30 Seconds To Mars - 'Closer To The Edge'
Some people are irony-proof. What they do is so incredibly sincere, so untroubled by the possibility that they might come across as a bit of a soppy fool, that they're practically invulnerable. Your mocking laughter can't hurt them, it doesn't even exist on the same plane of experience as what they are attempting to do. There is just the moment, the person, and the purity of what they are saying, untainted by any form of self-consciousness whatsoever.
So when 30 Seconds To Mars make videos as if they a miniature movies - with credits and everything - and put in little philosophical vox-pops from the fans who've just seen them live (all incredibly sincere people, all blown away by what they've just experienced) it's because they really mean it. When the same video depicts a pink-mohicanned Jared Leto walking among his band like a God among men, it's not something you can easily sneer away to one side.
The Secs don't have Muse's giggle-clause, where they go beyond histrionics and enormity into an area which is as funny as it is amazing. They always pull back from anything too silly, preferring to linger within the passionate epic hugeness where, even though it's hard to believe anyone can ever mean anything as much as Jared seems to want us to know that he MEANS IT - including Plan B - it's even harder to believe that they're fakers.
(. It's not a movie. It's a pop video.)
Now, I'll let you into a little secret about reviewers. We none of us believe we have the power to influence events. Not really. We may express how music lands on us for a living, but you'd have to be a little bit of a mirrorkisser to think a few snarky comments can stop a good record from reaching the audience it deserves.
Watching the 30 Seconds To Mars video, in which there are so many self-aggrandising moments which normally I'd be railing against, and hearing the overblown, overbig, overwhelming music, well it just reiterates that point.
It doesn't matter what I think about this song - for the record, it's not exactly my cup of tea, but not bad for anthemic arena rock. A kind of Bon Jovi in (even more) eyeliner - because standing to the side of the passionate interface between this massively sincere band and their devoted audience and lobbing spitballs at both is not a very nice thing to do.
And if that sounds like a coward's way out of saying that this is just U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name' with a better chorus and more shouting, which makes calling it 'Closer To The Edge' into something of an astonishing conceptual joke...well, it is.
Download: Out now
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú Music page
(Fraser McAlpine)
"You can't help but love the band just that little bit more."
"I really, really like this track and it runs 'Night of the Hunter' close for the best track on 'This Is War'."
"Harder, faster track that showcase[s] how good this band can be."
Comment number 1.
At 17th Jul 2010, U14556370 wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 17th Jul 2010, Haducon2 wrote:Five star song from a five star album. Simple as.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 17th Jul 2010, OddOne wrote:I've never been a fan of 30 Seconds To Mars, but this song is phenomenal.
5 stars.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 19th Jul 2010, ClaireBoothby wrote:This is an amazing minature movie, and lets be fair that is what it is. As is 'From Yesterday' and 'Beautiful Lie'. The new album and this song are incredible, and all I know is that I feel the music. I think McAlpine is wrong though he doesn't walk like a god among men, thats a bit OTT but the 'Closer to the Edge' video shows how electric the band is live, and it shows how much fun we all had in the audience. Also it portrays how much they care about there fans.A great song from the best band of now.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 19th Jul 2010, U14429597 wrote:Jared is my Man-Crush. Goodbye.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 19th Jul 2010, spirit wrote:I am a straight man with a crush on Jared Leto too .
I know that I am not alone.
I think there are many that walk among us .
I have chosen to be outspoken on this topic , but I am aware that some men stay silent , about their secret love of the Leto .
Don't fight it guys , it's totally natural .
Spread the love .
:)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 19th Jul 2010, MozFoz wrote:How the heck did that kid manage to stand on the crowd? Never would happen in the UK. Ever.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 19th Jul 2010, _Kerri wrote:Brilliant choice of single this song is amazing. Nice video too, different from the usual mini movies (not that I don't like the mini movies, they rock also).
5 stars from me :)
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 20th Jul 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:This track = AMAZING!
If I were other ways inclined, I would Jared Leto also. ;) Seriously he has such feminine features.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 21st Jul 2010, U14429597 wrote:Just admit the Crush randy.. Join us... JOIN THE LETO SIDE!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 21st Jul 2010, spirit wrote:lol
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 21st Jul 2010, spirit wrote:Get out the closet and join us Randy ! You are so far inside ,you are having adventures in Narnia ! x
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 21st Jul 2010, U14429597 wrote:I still fancy Beyonce more though.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 21st Jul 2010, RandomEnigma wrote:LOL Adam, I do believe I admitted my man crush.However, I will leave you and Spirit to have your private party amongst the fauns and centaurs of Narnia. Jared is beautiful to look at facewise but not much more...
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)