Siren Song of the Counter Culture | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 10, 2004 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 40:54 | |||
Label | Geffen | |||
Producer | Garth Richardson | |||
Rise Against chronology | ||||
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Singles from Siren Song of the Counter Culture | ||||
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Siren Song of the Counter Culture is the third studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. Released on August 10, 2004, it was Rise Against's first album on a major record label, after the band signed with DreamWorks Records in September 2003. The recording sessions for the album with producer Garth Richardson were mostly split between two studios in British Columbia. These sessions were marred by numerous distractions and inconveniences, such as the absorption of DreamWorks into Geffen Records, the arrival of a new guitarist, accusations of the band selling out, and the birth of lead vocalist Tim McIlrath's child.
Musically, Siren Song of the Counter Culture is rooted in hardcore punk and melodic hardcore. It comprises twelve songs, with lyrical themes ranging from social commentary to personal reflection. To promote the album, Rise Against toured throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Siren Song of the Counter Culture sold poorly for the first six months, but the band's incessant touring schedule eventually led to a gradual increase in sales. It became their first album to chart on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 136, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The album received generally positive reviews, with praise for the lyrics, but drew some criticism for a lack of individually memorable songs and perceived overproduction. Three songs from Siren Song of the Counter Culture were released as singles: "Give It All", "Swing Life Away", and "Life Less Frightening". All three songs charted on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away" in particular are credited with helping Rise Against achieve mainstream appeal.
After the release of Revolutions per Minute in 2003, a number of major record labels became interested in Rise Against, including DreamWorks Records. [2] At the time, Rise Against was under contract with the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords. The general consensus among Fat Wreck Chords musicians was that major record labels sacrifice musical integrity in exchange for commercial profit. [2] Rise Against held the same belief, but eventually came to the conclusion that, unlike other labels, DreamWorks supported the band's social and political charged lyrics. According to lead vocalist Tim McIlrath: "Their faith in what we do and the fact that they cared about stuff we cared about was an eye-opener." [2] The band signed with DreamWorks in September 2003, [2] and was given complete creative control to record Siren Song of the Counter Culture. [3]
The band members went into the album with the assumption that DreamWorks was going to drop them at any moment, so they wanted to take advantage of the opportunity by working with their "dream producer". They chose Garth Richardson, known for his work with heavier sounding bands like Rage Against the Machine and Sick of It All, to produce the album. [4] The recording sessions for Siren Song of the Counter Culture were split between Plumper Mountain Sound in Gibsons, British Columbia, and The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. [5] Richardson insisted on recording the guitar and bass one measure at a time, to ensure perfect timing; as a result, each song took nearly twelve hours to record. [6] Canadian politician Nicholas Simons contributed the cello to four songs. [7] Simons met the band while in Gibsons, and recalled not knowing who they were. [7]
The writing and recording sessions for Siren Song of the Counter Culture were marred by numerous distractions and inconveniences. [4] In November 2003, DreamWorks was acquired by Universal Music Group for US$100 million, and eventually folded into Geffen Records. [8] [9] The transition period between labels left Rise Against without an A&R representative, and little acknowledgement from Geffen executives. [9] [10] Guitarist Todd Mohney left the band during the writing sessions, was replaced by Chris Chasse of Reach the Sky. [3] McIlrath noted that the band members was nervous about teaching Chasse completely new songs in a short period. [4] Meanwhile, McIlrath was experiencing more personal distractions. [4] Some Rise Against fans accused the band of selling out after signing with DreamWorks. Although McIlrath felt that most of the fans would realize that the band had not changed upon hearing the album, it still bothered him knowing that some longtime fans now hated the band for switching labels. [4] Additionally, McIlrath's wife, who was seven months pregnant, went into labor while he was in the vocal booth. The band temporarily moved recording sessions from Vancouver to Chicago so that McIlrath could be with his wife. [4]
Siren Song of the Counter Culture is primarily rooted in hardcore punk and melodic hardcore. [11] According to Ultimate Guitar Archive, the album contains archetypal elements of punk rock, including "fast-paced drum beats, powerful guitar chords and thrashing bass lines". [12] Each song has multiple guitar layers combined with rhythmic arrangements, which add "melodic flavor". [12] [13] Critics have compared the album to works by other punk rock bands, like AFI, Bad Religion, Blink-182, Poison the Well, Refused, and Sick of It All. [14] [15] [16] AllMusic's Johnny Loftus commented that the band diversified their lyrics for Siren Song of the Counter Culture, mixing social and political commentary with personal reflection. [14] McIlrath believes that the album is about standing up for oneself, and not being afraid to have a dissenting opinion. [17]
The first track on Siren Song of the Counter Culture is "State of the Union", a short and aggressive song that contains the most screaming on the album. [11] Its lyrics criticize bureaucratic injustice, as well as those who do not speak out against injustice. [16] [18] Davey Boy of Sputnikmusic believes "The First Drop" is more toned down, and acts as a bridge to the third track "Life Less Frightening". [11] "Life Less Frightening" is a conventionally structured song, that Boy notes almost has an alternative rock sound, but keeps underlying punk rock traits. [11] The fourth track, "Paper Wings", tells a sad story about growing apart, backed by a guitar lick that lasts the entire song. [14] "Blood to Bleed" features reflective lyrics about broken hearts, presented from a first-person perspective. [14]
The sixth and seventh tracks, "To Them These Streets Belong" and "Tip the Scales", have AFI-like vocals according to Blistering 's Justin Donnelly. [16] "Anywhere But Here" features a backing drum beat that both Donnelly and Ultimate Guitar Archive highlighted as the best part of the song, with Ultimate Guitar Archive describing it as "contagious". [12] [16] "Give It All" is a short hardcore track, that Boy believes is reminiscent of songs by The Offspring. [11] McIlrath commented that the song is "kind of a punk rock anthem about being a punk rocker in today's world; like what being a human being in today's world is like". [19] "Dancing for Rain" opens with acoustic strumming, before transitioning into a frenetic pace, combining pop elements with punk rock. [11] The penultimate track, "Swing Life Away", is an acoustic ballad, with simple lyrics discussing daily life and the working class. [11] The final track, "Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" features one of the few guitar solos on the album, and "end[s] things in huge style", according to Donnelly. [12] [16]
To promote Siren Song of the Counter Culture, Rise Against toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. [20] They participated in the 2004 Warped Tour, [21] and supported Bad Religion in a late 2004 tour. [22] In 2005, Rise Against participated in the Taste of Chaos tour (with Funeral for a Friend, Killswitch Engage, Story of the Year, and The Used), [23] Give it a Name festival (with Alexisonfire, Coheed and Cambria, Fightstar, and MewithoutYou), [24] and the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK. [25] McIlrath commented that the band was "touring like maniacs at the time", accepting every show they could get into. [3]
Siren Song of the Counter Culture was released on August 10, 2004; [14] the first 30,000 copies contained a "question authority" sticker. [26] For the first six months, the album sold poorly, and attracted little fanfare. [3] [4] Geffen did not promote the band, as they were virtually unaware of their existence. This led Aubin Paul of Punknews.org to jokingly comment that Fat Wreck Chords was doing more to promote the band. [4] Rise Against's incessant touring schedule resulted in greater exposure, which contributed to a gradual increase in sales. Eventually, Geffen noticed the increase in sales, and began promoting the band. [3]
Siren Song of the Counter Culture became Rise Against's first album to reach the Billboard 200, peaking at number 136 on August 28, 2004. [27] It also reached number one on the Top Heatseekers chart. [28] According to The A.V. Club , the album sold over 400,000 copies by 2006. [29] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2009, denoting shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States. [30] Elsewhere, the album was certified platinum by Music Canada, denoting shipments of 100,000 copies in Canada; [31] and gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association, denoting shipments of 35,000 copies in Australia. [32]
Three songs from Siren Song of the Counter Culture were released as singles: "Give It All", "Swing Life Away", and "Life Less Frightening". [33] [34] [35] All three songs charted on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, peaking at number thirty-seven, twelve, and thirty-three respectively. [36] Accompanying music videos were shot for "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away". [37] In the "Give It All" video, Rise Against performs in a crowded subway car, while other people travel throughout Chicago vandalizing and defacing billboards and posters. [38] The "Swing Life Away" video is more relaxed, and follows the band members as they hangout with friends. [37] The video for "Swing Life Away" was shot over a year after the release of Siren Song Of The Counter Culture, a rarity in the music industry, as most videos are shot only a few months after the song's parent album is released. [4] Music journalists have credited "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away" as helping Rise Against achieve mainstream appeal. [39] [40] John J. Moser of The Morning Call considers "Give It All" to be the band's breakthrough single, [39] while Alternative Addiction wrote: "'Swing Life Away' catapulted Rise Against past Anti-Flag to the point where they've been with the past three albums as one of most established bands going in rock." [40]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [14] |
