The Turn - track interpretations by Chris Shinn Options

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obykya posted this link in The Turn - Full Album on iTunes US now but I thought it deserved to have its owns thread.

TRACK-BY-TRACK: +LIVE+ – The Turn

Multi-platinum alternative rock band +Live+ will return this autumn with ‘The Turn‘, their first album of all-new material following a long hiatus. Set for release October 27 on Think Loud Recordings, the 11-track album features original members Chad Taylor (guitar & backing vocals), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass and percussion), and Chad Gracey (drums and percussion), who are joined by Chris Shinn (lead vocals & guitar).

In describing the simple process of Shinn joining the group, Chad Taylor said we knew we needed “A veteran artist that brought a new dimension of musical skill and credibility to the table. The only name suggested by all three of us was Chris Shinn. There was no audition process. We simply called our friend and asked if he wanted to make +Live+ music.”

The release of the album will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the group’s eight-million selling ‘Throwing Copper’. That album produced the band’s biggest single, “Lightning Crashes” which was #1 at Modern Rock radio for 10 consecutive weeks. With two #1 albums already under their belt and more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, +LIVE+ are ready to enter the next chapter of their career.

Ahead of its release, new vocalist Chris Shinn has talked us through the album in an exclusive track-by-track.

01.) SIRENS CALL
The Sirens Story comes from Odyssey by Homer. Odysseus (greek) or Ulysses (Roman translation) is to get back from the Trojan War to his home in Ithaca. The journey takes 7 years and he has many tests among them that his ship must pass by the islands where the Sirens live: (named in the bridge of the song). The Siren’s song is irresistible and many ships have been drawn onto the rocks with all sailors perishing. Odysseus plugs the ears of his sailors with bees wax so they can’t hear. Since he wants to hear the Siren’s Song, he has himself lashed to the mast and gives his crew instructions to not listen to him until they are well past the islands and can no longer hear the bewitching music.

02.) DON’T RUN TO WAIT
I don’t want to give too much away with this one. It was inspired by one of my favorite +Live+ songs, ‘Stage’. I’ll leave it there.

03.) NATURAL BORN KILLERS
This one started out in strawberry fields and ended up in David Lynch’s backyard. I, reluctantly, give Jerry Harrison the credit for that turn of events. Only because it’s genius and I wished I had thought of it. A couple in love plot to kill the abusive boyfriend in their way. Not much else to say. Other than, I really enjoyed Aishland Harrison singing with me on the bridge. A ton of fun writing lyrics for this one. Oh man, the lyrics that didn’t make It. Whoa.

04.) 6310 RODGERTON DR.
…was my address in Hollywood for a couple of years (right as Throwing Copper was topping the charts). The house used to belong to Humphrey Bogart in the 40′s. When I leased it, it belonged to Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean (ask your parents, they’ll know who that is) they had a hit, “Dead Mans Curve”. Long story short, the house burned down with my brother and I inside. I was hurt bad and wonder to this day how I didn’t die in that house. All my crazy burns healed, no scars. Just the crystal clear, vivid memory of shock and not hearing myself scream.

After telling this story to Jerry Harrison he said “that’s what this song is about”. I had already written the chorus with the word Fire being used metaphorically but to be honest, I was apprehensive about revealing this wound in such an intimate way. But once we started writing the first verse, it became something cathartic. Something I’ve needed to do for almost 20 years. I’m quite proud of this one.

This song is about the things you go through in order to arrive where you are in your life and how no one can really know, exactly, what it took for you to get there. It took fire.

05.) BY DESIGN
This is about no longer believing in ghosts. About realizing when it’s time to tear down the rotting house before changing the locks. It’s about severing ties to the toxic and selfish who care nothing but for themselves. It’s about cleansing. It’s about moving forward and never looking back.

06.) THE WAY AROUND IS THROUGH
“The only way around is through” is something you’ll commonly hear in recovery. Most of us spend our entire lives building walls around our hearts. Drinking, smoking, shopping or eating our way around any of the scary truths. This isn’t abnormal. In fact, it’s considered sane. One advantage a recovering addict/alcoholic has over, most, everyone else who isn’t is that they had no other option. The only way was no longer around for them. It was through. I’ve experienced this first hand and it’s terrifying. The sense of self and achievement is bigger than anything you can imagine. And the only way to really share this feeling is to give it away. Lead by example.

Coming into the +Live+ family was interesting for me. There were no substance abuse problems (thank god) but there was lingering resentment and anger that was thick and undeniable. Palpable. Annnnnd, understandable. So here they were, in the MIDDLE of going THROUGH. I saw in those first couple days what was really going on. The music would have to come second to learning how to take the high road. This wasn’t easy convincing. Still isn’t. “The way around is through” is more of a mission statement than a song.

07.) NEED TONIGHT
The original lyrics I had for this song dealt more directly with magic. However romantic the idea, the point wasn’t getting conveyed clearly and was a bit too dark. Even for me. What we ended up with is much better. The basic message in this tune is, reality is what you make it. You make your own destiny by believing it’s already happening. We replaced the word magic with love to drive the point closer to home. The only person who decides if what you dreamt last night was real or not, is you. Believe it. It’s real.

08.) THE STRENGTH TO HOLD ON
This is the first song we wrote as a new band. Its vague for a reason. Or, is it? It’s about having everything and blowing it. Self sabotage. That’s all I’ll say about this one.

09.) WE OPENED THE DOOR
This is the sports equivalent to yelling “break!” in a team huddle. The absolute commitment to a common goal. Everyone is all in. It’s about the feeling in the room when that conviction is blaring through the speakers. You’re scared but you love it. It’s about the law of attraction. Happiness is contagious. We do what we do because we LOVE it. Its about embracing that we have nothing to lose and harnessing that raw energy. I wish I could explain it better. I’ve had a front row seat and it keeps getting better. We are the sum of our parts. We are better as a unit. We found our groove, now its ALL or nothing. WE DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

10.) HE COULD TEACH THE DEVIL TRICKS
Some songs are better left to the listener.

11.) TILL YOU CAME AROUND
I had written this music years before joining the band. I held it close and honestly never intended to even present it as an option. Chad Taylor overheard me playing it and insisted we give it a go. It wasn’t really until Jerry Harrison got involved that the song took off. He was very passionate about it. The two of us wrote the lyrics together in a night and there you have it. It’s a love song.

http://www.deadpress.co.uk/42891/track-by-...k-live-the-turn