September 27
So, it's really happening, the recording of a new batch of awesome songs, most of which we have never played together. Nate has been recording demo versions of plenty of new songs in the little time that he has had at home this year, and amazingly, the rest of the band has gone crazy about the songs. Being 1100 miles from home for four months seemed to help Nate write a whole lot of new music.
The other big part of what is going on is that Matt Murray, the guy who joined the band in late 2006 as the frontman, is back in the band to play guitar and help do backing vocals. We're completely stoked about having him back, we get along really well, and he's a great musician.
So, there's no set time for the new music to be finished, but we definitely can say that we're far more in love with these new songs than we ever have been compared to anything else we have written in the past. We hope the case will be the same for you, the listener. Taking the better part of a year off from the band has made us that much more passionate about the music. We miss playing for you guys, and we can't wait to start playing some awesome shows. PEACE
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July 26
So here it is, 1:30am on a Wednesday night/Thursday morning. And I'm going to write about what the songs on the Madhouse are about, so you can refer to this blog whenever you are listening to one of the songs. Keep in mind that all my lyrics on the CD are written only from my perspective, and that I want people to be able to attach their own story and meaning to any given song. So what I say a song is about is just what it means to me, and definitely isn't the end-all. Not to mention that these interpretations are very brief, and that the overall theme of almost all the songs is very similar. Here goes:
Dead Man's Horoscope: This song is very angry against old habits/people/memories that get in the way of moving forward in life. Thus the metaphors about this "old man" or "machine" that I'm trying to be rid of.
The Cold Blue: This actually is very much like the first track, but it is more of a declaration of not being held back anymore, and is slightly hinting of a better future. Not so angry this one.
Peripeteia: At the risk of sounding as cliched as possible, this is about the mental weirdness and torment of a past relationship, and the inability to escape from the memory.
Broken Lines: I wrote these lyrics out of some of the weird times we've gone through as a band, and the feeling that we had always been running into brick walls musically and as far as some of the friendship aspects go.
Lost And Found: Yes, we had to redo the song that was arguably the most popular song on "Mainstream Epidemic." This song is about a guy who has pretty much given up in life, and has been let down on every front, by friends, family, addictions, relationships, or whatever, and he doesn't know where to turn.
Captivate & "...": Raul actually wrote these lyrics a long time ago. This is a song that we've been playing in many different musical variations for almost 3 or 4 years. We reworked the instrumental section about 500000 times, being the overly anal technical music freaks that we had been/are. The lyrics are about a friendship that has proven to be extremely challenging and maddening over a long period of time. At least, that's what I get out of it.
The Madhouse: These are the most poetic lyrics I have ever written. The chorus is actually a direct quote from Hamlet: "Conscience makes cowards of us all." I also reference a poem by Sir Edwin Alden Robinson in the last verse of the song. The song is about the feeling I sometimes experience that there is no order or purpose in my life, that either I'm completely insane, or everyone else in the world is. It is a very desperate song, but I actually think it can be uplifting if you want it to.
Shrug: This is the first new song we wrote after Mainstream Epidemic. The lyrics are me pretty much venting at all the people who have ever talked us down, thought we sucked, or thought that we'll never go anywhere as a band. It is a triumphant song in reality, it ends with 40 voices singing the line "...You just wait and see what happens..." This is probably my favorite song on the album. I think it's also the only song in a major key. hmmmmm...
Riptide: Another madness song, though this time, I try to imply that I'm don't give a s*** about the things that are holding me/us back. This song screams "BRING IT ON." We thought it would be a properly intense song to end the album with, seeing as it brings all the thoughts about the madness of life to a close.
Overall, the idea of The Madhouse is that we human beings can't fulfill ourselves. There has to be something more. The only true contentment comes from being selfless, not selfish.
So there you have it in a really really brief nutshell. I need to go to bed. Leave your thoughts here folks. PEACE.
Nate
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Ipod80gb
cool...like it!
posted Sep 30
TheOtherSide
sweet
posted Oct 14
&heart; Mowgli;;
Heyy! how r u?? I
posted Feb 23
for_the_taking
Add Comment here...
posted Feb 12
XCRocker4Ever
Yo guys are amazing, I CANT WAIT to see you all rock
out at your 12-23 show. Keep up the hard work!
posted Dec 16