I keep wondering how and where and why...
WConfession time. I was a much bigger Archie fan than a Cook fan. From the first few seconds of Crush, I was sucked in. I listened to his album obsessively months and months before I picked up David Cook's disc. I love his voice, his song choices, and his music style.
I don't profess to make any sense here - maybe I feel music in different ways than other people do. I certainly don't have any REAL music cred, as I unabashedly love pop music and all it entails.
But these are my feelings about the new Archie album - flaily, incoherent, and ~uneducated as they may be.
The Other Side Of Down
1. The Other Side Of Down
The lead track really sets the tone for the album, I can see why they chose this as the title. It encompasses everything Archie stands for. Pushing through adversity, reaching for the top, getting through the struggles and searching for the positive in everything. I love the beat, ADORE the guitar outro, I'm really fond of the quick verses and the clever lyrics and then how he pulls it back down on the choruses to let his voice soar over the extended notes. This song reminds me of a really great personal trainer - encouraging, commanding you to push through the pain,reminding you of the benefits of your hard work you'll reap once you've done it. BASICALLY, IT'S DAVID ARCHULETA IN THREE MINUTES.
In the sky I'm standing under
All I see is endless rain
I think I spot a silver lining hiding in the gray
I might get tossed around
But I'm always bouncing back
2. Something 'Bout Love
The beat alone classifies this as a great summer track, I could see remixes being played on the dancefloors across Europe. THe beginning is sort of sinuous, begging you to move. Then the chorus breaks in and you're jumping up and down, waving your hands around, sweaty and deliriously happy. I think what separates it is the message of the song itself - slightly melancholy but still hopeful, reminding you that even when love is the best thing in your life, it will still break you. That you can't do anything to stop it, so just hang on, hang in for the ride of your life and enjoy every single second. That pain is worth it, no matter what.
I adore how Archie just SOUNDS more mature on this song, a little more wise, even a little more jaded, but sharing what he's learned along the way. I thought it was a perfect lead-in to the new album, it was exciting and just different enough to get people thinking and wondering what the new album would entail.
Don't fight don't hide
Those stars in your eyes
Let em' shine tonight
3. Elevator
I love love love forever that Archie wrote a song about a dream he had - how he was able to take something in his head and parlay that into music. It's kind of strange. It's a little off the wall. And vocally, it's SO SO challenging, even for him, but I feel like he did that on purpose. He's so all or nothing when it comes to music - go big or go home, you know? He's got the pipes to do it, even when he strains a little. He's professed to not be a fan of autotune because you don't get to hear the REAL voice behind the technology and this is a great example of that.
I personally love how many live performances we've had the opportunity to hear - full band. Backing tracks. Guitar. And getting to hear how he's molded the song to fit his voice during those live performances - wow. Like rhiminee_1 mentioned - it's sort of like a living, breathing piece of art that is constantly evolving.
You'll never know what you're gonna get,
What you don't expect can come and find you
4. Stomping The Roses
From the first time I saw the title of this song, I was intrigued. Then I heard the snippet. Hearing his description of it - "like...how could you stomp the roses???" sealed it for me.
The lyrics are smart and I like how he's self deprecating and I love the sass and the way his dry sense of humor comes through here. It's very "oh-no-you-didn't", but packaged in the "I don't mean to offend you, but you're kind of screwed up" way that Archie has. (Sort of like an Archie version of King of Anything.)
The guitar is amazing here - the musicality in general on this whole disc is a huge leap forward from the last one. You can tell Archie had a big hand in it - he's so consumed by music in general, you can hear it was a priority with this album. (also, the fact that the instruments here were done by someone he has a working relationship with - that makes all the difference. You have that connection that just layers so much more onto it.)
Of all the songs on the album, for me, this one feels like it has his hands all over it.
Always been your token nice guy
I know, I know, I know, I know,
And I know that you rule your whole world
And I thought I could live in it
But I just can't
5. Who I Am
I remember Archie tweeting about being stuck in a taxi, how expensive it was, the whole series of messages from that day. I love that it came to be a song. And really, what says David Archuleta more than taking - CREATING something good from a situation that the rest of us would be cursing, screaming, ripping our hair out over. He uses that time in a taxi in traffic to reflect on his life and soul-search a little. Again, it feels intensely personal and the fact that we get this little glimpse behind the 140 characters, behind the smile and the automatic "yeah, it's ok." when someone asks him how he is - that's awesome.
Windshield looks like a movie screen
And the world outside is a big machine
And it moves so fast I can barely think
That's okay 'cause I know what I'm doing
6. Falling Stars
This is one of my favorites. Odd how he didn't have a hand in writing it, but it still feels so much like him. (Guess that's the beauty of working with great songwriters?)
