1. My Name is Freedom
Lyrics: Beckett/Peters
Producer: Vin Peters
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - July 2011
Length: 3:42
Music/Background: The song starts immediately with Billie's vocals and loud, dominant drumming from Robert. The drumming goes along with boosted to the max bass from Matt and power chords also from Billie. The loud start doesn't foreshadow the entire song though, because the prechorus gets quiet. Billie sings the prechorus with the emotion and darkness which backs up the lyrical theme of the song that sees freedom as a struggling rebellious adolescent. Meanwhile the drumming stops along with the bass and Billie plays open chords with melodic lead guitar from Vin to back him up. The chorus comes with Vin playing classic rock inspired fills and Robert playing rather heavy drumming while Matt picks up where he left off.
THe next verse prechorus and chorus are the same as the first. Then in the bridge Billie builds up his vocals starting quietly with the instruments very subtle. Then things build to as mid level and slowly get more passionate and intense. By the end Robert, Vin, Matt, and Billie are going full throttle plus something extra in a powerful climax to the song. The last few lines of the bridge are sung by Billie and Matt with Matt seeming more menacing and Billie more passionate and angry.
Billie: This song basically establishes what will come. On the full length the comparisons between a more big picture concept with the world and a personal struggle will be more obvious. This song starts it all. Musically it isn't all the progressive from what we've done before, but I think it starts the entire story that will continue beyond this EP to the full length very well.
Matt: Another thing is that we wanted to be very visually progressive with the album artwork. If you look closely you can see very clearly that we are trying to make a very epic allusion to history. Like Billie said, I think this song introduces the story very well, and it is musically familiar so I think fans will latch on to eat very easily.
Lyrics: My name is freedom
And I am the smoking gun
I start revolutions
I built America
I am misunderstood
I'm power's rebellious son
I've heard I will overcome
I've heard I will overcome
But now it's all collapsing
And I can't...
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me
My name is freedom
And I answer to no one
I was born in your hearts
Then I infected your minds
I fight oppression
I'm power's rebellious son
I've heard I will overcome
I've heard give it a few months and the war will be won
But now it's all collapsing
And I can't...
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me
I wish I could be stitched back up
That my wounds would be gone
I've had a hell of a fight
Maybe it's finally won
Through a troubled childhood, I still exist
I'm still being pissed on in adolescents
Are all these mountaintops just a mirage
Am I climbing to my death from a fall
Oh, can I...
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this family
Or beat back all the demons
That try to take me
Tie the knot on the ropes that
Hold together this nation
Or take on the adversity
So you can still believe in me
2. My Name is William
Lyrics: Beckett
Produced by: Vin Peters and Jason Smith
Recorded: Ocean way Recordings - September 2011
Length: 4:21Music/Background: The song begins on a very haunted dark tone. A piano plays very low. Alongside it the sounds of a crowded city and traffic begin. Somewhere there is the sound up a steam engine. Violins join in steadily with the piano which plays to notes hypnotically steadily going up an octave, and then another octave and so on. The noises gets louder and more intense until the violins are playing a terrifying melody that drowns out the rest of the noise which as now faded to static. It is at this point that KC opens up the song with a loud scream. Then things fade down to a lower level with the violins switching melodies slightly. Billie sings intensely with a very desperate tone. Meanwhile the bass drum hits every few beats. The dynamic drums, guitar, and bass create a very modern metal tone to the song which is the darkest and heaviest Reported Failure have ever made. Billie and KC work together to create a memorable chorus. Violins join Vin in a fill before the more upbeat second verse that seems more angry that desperate. After the second chorus Vin shreds for about 30 seconds before the outro where Billie gets quiet again and the instruments fade out with him.
Vin: THis is one of my favorite songs I've ever been able to help create. It is dark and heavy, and scary, and intense. To be honest it might scare off some fans, but I think we've gotten to the point where we can make the same songs and fans will just get bored and we wont gain any new ones or we can risk scaring off a few fans and draw the attention of new ones. On this song we all also got to work with Jason Smith which was great. This song would not be anything that it is without his work and he really helped bring out a darker more bizzare side in us.
KC: This is the first song fans will hear with me, and I'm very proud of my work on it. one thing I love about this song is the intro which really helps reinforce the lyrical theme. Again thank you Jason Smth. This song was just very mindblowing to make because back in April I was just a guy in a band that opened up for Reported Failure and now I'm part of this fantastic band and album.
Billie: I really loved recording this song. We all like this song so much that it will be released as a single on the same da the album comes out.
