. isnt the whole title actually 'the kill (rebirth)' or something? i swear thats what i heard on the radio. anyway, that i thinks proves my theory correct. and the lyrics "I tried to be someone else, but nothing seemed to change, i know now, this is who i really am inside. finally found myself, fighting for a chance. i know now, this is who I really am." backs that up. and when jared sings "come break me down, bury me, bury me" maybe thats meant to be tempting the side of your personality that your fighting against, knowing that the real side ("i tried to be someone else") wins and is stronger. and thats why in the video theres two of each band member, each side of their personalities. so in that sense its a postive song, or are you actually getting at that in your review and i just couldnt tell?
ps peoples, JARED IS 35!!!!! 36 in december! still shocked when i think about it :S
oh come on, u cant blame this song for having emo (!!) lyrics. most songs these days do...and a song with as much brilliance and ingenuity as the kill cannot be criticised under any circumstances. as you said it has an ABSOLUTE killer chorus, and the song actually makes you stop and think WHAT the hell is going on...very few songs these days can do that.
ive been waiting for this song to chart...i dont know how i got this song in march/april and ive been waiting for it to be released since then.
30 seconds to mars are absolutely brilliant. some of their other songs are fab as well (but none as good as this one!)
This song is a really song, I love their videos. I love that song is like on radio1 all the time it was on atleast thrice today, I think. Makes a change from all that Indie music which a bit too much everywhere, Indie songs ae'n acctually being sang they are being read by a lot of people in the same accent, if they sang I would like them. I love all music really.
Kerri, Jared is WHAT NOW???!!! :| Horror-shock!
Darn good song anyway, though some of the others on the album are easier to listen to on a regular basis :P
I KNOW KAT :O !!!!!!!!
hes scary old! (no offence to other peoples that age, he just doesnt look it) i couldnt believe it! :S
I thought he was in his 20's. . . admittedly I also didn't realise who Jared was (an actor).
p.s. I like 30 Pence to Mars. (remember that convo Fraser? Avenged 7pence etc.)
To be honest you are a t***
[Always good to get things off your chest. Feel better now, sweetums? - Fraser]
Its an alright song, but it grinds on you for a while, the first single on this album (Attack) is miles better...and to be honest the whole album is good but has nothing on their first album, its a shame taht one never got noticed in the UK
Hey... 30 Seconds To Mars is really good band. Jared Leto is really talented person/singer/actor. And The Kill is wonderful song. I just love it. I like this band very much, and i think that they are doing awesome job. Thers sons are so real and so beautiful. So what if Jared is Actor? He is singer too! And he does both things very well. It's not lie... Shannon is photographer and actor too. And what? Why you don't talk about him? Always about Jared. Leave this guy alone, for once... Jared don't look like Gerard Way or ... that other guy... i don't really remember... But Jared don't ! Just look at him! Where do you see Gerard? And c'mon... You couldn't sing one note like Jared does... Lets face it... ;)
[Sure I can. It's the second and third notes that cause all the trouble. - Fraser]
30 seconds to mars rule love the stuff their doing
Hahahahahahahahahaha,
Hey wow, you know thats actually funny!
Not the fact that you payed out this guy, (Who may I add is very talented)
But the fact that you haven't got anything better to do!
LOL
Fact is he'll have more success and money and all that jazz than you will, in your lifetime.
No, I don't blame you. I'm pretty damn jealous of him to..
Sucks to be a nobody, doesn't it?
{How could I possibly know? - Fraser]
30 Seconds to Mars are an awesome band and 'The Kill' is one of their best songs
Im still addicted to this song and i have been listening to it for the past year, cant get enough of it
As for Jared Leto..he is talented at everything he does. He is an amazing actor and an awesome song writer/singer.
When singers become actors/actresses no one ever says anything so why can actors become singers?
'The Kill' is an amazing song and i highly recommend it!
30STM are awesome; I dont like tha radio edit of the song as much as the album version though; Leto doesnt let rip as much in it. 'The Kill' is one of three well good songs from the album, along with 'Attack and 'From Yesterday'. The second album is more defined and unique from the first. The first was a mish-mash of Incubus, Linkin Park and other metal groups, 'A Beautiful Lie' is more of a focused album with edgier rythms and choruses. BIG UP 30STM
Your job is reviewing the MUSIC !
Why always pointing on that fact that JL also is a "rich and famous" (haha, he's a B-lister)actor ? Does that mean it isn't possible to be talented in more than one thing ? That would be poor by God (or nature).
I know a few multi-talented people, don't you ?
1. Music has always been Letos 1st choice. No hobby, you're ignorant !
2. The band signed their record deal in 1998.
3. Reviers should check out facts better.
4. Even a really bad 30STM review would have been ok when good researched.
I like the band since 2003 (Capricorn-video on fuse) and think their music is great. Also their gigs.
P.S. I'm definitely NO fangirl ... (male/married/NOT gay/35/NIN-fan)
[Wow, you sure unpicked your own argument at the end there. Being gay would be BAD in terms of having taste in music, eh? Or being a girl? Or unmarried? Nice.
As for the review...first half sets out why I dismissed the song AT FIRST, because of my prejudices, which are, like yours, stupid. Second half is about why it's actually a very good song. Maybe a single, teen-lesbian Reznor-hater would have read it properly. - Fraser]
Fraser, you've got me !
Ok, I'm a 50yr old woman from China who has a big crush on Jared Leto !
Or am I 13/Greek/stupid ?
or really gay ?
---
I guess, only blind in the morning ...
love your humour
[Thank you, sir...or madam... - Fraser]
Haha! KO! Fraser wins.
Great song, great band, great album but I prefer the album version of 'The Kill'x
personally i think the kill is one of 30 seconds to mars' best songs they old stuff wasa bit outta wack and this is just perfect to fit in with the modern rock scene there a scene kids hu think there betta then they really are, the song
potrays the fact that there isnt just one version of you as a person every one has a fake that will come out to hide the way you are really feeling.
this song brings back everything that you want in a good song!!!!!!!!!!!!! the realisation that people can be fake and most do act fake a lot of te time
i want real back no hiding emotions
oww and gerard leto is fittt
personally i think the kill is one of 30 seconds to mars' best songs they old stuff wasa bit outta wack and this is just perfect to fit in with the modern rock scene there a scene kids hu think there betta then they really are, the song
potrays the fact that there isnt just one version of you as a person every one has a fake that will come out to hide the way you are really feeling.
this song brings back everything that you want in a good song!!!!!!!!!!!!! the realisation that people can be fake and most do act fake a lot of te time
i want real back no hiding emotions
oww and gerard leto is fittt
The song has good lyrics, melody and an awesome chorus that you can't help to sing along with. The video is really good and totally reflects the actual meaning of the song, which does differ from your interpretation.
30 Seconds To Mars are a really good band and this song, whilst being the most commercial on the album, is a testament to that fact. There are plenty of musicians that cross over into acting so I don't get why it is such a big deal that Jared Leto did it the other way round. Since when was the lead singer the only person in the band?? Shannon and Tomo are both damn good musicians and are always overlooked in reviews and interviews about the band purely because of Jared's public profile. So much for unbiased journalism.
[When you've read the whole review, then you can comment. Please have another go. - Fraser]
"gerard leto" :S
lora, has gerard way and jared leto mixed together?!?! is there a 'jared way' somewhere?! so, does that mean its now '30 seconds to romance' and 'my chemical mars'?!
tell me, please! :P
LOL.. 30 seconds to romance.. I wish! THAT is the message that guys everywhere should carry in their hearts!
you suck get a life.
i totally love 30stm!!! gonna see them and am glad they are getting the recognition they deserve, just because they have an actor singing lead dont mean they are no worth listening bout
i love you jared!