Stay What You Are

Background

In an issue of CMJ New Music Report dated May 2000, it was announced the band had signed to Vagrant, due to the success of Through Being Cool (1999).

Composition and recording

While on tour, in March 2000, the band got into a van accident that almost ended the band's career. The van accident was somewhat of an inspiration for the band's songwriting. "As Your Ghost Takes Flight" is about a friend's heroin addiction.

The band played on a few Warped Tour dates before heading into the studio. The band worked with producer Rob Schnapf. Conley escribed Schnapf as "a really mellow, laid back guy. Him being relaxed just made for a nice, creative environment in the studio." At the time of the recording, Saves the Day consisted of Chris Conley, Dave Soloway, Ted Alexander, Eben D'Amico and Bryan Newman. The album was a shift from the band's previous power chord-based sound and featured more intricate guitar work and arrangements.

Release

Stay What You Are was released in July 2001 on Vagrant. The band headlined the Vagrant America Tour between early July and early September. Following this tour, drummer Bryan Newman left the band to study at college. His position was temporarily filled by Damon Atkinson of Hey Mercedes. In February 2002, the band supported Weezer on their tour of the U.S. The band supported on Blink-182 and Green Day on their co-headlining Pop Disaster Tour in May and June. In August, the band went on the Vagrant America arena tour, alongside other Vagrant Records bands.

The band gained some exposure with the single "At Your Funeral", which the video featured a creative way of motion control, similar to Requiem for a Dream. In May 2002, a music video was filmed for "Freakish", featuring Muppet-esque puppets.

Reception and legacy

The album sold 15,000 copies in the first week. By March 2002, the album had sold over 120,000 copies, becoming one of Vagrant's best-selling releases. Stay What You Are reached number 100 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

In the years since its release, Stay What You Are is widely regarded as a classic and a highly influential piece of music for the emo and pop punk genres. NME listed the album as one of "20 Emo Albums That Have Resolutely Stood The Test Of Time". The band played the album in full at FYF Fest in August 2016.

Track listing

All songs written by Bryan Newman, Chris Conley, David Soloway, Eben D'Amico and Ted Alexander.

1. "At Your Funeral" – 3:09
2. "See You" – 2:08
3. "Cars & Calories" – 2:45
4. "Certain Tragedy" – 2:27
5. "Jukebox Breakdown" – 3:04
6. "Freakish" – 3:47
7. "As Your Ghost Takes Flight" – 2:25
8. "Nightingale" – 3:36
9. "All I'm Losing Is Me" – 3:22
10. "This Is Not an Exit" – 3:56
11. "Firefly" – 2:51