X (The Driver Era album)

Last updated
X
The Driver Era - X.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 28, 2019
Genre Alternative rock
Length35:43
Label
  • TOO Records
  • BMG
Producer Rocky Lynch
The Driver Era chronology
X
(2019)
Girlfriend
(2021)
Singles from X
  1. "Preacher Man"
    Released: March 16, 2018
  2. "Afterglow"
    Released: August 24, 2018
  3. "Low"
    Released: October 26, 2018
  4. "Feel You Now"
    Released: March 29, 2019
  5. "Welcome to the End of Your Life"
    Released: April 26, 2019

X is the debut studio album from American music duo the Driver Era, released on June 28, 2019, by BMG and TOO Records.

Contents

The album was preceded by the release of five singles: "Preacher Man", "Afterglow", "Low", "Feel You Now" and "Welcome to the End of Your Life".

To promote the album, the band embarked a concert tour, The Driver Era Live!, which started on March 13, 2019 and ended on August 11, 2019 across the United States, and consisted of a total of 22 shows.

To further promote the album, as well as the band's discography the band will embark on another tour, X Girlfriend Tour, [1] which is set to start on September 14, 2024, and end on October 27, 2024, [2] across Europe, and consiste of a total of 25 shows. [3]

Background

Most of the time we are talking about something we want to achieve or a vision we have or a song we want to write. Or otherwise contemplating. We are always talking about big concepts and trying to figure out how to enjoy the most we can.

– Ross Lynch on developing X,via interview for Forbes . [4]

Brothers Rocky and Ross Lynch had previously been making music together for some time alongside their other siblings, as part of the now defunct pop rock band R5. On March 1, 2018, R5's Instagram and Twitter accounts were changed to the Driver Era, with all previous posts removed. The same day, the band released previews of their first single "Preacher Man", which was later released on March 16, 2018. [5]

On August 24, 2018, the Driver Era released their next single, "Afterglow", first made available on their YouTube channel before eventually being put onto Spotify. [6] Their third single, "Low", was released on October 26, 2018.

On March 10, 2019, the Driver Era released a video titled "Haven't Left the Garage", which included snippets of several upcoming tracks from the album that they would perform on tour. The fourth single from the album, "Feel You Now", was released on March 29, 2019 after being previously teased, with a music video released three weeks later on April 17, 2019. [7] The final single from the album, "Welcome to the End of Your Life", was released on April 26, 2019, with a music video released shortly after. On June 13, 2019, the Driver Era released a music video for the track "Low", as well as announcing the title of their debut studio album, X. [8] The album was released on June 28, 2019.

An extended play featuring remixes of various tracks from the album, titled Some Remixes of X, was released on January 10, 2020. [9]

Critical reception

X received generally positive reviews from music critics. Kelly McCafferty Dorogy, writing for Atwood Magazine, described the album as "a graduation from their early years in the mega pop group R5", finding the group's blending of soul, funk, pop, and rock genres as providing depth to each track. [10] Honor Cockroft of The London Centrist compared the album to an "at-home concert", praising Rocky's production and Ross's vocal talent. [11]

Track listing

All tracks are produced by Ross Lynch and Rocky Lynch, except where noted.

X track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Welcome to the End of Your Life"
 3:23
2."Nobody Knows"
 3:30
3."Scared of Heights"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
 3:52
4."Feel You Now"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
 4:18
5."San Francisco"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
 3:39
6."Low"Rocky Lynch 3:30
7."Giveuwhatuwant"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
 3:20
8."Natural"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
  • Morgan Reid
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Reid
3:16
9."Afterglow"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
 3:11
10."Preacher Man"
  • Bunetta
  • Andrew Haas
  • Ian Franzino
3:39
Total length:35:43
Some Remixes of X - EP track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Feel You Now" (Ellington Remix)
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff [a]
3:19
2."Natural" (Moontower Remix)
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
  • Reid
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Reid
  • Moontower [a]
2:27
3."Nobody Knows Reprise"
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ratliff
 2:43
4."Low" (The Fund Remix)Rocky Lynch
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Jeff Laliberte [a]
  • Paul Laliberte [a]
  • Shelby Archer [a]
3:52
5."Preacher Man" (Rocky Remix)
  • Bunetta
  • Drewett
  • Lewis
  • Hindlin
  • Ryan
  • Bunetta
  • Haas
  • Franzino
3:47
6."Scared of Heights" (Pete Nappi Remix)
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Ross Lynch
  • Rocky Lynch
  • Peter Nappi [a]
2:52
Total length:19:02

Notes

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the AllMusic. [12]

The Driver Era

Technical

  • Andrew Haas – engineering, production
  • Bridgette Bryant – background vocals
  • Chris Gehringer – engineering
  • Damien Lewis – engineering
  • Ed Drewett – composition
  • Ellington Ratliff – composition
  • Erik Madrid – engineering
  • Gamal Lewis – composition
  • Gavin Lurssen – engineering
  • Ian Franzino – engineering, production
  • Jacob Kasher – composition
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • John Ryan – composition
  • Julian Bunetta – composition, engineering, production, programming, background vocals
  • Maxayn Lewis – background vocals
  • Morgan Reid – composition, engineering, production
  • Phil Tan – engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – engineering

Release history

X release history
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousJune 28, 2019
  • BMG
  • TOO Records
[13]
Some Remixes of X - EP release history
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousJanuary 10, 2020
  • BMG
  • TOO Records
[14]

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References

  1. Forrest, Jo (May 17, 2024). "THE DRIVER ERA announce 'X Girlfriend' Tour". Total Entertainment. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  2. Stickler, Jon (May 13, 2024). "The Driver Era Confirm Autumn UK And European Leg Of X Girlfriend Tour". Stereo Board. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  3. Wescott, Andrew (May 13, 2024). "The Driver Era Have Announced UK and European 'X Girlfriend Tour' Dates". Dork . Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  4. Mercuri, Monica (April 26, 2019). "The Driver Era Talk New Single, Finding Creative Freedom And Wanting A 'Sabrina' Collab". Forbes . Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  5. Hiser, Lisa. "Shine On Media | The Driver Era Previews First Single "Preacher Man" – Listen!" . Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  6. rockyourlyrics (July 3, 2018). "The Driver Era Debuts New Summer Track "Afterglow"". Rock Your Lyrics. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  7. Heffernan, Will (March 30, 2019). "The Driver Era Releases New Song "Feel You Now"". ECHO. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. Perez, Ruben Jr. (June 6, 2019). "The Driver Era Release "Low" Music Video, Announce Debut Album 'X'". Entertainment Rocks. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  9. THE DRIVER ERA - Some Remixes of X Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic , retrieved June 10, 2022
  10. McCafferty Dorogy, Kelly (June 27, 2019). "Review: The Driver Era Enter a New Age with Debut Album, 'X'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  11. "Review: The Driver Era's X – The London Centrist" . Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  12. THE DRIVER ERA - X Album Credits - AllMusic , retrieved July 20, 2024
  13. X release formats:
  14. Some Remixes of X - EP release formats: