NewYearsDayProject | a song a day blog

  Anberlin had recorded their seventh studio album, Vital , with Aaron Sprinkle when they set out on an acoustic tour. The band known for their energetic live shows decided to create an intimate atmosphere, reinterpreting some of their classics, fan favorites, and deep cuts. Anberlin actually did two acoustic tours, one before Vital and one after the album’s release; however, the tour is only captured in a one-night performance in Williamsburg , later released as a bonus disc with Devotion , a massive repacking of Vital. The concert starts with an album cut , “ Take Me ” (As You Found Me), from Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place , the album the band was still promoting.  YOU’RE HERE WITH ME. If there is an album that Anberlin would say is their peak sound, they would probably say it was Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place. The band delves into their post-punk influences. From the album’s promotion-- the fashion chosen for the photoshoots, the talk of Dylan Thomas’ “ Poem on His Birthday

Tooth & Nail Records became a front-runner in the race for general-market-ready Christian Rock. Feeding bands like  Anberlin , Mae , and The Almost  to major labels and supporting Underoath as they shaped the world of metalcore, the label defined a generation of Christian music. No longer were rock festivals giving Christian Rock the stink eye. But as the label’s marketing expanded to the general market, some complained that the message of the bands had been watered down. The name of Jesus rarely appeared in lyrics printed in the Ryan Clark-illustrated flyleaf in the crystal jewel case. That’s where Flicker Records and ForeFront Records came in, offering bands with distinctly Christian lyrics. That's where we meet ForeFront Records' This Beautiful Republic. DOUBT HAS NEVER PROVEN ANYTHING. This Beautiful Republic formed in 2004 when alumni of Toledo Christian Schools in Toledo, Ohio joined California drummer Cameron Toews. After the band’s lead singer left the band, energ

  In 2017, Aaron Sprinkle released Real Life , his last release on Tooth & Nail Records . The legendary producer had released solo work sporadically since the ‘90s; however, being the go-to producer for some of the most successful bands in Alternative and Hard Christian Rock was time-consuming, and Sprinkle felt that producing great records was more successful than trying to promote a solo career. Sprinkle’s production always felt cutting-edge when he recorded, whether for Anberlin , Acceptance , Demon Hunter , Falling Up , or a host of other bands. Real Life, however, feels very 2017. Today, let's explore the album, track by track. 1. Invincible kicks off the album with that 2017 electronic sound. Featuring Poema ’s Elle Puckett contributing a spoken-word/ rap part, the song sounds nothing like what you’d expect from either artist. The lyrics seem to be the speaker coming to realize that he is not invincible. Puckett tries to convince the first speaker that he never needed

  The pandemic was a mixed blessing for music. On one hand, bands were unable to tour, which cut off the lifeblood of the music industry. Album sales, which used to drive the industry, were decimated by the end of the ‘10s as music shifted to digital sales. But even digital sales slowed, and streaming became the industry standard. Even when albums were selling, bands needed to tour, often relentlessly, to make a living. When the pandemic hit and forced touring bands to stay home, several bands found a way to distribute the experiences of a live show via Internet livestream. With the public stuck at home, many of the old bands decided to get back together. It turned out that millennials now had money to spend on the band that they loved in their youth.  HE CALLED BACK HOME, BUT THEY JUST MISSED IT. Seth Roberts took 2020 as an opportunity to reform his old band, Watashi Wa . Roberts had several bands before the Watashi Wa reunion, but Watashi Wa was Roberts’ first band. Roberts worked

  I'm taking a break from writing this week and just delivering playlists. I don't have any parasocial commentary on  NewJeans . I don't know much about this group of teenagers and feel too old to relate to it. Th eir massive 2023 hit " Super Shy " gained critical acclaim around the world and was shortlisted by many critics as a favorite song of the year. I nstead, today, we're looking at the big songs from the last two years and songs that might be big this year.  NewJeans has not yet released a song in 2024. Their output in 2023 was impressive. But I thought I would go back to where it all started in posting my  Spotify edition of  2024+, with their song " Attention . "   The 2022 song fits my requirements for songs released within the past two years.  The Apple Music edition will come later.  I will also reveal my favorite song from last year at the post's end! 1. “ Nothing More ” by Anberlin . I was iffy on the latest Anberlin EP, Convinc

I've broken several traditions I've established with my blog. Many of my songs don't feel like they fit in with a particular season. This year, I didn't post U2 's " New Year's Day " on January 1.  But one tradition that lives on this year is celebrating Cities Day. On February 20, 2007, Anberlin released what many fans claim as their masterpiece, their third album Cities. Today, brush your forelocks aside, and let's explore the album track-by-track!  1. ( Début ). For about a minute and a half, Anberlin introduces us to a dark world in an instrumental composed of city sound effects and noisy guitars. The song reminds me of  Jerry Martin 's  Sim City 4   soundtrack. (Début) leads into " Godspeed ." 2. " Godspeed " is a pretty jarring song to follow any track, but following yesterday's sleepy song is especially going to give my listeners a slap in the face. "Godspeed" is a cautionary tale about the rock star li