I love how the music and the lyrics of this song are so contradictory yet somehow totally, completely work. The lyrics just wreck me - it's the only song on the album that doesn't have a happy ending. It feels so resolute - I know you're leaving me eventually (don't try to tell me I'm wrong - but please try to convince me somehow) and you're my everything (you always will be), I will always love you no matter what (because how can you not love something that bright and beautiful, how can it not consume you forever), even after you move on to better things (and after you've forgotten me, I'll still be here, a little piece of you that will never forget).
FML, David Archuleta. Here's my heart, call it a souvenir.
The world is turning
And time keeps on lingering on
The sun will be burning
Eventually you will be gone
I'll always love you
Ohh, believe it or not
But baby, that's not enough to,
Not enough to stop these
Falling stars over your head
7. Parachutes and Airplanes
I wasn't a huge fan of this song the first time I heard it. I was really gunning for Not A Very Good Liar to be on this disc. HOWEVER.
This song just fits in with the theme of the disc - the buoyant, effervescent joy of it is pretty irresistible. I don't think the initial live performance did it justice - the studio treatment this song went through is just brilliant. Some songs are phenomenal live, some just sound perfect straight off the disc. This is one of those songs.
I love the imagery of it.
The world's a thousands shades of blue
Like we're here in a kaleidoscope
Don’t want it to be over
Like everything that’s in my mind
Is here right in front of my eyes
And you're the one who got me here
'Cause I don’t ever want to say goodbye
No, I just want to steal this moment right away from time
8. Look Around
THIS SONG. Quirky and original and so so Archie. The lyrics are phenom. Again, keeping with the general theme here - be introspective, but don't be so wrapped up in yourself, so selfish that you lose perspective of the big picture. You aren't hurting anything - anyone - by stepping out of the box and taking a chance on a different point of view, because everything you need is there right when you need it to be. Bombastic and loud and another remixed club version dance track waiting to happen, the beats on this are FANTASTIC. Electrogasmic wonderland.
Shut the window tight
But it’s raining on the inside
Do you realize you’re getting nowhere
But it’s all laid out for you
Cut the ribbon if it starts to fray
When you close your eyes to see the view
You miss everything surrounding you
Stop and just
Look around
9. Good Place
Oh holy hell. This song. Can we talk about his voice for a minute? How layered and deep and mature he sounds? How content and happy he seems? It hits me really hard. You can sense his growth as an artist so much on this song and you can really just sit back and go - wow HIS VOICE. THIS IS WHAT HE WAS MEANT TO DO.
I love the military cadence drumbeats in the bridge. They really pound home the song's message - yeah, I don't know how the heck I got here, but I'm glad I found my way and I'm so grateful I ended up in this place and I will do everything in my power to cherish it and nurture it and KEEP IT FOREVER.
This is the David Archuleta anthem. After all of his struggles with his voice, personal issues that could cause other people to go into a downward spiral, running the Idol hamster wheel - I feel like this is his theme song. Even at the end, that tentative I hope it's not too late... I have a lot of feelings about this song apparently. Every line though - I can see his life reflected back to us through the words and music. I love it when a song feels that connected to an artist.
You find it
You hold it
You feel its grace
...
I've been silent up till now
I've been going with the flow
Wherever that goes
But something's screaming out inside
Makes me want to close my eyes
And hear the echo
You find it
You know it
Don't make it wait
...
Cause I don't wanna waste another summer
I don't wanna wait until I fall
I could be a memory tomorrow
I could be nothing at all
10. Complain
This reminds me of Works For Me. The sound of it for sure, the beat. And the message - ok, yeah, there's hardship in life, but I don't really have a reason to be angry or upset about it, because on the whole, my life is pretty darn great. The framework feels like an Archie song, but I can really tell he didn't write this. It doesn't feel as cohesive as the rest of the songs, as attached to Archie. IDK. I like it, but I don't lovelovelove it. (Interesting because I usually love the David Hodges touch and his songs are almost always my favorite songs on the albums.)
So far away from my home
And everything that I love
But as long as I'm breathing
Baby, I can't complain
11. Things Are Gonna Get Better
I wasn't super impressed with this the first time I heard it. Everyone was FREAKING out about it, but I was kind of ...eh. I liked it, I knew it was great for the event where it was debuted, but I wasn't sold. Then I heard the studio version and WOW. I love the gospel treatment (I have wanted him to put out a worship album forever), the drums, and how his voice just takes it home on the bridge is astonishing. You really get to hear the power of his voice unleashed - I adore that.
