(OOC: I'm using sound alikes now. So if you have feelings about this format let me know. I'm focusing less on describing how the song sounds and more on why and the story behind it)


Overview
Little has been heard from Reported Failure since Carnival of Sounds ended and they won a Fans Choice Award for best album earlier this year. They have scheduled, however to start the No Venues Tour next week in Australia, and along with this they are finally ready to release another single. The single is called 'Days Spent in The Dark" and it was first performed by Reported Failure at TA7 a few months ago. It represents where Reported Failure must now go with their music now that the nearly year long process of releasing their fifth studio album "Darkness" is history and promotion for the album is finished.

While Reported Failure's last album is a documentation of the hell Billie Beckett went through from the death of his father, sister, a terrible breakup, and ultimately a suicide attempt, the new single is more of a look back on the events and examining not just what happened but why it did and where to go next. The song is out to download today. Lyrics are by Billie Beckett. Although Vin Peters usually does production for Reported Failure songs alone, he was joined for this song by successful LA producer Avil Hartman who last worked with Reported Failure on their third album "Disarm".

Music Background
In August 2012 Reported Failure entered the studio for three days between tour dates. They had recorded a few demos at Matt Collins's house in Santa Cruz, but now it was time to get serious. They went back to Ocean Way Recordings in LA where they recorded their fourth album "Post-Grunge Catastrophe". They were also joined by Avil Hartman to produce the song which would become "Days Spent In The Dark". "In the beginning" says Vin Peters "We just had these lyrics and a really eerie atmosphere... It was great but we wanted to give the song more depth and something a bit different so we called up Avil who we'd worked with before to see what sort of spin he could put on it."

The band recorded for only two and a half days. Then it was done. On the first day most of the focus went on drums. Robert Edwards and Hartman worked for hours to find the right tone for the song. They ended up bringing in different drums and working with different patterns until the beat was powerful enough to be memorable and aggressive like drums of war, but could still be soft enough to keep the flow of the song. Bass was next. Matt Collins layed down the songs's original bassline. It worked but everyone agreed it could use more power. A couple of distortion pedals later and the bass was done!

Then it was time to set more of the atmosphere. Friend of the band Hugh Keeley was there and he supplied a track on keyboard with tone that was almost like a bagpipe but a little bit softer. Once that was done it was guitar time. "For the most part our guitars are subtle in this song" says Peters. He is right. There are no guitar solos and no iconic riffs. KC James recorded a quiet, but very sweet sounding rhythm. It was simple and on the second day of recording gave the band little trouble. Vin also recorded his lead guitar easily. He supplied short licks here and there but overall subtly harmonized with the keyboard and helped create the atmosphere of the song. After day two the song was ready to have vocals added and be finished.

"The great thing about having been a band for awhile and made five albums" says Billie Beckett "Is that recording a great song can be done with little to no stress because we all usually know what eachother are going to want before we start. We're in tune with eachothers ideas. Also being very experienced musicians that within just a few tries can nail the song also helps". Billie wasn't joking around when he said they could nail the songs within just a few takes. Billie only had to sing the song once for it to work. "The best part of working with Billie Beckett everyday is hearing him sing a slow song where he switches from whispery to full vocals. Because he will nail it everytime." says Matt Collins. As Billie went to the microphone in the studio the rest of the band was listening and five minutes later they knew that they had something special. They knew that this was their next single and were fairly sure it would do well.

Lyrics Background
Billie wrote part of this song last year during the first No Venues Tour. From there it just sat in his notebook for months until adfter Darkness was recorded and released. The song was a breath of fresh air from the tone of Darkness. While still sad this song had a different attitude. The songs on Darkness said "My life sucks and all of this is happening to me right now and I dont know why. Its terrible." The new single Days Spent In the Dark says "My life sucks here's why and I want to change it."

the song is full of metaphor and centers around rebirth, imprisonment, and attempts to move forward. lyrically it is one of Billie Beckett's most intense songs and will remind listeners of the album Darkness despite the differences. Listeners will be left to wonder what themes the rest of Reported Failure's upcoming sixth studio album will center around.

Lyrics


Sounds Like

Edited by user 28 October 2012 04:15:22(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Ryan: My men this is a very strong song here. You guys have always had a complex nature to your sounds, it always sounds like you have worked really hard on them and had many different demo versions. After being on tour with you through the summer, I really realized just how much work you all put in. Never stop working, I applaud that. Billie also has an incredible talent for writing songs and this one is no different, it's beautiful. I'm still partial to a heavy rock song and this has certainly landed it's way into my itunes.

OOC: Great job as always!

Magie: Such a great song Billie. I really miss you.

OOC: Cool way to introduce a new song, do you mind If I borrow it? HAHA

James: Once again! You guys never fail to release these amazing tracks, this is no different. I've had the chance to record with you guys on more than one occasion as well as tour with you and not once have you guys failed at given something special. Excited to see how this does, excellent track, as always.

OOC: Good to see you back! Great read :)