Straylight Run (album)
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Straylight Run is the self-titled debut studio album by American indie rock band Straylight Run.
Background
Guitarist John Nolan, citing exhausting from touring, left Taking Back Sunday, with bassist Shaun Cooper following shortly after.[1] Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara said that he thought Nolan and Cooper were "having trouble because everything was happening so fast. Going from being home [...] to being gone all the time and having your whole life consumed and almost defined by the band that you’re in is a lot to handle."[1] Nolan later accused Lazzara of being unfaithful to his sister, who he was in a relationship with.[2] In May 2003, Nolan and Cooper, formed Straylight Run with Nolan's sister Michelle and Breaking Pangaea drummer Will Noon.[3]
The band recorded multiple demos, posting them for free download from their website.[3] These demos helped build hype around the band.[3] They recorded their self-titled debut album in upstate New York, away from Nolan and Cooper's hometown of Amityville in Long Island.[4] In September, the band went on their first tour, a headlining tour across the U.S. with support from Christiansen and JamisonParker.[5] In November, the band toured with The Format.[6] The group supported Coheed and Cambria in December.[7] In January 2004, the band supported Brand New on their tour of the UK.[8] In April, the band signed to Victory Records.[3]
Composition
For their debut album, the band re-recorded their earlier demos and incorporated new songs.[3] The album has been described by MTV as "piano-driven, smart pop."[9]
Nolan has stated that "Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)" was written as an apology to Brand New lead singer Jesse Lacey for sleeping with his girlfriend and starting the band feud, with the chorus lyrics reciting directions to Nolan's house at the time.[2]
Release
On August 25, 2004, Straylight Run's self-titled album was announced for release.[10] It was released on October 12, 2004 by Victory Records.[11] In October and November, the band went on tour with Hot Rod Circuit, Northstar and Say Anything.[10] In January and February 2005, the band toured across the U.S. alongside Something Corporate, Hidden in Plain View, The Academy Is...,[12] and Armor for Sleep.[13] In April and May, the band headlined the Alternative Pres/Vans tour with support from Minus the Bear, Gratitude, The Honorary Title, and Spitalfield.[14] In October and November, the band supported Simple Plan.[15] The band supported Motion City Soundtrack on the mtvU Campus Invasion tour in April 2006.[16] In May, the band toured Australia alongside Matchbook Romance.[17]
A video was shot for the album's lead single, "Existentialism on Prom Night", which earned regular rotation on MTV.[9]
Reception
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
LAS Magazine | 6.5/10 [19] |
Melodic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Yahoo! Music | Favorable[22] |
A month after its release, the album had sold 22,000 copies.[11] By September 2006, the album had sold over 200,000 copies.[23]
Track listing
All songs written by Straylight Run.
- "The Perfect Ending" – 4:53
- "The Tension and the Terror" – 3:39
- "Existentialism on Prom Night" – 4:01
- "Another Word for Desperate" – 5:20
- "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" – 3:39
- "Dignity and Money" – 3:34
- "Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)" – 5:06
- "Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs" – 3:54
- "It's for the Best" – 4:21
- "Now It's Done" – 4:44
- "Sympathy for the Martyr" – 5:51
Personnel
- Shaun Cooper – bass guitar
- John Nolan – vocals, guitar, piano, glockenspiel
- Michelle Nolan – vocals, guitar, piano
- Will Noon – drums, percussion
- Nate Ruess (The Format) – backing vocals
- Laura Kirsch – backing vocals
- Linda Nolan – backing vocals
References
- Citations
- ^ a b Wiederhorn, Jon (June 24, 2004). "Taking Back Sunday Are Taking Back The Summer This Year". MTV. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "When your head goes through the windshield: the 10 best moments of the TBS/Brand New feud - Features - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e Apar, Corey. "Straylight Run | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ "Straylight Run: Life After Taking Back Sunday". MTV News. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
- ^ Heisel, Scott (August 5, 2003). "Taking Back Sunday and Breaking Pangaea - torrid tales of forbidden incest!". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ DuFour, Matt (October 6, 2003). "The Format Hit The Road With Straylight Run". The Fader. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Heisel, Scott (November 9, 2003). "Updated Coheed and Cambria tour dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Heisel, Scott (January 29, 2004). "Brand New/Straylight Run/Moneen UK tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "Straylight Run: Life After Taking Back Sunday". MTV News. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
- ^ a b Paul, Aubin (August 25, 2004). "Straylight Run announces Debut, Tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ a b Christman 2004, p. 65
- ^ Shultz, Brian (January 4, 2005). "Something Corporate / Straylight Run / Hidden In Plain View / The Academy Is". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Adams, Chip (February 1, 2005). "Armor For Sleep Launch US Tour". Fader. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
- ^ Shultz, Brian (February 27, 2005). "Straylight Run, Spitalfield, Minus The Bear and more on Alt Press / Vans Tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Paul, Aubin (September 12, 2005). "Simple Plan to tour with Straylight Run, Plain White T's". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ Paul, Aubin (February 25, 2006). "Motion City Soundtrack / Straylight Run / Hellogoodbye on MTVu Campus Invasion". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
- ^ Paul, Aubin (March 7, 2006). "Matchbook Romance / Straylight Run in Australia". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ link
- ^ LAS Magazine review
- ^ Roth, Kaj (November 14, 2004). "Straylight Run - Straylight Run". Melodic. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ link
- ^ O'Connor, Rob (December 2, 2004). "Straylight Run". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on April 29, 2005. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
- ^ "Straylight Run complete new album, announce fall tour". Alternative Press. September 25, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- Sources