blackholesunshower

***Note: I am not a musician. I am a fan and music aficionado. I do not use technical terms. I listen with my heart, mind, and soul! Thanks for reading. ***

One Day Remains (review + analysis)

Rating (out of 5):

*I like this song a lot.

**I listen to this song on repeat

Overview (according to Wikipedia)

Track 1: Find the Real

Thoughts: The opening track. I always wondered why this album seemed a bit flat (as opposed to so layed like the other AB albums) guitar wise (but still incredible) and found out not long ago that Myles didn’t play rhythm back then! Mark didn’t know about Myles’s talents! Wow. This track opens with a nice rock riff with an added high note “squeal.” Sorry, I don’t know the technical guitar term, but that’s when Mark squeals the note and makes it sort of wail. That technique annoyed me at first, but it’s kind of a Tremonti signature, so it grew on me. AB has also stopped doing it so much. Myles sang a bit differently on the first album, in a lower register.

Theme/message: The narrator has a shady past that’s caught up to him and now wants to lead a better life or “find the real.”

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “It seems I finally thought of everything. I want to love, I want to feel, find peace, find the real.”

Glows: It’s the FIRST SONG!

Grows: What does “find the real” mean?

Track 2: One Day Remains

Summary: The second track opens with a killer guitar riff/melody and continues with a slow gallop and some heavy drumming! Myles also throws in a bit of falsetto with “YOU must have faith.” This gives the listener hope with his change in tone.

Theme/message: Believe in yourself! You are stronger than you know.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “As your courage crashes down, Don’t lay down and die. Cause I see in you more than you’ll ever know.”

Glows: Myles has some very soulful singing.

Grows: none

Track 3: Open your eyes

Summary: The second track opens with a killer guitar riff/melody and continues with a slow gallop and some heavy drumming! Myles also throws in a bit of falsetto with “YOU must have faith.” This gives the listener hope with his change in tone.

Theme/message: Life is difficult, but we are all in this together.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “Hard to walk this path alone. Hard to know which way to go.”

Glows: Myles and Mark’s harmonizing. Myles’s oohs and ahhhss before the solo! WOW! So soulful!

Grows: none

Track 4: burn it down*

Summary: Oh, how I love this one! The slow guitar opening, Myles’s gentle harmonizing creates an intro so captivating the listener must continue!

Theme/message: Know when to fold or start over. Every new day is a new beginning.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “Discover the dusk of your day has reached its dawn.”

Glows: Myles sounds like Jeff Buckley.

Grows: Myles sounds too much like Jeff Buckley. ha ha

Track 5: metalingus

Summary: The fifth track opens hard, Myles’s vocals SOAR early, and Metalingus takes the listener on a ride they will never forget!

Theme/message: Chase your dreams, even if one is over, another begins. (Creed reference?)

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “I’ll never long for what might have been. Regret won’t waste my life again.”

Glows: Flip KILLS the drums on this one and the ending sequence with guitars and drums, Myles soaring vocals, makes it one of AB’s most cherished songs!

Grows: Mentions feeling “alive” just like “One Day Remains.” (repetitive lyrical choice)

Track 6: broken wings

Summary: The sixth track opens with gentle, thought-provoking guitar.

Theme/message: Lyrics like “the skin on me is burning by the fires of the sun,” and “I gotta find that meaning and I’ll search for so long,” make this one a bit darker. The narrator is searching for meaning and may never find it.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “How we are slowly changing, dims a fading light in our souls.”

Glows: The melody and tone of the piece. It’s haunting. The nuances of Myles’s voice emphasize this emotion.

Grows: none

Track 7: in loving memory

Summary: Mark wrote this for his mother, and giving it over to Myles to sing must have been a leap of faith. This song gives me chills. It’s so beautiful and MYLES does SO GREAT!

Theme/message: Missing a loved one who died. Nothing’s the same anymore.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “I never knew what it was to be alone, no, cause you were always there waiting, but now I come home and it’s not the same, no. It feels empty and alone. I can’t believe you’re gone.” (Wow)

Glows: Myles’s singing. HE NAILS IT!

Grows: none

Track 8: down to my last

Summary: This is a good tune. Catchy and I always sing along. Something about it is off, though. Not heavy enough? The lyrics are confusing. IDK!

Theme/message: Be open to learning about love and life. I am not sure. What do you think?

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “I’m standing here alone looking back at it all.”

Glows: Flip KILLS the drums on this one and the ending sequence with guitars and drums, Myles soaring vocals, makes it one of AB’s most cherished songs!

Grows: Down to my “last” what?

Track 9: watch your words

Summary: The intro to this one is a bit trippy, then goes into heavy guitars, which I love. Then, it kicks into a slower rhythm and lyrics, leading into the chorus.

Theme/message: The desire to change, and be a better person.

POV: 2nd –> 1st person

Standout lyrics: “I can’t breathe. I prefer to find a ceiling to this hate of mine.”

Glows: It’s so metal. It’s so progressive rock. It’s so melodic and heavy at the same time. Myles’s vocals are passionate.

Grows: none

Track 10: shed my skin*

Summary: Starts like a ballad, then starts rocking!

Theme/message: The past haunts me.

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “All my life I’ve waited. Endless days have taken. Taken what made me free.”

Glows: The bridge….

Grows: none

Track 11: the end is here**

Summary: One of my favorites. It’s so dark and mysterious. OOH!!! Love the intro. I love the lyrics and melody. Myles’s voice! OMG! I listen to this one a LOT!!!

Theme/message: I will continue to search for the meaning of life forever. Never give up! I will find the end until it is here. Mark loves using the words “the end.”

POV: 1st person

Standout lyrics: “For the rest of my life, I will find the answers that were always here.”

Glows: The guitar leading into the bridge. Starting at 3:14 Myles drags out the lyrics and then wails! OMGGGGG!!!! The “END” of the song. PERFECT!!!!

Grows: Mentions “endless days” repeating lyrics from Shed My Skin (just a minor pet peeve of mine)