When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes

When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
Studio album by Yellowcard
Released March 22, 2011
Recorded September 20 – November 8, 2010
Genre Pop punk, alternative rock
Length 37:09
Label Hopeless
HR725-5
Producer Neal Avron[1]
Yellowcard chronology

Deep Cuts
(2009)
When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
(2011)
Southern Air
(2012)
Singles from When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
  1. "For You, and Your Denial"
    Released: January 18, 2011
  2. "Hang You Up"
    Released: February 22, 2011

When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes is the seventh studio album released by American rock band Yellowcard on March 22, 2011[2] under Hopeless Records. The album has received positive reviews.[3][4][5][6] The album's title comes from a text message sent to a girl by lead singer Ryan Key.[7]

Background

Following the band's reformation after their hiatus (from 2008–2010), they immediately began working on their new album. Ryan Key, who had previously been in a small project with Reeve Oliver vocalist/guitarist Sean O'Donnell (who was chosen as Pete Mosely's replacement after he declined to return) called "Big If", confirmed that some of Big If's songs were going to be reworked by Yellowcard and included on the new album.

On August 3, 2010, the band announced that they were going into the studio on September with Neal Avron to record the new album.[1] While in the studio, they revived "Yellowcard Sessions" (Yellowcard's YouTube updates),[8] and recorded studio updates that were shown originally on Rock Sound magazine's website.[9]

On November 8, 2010, Yellowcard finished recording their seventh studio album. On November 13, 2010, the new album title was announced to be When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes at a show at the Glass House in Pomona, California, where they also played "For You and Your Denial," the first song to be played from the album.[10] Ryan Key confirmed that there would not be a title track.[11]

On December 9, 2010, the artwork for the album was posted on the official site of the band.[12] On January 5, 2011, the band revealed the album's tracklist.[13] The first single to be released from the album was "For You, and Your Denial", which was released January 18, 2011, on iTunes.

The band also stated that there will be 2 full-band bonus tracks not featured on the main track list, one of which ("Promises") was released with the album on iTunes, and the other one being a re-done version of the Big If song "Empty Street" that has yet to be released.

On February 22, 2011, the music video for "For You and Your Denial" debuted on MTV2 and MTVU.[14] The same day, the track "Hang You Up" was released as the second single off the album.

On October 24, 2011, Yellowcard released an Acoustic version of When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes. It features all ten of the album tracks, with special guest vocalist Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday featured on "Hang You Up."[15]

On October 25, 2011, the music video for "Sing For Me" debuted on MTV2.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk 89%[17]
Allmusic [18]
Alternative Press [19]
BLARE [20]
Drowned in Sound [21]
Rock on Request (favorable)[22]
Rock Sound 8/10[23]
Sputnikmusic [24]

Reception to When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes was mainly positive. AbsolutePunk reviewer Thomas Nassiff summarized the reunion album as "a holistic recap of the band's career that still shows good progression" and "one very important thing: Yellowcard is back, and they're back for good".[17] Jared Ponton of Sputnikmusic, in his review giving the album 4 out of 5 stars, explained, "The record bleeds with the best that Yellowcard have done thus far, yet in a fresh context, bursting with newfound energy after a short hiatus that, in hindsight, was certainly needed."[24] Allmusic reviewer Gregory Heaney, who gave the album one of its lowest critical ratings at 3 out of 5 stars, published a more mixed review, while remarking on the band's progression away from catchy violin-driven melodies and toward music focused on the songwriting's impact.[18]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ryan Key, all music composed by Yellowcard.

No. Title Length
1. "The Sound of You and Me"   4:36
2. "For You, and Your Denial"   3:33
3. "With You Around"   3:01
4. "Hang You Up"   4:02
5. "Life of Leaving Home"   3:24
6. "Hide"   3:12
7. "Soundtrack"   3:35
8. "Sing for Me"   3:54
9. "See Me Smiling"   3:50
10. "Be the Young"   3:56
Total length:
37:03

Personnel

Yellowcard
  • Ryan Key – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano on "Sing For Me"
  • Sean Mackin – violin, backing vocals, string arrangements
  • Ryan Mendez – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Sean O'Donnell – bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Longineu W. Parsons III – drums, percussion
Artwork
  • Brian Manley – album design, cover photos
Additional musicians
  • Neal Avron – synthesizer
  • Rodney Wirtz – viola
  • Christine Choi – cello

