Composition
In an interview with Alternative Addiction in March 2011, lead singer Josh Ramsay said they had began recording songs for their third album with a planned release date for the fall. He also confirmed that a single had been completed and would be released in the summer. [6] The single was announced to be "Haven't Had Enough", released in July 2011. [7] That same month, the group revealed 4 more song titles from the forthcoming album, "Fallout", "By Now", "So Soon" and "Toy Soldiers". [8] After months of anticipation, Ramsay announced on Twitter that the album will be titled Ever After. [9] The band announced that the album would be released on November 29, 2011, [10] however this date was later pushed up to November 21. [3] The band announced that there would not be any breaks in between the tracks on the record, and would instead have a new track start as soon as the previous track ended, without a pause, making it an hour-long continuous piece of music. [3] Through YouTube, the band previewed recordings of a gospel choir for their song "Stutter", as well as a few recordings from the band. [11] The album cover was revealed on the band's Facebook page on October 17, 2011, and it features a series of toys on a shelf. [12]
Production on the album began in the beginning of 2011. [13] The album was produced by Ramsay and was recorded at his studio, Umbrella Factory, in Richmond, British Columbia. [3] The group decided to produce it on their own as it allowed them complete the album "as quickly as possible" and avoided having to wait to "work around a producer's schedule," which would have slowed their process, according to Ayley. [14] Musically, Ramsay described the sound as "radio style, pop/top 40 style," though noted it would not be much of a departure from their previous sound featured on Masterpiece Theatre , rather that the band "pushed themselves even further." [6] He also said the record was influenced by Queen, the Beach Boys and Michael Jackson. [2] Bassist Mike Ayley noted a progression in the group's sound stating that they have learned more about "writing and recording music from album to album." [15] Drummer Ian Casselman stated that they avoided trying to create "the same album over and over again," and with this record, they decided to incorporate some theatrics into it. [16] He also spoke about the process of having to piece the track list and making sure that each song would flow together in a nice order stating, "When songs are different, it's hard to flow one song into another, so it took quite a while to decide what the order is and what to put in between them." [16]
Storyline
Ever After is a concept album based around a fairytale concept. [3] Ayley described it as a "Tim Burton kind of story." [17] In addition to the fact that there is no pause between the tracks, Ever After also has a storyline told through the album's songs as well as its booklet. The story tells of a fictionalized Josh Ramsay and his adventures in the fantasy kingdom of Toyland. [18]
It tells a story of a man awakening in a land run by Queen Carolina, who uses her factory to build toys that steal hearts. The man goes on a mission to find Porcelain: the missing, heartless, adopted daughter of the former king. She holds a piece of a key that opens a chest that will allow him to return home. [19]
