They're Only Chasing Safety
| They're Only Chasing Safety | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Underoath | ||||
| Released | June 15, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | Wisner Productions | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:50 | |||
| Label | Solid State | |||
| Producer | James Paul Wisner | |||
| Underoath chronology | ||||
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| Special Edition cover | ||||
 Cover for the Special Edition of They're Only Chasing Safety. |
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| Singles from They're Only Chasing Safety | ||||
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They're Only Chasing Safety is the fourth album by American post-hardcore band Underoath. The album was released on June 15, 2004, through Solid State Records. Prior to recording, it was ready to be recorded with Underoath founder and frontman Dallas Taylor, but instead was replaced with the band's current lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain. It is also the first record to feature bassist Grant Brandell, who replaced William Nottke shortly after the release of The Changing of Times, and James Smith, who replaced Octavio Fernandez on rhythm guitar.[6]
Style
Although Underoath has been described as metalcore,[7][8] a review by Alex Henderson of Allmusic classifies They're Only Chasing Safety as an alternative rock style which could be described as screamo, post-hardcore, or melodic hardcore.[1] According to Henderson, "this screamo/post-hardcore/melodic hardcore approach is quite different from full-fledged metalcore; while metalcore units like Hatebreed, Brick Bath, and Finland's notoriously ferocious Rotten Sound go right for the jugular, Underoath and similar bands prefer to mix honey with vinegar."[1] In another review, Andrew Segal of Cross Rhythms describes the album as nu metal, and said that, while on the heavier side of the rock scale, the album is well produced and "shows more signs of intelligence than the [nu-metal] genre is often credited with."[9]
Release
They're Only Chasing Safety was released on June 15, 2004 through Solid State. All original version cover photography and album artwork was created by Kris McCaddon, formerly of Embodyment and Demon Hunter, and currently of The Famine. "Reinventing Your Exit" was released to radio on February 22, 2005.[10] On October 4, 2005, the album was re-released through Tooth and Nail, which included four bonus tracks, and a bonus DVD.
Bonus tracks and song titles
All of the bonus tracks that are featured on the special edition of the album except for "I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar That Says You Ain't Gonna Do Jack" were taken from the band's session with Matt Goldman and are early pre-production demos of songs which would later grow to become the regular album tracks. "The 80's Song" is an early version of "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door", "You're So Intricate" is an early version of "I'm Content with Losing", and "Smic Tague" is an instrumental adaptation of "Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape". Prior to the release of They're Only Chasing Safety, a few of these early version tracks were used to promote the album; the song "You're So Intricate" had been featured on a Tower Records exclusive Tooth & Nail Records compilation and a demo version of "Young and Aspiring" had been posted on the Underoath website.
"I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar That Says You Ain't Gonna Do Jack" first appeared as the opening track on SmartPunk.com's Music on the Brain Vol. 1 compilation, which was released on July 20, 2004. The song would later appear on the 12" vinyl and Japanese versions of They're Only Chasing Safety.
The intro of "Young and Aspiring" was inspired from the intro of the Pantera song "Suicide Note Pt. I", that appears on their eighth album, The Great Southern Trendkill.
The title of the song "Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape" is a reference to the 1999 film Magnolia, where it can been seen in the synopsis on the DVD case.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Cross Rhythms | [9] |
| HM Magazine | favorable[11] |
| Jesus Freak Hideout | [12] |
| Music Emissions | [2] |
| MusicOMH | unfavorable[4] |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | positive[3] |
As of 2005, They're Only Chasing Safety sold more than 218,000 copies, with the re-release selling an additional 279,000 copies, making a combined sales of more than 500,000 copies in the US alone.[13] On December 21, 2011, it was announced that the album had been certified Gold for shipments of 500,000 copies.[14]
In 2005, the album was nominated for a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards,[15] and till 2011, the album was finally certified gold in the US by RIAA.[14]
Track listing
All lyrics written by Aaron Gillespie and Spencer Chamberlain, except where noted; all music composed by Underoath.
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Young and Aspiring" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:04 |
| 2. | "A Boy Brushed Red... Living in Black and White" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, McTague, Underoath | 4:28 |
| 3. | "The Impact of Reason" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Reinventing Your Exit" | Dallas Taylor, Gillespie, Underoath | 4:22 |
| 5. | "The Blue Note" (instrumental) | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 0:51 |
| 6. | "It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Down, Set, Go" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:44 |
| 8. | "I Don't Feel Very Receptive Today" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:42 |
| 9. | "I'm Content with Losing" | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Underoath | 3:55 |
| 10. | "Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape" (featuring Aaron Marsh of Copeland) | Gillespie, Chamberlain, Marsh, Underoath | 4:21 |
Total length: |
35:50 | ||
| Special Edition bonus tracks | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 11. | "I've Got Ten Friends and a Crowbar That Says You Ain't Gonna Do Jack" (also included on the vinyl and Japanese versions) | 5:06 |
| 12. | "The 80's Song" | 3:59 |
| 13. | "You're So Intricate" | 3:54 |
| 14. | "Smic Tague" (instrumental) | 3:29 |
Total length: |
52:18 | |
Personnel
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References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "They're Only Chasing Safety review". Allmusic. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- 1 2 "'They're Only Chasing Safety' review". Musicemissions.com. March 7, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Nash, Jen (August 29, 2004). "They're Only Chasing Safety". The Phantom Tollbooth. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- 1 2 Bansal, Vik (June 28, 2004). "Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety (Golf)". musicOMH. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ↑ "Underoath It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door (Single)". Spirit of Metal. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ↑ "Alternative Press | Bands | Underoath". Altpress.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ↑ Cummings, Tony (October 19, 2008). "Underoath: Metalcore hitmakers 'Lost in The Sound of Separation'". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
- ↑ Wildsmith, Steve. "Blessings of success make metalcore band Underoath bigger than its members". The Daily Times. Blount County Publishers LLC. Retrieved March 19, 2011.
- 1 2 They're Only Chasing Safety review. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ↑ "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
- ↑ "Underoath - They're Only Chasing Safety". HM Magazine. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ↑ Taylor, Josh (December 4, 2004). "Underoath, 'They're Only Chasing Safety' Staff Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (December 28, 2005). "Underoath Rock Like Slipknot, For God's Sake - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
- 1 2 Ableson, Jon (August 20, 2009). "Underoath's 'They're Only Chasing Safety' Album Certified Gold". Alterthepress.com. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
- ↑ Jones, Kim. "2005 Dove Awards - 36th Annual Dove Awards". About.com. Retrieved June 13, 2013.