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Define the Great Line

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 85.25.120.24 (talk) at 13:58, 17 August 2010 (the band is called a hardcore band in most sources, although this is a metalcore album). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Define the Great Line is the fifth album by American post-hardcore band Underoath.[1][2] The album was released in the United States on June 20th, 2006 along with a limited edition version containing exclusive artwork and DVD. For the recording of this album Underoath's usual producer, James Paul Wisner, was replaced by Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage and Matt Goldman, who had previously worked with former labelmates Norma Jean.[3]

The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 charts selling over 98,000 copies in its first week and becoming the highest charting Christian album on the Billboard 200 since 1997. By the end of 2006 the album had been certified gold by the RIAA.[4] The album's lead single "Writing on the Walls" was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. The album received generally positive reviews. AbsolutePunk called it a "masterpiece of the genre" and an album that "can never be forgotten"[5] while Allmusic described Define the Great Line "blistering and occasionally majestic."[6]

Musical and lyrical themes

The title of the album, according to keyboardist Christopher Dudley, comes from "defining that line for yourself between becoming the man or the woman that you want to be and the man or the woman other people want you to be."[7]

Define the Great Line is noticeably heavier and less pop-influenced than its predecessor, They're Only Chasing Safety. The band themselves said that the heavier style was "nothing super intentional, they [the songs] just came out that way when we went to write."[7] AbsolutePunk said those who were fans of the Underoath's previous effort expecting to hear more of the same would be "severely disappointed" and that "catchy sing-along lines" had been "stamped out by murderous guitars and bloodcurdling screams"[8]

Unlike They're Only Chasing Safety, Define the Great Line was written by both Spencer Chamberlain (vocals) and Aaron Gillespie (drums).[9] Lyrical themes on the album, according to Allmusic, include introspection, reflection, loss and grief.[6] According to the band the lyrics are "deeply personal" to Chamberlain and relate to things in his life 'that have molded him into the person he is today.'[10]

Reception

Define the Great Line received generally positive reviews in the press, and sold equally well. AbsolutePunk gave special praise to the vocal harmonies of Gillespie and Chamberlain, calling the pair of them "unbreakable"[8] and "eruptive".[8] The Alternative Press review put forward Gillespie as "the beautiful melodic counterpart to Chamberlain's crushing heaviness"[11] Praise was also given to the lyrics, comparing the lyric sheet to a "group therapy session" and calling the end result "transcendent."[11]

The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 charts selling over 98 000 copies in its first week.[12] Within a week of its release it became the highest charting Christian album on the Billboard 200 since 1997.[13] On November 11, 2006 the album had been certified gold by the RIAA, confirming the sale of over 500,000 copies.[4] The album's lead single "Writing on the Walls" was nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.[14]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."In Regards to Myself"3:24
2."A Moment Suspended in Time"3:59
3."There Could Be Nothing After This"3:26
4."You're Ever So Inviting"4:13
5."Sālmarnir"2:57
6."Returning Empty Handed"4:27
7."Casting Such a Thin Shadow"6:14
8."Moving for the Sake of Motion"3:15
9."Writing on the Walls"4:02
10."Everyone Looks So Good from Here"2:56
11."To Whom It May Concern"7:02
Total length:45:58

Personnel

Underoath
Production

References

  1. ^ "CMJ new music report, Issues 967-990". CMJ Network. Retrieved 2007-08-01. UNDEROATH Define The Great Line (Tooth And Nail) Tension and release continue to define Underoath on their latest collection of liberally Christian rockers.
  2. ^ "Rapture Ready!: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture". Simon and Schuster. Retrieved 2007-08-01. But lately Christian artists have been taking over the mainstream: Switchfoot, Relient K, Casting Crowns, Underoath, Flyleaf.
  3. ^ "Matt Goldman - producing history". cduniverse.
  4. ^ a b "Underoath gain gold album for 'Define The Great Line'". Cross Rhythms. 2007-01-22. Retrieved 01.27.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Gold" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Underoath - Define The Great Line review". Absolutepunk.net. Retrieved 01.23.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Underoath - Define The Great Line review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 01.23.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Underoath Interview - May 4th 2006". Retrieved 01.27.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b c "Define the Great Line album review". Abolute Punk. Retrieved 01.27.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Underoath Interview". Retrieved 01.23.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Busted:Underoath interview". Bustedhalo.com.
  11. ^ a b "On this rock you could definitely build a church". Alternative Press.
  12. ^ Underoath.com. 2008. Lost in the sound of separation.
  13. ^ "Allmusic - Underoath Biography". allmusic.com. Retrieved 27.01.10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "The 49th annual Grammy Awards winners list". grammy.com.
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