(The band beside what would become their favorite and only supermarket within a 10 mile radius.)

the track
The song continues the pace set at the end of Goodbye To Yesterday and is much more energetic. Despite being one of the louder and faster songs on the album, the lyrical content is some of the darkest and saddest as Ryan Williams sings about a mistake he made, which led to his loves heartbreak. The song has all the formulas for a rock & roll song, with a steady drum beat throughout, the lead guitar playing some fancy riffs accompanied by a steady rhythm and acoustic guitar. The verses are powered through quickly by Williams as he finds it difficult to admit his mistakes. Lyrically it shows progression from the darker songs from the previous album, and you listening to the song you get the real country feel the band had whilst recording it.

songwriter
As I said on a previous single, the whole album revolves around two girls really and this was the latter of the two. Before I get a lot of hate too, I was not a cheater... I know the fans would have my head if I was! But yeah, for a long time there was this girl I was chasing, she was a really good friend but then the night something may have sparked, I made out with another girl. I got really deep with that, and me and Josh went to the bar the next night and we just drunk ourselves stupid really. We had a proper bro talk and the next day I sat down and wrote it with my trusty acoustic guitar! We took it to the studio and Nate had this really cool idea for a riff, so we expanded on that and it turned out like this alt-country, rock & roll song.. so the title seemed appropriate!


It was at the end of the night when the chance occurred
The only thing I could do was keep sipping on liqueur
Never did it cross my mind that in the morning she would break
Never did it cross my mind that in the morning my heart would ache
The ball had entered my court, it was my choice
All night long I only wanted to hear her voice
I made the biggest mistake a man could ever make
I can’t believe I was the cause of her heartbreak

You whispered to me,
Wait for me baby, I’ll be back in a few hours
Drink up baby, the night will be all ours
What did I have to loose?
I did something love cannot excuse
Please forgive me baby, I sold my soul to rock and roll

Pour me a drink so that we can get these tears started tonight
Get me really drunk and hand me a guitar so I can write
Write about how I fucked it up and caused her so much pain
It’s always better after a long walk by myself in the pouring rain
It’s hard to think that a relationship could just fade away
Since that awful night it seems like our sky will always be grey
I go out and drown my sorrows to feel sorry for myself
Josh would look at me and say, ‘you’ve got nothing to cry about you did it all yourself'

You whispered to me,
Wait for me baby, I’ll be back in a few hours
Drink up baby, the night will be all ours
What did I have to loose?
I did something love cannot excuse
Please forgive me baby, I sold my soul to rock and roll

Im still in the waves
I can’t seem to escape them
I don’t stand a chance,
Im not the one who can save you
Its all over within a glance
Im still in the waves,

You whispered to me,
Wait for me baby, I’ll be back in a few hours
Drink up baby, the night will be all ours
What did I have to loose?
I did something love cannot excuse
Please forgive me baby, I sold my soul to rock and roll
I sold my soul to rock and roll


Sounds Like:

the track
Familiar Feeling is the greatest example of the next step Misery Loves Company have taken with their music. The song begins with with a small drum beat, backed with a steady bass drum before a souther styled guitar riff comes in and continues through the verses. Giving it a genre is difficult, you want to say pop-rock, but really it's difficult to call this song pop. Not because it's heavy, but just because it bares no resemblance to what you would classify pop, or mainstream music for that matter. It seems as though the band has gone all hipster and started making music they wanted to make, rather than making music to earn the cash (which they are guilty of doing on previous album). Ryan Williams voice sounds more powerful than ever as he sings raggedly through the verses with much help of a beautiful riff backed up by a light acoustic strum, which appears to be the most predominant instrument on the record this time round. As we are led into the bridge, Williams starts singing louder as the music stays at a low tempo, rather concentrating and absorbing his emotion. Misery Loves Company where always famous for their loud, catchy choruses. Nothing has changed here, apart from the fact it is not as 'in your face'. There is no build up to the chorus, the tempo speeds minimally and the band sound as though they are jamming their favorite song (which is a pleasant change from listening to 'make-me-money' tracks'). As Williams sings about a loved one who lives a long way from him, he sounds as raw and fresh as ever. The standout thing from the lyrics, is the fact Williams builds up hope during the verses, then draws back his vulnerable state in the hook. As the song progresses to the bridge, it dims down a little to the raw sounding electric guitar played by Nathan Barker, as he plays slowly over the top off an acoustic rhythm. They continue this for about 15 seconds before Williams comes back in with vocals. The song is a great indication of how the album sounds, at one point I had to pinch myself asking if this was the same poppy-punk band we first heard last year. One thing is for sure, im glad they have found they're true sound.. because it's extremely promising. [review: Absolute Punk]

