Length 39:24 Release date 14 August 2012 Label Hopeless Records | Artist Yellowcard Producer Neal Avron | |
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Released August 14, 2012 (2012-08-14) Recorded March 5 – April 9, 2012 Southern Air
(2012) Ocean Avenue Acoustic
(2013) Genres Alternative rock, Pop punk Similar Yellowcard albums, Alternative rock albums | ||
Yellowcard awakening lyric video
Southern Air is the eighth studio album by American rock band Yellowcard. It was released on August 14, 2012 through Hopeless Records. The songs "Always Summer" and "Here I Am Alive" were released as singles, the latter featuring Taylor Jardine of We Are the In Crowd. The album also features guest appearances by Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low and American recording artist Cassadee Pope. It debuted at 10 on the US Billboard top 200, making this their second album to debut in the top 10 (the other being their 2006 LP Lights and Sounds). It is the last to feature founding drummer Longineu W. Parsons III.
Contents
Recording
Yellowcard began writing and recording early in 2012, shortly after the touring cycle for When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (2011). The overall positive energy the band had generated was inspiration to begin writing again. The band has already begun to write material for the new record. Bassist Sean O'Donnell left the band that February to focus on his upcoming marriage and family. Josh Portman later joining to fill the bassist position. Guest vocalists on the album include Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low, Cassadee Pope of Hey Monday, and Tay Jardine of We Are the In Crowd. The recording sessions lasted five weeks, concluding April 8.
Promotion
The album's first single, "Always Summer", was released May 22, 2012. "Here I Am Alive" was released July 31 as the second single. Music videos were also made for both songs. Southern Air was released August 14, 2012.
Critical reception
Reception to the album has been positive. Most reviewers have commented on the bands maturity of their musicianship, and the strong lyrical content. At Metacritic, which assigns an average rating out of 100 from mainstream critics, Southern Air received a score of 83, indicating universal acclaim. In addition, Thomas Nassiff at AbsolutePunk.net lauded that the album "is the best pop-punk album of 2012, and it’s a veteran band putting on a clinic for everyone to listen." Alter The Press named Southern Air the best album of 2012, citing that "the band have poured their hearts into Southern Air and there is a tangible sense of passion behind each track."
Commercial performance
The album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first week sales of 23,000 copies in the United States, making it their second-highest debut, behind their 2006 release, Lights and Sounds, which peaked at #5.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Ryan Key except where noted; all music composed by Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, and Longineu W. Parsons III except where noted.
Songs
1Awakening4:23
2Surface of the Sun3:43
3Always Summer3:10