Still Searching

Still Searching
Studio album by Senses Fail
Released October 10, 2006
Recorded 2006 at Bearsville Studio, New York
Genre Emo, post-hardcore
Length 40:43
Label Vagrant, Drive-Thru
Producer Brian McTernan
Senses Fail chronology

Let It Enfold You
(2004)		 Still Searching
(2006)		 Life Is Not a Waiting Room
(2008)
Deluxe edition cover
Cover for the deluxe edition of Still Searching.

Still Searching is the second studio album by American post-hardcore band Senses Fail, released October 10, 2006 through Vagrant Records. A deluxe version of the record was released, containing a DVD with the making of the album. In the first month of sales the album sold 200,000 copies and had been the tenth best selling album at Best Buy that month. It is the first album to feature guitarist Heath Saraceno, and the last to have original member Mike Glita, on bass. It is the band's highest charting album to date.

Background

The album was recorded in the spring of 2006 at Bearsville Studios, and the band began playing songs from the album on the Warped Tour that Summer. It was mixed by Chris Lord-Alge.[1]

Still Searching was the first album to feature newest guitarist Heath Seraceno, and the last album to feature longtime bassist Mike Glita, who left the band in December 2007 to pursue his side project, Knights in Paris.

Still Searching is based on the depression and heartbreak that Buddy Nielsen, the lead singer of the band, suffered in the years before the album's release. One major inspiration is evident from the song "Shark Attack" which Buddy confirmed was about his own personal experience with a psychologist who prescribed him medication he didn't need to send more business to his wife, a psychiatrist, so the two could make double the money. This was confirmed on the back CD cover of their "best ofs" album "Follow Your Bliss" in which comments about each song is listed. The record is a concept album, a story is told from the point of view of a character's stress and anxiety, including his battles with faith, alcohol, and depression. He eventually takes his own life in the track "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues"; a track in which leitmotifs from Can't Be Saved are heard. After a brief instrumental interlude ("Negative Space"), the final track, "The Priest and the Matador" tells of the dying character's refusal of spiritual help, and finally, his death.

"Can't Be Saved" is featured on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as a bonus track.

Release history

A total of six bonus tracks and B-sides have been released with different versions of the album and its singles: The song "Stretch Your Legs to Coffin Length" comes with the digital download of "Calling All Cars" from the iTunes Store. Three acoustic bonus tracks are featured on a limited number of copies purchased from Best Buy. Target customers received a sticker atop their album covers for the download of two additional tracks ("Cinco de Mayo" and a live version of "Lady in a Blue Dress").

On November 13, Vagrant released a deluxe edition of the album. The re-release includes new artwork, the six bonus tracks and a behind the scenes DVD. The DVD includes over an hour of footage from their 2006 fall tour.[2]

There is also another Deluxe Version, including the 13 songs of the record and a Bonus DVD, which contains 38 Minutes "Making of Still Searching" footage.

The songs "Can't Be Saved", "The Priest and The Matador", "Shark Attack" and "Calling All Cars" are featured on the band's greatest hits album Follow Your Bliss: The Best Of Senses Fail.[3]

Reception

The album was generally well received. Allmusic gave the album four stars and praised the improvement of the album over its predecessor; "The focus here is more on tense emo rock with a hard pop edge than scream-bloody-murder screamo -- since there is less emphasis on screaming -- yet the music remains wholly Senses Fail."[4] Absolutepunk.net writer Drew Beringer commented on the album's improved lyrics and musicmanship, and concluding by saying "Still Searching is quite the improvement, and while it leaves some to be desired, it shows that Senses Fail are on the right path to fully discovering themselves" awarding the album (81%).[5] Mammothpress.com reviewed the album and gave it (7/10), stating "The band has improved in almost everyway. The lyrics are better, the vocals are better, the screaming feels like it has a purpose now and the music sounds like an almost completely different band".[6]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
AbsolutePunk (81%)[5]
MammothPress (7/10)[6]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Senses Fail. 

Still Searching
No. Title Length
1. "The Rapture"   1:57
2. "Bonecrusher"   2:33
3. "Sick or Sane (Fifty for a Twenty)"   2:45
4. "Can't Be Saved"   3:07
5. "Calling All Cars"   3:23
6. "Shark Attack"   2:54
7. "Still Searching"   4:18
8. "To All the Crowded Rooms"   3:05
9. "Lost and Found"   3:50
10. "Every Day Is a Struggle"   3:04
11. "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues"   4:05
12. "Negative Space"   1:22
13. "The Priest and the Matador"   4:21
Total length:
 40:43

Vinyl release

On October 16, 2012 Still Searching was released on vinyl.

Record Label Color(s) Pressed
Vagrant Records Coke Bottle Clear 800
Red\Black Swirl 200

Personnel

Senses Fail
Artwork
  • James Rheem Davis – album artwork
Managerial
  • Rich Egan – management
Production

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 15
Top Independent Albums 2

References

  1. ↑ http://www.breakmyears.com/?st=configuredRequest.do&requestName=showArtistDetails&ArtistId=805&sc=ArtistId&SubMenu=bio
  2. ↑ Senses Fail to Release Deluxe Album this Fall - News Article - AbsolutePunk.net
  3. ↑ http://sensesfail.com/2012/04/04/follow-your-bliss-the-best-senses-fail/
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "AbsolutePunk review". AbsolutePunk.net. 27 September 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Mammothpress review". 30 October 2006. Retrieved 24 October 2010.