In Search of Solid Ground

In Search of Solid Ground
Cover art for In Search of Solid Ground; features a broken clock, with gears exposed, and a dark substance dripping down the face.
Studio album by Saosin
Released September 8, 2009
Recorded 2008–2009
Genre Post-hardcore
Alternative rock
Length 56:36
Label Virgin
Producer Beau Burchell
Chris Sorenson
John Feldmann
Butch Walker
Lucas Banker
Saosin chronology

The Grey EP
(2008)		 In Search of Solid Ground
(2009)
Singles from In Search of Solid Ground
  1. "Is This Real"
    Released: August 4, 2009
  2. "On My Own"
    Released: August 4, 2009
  3. "Changing"
    Released: August 11, 2009
  4. "Deep Down"
    Released: 2010
Original Album Artwork
The cover art for In Search of Solid Ground that was met with a negative reaction.
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk (64%)[1]
Allmusic [2]

In Search of Solid Ground is the second studio album by American rock band Saosin released on September 8, 2009. The recording sessions for In Search of Solid Ground saw Saosin recording with multiple producers such as Butch Walker (with whom they recorded five songs), John Feldman, and Lucas from Matt Squire's production team. Five songs off the album will be produced by Beau Burchell and Chris Sorenson of Saosin.

Three of the songs on the album are re-recordings of tracks from The Grey EP (released in late 2008). "I Keep My Secrets Safe" is a re-recording of "Keep Secrets", with an entirely new chorus. "Why Can't You See?" keeps the title of the song from the EP, and "The Worst of Me" is "Love Maker", the new name taken from a line in the chorus of the song.

The original album artwork was revealed on July 13, 2009 by Alternative Press.[3] The cover was immediately met with a negative reaction from fans causing Saosin to reevaluate their decision two days before the album was pressed. The band tried to create something "high concept" with the original art, but the negative reaction helped the band realize that they "always keep things simple and strong and let the music speak for itself."[4]

The two songs "On My Own" and "Is This Real" were released as singles on iTunes August 4, 2009. The song "Changing" was released as a single August 11. The song "The Worst of Me" was released as a free song included in a Hurley Warped Tour pack.

PacSun hosted a listening party at 5pm in every PacSun store to hear the full album on September 7, 2009. The song "Why Can't You See" was made available on Last.fm. The full album was released in Japan on September 1, 2009 with the bonus track "You Never Noticed Me." The album was put on MySpace on September 4. The b-side "Move Slow" is included on the NCIS: Soundtrack - Vol. 2 which was released on November 3, 2009.[5]

This is also the last album to feature former member Cove Reber on lead vocals.

Reception of the album has been divided amongst fans due to the change in style. The album was removed from iTunes for unknown reasons, but it was made available again sometime in early 2012.

Track listing

All songs written by Beau Burchell, Cove Reber and Chris Sorenson, except for where noted.

No. Title Length
1. "I Keep My Secrets Safe"   3:54
2. "Deep Down" (Burchell, Reber, Sorensen, David Bassett) 3:25
3. "Why Can't You See?"   2:39
4. "Changing" (Sorensen, Lucas Banker, Matt Squire) 3:47
5. "On My Own"   5:18
6. "The Alarming Sound of A Still Small Voice"   4:42
7. "Say Goodbye"   5:04
8. "The Worst of Me"   3:35
9. "It's All Over Now"   3:47
10. "What Were We Made For?" (Burchell, Reber, Jermey Griffiths, Butch Walker) 3:33
11. "Is This Real?"   3:58
12. "Nothing Is What It Seems (Without You)" (Burchell, Reber, Sorensen, Griffiths) 4:25
13. "Fireflies (Light Messengers)"   8:30
iTunes Bonus Tracks (Old)
No. Title Length
14. "Changing" (Acoustic) 3:50
15. "Bury Me"   4:25
iTunes Bonus Tracks (New)
No. Title Length
14. "Bury Me"   4:25
15. "The Alarming Sound (Inst. Demo)"   4:36
16. "Brikka Brikka (Inst. Demo)"   3:46
17. "Exfoliator (Inst. Demo)"   4:09
18. "Write Something Heavy And Fast (Inst. Demo)"   3:56
Aussie Rules Edition
No. Title Length
16. "Fireflies (Light Messengers)" (Live From Hurley Studios) 7:53
Japan/Amazon/PacSun Bonus Track
No. Title Length
16. "You Never Noticed Me"   3:41
B-Side
No. Title Length
1. "Move Slow"   3:09
Best Buy Deluxe Edition "Making Of" DVD Listing
No. Title Length
1. "On My Own" (Behind The Scenes Video)  
2. "Is This Real" (Behind The Scenes Video)  
3. "The Alarming Sound of A Still Small Voice" (Behind The Scenes Video)  
4. "I Keep My Secrets Safe" (Behind The Scenes Video)  
5. "Fireflies" (Behind The Scenes Video)  

Chart performance

Chart (2009) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 19[6]
US Billboard Alternative Albums 4[6]
US Billboard Digital Albums 11[6]
US Billboard Rock Albums 6[6]
JPN Japanese Albums Chart 56[7]

Credits

In Search Of Solid Ground album personnel as listed on Allmusic.[8]

Band
  • Cove Reber - lead vocals, keyboards, piano
  • Beau Burchell - rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Justin Shekoski - lead guitar, vocals
  • Chris Sorenson - bass, vocals
  • Alex Rodriguez - drums, percussion
Additional musicians
  • John Feldmann - percussion, strings
  • Butch Walker - composer, percussion
  • Jeremy S.H. Griffith - composer, vocals
  • Scott Sorenson - vocals
  • D. Basset - composer
  • Lucas Banker - composer
  • Chris Sorenson - composer
  • M. Squire - composer
Production
  • Beau Burchell - engineer, mixing
  • Chris Sorenson - art direction, concept, mixing, producer
  • Jarrod Alexander - drum technician
  • Matt "Hippie" Appleton - engineer
  • Lucas Banker - producer
  • John Feldmann - engineer, producer
  • Ken Floyd - guitar technician
  • Logan Mader - engineer, producer
  • Erik Ron - engineer
  • Alex Shenitsky - A&R
  • Arthur Spivak - management
  • Sean Stiegmeier - photography
  • Butch Walker - producer
  • Howie Weinberg - mastering
  • Ryan Williams - engineer

References

  1. ↑ Henderson, Steve (2009-09-03). "Saosin - In Search of Solid Ground". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
  2. ↑ Jurek, Thom. "In Search of Solid Ground > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  3. ↑ AltPress Exclusive: New Saosin album cover art revealed
  4. ↑ Saosin Discuss New Artwork
  5. ↑ "NCIS: THE OFFICIAL TV SOUNDTRACK - VOL. 2 SET FOR NOVEMBER 3 RELEASE IN STORES @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries". Top40-charts.com. 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "In Search of Solid Ground - Saosin". Billboard. Retrieved on September 18, 2009.
  7. ↑ "セイオシンのCDアルバムランキング、セイオシンのプロフィールならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ "In Search of Solid Ground - Saosin". AllMusic. 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2012-02-24.