Lift a Sail

Lift a Sail
Studio album by Yellowcard
Released October 7, 2014
Genre Alternative rock
Label Razor & Tie
Producer Neal Avron
Yellowcard chronology

Ocean Avenue Acoustic
(2013)		 Lift a Sail
(2014)
Singles from Lift a Sail
  1. "One Bedroom"
    Released: August 19, 2014
  2. "Make Me So"
    Released: September 9, 2014
  3. "Crash the Gates"
    Released: September 22, 2014

Lift a Sail is the ninth studio album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released on October 7, 2014, through their new label, Razor & Tie.[1] This was the band's first album to not feature involvement from drummer Longineu W. "LP" Parsons III, who left the band in March 2014.

Background

On March 20, 2014, Yellowcard signed a deal with Razor & Tie, opting out of re-signing with Hopeless Records. According to the band's Ustreams that they host, "there will be no fast songs (although no shortage of energy)," "LP didn’t work on the record before leaving," and that "Lights and Sounds was fairly negative lyrically, but this album isn’t.”[2] The band also stated that this album is "less of a pop punk sound, more of a rock sound." The album artwork and track list were leaked by an Indonesian fan site, which the band acknowledged, even though the plan was to do so two weeks later.[3]

Critical Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 72/100[4]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [5]

At Metacritic, which assigns a "weighted average" rating out of 100 to selected independent ratings and reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a Metascore of 72, based on five reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[4] Three and a half star reviewer for AllMusic, James Christopher Monger, states: "The 13-track set adds some relatively subtle flourishes of electronics to the mix while dialing back a little on Sean Mackin's signature violin playing, but fans looking to conjure up some nostalgia for the band's Ocean Avenue heyday will find what they're looking for on standout cuts like the catchy and propulsive 'Make Me So,' the big-hearted 'Transmission Home,' and rousing 'Deepest Well'."[5]

Commercial Performance

The album debuted at #26 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 14,000 copies in the United States, thus making this project the lowest charting album of the band's career.

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ryan Key except where noted, all music composed by Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, and Nate Young,[6] except where noted.

No. Title Length
1. "Convocation"   1:55
2. "Transmission Home"   4:18
3. "Crash the Gates"   3:20
4. "Make Me So"   3:11
5. "One Bedroom"   4:35
6. "Fragile and Dear"   4:04
7. "Illuminate"   4:06
8. "Madrid"   2:07
9. "The Deepest Well" (featuring Matty Mullins of Memphis May Fire) 3:57
10. "Lift a Sail"   3:55
11. "MSK"   3:46
12. "My Mountain"   3:59
13. "California"   4:11

Personnel

Yellowcard
Additional musicians
Production
  • Neal Avron – Producer, mixing, programming
  • Ted Jensen – Mastering
  • Erich Talaba – Engineer, producer and mixing for "In Time"
  • Scott Skrzynski – Assistant engineer
  • Wil Anspach – Assistant engineer
Artwork
  • William McMillin – Album cover art

Chart performance

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 21
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 75
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[10] 8
US Billboard 200[11] 26
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[12] 7
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[13] 4

References

  1. ↑ http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3705649
  2. ↑ http://yellowcardsource.net/category/ustream
  3. ↑ http://www.soundinthesignals.com/2014/08/yellowcard-lift-sail-album-artworktrack.html
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Reviews of Lift a Sail by Yellowcard". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Monger, James Christopher. "Lift a Sail – Yellowcard". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. ↑ http://propertyofzack.com/post/99464705046/yellowcard-discuss-making-an-album-without-lp
  7. ↑ "【10/8発売】YELLOWCARD『Lift A Sail』【予約受付中】". BM.3 NET SHOP. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Yellowcard – Lift A Sail". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Yellowcard | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "2014 Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Archive. 18th October 2014". Official Charts Company. October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Yellowcard Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Yellowcard. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Yellowcard Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Yellowcard. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Yellowcard Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Yellowcard. Retrieved October 18, 2014.