A Lesson in Romantics

A Lesson in Romantics is the full-length debut album from American rock band Mayday Parade, released through Fearless Records. The album was released on July 10, 2007, and was produced by Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount. A day before the album's release, the entire album was put onto AOL Music for an album listening party. The album cover with a faceless man holding an umbrella came from rejected potential artwork for the band +44.

1 Critical reception
- 1.1 Commercial performance
2 Track listing
3 Singles
4 Other appearances of songs
5 Song notes
6 Chart performance
7 Personnel
8 References

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk	(85%)^[1]
Sputnikmusic	^[2]
Punknews.org	^[3]
Music Emissions	^[4]
Teen Ink	(Favorable)^[5]
Ultimate Guitar	^[6]

Since its release, A Lesson in Romantics has received positive reviews. Punknews.org wrote that "if you're looking for fun music with catchy hooks, talented musicians, and vocalists who can actually sing well, this is a band you need to check out."^[3] Daniel Thompson from Music Emissions wrote that "every song is spectacular on this album and is a potential hit."^[4] A Teen Ink review stated that "what really makes “A Lesson In Romantics” so fantastic is the emotion. You can feel the pain, joy, and love in every note."^[5]

Many reviews noted the improved sound from the bands debut EP, Tales Told by Dead Friends. Joe DeAndrea from AbsolutePunk.net wrote that "after their unimpressive release of the EP Tales Told By Dead Friends in November, the band's back with their debut album that will surely become one of your most played of the Summer."^[1] Similarly, Punknews.org wrote that "the same energy and smart lyrics found on their 2006 EP are present throughout the album. However, [...] Romantics definitely sounds like a more mature record."^[3]

Some minor criticism was directed at the roughness of some of the sonic elements of the album.

Commercial performance

A Lesson in Romantics reached two of the Billboard charts. It debuted at number 8 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart upon its release. The album re-entered the chart five times and spent 46 non-consecutive weeks on the chart.^[7] The album also charted on the Independent Albums chart, peaking at number 31 and spending 3 non-consecutive weeks on the chart.^[7]

A Lesson in Romantics has sold upwards of 170,000 copies.^[8]

Track listing

All music and lyrics written by Mayday Parade and Jason Lancaster, unless noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jamie All Over"	3:36
2.	"Black Cat"	3:23
3.	"When I Get Home, You're So Dead"	3:13
4.	"Jersey"	3:29
5.	"If You Wanted a Song Written About You, All You Had to Do Was Ask"	4:04
6.	"Miserable at Best"	5:20
7.	"Walk on Water or Drown"	3:29
8.	"Ocean and Atlantic"	3:30
9.	"I'd Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About"	4:01
10.	"Take This to Heart"	4:07
11.	"Champagne's for Celebrating (I'll Have a Martini)" (Derek Sanders)	3:58
12.	"You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I'll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds" (Derek Sanders, Jason Lancaster)	4:40
Total length:		45:32

Japanese Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Length
12.	Untitled (Jake Bundrick, Jason Lancaster)
13.	"Just Say You're Not Into It"	4:22
14.	"Three Cheers for Five Years" (Acoustic)	4:53

Singles

Vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Jason Lancaster left the band before any singles were released for the album, and is therefore not in any of the music videos. This has become a common misconception by fans, who often confuse Jeremy Lenzo and Jake Bundrick for Jason Lancaster.

"When I Get Home, You're So Dead" - Its music video was shot September 20 in Los Angeles, California and premiered on MySpace on November 14, 2007.^[9] Since Lancaster sings along with Sanders for the majority of the song, Sanders lip syncs Lancaster's parts and sings his own as well. Prior to the release of "When I Get Home, You're So Dead", the band used a live video to promote "Black Cat", which was believed to be the first single.

"Jamie All Over"- This song is a re-recording of the Kid Named Chicago, Lancaster, Garcia, and Bundrick's previous band's song with the same name. The video for the second single was shot on May 6 in New York and started playing on MTV2, MTVu, and MTV hits on July 21, 2008. Bassist Jeremy Lenzo lip syncs to Jason Lancaster's parts in the video. The final closing verse is sung by Daniel Lancaster of Stages & Stereos and now Select Start, brother of Jason Lancaster. Derek Sanders lip syncs this verse in the music video.

"Miserable At Best" - The video for the third single, "Miserable at Best", was released on January 9 on the band's Myspace. In the video, drummer Jake Bundrick lip syncs to Jason Lancaster's verses. The video excludes the song's bridge.

Other appearances of songs

"Black Cat" was selected to be featured on the official 2007 Warped Tour Compilation, while "Jamie All Over" appears on the 2008 Warped Tour Compilation.

The song "When I Get Home, You're So Dead" was also featured in the Rock Band Network in the Rock Band (video game) series.

Song notes

"Jamie All Over" - This song was originally recorded by Kid Named Chicago, the previous band of Jake Bundrick, Alex Garcia, and Jason Lancaster. It was featured in the Rock Band Network for the Rock Band video game series.
"When I Get Home, You're So Dead" - This is the only song from Tales Told by Dead Friends to be re-recorded for the full-length album. The song was also featured in the Rock Band Network.
"Champagne's for Celebrating (I'll Have a Martini)" - The title of this song is a quote by John Smith played by Brad Pitt in the 2005 action movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Chart performance

Chart (2007)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers^[7]	8
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums^[7]	31

Personnel

Derek Sanders – lead vocals, keyboard
Jason Lancaster – lead vocals, guitar
Alex Garcia – lead guitar
Brooks Betts – rhythm guitar
Jeremy Lenzo – bass guitar, backing vocals
Jake Bundrick – drums
Zach Odom – producer, mixer
Kenneth Mount – producer, mixer
Mark Needham – mixer

References

^ ^a ^b DeAndrea, Joe. "Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics". Absolute Punk. http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=247896. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ "Mayday Parade A Lesson In Romantics". Sputnik Music. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/28527/Mayday-Parade-A-Lesson-In-Romantics/. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics". Punknews.org. http://www.punknews.org/review/6785. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ ^a ^b Thompson, Daniel. "MAYDAY PARADE - A LESSON IN ROMANTICS". Music Emissions. http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=6463. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Mayday Parade - "A Lesson in Romantics"". Teen Ink. http://www.teenink.com/reviews/music_reviews/article/198659/Mayday-Parade--A-Lesson-in-Romantics/. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ "A Lesson In Romantics Review". Ultimate Guitar. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/mayday_parade/a_lesson_in_romantics/index.html. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Mayday Parade - The Visualizer". Billboard Magazine.
^ "Mayday Parade". Asquaredmgmy.com. http://asquaredmgmt.com/artistsdetails.php?id=60. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
^ Video premiere of "When I Get Home, You're So Dead" on MySpace

Mayday Parade

Derek Sanders · Jeremy Lenzo · Alex Garcia · Brooks Betts · Jake Bundrick Jason Lancaster

Studio albums	A Lesson in Romantics (2007) · Anywhere but Here (2009) · Mayday Parade (2011)

EPs	Tales Told by Dead Friends (2006) · Valdosta (2011)

Singles	"When I Get Home, You're So Dead" · "Jamie All Over" · "Miserable at Best" · "The Silence" · "Kids in Love" · "In My Head" · "Oh Well, Oh Well" · "When You See My Friends"

Labels	Fearless Records · Atlantic Records · Independent Label Group

Related	Go Radio · Select Start