This is sort of a Save The Day message song. I feel like Archie is right there, (not holding my hand) telling me it's all going to be ok.
And I know life is gonna get better
Standing here together
Yeah, we're gonna be fine
And I've been shown hope
I see it in your eyes
So take me and touch me
'Cause with a little bit of love
We can win the fight
With a little bit of love
We can see the light
With a little bit of love
It'll be all right
12. My Kind Of Perfect
I think I'm in the minority, if not in the fandom, then definitely my corner of it who loves the message of this song. To Be With You was my most played song on iTunes for a year and this is the 2.0 version of that. I love how intimate it feels, especially after the complex instrumentation of the rest of the disc.
This love letter to his future - stunning. I love how it stresses what he wants, what he'd love, but he doesn't know when it's coming, and how above all, he doesn't want to settle. How he'll wait forever if he has to until he knows, until he finds the right one. I also love how there's a little frustration but above all, hope that when it's going to happen, it will happen and it will be perfectly right and completely worth the wait.
It's so perfectly, achingly romantic.
I am a big fan of how this album ends on a whisper, not a bang. A++ choice for the final track.
I was thinking about you
I drew a little picture
But some things you can't put on paper
Like you like shooting stars
Or write songs on guitar
Got more things to do
Than stare at a mirror
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
She's anything but typical
A sweet surprise
No matter what she's looking at the bright side
It's gonna be worth it
'Cause that's what love is
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect
And I know, I know
She's gotta be out there, out there
I know, I know
She's gotta be
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
They say give it time
Give it time
And it will fall in line
But I keep wondering
How and when and why I haven't met you
But maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
Oh, maybe, yeah
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect
I think I liked it, you guys. I am such a big fan of how Archie stuck to his guns and got to put out a disc that feels like him, that shows who he is a as a person. It's so positive and uplifting and I feel better listening to it. It's one of the few discs I can play start to finish and I don't really skip any of the tracks because they're all great. Again, I have my favorites, but they're all quality songs. No placeholders, no fillers, no b-list tracks.
It's truly a pleasure to listen to this, especially having been a fan of his since he started working on it. Getting to pick out moments I recognized and hearing the mark of people he worked with and seeing it evolve and become what it did. One of the best albums to come along in a long time.
Clap-freaking-clap Mr Archuleta. Thank you.
I don't profess to make any sense here - maybe I feel music in different ways than other people do. I certainly don't have any REAL music cred, as I unabashedly love pop music and all it entails.
But these are my feelings about the new Archie album - flaily, incoherent, and ~uneducated as they may be.
The Other Side Of Down
1. The Other Side Of Down
The lead track really sets the tone for the album, I can see why they chose this as the title. It encompasses everything Archie stands for. Pushing through adversity, reaching for the top, getting through the struggles and searching for the positive in everything. I love the beat, ADORE the guitar outro, I'm really fond of the quick verses and the clever lyrics and then how he pulls it back down on the choruses to let his voice soar over the extended notes. This song reminds me of a really great personal trainer - encouraging, commanding you to push through the pain,reminding you of the benefits of your hard work you'll reap once you've done it. BASICALLY, IT'S DAVID ARCHULETA IN THREE MINUTES.
In the sky I'm standing under
All I see is endless rain
I think I spot a silver lining hiding in the gray
I might get tossed around
But I'm always bouncing back
2. Something 'Bout Love
The beat alone classifies this as a great summer track, I could see remixes being played on the dancefloors across Europe. THe beginning is sort of sinuous, begging you to move. Then the chorus breaks in and you're jumping up and down, waving your hands around, sweaty and deliriously happy. I think what separates it is the message of the song itself - slightly melancholy but still hopeful, reminding you that even when love is the best thing in your life, it will still break you. That you can't do anything to stop it, so just hang on, hang in for the ride of your life and enjoy every single second. That pain is worth it, no matter what.
I adore how Archie just SOUNDS more mature on this song, a little more wise, even a little more jaded, but sharing what he's learned along the way. I thought it was a perfect lead-in to the new album, it was exciting and just different enough to get people thinking and wondering what the new album would entail.
Don't fight don't hide
Those stars in your eyes
Let em' shine tonight
3. Elevator
I love love love forever that Archie wrote a song about a dream he had - how he was able to take something in his head and parlay that into music. It's kind of strange. It's a little off the wall. And vocally, it's SO SO challenging, even for him, but I feel like he did that on purpose. He's so all or nothing when it comes to music - go big or go home, you know? He's got the pipes to do it, even when he strains a little. He's professed to not be a fan of autotune because you don't get to hear the REAL voice behind the technology and this is a great example of that.
I personally love how many live performances we've had the opportunity to hear - full band. Backing tracks. Guitar. And getting to hear how he's molded the song to fit his voice during those live performances - wow. Like rhiminee_1 mentioned - it's sort of like a living, breathing piece of art that is constantly evolving.
You'll never know what you're gonna get,
What you don't expect can come and find you
4. Stomping The Roses
From the first time I saw the title of this song, I was intrigued. Then I heard the snippet. Hearing his description of it - "like...how could you stomp the roses???" sealed it for me.
The lyrics are smart and I like how he's self deprecating and I love the sass and the way his dry sense of humor comes through here. It's very "oh-no-you-didn't", but packaged in the "I don't mean to offend you, but you're kind of screwed up" way that Archie has. (Sort of like an Archie version of King of Anything.)
The guitar is amazing here - the musicality in general on this whole disc is a huge leap forward from the last one. You can tell Archie had a big hand in it - he's so consumed by music in general, you can hear it was a priority with this album. (also, the fact that the instruments here were done by someone he has a working relationship with - that makes all the difference. You have that connection that just layers so much more onto it.)
Of all the songs on the album, for me, this one feels like it has his hands all over it.
Always been your token nice guy
I know, I know, I know, I know,
And I know that you rule your whole world
And I thought I could live in it
But I just can't
5. Who I Am
I remember Archie tweeting about being stuck in a taxi, how expensive it was, the whole series of messages from that day. I love that it came to be a song. And really, what says David Archuleta more than taking - CREATING something good from a situation that the rest of us would be cursing, screaming, ripping our hair out over. He uses that time in a taxi in traffic to reflect on his life and soul-search a little. Again, it feels intensely personal and the fact that we get this little glimpse behind the 140 characters, behind the smile and the automatic "yeah, it's ok." when someone asks him how he is - that's awesome.
Windshield looks like a movie screen
And the world outside is a big machine
And it moves so fast I can barely think
That's okay 'cause I know what I'm doing
6. Falling Stars
This is one of my favorites. Odd how he didn't have a hand in writing it, but it still feels so much like him. (Guess that's the beauty of working with great songwriters?)
I love how the music and the lyrics of this song are so contradictory yet somehow totally, completely work. The lyrics just wreck me - it's the only song on the album that doesn't have a happy ending. It feels so resolute - I know you're leaving me eventually (don't try to tell me I'm wrong - but please try to convince me somehow) and you're my everything (you always will be), I will always love you no matter what (because how can you not love something that bright and beautiful, how can it not consume you forever), even after you move on to better things (and after you've forgotten me, I'll still be here, a little piece of you that will never forget).
FML, David Archuleta. Here's my heart, call it a souvenir.
The world is turning
And time keeps on lingering on
The sun will be burning
Eventually you will be gone
I'll always love you
Ohh, believe it or not
But baby, that's not enough to,
Not enough to stop these
Falling stars over your head
7. Parachutes and Airplanes
I wasn't a huge fan of this song the first time I heard it. I was really gunning for Not A Very Good Liar to be on this disc. HOWEVER.
This song just fits in with the theme of the disc - the buoyant, effervescent joy of it is pretty irresistible. I don't think the initial live performance did it justice - the studio treatment this song went through is just brilliant. Some songs are phenomenal live, some just sound perfect straight off the disc. This is one of those songs.
I love the imagery of it.
The world's a thousands shades of blue
Like we're here in a kaleidoscope
Don’t want it to be over
Like everything that’s in my mind
Is here right in front of my eyes
And you're the one who got me here
'Cause I don’t ever want to say goodbye
No, I just want to steal this moment right away from time
8. Look Around
THIS SONG. Quirky and original and so so Archie. The lyrics are phenom. Again, keeping with the general theme here - be introspective, but don't be so wrapped up in yourself, so selfish that you lose perspective of the big picture. You aren't hurting anything - anyone - by stepping out of the box and taking a chance on a different point of view, because everything you need is there right when you need it to be. Bombastic and loud and another remixed club version dance track waiting to happen, the beats on this are FANTASTIC. Electrogasmic wonderland.
Shut the window tight
But it’s raining on the inside
Do you realize you’re getting nowhere
But it’s all laid out for you
Cut the ribbon if it starts to fray
When you close your eyes to see the view
You miss everything surrounding you
Stop and just
Look around
9. Good Place
Oh holy hell. This song. Can we talk about his voice for a minute? How layered and deep and mature he sounds? How content and happy he seems? It hits me really hard. You can sense his growth as an artist so much on this song and you can really just sit back and go - wow HIS VOICE. THIS IS WHAT HE WAS MEANT TO DO.
