Full circle: a theme that eagerly resonates with each member of multiplatinum survivors, Our Lady Peace. As the band approached the release of their seventh studio album, a feeling of renewal and excitement washed over Toronto’s favorite sons in a manner not felt since their earliest days.
Self-produced in lead singer Raine Maida’s Los Angeles home studio, the 10-track Burn Burn (in stores July 21), marks the longest period between studio albums for Our Lady Peace. It also signifies a sonic and philosophical rebirth. The band now enjoys a creative and professional freedom that they haven’t experienced since the release of their now classic debut. “I think about the way we made Naveed,” Maida recalls. “We were just starting, we knew nothing about the business and we had no expectations. It was four guys in a room just trusting their instincts. We went back to that. ‘Liberating’ doesn’t really even sum it up.”
Burn Burn is a triumphant return to what Maida terms “a proper, mature rock album,” steeped in the kind of raw intensity that drove their early material. Blinding rays of anthemic light make way to the tender poise and precision of a band that was looking for a way out and found a satisfying new way in.
With caution thrown to the wind, tracks such as the stunningly arranged “Dreamland” and the overpowering first single, “All You Did Was Save My Life,” soar above angry clouds of confusion and insecurity with an ascending clarity that can only come from experience and growth.
The pounding affirmation of “The Right Stuff” and the vigilant build of band favorite “Refuge,” also reinforce the notion that OLP now occupy a unique and enviable mindspace. “We’re not looking back with any kind of regret,” Maida points out, “but we’ve been doing this long enough now that we know what we want to say. We didn’t want to compromise a thing.”
Having scattered in different directions after the release of 2005’s Healthy In Paranoid Times, all four members took on projects of their own, ranging from solo records, production and songwriting work, tours and guest performances. Over the last two years, Raine Maida, guitarist Steve Mazur, bassist Duncan Coutts and drummer Jeremy Taggart sporadically reconvened and lived at Madia’s home, creating what he calls their best effort to date.
Members would leave each session without tapes, giving themselves a much fresher perspective on the material they created when they returned. Producing themselves and an adherence to rolling tape off the floor gave birth to an urgent, natural body of work. “We didn’t put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Coutts confirms. “We left things alone and haven't done that in a long time."
“For us,” adds Maida, “a big part of this band is playing live. It has to be something that we’re going to enjoy; a real dynamic collection of songs. When we really started to understand that, the record took on this whole other life.”
This work ethic allowed room for guitarist Steve Mazur, who joined the band in 2002, to blossom on Burn Burn. “On this album I really felt comfortable with my role and what I sound like as the guitarist of Our Lady Peace.” Mazur shines on tracks such as “Escape Artist” and “Paper Moon,” a song where Mazur’s solowork was nailed on the first go-round.
Our Lady Peace is also striking out on their own professionally this time around, opting for what the band terms a “true partnership” with both North American record labels. “We’ve never been this prepared for an album,” adds OLP founding member Jeremy Taggart. “In the past, we’ve never had the foresight to have maybe two or three singles in the can already with videos, etc.”
“Nobody knows us better than ourselves,” Taggart continues. “We didn’t over think a good song or idea or under think anything. The good songs really picked themselves.”
Hello ça fait un bout dis donc !!!, je viens de mettre mon petit dernier en ligne, il s'appelle " Déflagration " , passe l'écouter et si le coeur t'en dit laisse un petit com , à plus, bonne fin de semaine. Bassman.
EVERY FAKE OWNS A MASK, got up to 100 plays,witch tells me ALL you r listening ! It was time to pull it to make room for the new song. The new song post is called "INTO YOU" Hope you LOVE it, lyrics by Elisha Frangello. & then when InTo You gets up to 100 plays, i'm pulling it too. So on & so on.
I'M GIVING YOU A TASTE OF THE NEW ALBUM.
ALL THE SONGS WILL MAKE IT BACK THE WEEK OF RELEASE.. ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a chance to go see you back in 2002 when I was in the Navy. I think it was when you came out with Spiritual Machines. You were my favorite band. I was going through a hard time during those submarine days and you guys gave me inspiration and cheered me up during that time. I always listened to you while I worked. So anyways I bought tickets offline to go see you in Washington DC. I had to ride a bus all the way from Norfolk, VA and I had to take leave just to go to the show! Which isnt easy when your in the submarine force. So the day of the concert I ride the bus 6 hours and I swear as soon as I leave the bus terminal. I recieve a call that you canceled the concert!!!! Of course you rescheduled it but how in the world was I gonna convince my superiors to give me another day off!!!! You guys totally owe me two concert tickets. My Girlfriend is Deaf so we want to sit on the stage on speakers with sub-titles of the lyrics on the screen. Two bus tickets to the nearest show, I live in Dunsmuir, California now. You have to hang out with me for 12 hours to make up for the Brain-droning bus ride that I had to take just to see you guys play. And you have provide hotel accomodations for me and my GF. Everytime I think about that day, it still urks me and the pain still hasnt healed. *hangs down head with a frown*
Online Now!
