Wiretap Scars

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Wiretap Scars
Studio album by Sparta
Released	August 13, 2002
Recorded	2002
Genre	Alternative Rock, Post-Hardcore
Length	45:38 (International edition) 49:33 (UK edition)
Label	Geffen Records
Producer	Jerry Finn
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork Media (7.2/10) August 29, 2002 Rolling Stone link
Sparta chronology
Austere (2002) Wiretap Scars (2002) Porcelain (2004)

Wiretap Scars is an album by Sparta, released on August 13, 2002 on Dreamworks and peaked at #71 on the Billboard 200. Only months separated this release from their debut EP Austere. The album is greatly influenced by the music of At the Drive-In, with whom most of Sparta's members originally played before their split in 2001.

The vocals and track naming in particular reflect At the Drive-In's Relationship of Command, the last album made by the group. This is in contrast to the music of The Mars Volta, formed by two other members of ATDI (Omar and Cedric), which departs entirely from the post-hardcore genre.

Wiretap Scars alternates between hardcore punk tracks such as "Cut Your Ribbon" and more melodic, emotionally charged tracks like "Glasshouse Tarot". There is an overall impression of freedom throughout the album, though combined with undertones of hurt and futility perhaps given added relevance by the subsequent death of band member Jim's cousin Jeremy Ward.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Cut Your Ribbon" – 3:04
2. "Air" – 3:57
3. "Mye" – 3:39
4. "Collapse" – 4:16
5. "Sans Cosm" – 3:59
6. "Light Burns Clear" – 4:24
7. "Cataract" – 5:11
8. "Red Alibi" – 3:42
9. "R_x Coup" – 3:14
10. "Glasshouse Tarot" – 5:13
11. "Echodyne Harmonic" – 3:57
12. "Assemble the Empire" – 3:02

[edit] Bonus Tracks

• "Vacant Skies" – (UK/Japan Bonus Track) - 3:55
• "Echodyne Harmonic (de-mix)" (Japan Bonus Track)

[edit] Personnel

• Jim Ward – guitar, vocals
• Paul Hinojos – guitar
• Matt Miller – bass
• Tony Hajjar – drums