songwriter
With this track, we slow it all down a little. With a little guitar melody playing and soft vocals behind carrying us into the chorus where we have the bass drum following us. I wrote this song on the airplane on my way back to California after a short visit to Seattle. I met this amazing girl who I spent the whole week with but when I left we were still 'just friends'. I didn't want to take the risk of ruining a friendship. So you kinda hear me pour my feelings out here. It's got a real Southern feel to it, I think it's the guitar work Nate done but yeah, we explored another avenue with it and we're stoked with the way it came out. Like the reviewer mentioned, it really is a good indication for how the album sounds. Although it is a different sound, I still think it's a Misery Loves Company song. It has all the same aspects and features, we feel however that they are much better executed this time round.

Lyrics:

It was such a shock that he started to cry
It all began as he gazed into her eye
He never really knew why
Why it was so hard to say goodbye
The day turned to night
It was soon time to catch his flight
Too scared to plant a kiss
Afraid of what he would miss

The late nights we spent holding each other
Listening to the mixtape I made for you
It seemed like time stood still
The wounds are still yet to heal

So what, can I say, to make
You come to me some day
So what, can I do, to make
All of my dreams come true
They all started to say, that ive lost my way
That I never knew, never had a clue

The time had come its time to leave
She had came into his life like a thief
Stole his heart in such a short time
The act she committed is love’s biggest crime
She pulled him close told him to stay
Embraced their bodies began to sway
It was that all familiar feeling
That was going to require much healing

The late nights we spent holding each other
Listening to the mixtape I made for you
It seemed like time stood still
The wounds are still yet to heal

So what, can I say, to make
You come to me some day
So what, can I do, to make
All of my dreams come true
They all started to say, that ive lost my way
That I never knew, never had a clue

[Instrumental]

Come back to me, come back to me
Someday soon you will see
I will see, I will see you again
We will be, together again

So what, can I say, to make
You come to me some day
So what, can I do, to make
All of my dreams come true
They all started to say, that ive lost my way
That I never knew, never had a clue

Sounds Like:

Track 06 - Thief


(Nate and Ryan after an early morning run in Arizona)

the track
The track starts off with a low guitar melody playing solo, with a rhythm guitar keeping the flow going. As soon as Williams comes in with the vocals a light drum beat begins along with the introduction of the bass guitar. Williams sings through the verses slowly, taking in the emotion. As we enter the hook, the song strips down to just the guitar melody that was present at the beginning, Williams sings it in falsetto before reverting back to his original tone for the chorus, which is accompanied by the other instruments. After the first chorus, there is a 30 second instrumental, with a special guitar riff playing the song gets louder, the reverts back to its original low sounding as Williams begins the second verse. As he finishes up the chorus again, the instrumental plays out loud, the guitars are fileld with emotion as Williams begins screaming out the bridge to the song. You can feel the heart of the song "I'm waiting for answers // to questions I have yet to ask her", it has an infections riff and may well be the best song the band has ever created.

songwriter
So yeah Thief was one of our favourite songs we've ever recorded. It was written out in Arizona, our finished there rather, I wrote it after a drunk night out with some friends. It all kinda circled from me wanting to ask this chick out, but I just couldn't do it. She kept giving hints all night but when the opportunity arisen, she gave a complete different vibe off. So me being me, I get really drunk and return home to write some more music. You can all thank girls for breaking my heart, they create our music. But yeah the song contains this really cool riff that we had been preaching on twitter for so long. It was actually considered as the final song on the album, but we went against it and it's also in the running to be the next single! A little unorthodox as it doesn't really scream radio airplay. I listened to a lot of Bon Iver creating the record, and I think the same effect is given off. It's best to listen to this song, whilst on your own with no distractions. It really is beautiful, I just hope everyone else feels the same way about it!


