Yellowcard 'Paper Walls' album

Breakthrough rockers Yellowcard return with new album Paper Walls on July 17th, the third in a trilogy of albums that includes 2006’s gold-certified Lights and Sounds and their 2003 smash, Ocean Avenue. Yellowcard emerged from Jacksonville, Florida with a completely infectious and original blend of rock, punk and classical (owing to violinist Sean Mackin) that made them a sure thing to break out of the pack, but even the band could not have imagined how far.

With a string of successful indie releases, a tireless touring schedule and a steamrolling fan base the band made their Capitol Records debut with 2003’s Ocean Avenue. The album was a smash, spawning huge hit singles, sold-out tours in the U.S. and abroad, an MTV Video Music Award and has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. 2006’s gold-certified Lights and Sounds – an even bigger-sounding, more expansive and harder-edged album – was released to rave reviews, showcasing the band’s diversity as songwriters and once again sending them circling the globe.

But with the success some darkness fell – the loss of founding guitarist Ben Harper, major vocal surgery for frontman Ryan Key, and general fatigue from years and years spent at breakneck speed had the group frazzled.

After some badly-needed time off the band regrouped in a Los Angeles studio with a new plan: to have NO plan besides simply coming together for the sheer joy of writing and playing music. To get back to their roots, write songs for their own sake, and everything else was gravy.

Those sessions yielded the songs which would become Paper Walls. Drawing from both the universal, buoyant, hook-filled style of Ocean Avenue and the tougher edges of Lights and Sounds, Paper Walls takes it all a step further with an energized, anthemic and forward-looking set of songs. The album reunites the band with producer Neal Avron, who produced the band’s previous two albums, and also marks the recording debut of guitarist Ryan Mendez, who joined the group during the Lights and Sounds tour.

“This album is the sound of five musicians in a room having a great time and writing the music that we love,” said Key. “We feel like the luckiest guys in the world to be able to do this.”

Album-opener “The Takedown” starts with a shot – an indelible guitar hook and ferocious drums charge forth as Yellowcard’s trademark mix of airtight vocal harmonies, entwined guitar lines and flourishes of violin crackle with energy. “Fighting” brings together the band’s many strengths – tight, melodic, propulsive riffs gather steam before launching into an epic, undeniable chorus.

Lead single “Light Up the Sky” has an even more massive payoff, its refrain won’t leave your head in this lifetime, but allows for some ringing dissonance beneath it all. “Dear Bobbie” is a sweet, wistful ode featuring Key’s real-life grandfather reading a love letter to his wife of 58 years. “Shadows and Regrets” fades in as a gorgeous ballad before chimes and sweeping strings elevate the song’s stunning melody to great heights. And album-closing title track “Paper Walls” starts with an angelic female choir and simple, strummed guitar before it too takes flight with buzzing guitars and a surging chorus that grips until the final chord.

A deluxe CD/DVD version of Paper Walls will also be available featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the band, extensive photo gallery and two additional live bonus tracks.

Yellowcard is:
Ryan Key – vocals/guitar
Pete Mosely – bass/keyboards/vocals
Sean Mackin – violin/vocals
Ryan Mendez – guitar
Longineu “LP” Parsons III – drums

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Yellowcard - Paper Walls