Contactmusic.com | 7/10 [15] |
Pitchfork | 2.9/10 [41] |
Sputnikmusic | 4/5 [11] |
Ultimate Guitar Archive | 9.3/10 [12] |
Siren Song of the Counter Culture received mostly positive reviews from critics. Ultimate Guitar Archive lauded almost every aspect of the album, with particular praise for the use of multiple guitar layers, its "poetically angry lyrics", and McIlrath's vocals. However, the review also mentioned that Rise Against fans may be disappointed with the band's move towards a more accessible sound. [12] Davey Boy of Sputnikmusic described Siren Song of the Counter Culture as an "impressively energetic and surprisingly accessible package of punk, hardcore and rock all rolled into one", and praised the simple yet effective lyrics. [11] Writing for The Herald-News , Chris Brooks highlighted Brandon Barnes' drumming, and recommend the album to drum fans. [42] Alex Parker of Contactmusic.com complimented the lyrics for their relevancy, and noted their subtlety when compared to Green Day's 2004 album American Idiot . [15]
Boy found the paucity of individually memorable songs to be Siren Song of the Counter Culture's biggest issue, and noted the album's lack of immediacy. [11] Donnelly and Loftus felt that some of the album's songs suffered from overproduction, which lessened their lyrical potency and musical aggression. [14] [16] Loftus ultimately summarized his review by saying "Siren Song of the Counter Culture is simply the band's latest statement ... to recruit more kids for the raging". [14] Marc Hogan's review for Pitchfork is written as if it were a letter addressed to American political activist Ralph Nader. In his review, Hogan heavily chastises the band for their "empty political sloganeering and crybaby bullshit", and compares the album's "over-the-top bloviating" to Nader's 2004 presidential campaign. [41]
All lyrics are written by Tim McIlrath; all music is composed by Tim McIlrath, Joe Principe, Brandon Barnes and Chris Chasse, unless otherwised noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "State of the Union" | 2:19 | |
2. | "The First Drop" | 2:39 | |
3. | "Life Less Frightening" | 3:44 | |
4. | "Paper Wings" | 3:43 | |
5. | "Blood to Bleed" | 3:48 | |
6. | "To Them These Streets Belong" | 2:49 | |
7. | "Tip the Scales" | 3:49 | |
8. | "Anywhere but Here" | 3:38 | |
9. | "Give It All" | 2:50 | |
10. | "Dancing for Rain" | 4:01 | |
11. | "Swing Life Away" | Tim McIlrath, Neil Hennessy | 3:20 |
12. | "Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" | 4:14 | |
Total length: | 40:54 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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13. | "Obstructed View" | 2:01 | |
14. | "Fix Me" | Greg Ginn | 0:55 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Siren Song of the Counter Culture. [5]
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Chart (2004–05) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [27] | 136 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [28] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [43] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada) [44] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) [45] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [46] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rooted in hardcore punk and melodic hardcore, Rise Against's music emphasizes melody, catchy hooks, an aggressive sound and playstyle, and rapid tempos. Lyrically, the band is known for their outspoken social commentary, covering a wide range of topics such as political injustice, animal rights, humanitarianism, and environmentalism.
The Unraveling is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on April 24, 2001 by Fat Wreck Chords. Following the release of the extended play Transistor Revolt in 2000, the band signed with Fat Wreck Chords and began working on the album at Sonic Iguana Studios with producer Mass Giorgini. Musically, The Unraveling is rooted in melodic hardcore, which later came to be the band’s signature style; conversely, its lyrics differ from their more politically-driven later work, focusing more on personal relationships and issues.
Revolutions per Minute is the second studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on April 8, 2003, by Fat Wreck Chords. After establishing a fanbase with their 2001 debut, The Unraveling, the band members wanted to record an album that distinguished them from other Fat Wreck Chords bands of the time. They chose Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore to produce the album, with whom they developed a strong rapport. Recording took place from November to December 2002 at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Timothy James McIlrath is an American rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk rock band Rise Against. He is vegan and straight edge.
Joseph Daniel Principe is an American musician. He is the bassist, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the punk rock band Rise Against.