I love the military cadence drumbeats in the bridge. They really pound home the song's message - yeah, I don't know how the heck I got here, but I'm glad I found my way and I'm so grateful I ended up in this place and I will do everything in my power to cherish it and nurture it and KEEP IT FOREVER.
This is the David Archuleta anthem. After all of his struggles with his voice, personal issues that could cause other people to go into a downward spiral, running the Idol hamster wheel - I feel like this is his theme song. Even at the end, that tentative I hope it's not too late... I have a lot of feelings about this song apparently. Every line though - I can see his life reflected back to us through the words and music. I love it when a song feels that connected to an artist.
You find it
You hold it
You feel its grace
...
I've been silent up till now
I've been going with the flow
Wherever that goes
But something's screaming out inside
Makes me want to close my eyes
And hear the echo
You find it
You know it
Don't make it wait
...
Cause I don't wanna waste another summer
I don't wanna wait until I fall
I could be a memory tomorrow
I could be nothing at all
10. Complain
This reminds me of Works For Me. The sound of it for sure, the beat. And the message - ok, yeah, there's hardship in life, but I don't really have a reason to be angry or upset about it, because on the whole, my life is pretty darn great. The framework feels like an Archie song, but I can really tell he didn't write this. It doesn't feel as cohesive as the rest of the songs, as attached to Archie. IDK. I like it, but I don't lovelovelove it. (Interesting because I usually love the David Hodges touch and his songs are almost always my favorite songs on the albums.)
So far away from my home
And everything that I love
But as long as I'm breathing
Baby, I can't complain
11. Things Are Gonna Get Better
I wasn't super impressed with this the first time I heard it. Everyone was FREAKING out about it, but I was kind of ...eh. I liked it, I knew it was great for the event where it was debuted, but I wasn't sold. Then I heard the studio version and WOW. I love the gospel treatment (I have wanted him to put out a worship album forever), the drums, and how his voice just takes it home on the bridge is astonishing. You really get to hear the power of his voice unleashed - I adore that.
This is sort of a Save The Day message song. I feel like Archie is right there, (not holding my hand) telling me it's all going to be ok.
And I know life is gonna get better
Standing here together
Yeah, we're gonna be fine
And I've been shown hope
I see it in your eyes
So take me and touch me
'Cause with a little bit of love
We can win the fight
With a little bit of love
We can see the light
With a little bit of love
It'll be all right
12. My Kind Of Perfect
I think I'm in the minority, if not in the fandom, then definitely my corner of it who loves the message of this song. To Be With You was my most played song on iTunes for a year and this is the 2.0 version of that. I love how intimate it feels, especially after the complex instrumentation of the rest of the disc.
This love letter to his future - stunning. I love how it stresses what he wants, what he'd love, but he doesn't know when it's coming, and how above all, he doesn't want to settle. How he'll wait forever if he has to until he knows, until he finds the right one. I also love how there's a little frustration but above all, hope that when it's going to happen, it will happen and it will be perfectly right and completely worth the wait.
It's so perfectly, achingly romantic.
I am a big fan of how this album ends on a whisper, not a bang. A++ choice for the final track.
I was thinking about you
I drew a little picture
But some things you can't put on paper
Like you like shooting stars
Or write songs on guitar
Got more things to do
Than stare at a mirror
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
She's anything but typical
A sweet surprise
No matter what she's looking at the bright side
It's gonna be worth it
'Cause that's what love is
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect
And I know, I know
She's gotta be out there, out there
I know, I know
She's gotta be
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
They say give it time
Give it time
And it will fall in line
But I keep wondering
How and when and why I haven't met you
But maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe
Oh, maybe, yeah
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect
I think I liked it, you guys. I am such a big fan of how Archie stuck to his guns and got to put out a disc that feels like him, that shows who he is a as a person. It's so positive and uplifting and I feel better listening to it. It's one of the few discs I can play start to finish and I don't really skip any of the tracks because they're all great. Again, I have my favorites, but they're all quality songs. No placeholders, no fillers, no b-list tracks.
It's truly a pleasure to listen to this, especially having been a fan of his since he started working on it. Getting to pick out moments I recognized and hearing the mark of people he worked with and seeing it evolve and become what it did. One of the best albums to come along in a long time.
Clap-freaking-clap Mr Archuleta. Thank you.