Production
  • Neal Avron – producer, programming
  • Erich Talaba – engineer, Pro Tools
  • Morgan Stratton – assistant engineer
  • Mike Fasano – drum technician
  • Brian Abell – guitar technician
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Nicolas Fournier – mixing assistant
  • Kamila Kuplowska – storage consultant

Chart performance

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart 41
Dutch Rock Albums 2
UK Albums Chart[26] 84
UK Rock Albums 5
US Billboard 200 19
US Billboard Rock Albums 5
US Billboard Alternative Albums 5
US Billboard Independent Albums[27] 2

When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes Acoustic

When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes Acoustic
Studio album by Yellowcard
Released October 24, 2011
Recorded 2011 at Robert Berson Studios
Genre Acoustic, alternative rock
Length 37:52
Label Hopeless
Producer Ryan Mendez, Ryan Key

For some time after the release of When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes, many of the band members had been teasing at the idea that acoustic versions of all ten tracks would be released, but as time went on, the tracks were never heard. To the surprise fans, on October 24, 2011, Yellowcard announced that they released When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes Acoustic. It features all ten of the album tracks, with special guest vocalist Cassadee Pope from Hey Monday featured on "Hang You Up".[28]

No. Title Length
1. "The Sound of You and Me Acoustic"   4:33
2. "For You, and Your Denial Acoustic"   3:33
3. "With You Around Acoustic"   3:06
4. "Hang You Up Acoustic"   4:03
5. "Life of Leaving Home Acoustic"   3:30
6. "Hide Acoustic"   3:50
7. "Soundtrack Acoustic"   3:40
8. "Sing for Me Acoustic"   3:48
9. "See Me Smiling Acoustic"   3:50
10. "Be the Young Acoustic"   3:59
Total length:
37:52

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Yellowcard Signs To Hopeless Records, New Album 2011". Driven Far Off. August 3, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  2. Twitter / Yellowcard Fans
  3. Alter The Press!: Album Review: Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
  4. Photobucket
  5. Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes | Review Rinse Repeat
  6. Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes | Review: Kill Your Stereo
  7. AbsolutePunk.net
  8. "Yellowcard Sessions: Guitar Center(Guitarmageddon!!)". YouTube. September 29, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  9. "Yellowcard Studio Blog". Rocksound.tv. September 27, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  10. "Yellowcard- "For You And Your Denial" *HQ*". YouTube. November 14, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  11. "Twitter / William Ryan Key: @He_Will nope just the rec". Twitter. December 2, 2010. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  12. "Official news release of the album". Yellowcardrock.com. February 20, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  13. "Yellowcard track listing". Under The Gun Review. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  14. Twitter / Yellowcard: Check out a sneak peek of our new video premiering this Tuesday on MTV2 and MTVU! http://bit.ly/hRdDly
  15. http://www.amazon.com/When-Youre-Through-Thinking-Acoustic/dp/B005NF3LM6/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318480056&sr=1-3
  16. Twitter / Yellowcard: The #singforme video is up now! http://dlvr.it/s6dz5
  17. 17.0 17.1 Nassiff, Thomas (March 7, 2011). "Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes – Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Heaney, Gregory (March 21, 2011). "When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes – Yellowcard". Allmusic. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  19. Manley, Brendan (2011). "When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes". Alternative Press (April 2011): 113.
  20. Khan, Joshua (March 21, 2011). "REVIEW: Yellowcard – "When You're Through Thinking.."". BLARE Magazine. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  21. Cooke, Robert (March 18, 2011). "Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  22. Avina, Anthony (March 25, 2011). "Yellowcard Returns With 'When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes'". Rock on Request. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  23. Bangs, Amy (March 22, 2011). "Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes". Rock Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  24. 24.0 24.1 Ponton, Jared (March 14, 2011). "Yellowcard – When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  25. "iTunes - Music - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (Deluxe Version) by Yellowcard". iTunes. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  26. Album Top 40 from the Official UK Charts Company
  27. Independent Albums | Billboard.com
  28. http://www.amazon.com/When-Youre-Through-Thinking-Acoustic/dp/B005NF3LM6/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1318480056&sr=1-3

External links