The Sufferer & the Witness is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on July 4, 2006. A melodic hardcore album, it comprises thirteen tracks that focus on melody, catchy hooks, and rapid-paced tempo. Social and political issues as well as the concept of self-reflection constitute the majority of the lyrical content.
"Ready to Fall" is the first single by the punk rock band Rise Against from their fourth studio album, The Sufferer & The Witness (2006).
"Swing Life Away" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against. It is an acoustic ballad, with a sharp guitar sound and optimistic lyrics about daily life and the working class. The song was first included in the 2003 compilation album Punk Goes Acoustic, and was later expanded upon in the band's 2004 album Siren Song of the Counter Culture.
"Give It All" is a song by American rock band Rise Against. It was originally recorded for the 2004 compilation album Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1, while a slightly altered version appeared on the band's third studio album Siren Song of the Counter Culture later that year. It is a hardcore punk song, with lyrics that are about "being a punk rocker in today's world," according to lead vocalist Tim McIlrath. It was released as Siren Song of the Counter Culture's first single in October 2004.
"Prayer of the Refugee" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against, featured on their fourth studio album The Sufferer & the Witness (2006). The lyrics were written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath, and deal with the themes of forced displacement and the societal issues surrounding refugees. The song uses a contrasting verse-chorus form, with slow and melancholic verses against fast-paced and chaotic choruses. It was released as The Sufferer & the Witness's second single on December 6, 2006.
Brandon Barnes is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Rise Against. Barnes is also a strict vegetarian, an animal rights advocate and actively promotes PETA with his band.
Appeal to Reason is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on October 7, 2008. A melodic hardcore album, Appeal to Reason marked a musical shift from the gritty hardcore punk sound that had previously defined the band's career to what some have viewed as a more radio-friendly sound, with greater emphasis on production and bigger, more anthemic choruses. The album's lyrics primarily focus on political issues in the United States, such as the Iraq War and the Bush administration.
"Re-Education " is the first single from American punk rock band Rise Against's fifth studio album, Appeal to Reason. The single was released digitally to digital stores and radio stations on August 26, 2008. A music video was released on the same day.
Endgame is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on March 15, 2011, by DGC Records and Interscope Records. A melodic hardcore album, Endgame continues the trend by Rise Against towards more crisp, polished production, which began with the band's previous album Appeal to Reason. Social and political commentary constitute the majority of the lyrical content on Endgame, and a major theme revolves around the end of humanity.
"Help Is On the Way" is a song by American rock band Rise Against, featured on their sixth studio album Endgame (2011). Inspired by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath's visit to New Orleans, the song is about the slow response time for aid to disaster stricken areas. It incorporates elements of punk rock and melodic hardcore, with lyrics that allude to Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. "Help Is On the Way" premiered on KROQ-FM on January 17, 2011, and was later released as Endgame's lead single on January 25.
"Satellite" is a song by American punk rock band Rise Against, featured on their sixth studio album Endgame (2011). Written by lead vocalist Tim McIlrath, "Satellite" is a melodic hardcore song expressing the idea that the band stood by their social and political beliefs, and that they would not conform to mainstream media. The song first premiered on March 4, 2011 in a webisode series detailing the recording process of Endgame, but was not released as the album's third single until November 1, 2011. The song impacted radio on the same day.
The Black Market is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on July 15, 2014 through Interscope Records. A melodic hardcore album, The Black Market comprises twelve songs that focus on mid-tempo rhythm, vocal hooks, and strong bridge sections. The album's thematically introspective lyrics are a departure from the band's typical social and political topics, and revolve around dark subject matter.
Wolves is the eighth studio album by the American punk rock band Rise Against. It was released on June 9, 2017. It is their first studio album since 2004's Siren Song of the Counter Culture to be produced by the band without long time producers, Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, and their only studio album to be released through Virgin Records. The album's lead single, "The Violence", was released on April 20, 2017. Two more songs, "House on Fire" and "Welcome to the Breakdown" were released on May 19 and June 2, respectively, as pre-release buzz tracks.
Nowhere Generation is the ninth studio album by American punk rock band Rise Against, released on June 4, 2021, on Loma Vista Recordings. It is the band's first album in four years, serving as the follow-up to 2017's Wolves. Four singles were released for the album: "Broken Dreams, Inc", "Nowhere Generation", "The Numbers", and "Talking to Ourselves". The album was produced by Bill Stevenson, Jason Livermore, Andrew Berlin, and Chris Beeble. The album's single of the same name was released on March 18, 2021, and the album was announced that day.
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