Lyrics:

All you ever do is send mixed signals
There is a big difference in what my head and heart each say
They keep changing my decision every day
I need a yes or a no just put me to sleep
Sitting all alone you’re the one that comforts me,
When we’re together I find it so hard to speak
But then the moment comes through,
The chance begins to rise
Is it possible for me to compete with all these other guys?

Our friendship is something I always wish to keep,
But is there no way we could take that leap of faith
And who are you steal,
Everything that I feel

Don’t say its over, let this be the start
You said its over, Just fucking with my heart
Don’t say its over, I never want to be apart
I’ve been here before too many times,
We never get past the champagne
Time to spin the wheel again

I got lost in a dream, I felt so alive
Is she aware that I’m thinking of her right now?
When I’m with you everything is not as it seems
I’m afraid to blink in-case it all ends
You’re sending mixed signals messing with my head
Watch me smile at every word you speak
Try to ignore you and move on but I feel so weak
Then you would come over and give me a big friendly hug
Ill always remember the night we first met
You were to hard to forget, you were the most beautiful brunette

Our friendship is something I always wish to keep,
But is there no way we could take that leap of faith
And who are you steal,
Everything that I feel

Don’t say its over, let this be the start
You said its over, Just fucking with my heart
Don’t say its over, I never want to be apart
I’ve been here before too many times,
We never get past the champagne
Time to spin the wheel again

Stop delaying the inevitable
It’s time for you admit
You don’t have to commit
Just put me out of this place
I’m never going to win this race
And I, keep waiting
(Keep waiting)
Keep waiting for answers,
(Keep waiting for answers)
To the questions I have yet to ask her

Don’t say its over, let this be the start
You said its over, Just fucking with my heart
Don’t say its over, I never want to be apart
I’ve been here before too many times,
We never get past the champagne
Time to spin the wheel again

Who are you steal,
Everything that I feel


Sounds Like:

Track 07 - The Blues


(The producer of Secrets and good friend Colby Wilson)

the track
The Blues is a very clean song in the sense that the production is seamless, the guitars that are present are smooth, the little percussion used is perfect and the piano tides the song over perfectly. The Blues opens with a low-key piano playing to an acoustic guitar, something which has become an MLC trademark over the years. A slide guitar is heard during the verses as Ryan Williams sings in his normal tone feeling the lyrics he is singing. We are treated to a beautiful guitar melody which plays through the verses, without being in your face. The chorus sees Williams reach his falsetto voice as he sings 'Slow it down // Bring me down', this is a technique which has featured heavily on this album. The song is slow and mellow, imagine sitting all alone on a spring evening, on the hillside beside your grandma's house, leaning up against a tree and waving goodbye to the sunset. Of course the lyric content isn't that dream like, as Williams sings about a woman he can't be with due to them being too far away from each other. He is hoping that it's a blessing in disguise, although he knows he will never get over her.

songwriter
Before writing I did want to try some new techniques and writing styles, and one that just fell into place naturally for me was the third person narrative. This was one of the empty apartment songs I wrote about a girl I met whilst on vacation in the UK while I was in high-school. We ah, hooked up for the whole 2 weeks I was there and well, I became smitten! Obviously a vacation must end however, so I returned and it occurred to me that we would never be together due to visa differences etc. But I didn't want to accept it, so we did the whole webcam thing for a few months but it became to tough to move on with real life back home. So we talked and decided that we would delete our numbers, emails etc. What a stupid idea it seems now! But yeah, I was absolutely heartbroken at the time, so we just wanted a nice soft song to play through, one that represents how I felt at this time, not angry, just sad.

