Most people wouldn’t think that listening to a rock band that had been infused with a seminal disco beat
would sound any good, but once again the Europeans were eager to experiment. With The Rasmus’ debut album
in the United States, they created a new hybrid of dance rock that isn’t so common. Dead Letters mixes
catching music driven by a strong beat and catchy guitar lines with, for the most part, very depressing lyrics,
but if it’s hard to go beyond the music long enough to realize the exact meaning of what singer Lauri Ylönen is saying.
From Finland (where this is the guys’ sixth album), the guys of The Rasmus aren’t beyond experimentation and could be
compared with other Europeans The Darkness in the way they’re attempting to bring back a genre that isn’t so common
within the United States rock genre of loud guitars and screaming singers.
The single “In the Shadows” opens up with a catchy keyboard opening that cuts into what could possibly be high notes
hit by Ylönen or more notes from the keyboard. Through this opening song on the album, the hook that starts at the
beginning becomes so catchy that it’s hard not to dance along to it. In following songs, simple guitars become overpowered
by the melody of the vocals and the impressive harmonies that would be interesting to hear recreated in concert. The perfect
amount of vocal effects is used at crucial breaks in songs, never becoming too computerized and fake.
The album closes with a sparsely instrumented ballad called “Funeral Song” that features strings behind lyrics mourning the
end of a failed relationship. The strings create a more elegant sound that helps turn this song into something that belongs
in a bleak movie scene. Perhaps finding it too much of a sad ending, the CD features a bonus track from an earlier European
only release, “F-F-F-Falling”, which has a more pop sound to it than any of the previous songs. Using more studio effects
than any of the other songs, this track would fit well played loudly in the middle of a dance club.
At rare moments, The Rasmus begins to sound like Linkin Park without Mike Shinoda rapping the verses. Covering some of
the same topics – being an outcast, regrets from the past, and the obligatory jilted lover sentiments – makes it seem like
an easy comparison. The Rasmus, however, relies more on the fusion of their music and lyrical melodies rather than focusing
on either vocals or instrumentation at any given moment such as LP seems to do. Occasionally there are a few moments of hope
in The Rasmus’ lyrics, including “Still Standing” and “Back In the Picture”, two songs rejoicing in overcoming hardships.
In all, Dead Letters is a strong stateside debut for a band looking to break into the mainstream music industry
with a sound that fuses modern rock music with a more retro glam rock/disco edge. It’s a unique sound that’s refreshing
in an industry overwhelmingly dominated by pop punk and emo bands. If you’re a rock fan, this is definitely a new band
to look into with a potential to leave a lasting effect on the American rock scene.
Artist:
The Rasmus