Lyrics:(Italics - KC james
Normal - Billie Beckett
Underlined - both)
Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhh...Pen, paper, words, feelings
All get lost in between life and fiction
Rooftops and minimum wages
Lost families and disfunctional relationships
They all get lost
In my pen my paper
Until I don't recognize ohh anything.
It's all just morning coffee
Marble Pillars
Smoke and mirrorsNooooI wish I never set sail
Hey!I should've stayed in Greece
NowI'll just be stained on the cars below
Unwanted againHate, culture, waste, breeding
All have blurred the line between real and fake
Unwanted fathers and unwilling mothers
Lost causes, and forgotten sons
They are all I see
Through my worn eyes
I'm falling fast
All I see are sad memories
Painful lies
Hatred skiesNooooI wish I never set sail
Hey!I should've stayed in Greece
NowI'll just be stained on the cars below
Unwanted againMy name is William
My name is William
oooh
Sounds similar to:
3. Chance Run Ins
Lyrics: Beckett
Producer: Vin Peters
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - September/October 2011
Length: 3:50
Music/Background:The song starts out acapella. Billie, Matt, and KC all sing the opening lines. But the word "safer" is stretched out and slowly the pitch at which it is being sung gets higher like a siren to create the urgency of the song. Then all noise ceases before Billie quietly says the word "place". The bass is extremely powerful in this song with compliments from very heavy guitar playing from KC and fast heavy drumming from Robert. Both of them clearly show that they used to be in metal bands. Vin plays a tapping riff with a flanging petal that he uses to again reinforce the sense of urgency in the song. Overall though the song doesn't focus on any one aspect of the band but instead is full effort by everyone. Billie and Matt both sing the verses in a moderate tone that fans are familiar with. Then KC joins in on the prechorus where all that is left of the instruments is random guitar tone. The chorus is extremely catchy and aggressive with all instruments joining back in. At the end of the chorus the acapella introduction is repeated. On the bridge KC shows off his ability with screaming wich will no doubt threaten some RF fans who aren't used to it. Then Billie and Matt join in again before the final chorus.
Billie: This is the last song we finished for the EP. It took a long time because we just couldn't get an arrangement that we liked. We tried acoustics, and this song was almost cut completely. Eventually we ended up making it work nd I think people will like it. It is very different and yet also similar to our previous work. Lyrically it's a bit clunky in my opinion, but the vocal arrangements make it work. Overrall a good song. Hope you enjoy it.
Lyrics:Normal - Billie Beckett
Italics - KC JamesUnderlined - Matt CollinsRed - AllBlue - Matt and BillieFind a safer......Place
Walk around this town
Full of faces
Full of places
But nowhere can I stayBecause every pretty bulding
Every wet street
Every home game
They're only reminding me...Of how we changed our ways
The day the riots ran freeSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rainWe've recievedSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer placeFind a safer...Place
I walk on a fine line
Between order and chaos
Between the air and the buildings
Between life and deathGlass shatters and breaks my skin
You cut me open
You broke me down
Just with the sight of youThe sight of how a fall to a safer placeSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rainWe've recievedSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer placeFind a safer...Place
Chance run in with you
Chance run with my demons
Chance run with a city
Chance run in with a riotAll these things burn down to be
Another false ending between you and meSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
A deluge of hate
On this deluge of rainWe've recievedSo how could I
Expect to seeA pretty space between you and me
Find a safer place
Find a safer placeFind a safer...Place
Sounds similar to:
4. Goodbye, My Son
Lyrics: Beckett/Peters/Collins
Producer: Vin Peters
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - September 2011Music/Background:This song is the ballad of the EP. It opens with KC strumming an acoustic guitar. Bass joins in playing every root note at a rather slow pace along with subtle drumming and a violin and piano playing the same notes, similar to track 2 of the EP which helps give the EP a slightly consistent sound. Billie sings passionately in the soft register of his voice that he is very comfortable with. The song is all about melody which is one of the more beautiful that Reported Failure have ever managed to create. All the instruments on the verse work to compliment eachother and mostly Billie's vocals. The chorus shows exemplary vocal harmonizing from Billie, Matt, and KC who all stay in a soft vocal tone. Vin plays the same chords as KC on his electric guitar using a chorus effect to keep the tone very soft. He continues through the second verse. The bridge finds the violin and piano steadily getting more epic while Billie sings a couple of lines. Then the climax of the song begins with symbol crashes from Robert and the choir begins to sing the chorus. All the instruments get slightly faster but not so fast that they become the focal point of the song. Meanwhile Billie shows off his vocal range while the choir sings and Matt supplies a subtle repeat of Billie's lines that began the bridge. Billie sings to the heavens in the epic climax of the song before everyone sings the chorus as the song fades out.