Lyrics:

The Sunday sun began to fade away
That young boy sat there staring into space
She couldn’t imagine what he was thinking
She couldn’t even make him feel better
After all he couldn’t put the blame on her
It wasn’t her fault they lived 4,000 miles apart
The worst thing about the whole mess
Was that he didn’t get to see her in her prom dress

Slow it down, pretend everything’s alright
Bring me down, so I don’t have to fake it
Help me out, help me understand
That I am, I am better off when you’re not around

He sat out alone on his front porch
Sat there for hours thinking how things could have been
If he only lived beside her or if her only had never met her
They were the perfect couple in each other’s eyes
It was his luck that they weren’t in the perfect situation
It wouldn’t matter how much he prayed to the skies
He would never get to hold her again
It brought him to tears thinking of this
Staring at her pictures and the fun she had
She had felt something strong for him
Now it feels like all the lights between them have gone dim

Slow it down, pretend everything’s alright
Bring me down, so I don’t have to fake it
Help me out, help me understand
That I am, I am better off when you’re not around

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

This is the blues coming for you
This is the blues coming for you
Never would you both pull through
Don’t pretend that she never knew
You’ll never be like used too
This is the blues coming for you
This is the blues coming for you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Slow it down, pretend everything’s alright
Bring me down, so I don’t have to fake it
Help me out, help me understand
That I am, I am better off when you’re not around


Sounds Like:

Track 09 - Breathe


(Nate and Ryan playing some exclusive acoustic versions of the albums track)

the track
Breathe is the only fully acoustic track on the new album. Ryan Williams had mentioned that they had to take the song off the set list after a performance in his native Los Angeles, due to his inability to keep it together whilst singing it. It is a very personal song about the death of a loved one and is produced lightly to keep the raw feeling to it. As the acoustic opens, a violin plays along at the intro and it seems like Williams' heart is used as the strings on this song. His voice sounds choked up as he eventually begins singing the first verse slowly. As he completes the verse the violin begins playing to some heavier strumming on the guitar, before fading away to only the guitar present for the chorus as Williams screeches out 'Just breathe'. Williams again sings his way through the verses, sounding stronger with the continuous light strumming pattern, before the violin joins in for the chorus next time around. As we reach the Williams finishes singing the final chorus, the song is left with the acoustic guitar and violin to play together for a few minutes, before a piano enters the fray. Eventually the guitar fades leaving just the piano and hints of the violin, to play out the remaining 2 minutes of the song. Standing at over 6 minutes long, it serves as the albums longest track.

songwriter
Breathe was obviously written about the death of someone I loved very much. My best friend though high-school, she had been out drinking with her friends at a party, and one of her friends decided to drive home drunk, with her and 2 other friends. They hit a stop sign and rolled off the road, everyone in the car had died. I was informed of what happened that night, and was in complete shock, by the time I had go to the hospital she had already passed. So we wanted to strip everything down, just make it as raw and natural as it was supposed to be. I remember when we played it live for the first time, I wept like a baby and we haven't played it since. It's really smooth and we got my sister down to play a little violin on it and I played the piano parts myself.

Lyrics:

This is so tough to take,
A heart is not supposed to face this kind of heartbreak
Im clinging onto all the our memories
They tell me to let go and say goodbye
I can’t bring myself to just set you free
I pray every night that you come back to me
And I know that someday we’ll meet again
The first chance I get ill be on the first train

Just breathe,
No you don’t have to leave
I need you tonight, please stay with me
Just breathe,
No I don’t want to believe
You’re sinking in the sand, your leaving all behind
Darling just take my hand
So, just breathe

Please give me one more day with you
There is still so much more we have to do
This whole process has been so hard
I’m still expecting to get your post card
Please stay with me,
Stay with me
Come back down to me
The water continually pours out of my eyes
But I know you’re in a better place up in the skies

Just breathe,
No you don’t have to leave
I need you tonight, please stay with me
Just breathe,
No I don’t want to believe
You’re sinking in the sand, your leaving all behind
Darling just take my hand
So, just breathe

I start to choke up,
This was the hardest part
The wind it blows
The rain it falls
And nobody knows
How much I want to break down these walls

Please stay with me,
Stay with me
Come back down to me
Please stay with me,
Stay with me
Come back down to me
(Just) breathe,
(Just) breathe,
(Just) breathe,
(Just) stay forever with me


Sounds Like: