Dusk and Summer explained

Dusk and Summer
Type:studio
Artist:Dashboard Confessional
Cover:Dusk And Summer.jpg
Released:June 27, 2006
Recorded:April 2005 – March 2006
Genre:Arena rock, pop rock, emo
Length:40:36
Label:Vagrant
Producer:Don Gilmore, Daniel Lanois
Prev Title:A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:The Shade of Poison Trees
Next Year:2007

Dusk and Summer is the fourth studio album by American rock band Dashboard Confessional.

Background

With the release of A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar (2003), Dashboard Confessional solidified its line-up of vocalist/guitarist Chris Carrabba, bassist Scott Schoenbeck, guitarist John Lefler and drummer Mike Marsh.[1] The album charted at number two on the Billboard 200 and its single "Hands Down" reached number eight on the Alternative Songs chart.[2] The group contributed the track "Vindicated", which was produced by Don Gilmore, to the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack released in June 2004. Later that month, a live recording of a new track "So Long, So Long" appeared on the group's website.[3] The track marked a change from their past work as it included a piano.[4] Carrabba said the next album would be a piano-driven effort with contributions from the other members. Following this, Carrabba spent the rest of the summer writing material for a new album.[5]

In December, the group got together and played through the songs they had. Though Carrabba considered a lot of it unsatisfactory, he figured out the vibe for the next album: "I have this passionate desire to sort of explore space ... [as opposed to] compounding everything into these driving parts."[6] In February 2005, Carrabba scrapped an album's worth of songs as he felt they were too safe: "[F]ans probably would have liked those songs. And people who weren't would have had the same complaints as ever."[7] Carrabba spent two weeks in Florida[7] making several batches of demos[8] of over 30 songs. He rediscovered the material he had written for his previous bands Further Seems Forever and The Vacant Andies, and decided to write tracks that combined elements from them and Dashboard. After another four weeks, he had written a whole new album.[9]

Production

Through a mutual friend, some of the demos ended up in the hands of producer Daniel Lanois. The demos inspired him to come out of retirement, which he had been in since working on All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) by U2. Despite having already having plans to record, Carrabba was invited to Jamaica, where Lanois was, to discuss the songs. He flew out and the pair spent a week talking about songs. A day after returning home, Lanois was interested in producing the album.[10] In April, the group worked with Lanois[11] and recorded 20 songs. Half of them at Lanois' home in Toronto, Canada, and the other half at Lanois' other home in Silver Lake, California. Sessions also took place at NRG, Avatar, Pilot, Mission Sound, Quad Studios, The Loft and La Bella Vista. Mark Kiczula acted as the main engineer with assistance from Jim Keller, Chad Lupo, Guiliano Baglioni, Roberto Fulps and Matt Shane. Additional engineering was done by Fox Phelps, Adam Samuels and Daniel Mendez.

Carrabba experimented with a variety of instruments from mandolins to metal flowers pots that substituted as drums. At the end of the month, Carrabba went on a solo tour of colleges and debuted some of the new songs.[9] In September, the group supported U2 on their North American tour.[12] In between these support dates, the group performed a few club shows. Prior to starting the tour, Carrabba said the album required mixing.[13] Despite this, material was still being recorded up to January 2006. Lanois left the project; Carrabba wanted to record another track, at which point Gilmore was brought in. Carrabba subsequently went on a song writing binge, creating six songs across four days.[14] Sometime afterwards, Carrabba decided to rework the Lanois-produced material with Gilmore, while retaining some of Lanois' contributions.[15] In March, Gilmore and Carrabba recorded an album's worth of songs.[10]

Gilmore is credited as producing the majority of the album, with the exception of "Heaven Here" which is credited to him and Lanois. Lanois also received a producer credit for the vocals on "Reason to Believe". Marsh said that due to the structure of the songs and melodies, the recording process give him a "great opportunity to create space."[16] Andy Wallace mixed all of the album, except for "Don't Wait" (mixed by Gilmore), at Soundtrack Studios in New York City. He was aided by Pro Tools engineer John O'Mahony and assisted by Mike Scielzi, Paul Suarez ad Jan Petrov. Ted Jensen mastered the recordings at Sterling Sound. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows provided additional vocals on "So Long, So Long", while Susan Sherouse contributed violin and vocals. Carrabba had met Duritz while the pair were playing at a benefit concert.[17]

Composition

Discussing the album title, Carrabba and his family used to drive an hour and sit on a beach. Eventually, he "just kept finding myself back there, finding inspiration."[18] Musically, Dusk and Summer has been described as arena rock, pop rock[19] and emo[20] channelling the guitarwork of U2 guitarist the Edge, and the vocal wailing of the Cure frontman Robert Smith. The song arrangements build on the rock sound of A Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Scar and Carrabba's former band Further Seems Forever, incorporating more piano and violin parts, recalling the work of Coldplay and Journey. The Sixpence None the Richer-esque track "Don't Wait"[21] was written in a dressing room on the U2 tour. It was completed in a few minutes; he said it talked about "seizing and acting on what you dream, not just dreaming about it."[17] "Stolen" tackles the theme of unrequited love, while "So Long, So Long" is a piano-centric track about leaving one's hometown.[22] "Slow Decay" is about a soldier readjusting to home life after returning from war. It was based on two friends of Carrabba's and a third person, who he witnessed on 60 Minutes.[18] His vocal was noted as being reminiscent of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. "Dusk and Summer" was written at the eleventh hour and summarised all of the parts of the album;[14] it recalled the group's earlier material. "Heaven Here" wasn't intended for inclusion on the record until Lanois heard it and convinced Carrabba to write lyrics for it.[23]

Release

On April 8, 2006, the group's next album was announced for release in June and the track listing was revealed.[24] On May 5, the album's title was announced as Dusk and Summer.[25] Around this time, a music video was filmed for "Don't Wait" in California with director Rich Lee.[26] The video features Fernanda Romero and Carrabba; Carrabba makes a choice and breaks up with her, before he is pulled "at light-speed through time, almost to the end of the world".[27] Throughout the video, he realizes his mistake and is taken back to undo what he did.[27] The track was available to download from their website on May 18,[28] before being released to radio on May 23.[29] Following this, they appeared at the HFStival and did an AOL Session, where they performed "Don't Wait".[30] [31] A music video for "Don't Wait" was released on June 6.[32] Dusk and Summer was made available for streaming via AOL on June 26, 2006, before being released a day later through Vagrant Records.[25] [33]

The Target edition included a DVD, which featured three live performances and an interview.[34] In early July, the band went on a tour of Canada with Say Anything and Ben Lee,[28] followed by a US tour running into August.[35] "Rooftops and Invitations" was released to radio on August 29.[29] The group went on a European tour, before embarking on a tour of Australia.[27] Following this, they appeared at the Bamboozle Left festival.[36] From mid-October to early December 2006, the band went on a US tour alongside Brand New.[37] On December 11, 2006, the band appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; they also featured on Loaded on February 7, 2007.[38] [39] Dusk and Summer was reissued on May 22, 2007. This edition included a new version of "Stolen", "Vindicated" and live versions of "Ghost of a Good Thing" and "The Best Deceptions".[40] It was promoted with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[41] "Stolen" was released in Australia as a CD single on July 25, which featured two versions of "Stolen", and a cover of "In a Big Country" by Big Country.[42]

Reception

Dusk and Summer debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 134,000 copies in its first week.[43] By August 2006, the album had sold over 300,000 copies.[44]

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Carrabba.

  2. "Write It Out" – 4:51 (pregap hidden track)
  4. "Vindicated" – 3:20 (pregap hidden track)
  5. "Don't Wait" – 4:05
  6. "Reason to Believe" – 3:43
  7. "The Secret's in the Telling" – 3:24
  8. "Stolen" – 3:53
  9. "Rooftops and Invitations" – 3:54
  10. "So Long, So Long" – 4:15
  11. "Currents" – 4:27
  12. "Slow Decay" – 4:08
  13. "Dusk and Summer" – 4:38
  14. "Heaven Here" – 4:08

