REVIEW: 30 Seconds to Mars’ ‘America’ proves as polarizing as America itself

In the 2002 song “Oblivion,” Jared Leto sang, “America it’s all so beautiful until it goes away,” on 30 Seconds to Mars’ debut album. Now, 16 years later, Leto channels this idea to the extreme by giving listeners an album centered around the country he hopes does not go away.  

That being said, the band’s new album proves to be a successful attempt in their new concept, and a positive step in their career, showing that even with their most mainstream sound yet, they manage to make powerful, arena rock-pop songs.

After exploring a range of emotions on their previous album “Love, Lust, Faith, and Dreams,” America takes an attitude similar to the band’s third album “This is War,” which should not be too surprising. The lyrics on “This is War” were influenced by a nearly year-long battle with the group’s music label, and it featured war and battle-themed lyrics of struggle and fighting, while nevertheless having a new optimistic sound by the band. With “America,” Leto said he sought to create an album that represented America in its “good, bad, and ugly” and therefore, provides an album filled with lyrics with similar ideas, while also providing a production inspired by current popular American styles.

As a band that was always interested in pushing musical boundaries and exploring different music genres, this album sees the band exploring an array of styles like electronic, hip-hop and even some trap influences. This may prove problematic for fans who have been accustomed to the rock-driven sound of the band, but the band nevertheless still shows their rock influences, which can be seen in songs like “Rescue Me” and “One Track Mind”, which despite being a more trap inspired track, features a surprising and impressive guitar solo. The band continues to channel their “This is War” spirit by continuing to show their influence by eighties arena rock with songs like “Live Like A Dream”, a song that sounds reminiscent of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” and is one of the highlights of the album.

One of the most interesting aspects of “America” is that despite Leto wishing to paint a portrait of America in its current state, Leto overall crafts an enthusiastic and uplifting catalog on the album, addressing America’s current state more so through using the various music genres that currently dominate the American charts. Rather than making a flat-out political album about America, the band chooses to channel U2 in their “Joshua Tree” phase, painting a portrait of what they perceive as the real America and mythical America.

The band’s most direct explorations of America can be seen on songs like “Walk on Water”, “Great Wide Open” and “Hail to the Victor.” These songs prove to be highlighted on the album. Tracks like “Dangerous Night,” arguably their first real love song, show the band at their most personal. This can also be seen in the song “Dawn Will Rise,” in which Jared arguably speaks of his own musical pursuits while also speaking of America’s changing state, singing “I must change or die.” The band continues to cite personal issues while also addressing American issues, in the form of drug addiction, on arguably the best song on the album, “Remedy,” which is sung by Leto’s brother and drummer Shannon Leto.

Overall, while reviews for “America” will likely be as mixed as the album itself, the album is a must-listen for the summer. The album will prove to be the soundtrack to those wanting uplifting arena songs for their summer, while also being the soundtrack to Leto’s upcoming companion documentary piece to the album. Wiand having only getting bigger and having released their fifth album with yet another distinctive sound, 30 Seconds to Mars show that times are indeed changing, and maybe they are the ones who can walk on water.