Billie: This is the toughest most emotional song for me. Playing it live will no doubt be a roller coaster. This song basically documents my pain and my struggles. It is lyrically the most personally open and non metaphoric that I have ever been. This song is supposed to send a message to people. It is supposed to be a song that is almost hard to listen to. THe melody and everything makes it powerful. It is perfect in every way and I am more proud of this song than any other song I've ever taken part in making.
Vin: Musically I love this song. I think anyone can write a ballad. But this is the single greatest ballad I've ever taken part in writing and composing. All of the instruments compliment eachother perfectly. I love this song and it will no doubt be a single down the road.
Lyrics:Normal - Billie Beckett
Underlined - Matt CollinsGreen - KC, Billie, and MattRed - ChoirBlue - AllWhen I was young
Innocent and smiling
I wasn't alone
I had friends
I had family
Lived in the suburbs
Near Sac-Town
With my parents and my sister
We were like fairy tales
At the end when it's happy ever after
I remember my old house
Biking around
And causing trouble
Until dad pulled up
In the brand new car i was in love with
And so it went
For years and years
'Til one day
He left
He had but one thing to say
"Goodbye my son
We've had good times
Now they're done
Don't cry my son
I'm still with you
When I'm gone, gone, gone, gone, gone"I grow up
Towers of pain crush my family
I dealt alright
Joined a good band
Started a new life
I met this girl
Beautiful Sarah
I loved her
Made her a promise
"I'll never leave you. I'll never leave you"
We just made love for days
Never wondered
Where the world was
Til the news came
Baby's on the way
The news came just too late
Just after reality
That we couldn't make it
So I grabbed my keys
All I said was
"Goodbye my son
We would've had good times
Now it's done
Don't cry my son
I'm still with you
When I'm gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
And goodbye my love
We've had good times
Now they're done
I'm not over you, love
You're still with me
When you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone"So maybe it's for the best
Whatever happens happens
But I think it's worthless
To feel like this
"Goodbye my son
We would've had good times
Now it's done
Don't cry my son
I'm still with you
When I'm gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
And goodbye my love
We've had good times
Now they're done
I'm not over you, love
You're still with me
When you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone"Goodbye my son
Goodbye my love
Goodbye my son
Goodbye my love
So maybe it's for the best
Whatever happens happens
But I think it's worthless
To feel like this"Goodbye my son
We would've had good times
Now it's done
Don't cry my son
I'm still with you
When I'm gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
And goodbye my love
We've had good times
Now they're done
I'm not over you, love
You're still with me
When you're gone, gone, gone, gone, gone" [center]
5. Demons
Lyrics: Beckett
Producer: Vin Peters and Jason Smith
Recorded: Ocean Way Recordings - September 2011
Length: 3:34
Music/Background:By far the strangest song on the EP, this song opens with a simple drum beat. The drum beat keeps repeating as if it is on a record that keeps skipping. Very powerful bass soon joins in courtesy of Matt Collins. Strange hypnotic sounds begin being played on a keyboard creating a very gloomy atmosphere. Vin's guitar is set for a quite echoing sound. He plays a riff rather high up on the neck. The riff includes lots of bends that are timed with the keyboard perfectly. Billie begins singing quetly almost to the point where his annunciation is difficult to make out. This adds the the very confused gloomy tone already in the song. Just after the songs halfway point things start to subtly change. Vin switches to playing power chords instead and the keyboard begins playing the root notes with a heavy tremolo effect. The bass and drums get more complex to the point where there is practically a drum solo and a bass solo going on simultaneously. Then things faded out and just the original drums and bass remained with the keyboard still playing the tremolo sound. Then all of the sudden KC's guitar gets switched on and begins loud power chords while Vin switches to a distorted sound and plays a rather epic guitar solo for the climax of the song.
Vin: I really love how this song builds up to the guitar solo very well. i can tell this is just going to be a fun song to play live. A big shout out to Jason Smith who had a large part in helping this song come together the way it is.
Lyrics:Falling fast
The city blurs
The noise ceases
Three words
Tear me to pieces
Hold on
I'll stop bothering you
Give me a moment
Your wish will come true
Don't stay alive
Why stay alive
I've lost
I've lost
I've lost
Don't stay alive
why even try
I've lost
To my demons
To my demons
One last helpless breath
Mostly out of habit
I'm falling fast
Did anyone see it coming
Close my eyes
Wonder where they'll open
I'm falling fast
I'm falling fast
I'm falling fast
Sounds slightly similar to: