Soot and Stars
I AM SOOT!
After 3 members left Thomas Duttons band after the first album, Thomas rather than call it quits decided to keep the band (titled from the Fight Club book) going forward by creating a rock musical he would write and he would recruit a who's who of 2,000's rock to help him do it. The album/Project would be called:
Razia's Shadow
I got two free songs off of a website which was my avenue to hearing the project. I don't understand the story as I never delve into concept albums. I prefer life based writing but I just liked the theatrical dramatic epic feel to the album. Thomas was quoted only as saying this much:
"The album tells the story of a world divided in two by the selfish actions of a powerful and egotistical, yet insecure angel. After generations of darkness, the world is eventually brought back together by the love and sacrifice of a couple brave enough to fulfill their destinies."~Thomas Dutton
Each singer is a character in the story and plays that role. Here's the roster and their role. Younger members will be more likely to recognize the names/groups:
Casey Crescenzo From The Dear Hunter as O the Scientist
John Baldwin Gourley From Portugal. The Man and Kris Anaya From An Angle as Bawaba Brothers
Aaron Weiss From mewithoutYou as the Narrator
Danny Stevens From The Audition as Gargul the Oracle
Chris Conley From Saves the Day as Toba the Tura
Dan Young From This Providence as Sangara
Max Bemis From Say Anything as Barayas the Spider
Greta Salpeter From The Hush Sound as Princess Anhura
Brendon Urie From Panic! at the Disco as Pallis
Nic Newsham From Gatsbys American Dream as King Malka
Shawn Harris From The Matches as Doctor Dumaya
Lizzie Huffman From Man in the Blue Van as Nidria
Thomas Dutton From Forgive Durden as Adakias and Ahrima
Here's some tracks I liked from the album:
Life Is Looking Up
(the first track I heard, very frenetic pop rock opera)
The Spider and the Lamp feat. Max Bemis
(second I heard, Max is the perfect vocalist to pick for this type of storytelling)
The End and The Beginning feat. Greta Salpeter and Brendon Urie
The group/project has yet too move on since this album in 2008 but I hope Thomas decides to keep doing ambitious projects in the future!