Story-Based Concept Album is precisely as claimed, a concept album illustrated by a graphic novel booklet. Which sounds simple enough, until you take a look at the collective that was created to bring the set to fruition. But let's back up.
The T4 Project was
Shannon Saint Ryan's unwieldy baby, a daydream of a set featuring a fantasy list of players, the cream of the punk scene. But through perseverance and good fortune, the T4 Project came into being as more and more musicians climbed on board. The album started taking shape, artists were employed, and eventually the set emerged much as
Saint Ryan had always envisioned. Set in an uber-horror-land not far removed from contemporary America, the songs vividly describe the world and tell the tragic tale of two young discontents caught up in a cycle of hatred and violence, whose chains are finally broken at album's end. Interspersing the musical numbers are faux commercials and political commentary, all dripping with irony, sarcasm, and humor. The lyrics are heavy-handed, but then this is an unashamed polemic, and the power of the words are echoed by the power of the music, for
Saint Ryan enlisted some heavy hitting talent. Members of
Pennywise,
Bad Religion,
Porno for Pyros,
Strung Out,
Conflict,
Subhumans,
Buzzcocks and many, many more musicians, 13 in all, participated. All left a mark on the sound, although
Pennywise and
Bad Religion are arguably
Saint Ryan's largest influences. Just to hear all these musicians playing in various combinations is worth the price of admission, but the message is one that demands hearing as well. Who says dreams can't come true?