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[45] Dashboard Confessional

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Biography & History. AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Leahey, Andrew. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111547/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dashboard-confessional-mn0000574102/biography. October 21, 2017.
  2. Dashboard Confessional Chart History (Alternative Songs). Billboard. Lynne Segall. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180224112002/https://www.billboard.com/music/dashboard-confessional/chart-history/alternative-songs. February 24, 2018.
  3. Web site: News & Updates. https://web.archive.org/web/20040624025806/http://www.dashboardconfessional.com/index.cfm/action/news./index.html. Dashboard Confessional. June 24, 2004. June 23, 2018. dead.
  4. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Look To The Future And See: A Piano. https://archive.today/20180620214419/http://www.mtv.com/news/1489955/dashboard-confessional-look-to-the-future-and-see-a-piano/. dead. June 20, 2018. MTV. Viacom. D'Angelo, Joe. August 4, 2004. June 20, 2018.
  5. Web site: Dashboard Singer Gives Props To Higher Power For Spidey Song. MTV. Viacom. D'Angelo, Joe. July 8, 2004. June 20, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/http://www.mtv.com/news/1489273/dashboard-singer-gives-props-to-higher-power-for-spidey-song/. June 21, 2018.
  6. Web site: Dashboard Confessional: An Interview with Chris Carrabba. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143837/http://archive.gibson.com/absolutenm/templates/FeatureTemplate.aspx?articleid=193&zoneid=2. Gibson. Grimes, Courtney. December 29, 2004. June 21, 2018. June 21, 2018. live.
  7. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Get Free Of Emo Tag. UG Team. Ultimate Guitar Archive. August 26, 2005. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/dashboard_confessional_get_free_of_emo_tag.html. June 21, 2018.
  8. Web site: Dashboard Confessional: Interview with Chris Carrabba. The Aquarian Weekly. Diane Casazza, Chris Farinas. Koczan, JJ. April 27, 2005. June 20, 2018. 2. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153043/http://www.theaquarian.com/2005/04/27/dashboard-confessional-interview-with-chris-carrabba/2/. June 20, 2018.
  9. Web site: Forget That New Dashboard Album — Carrabba's Already Written A Better One. MTV. Viacom. Moss, Corey. March 21, 2005. June 20, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/http://www.mtv.com/news/1498333/forget-that-new-dashboard-album-carrabbas-already-written-a-better-one/. June 21, 2018.
  10. Web site: No Reggae Emo, But New Dashboard LP Owes A Lot To Jamaica. MTV. Viacom. Harris, Chris. March 22, 2006. June 21, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150314043811/http://www.mtv.com/news/1526774/no-reggae-emo-but-new-dashboard-lp-owes-a-lot-to-jamaica/. March 14, 2015.
  11. Web site: Dashboard Confessional New Album's Producer Announced. UG Team. Ultimate Guitar Archive. April 19, 2005. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20051117121810/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_releases/dashboard_confessional_new_albums_producer_announced.html. November 17, 2005.
  12. Web site: U2 Fall Tour: Dashboard Confessional Opening. UG Team. Ultimate Guitar Archive. August 31, 2005. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/u2_fall_tour_dashboard_confessional_opening.html. June 21, 2018.
  13. Web site: Carrabba: Dashboard's Next LP Will Be Really Confessional. MTV. Viacom. Harris, Chris. September 16, 2005. June 20, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/http://www.mtv.com/news/1509752/carrabba-dashboards-next-lp-will-be-really-confessional/. June 21, 2018.
  14. Web site: Dashboard Confessional - Stolen Video. Contactmusic. July 12, 2006. June 21, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/http://www.contactmusic.net/dashboard-confessional/video/dashboardconfessionalx07x12x06. June 21, 2018.
  15. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Switch Producers For New Album. https://web.archive.org/web/20060418034418/http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2006/04/1217.cfm. Chart Attack. Channel Zero. Chart Attack. April 12, 2006. April 18, 2006. June 20, 2018. usurped.
  16. Web site: Mike Marsh of Dashboard Confessional. Modern Drummer. Isabel Spagnardi. April 2007. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170112194313/http://www.moderndrummer.com/2007/04/mike-marsh/. January 12, 2017.
  17. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Singer Records Duet With Adam Duritz. MTV. Viacom. Moss, Corey. January 10, 2006. June 20, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161028111802/http://www.mtv.com/news/1520484/dashboard-confessional-singer-records-duet-with-adam-duritz/. October 28, 2016.
  18. Q&A: Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba. Rolling Stone. Scaggs, Austin. July 13, 2006. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180620210719/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/chris-carrabba-20060713. June 20, 2018.
  19. Web site: 5 Albums That Define Emo. Thought Catalog. Lee, Hadi. December 15, 2013. August 17, 2020.
  20. Web site: 5 Albums That Define Emo. Thought Catalog. Lee, Hadi. December 15, 2013. November 2, 2021.
  21. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Dusk and Summer. https://web.archive.org/web/20080228042142/http://lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=70282172844abd5fd2900b. LAS Magazine. Saeger, Eric. July 5, 2006. February 28, 2008. May 5, 2020. dead.
  22. Web site: The 40 Best Emo Love Songs. https://web.archive.org/web/20220214153619/https://www.spin.com/2022/02/best-emo-love-songs/. Spin. Owens, Paige. February 14, 2022. February 14, 2022. February 15, 2022.
  23. Dashboard Spin Emo Into Arena Rock. https://web.archive.org/web/20071016222223/http://rollingstone.com/artists/dashboardconfessional/articles/story/9512388/dashboard_spin_emo_into_arena_rock. Rolling Stone. Gitlin, Lauren. March 20, 2006. October 16, 2007. June 20, 2018. dead.
  24. Web site: Dashboard Confessional album due out June 27th. Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Paul, Aubin. April 8, 2006. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/https://www.punknews.org/article/16749/dashboard-confessional-album-due-out-june-27th. June 21, 2018.
  25. Web site: Dashboard Confessional post album title, tracklisting, release date. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821152049/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_742. Alternative Press. May 5, 2006. August 21, 2016. July 28, 2016.
  26. Web site: Dashboard Confessional Announce Summer Tour Dates. MTV. Viacom. Montgomery, James. May 8, 2006. June 21, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150314043816/http://www.mtv.com/news/1530395/dashboard-confessional-announce-summer-tour-dates/. March 14, 2015.
  27. Web site: Secrets? Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba Has A Few About Dusk And Summer. MTV. Viacom. Harris, Chris. June 20, 2006. June 21, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150429123502/http://www.mtv.com/news/1534712/secrets-dashboard-confessionals-chris-carrabba-has-a-few-about-dusk-and-summer/. April 29, 2015.
  28. Web site: Dashboard Confessional post MP3, Canadian tourdates. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821151230/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_791. Alternative Press. May 18, 2006. August 21, 2016. July 28, 2016.
  29. Web site: FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock . Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated . October 30, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 . March 22, 2013 .
  30. Web site: AFI, Panic! At the Disco, Boy Sets Fire, Rise Against, Misfits, Riverboat Gamblers, others at HFStiv. Punknews.org. Paul, Aubin. April 3, 2006. January 23, 2022.
  31. Web site: Dashboard Confessional performs exclusive set for AOL Sessions. Punknews.org. Paul, Aubin. May 26, 2006. January 24, 2022.
  32. Web site: Dashboard Confessional post "Don't Wait" music video. https://web.archive.org/web/20160821130425/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_865. Alternative Press. June 6, 2006. August 21, 2016. July 29, 2016.
  33. Web site: Stream Dashboard Confessional's 'Dusk And Summer'. Punknews.org. Paul, Aubin. June 26, 2006. January 29, 2022.
  34. Web site: Dusk and Summer [CD/DVD] [Target Exclusive] - Dashboard Confessional Release Info]. AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. June 21, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621160952/https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/dusk-and-summer-cd-dvd-target-exclusive-mr0001468442. June 21, 2018.
  35. Web site: Dashboard Confessional confirm tour with Say Anything. https://web.archive.org/web/20170125224144/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_750. Alternative Press. May 9, 2006. January 25, 2017. July 28, 2016.
  36. Web site: Bamboozle 'Left' with Dashboard Confessional, Brand New, Thrice, Plus 44, Bled, Pink Spiders. Punknews.org. Paul, Aubin. July 17, 2006. January 30, 2022.
  37. Web site: Final dates for Dashboard Confessional/Brand New tour. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822060911/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_1280. Alternative Press. September 19, 2006. August 22, 2016. August 4, 2016.
  38. Web site: Bands on TV: Week of 12/11/06. Punknews.org. Reinecker, Meg. December 11, 2006. February 7, 2022.
  39. Web site: Bands on TV: Week of 02/05/07. Punknews.org. Reinecker, Meg. February 5, 2007. February 10, 2022.
  40. Web site: Dashboard Confessional to reissue Dusk & Summer. https://web.archive.org/web/20160826145205/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_2028. Alternative Press. May 7, 2007. August 26, 2016. August 12, 2016.
  41. Web site: Bands on TV: Week of 06/04/07. Punknews.org. Reinecker, Meg. June 4, 2007. February 15, 2022.
  42. Web site: Dashboard Confessional feat. Juli - Stolen. Australian-charts. Hung Medien. June 20, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170308083358/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Dashboard+Confessional+feat%2E+Juli&titel=Stolen&cat=s. March 8, 2017.
  43. Web site: India.Arie's 'Testimony' Debuts At No. 1 . . December 2, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140711011039/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57931/indiaaries-testimony-debuts-at-no-1 . July 11, 2014 .
  44. Web site: Soundscan Results: Week Ending August 27th, 2006 . absolutepunk.net . Kohli, Rohan . August 30, 2006 . February 12, 2016 . dead . https://archive.today/20121025151805/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=167376 . October 25, 2012 .
  45. Dusk and Summer . . 2006. Booklet. Vagrant/Hassle Records. VRUK036CD.
  46. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006. Billboard. April 5, 2021.

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