In Reverie


In Reverie is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Saves the Day. In Reverie was released in mid-September through DreamWorks. Shortly after its release, DreamWorks was absorbed by Interscope Records, resulting in the band being dropped from the label.

Background and recording

In July 2001, Saves the Day released Stay What You Are through independent label Vagrant Records. The album's first single, "At Your Funeral", became the band's breakthrough hit. The album would go on to sell over 120,000 copies by early 2002. Frontman Chris Conley was, according to Gigwise's David Renshaw, "hailed as a hero with his lyrics about broken hearts and relationships." Line-up changes soon occurred: drummer Bryan Newman and guitarist Ted Alexander left the group. Conley, who had previously written songs on guitar, began playing it in the group. Newman was replaced by Face to Face drummer Pete Parada. In February 2002, the group were rumoured to have signed with major label Interscope Records. Sometime afterwards, they signed to major label DreamWorks Records.
In January 2003, the group was doing pre-production in Los Angeles. They were reportedly working on 18 songs. Prior to recording, the group wished to "capture the songs" as best as they could, according to Conley. Recording took place at Larrabee Studios East and Cello Studios with producer Rob Schnapf and engineer Doug Boehm. The pair were assisted by engineer Jeff Moses at Larrabee Studios East and by engineer Steven Rhodes at Cello Studios. Richard Barron played organ on "Rise", "Monkey" and "Tomorrow Too Late". Schnapf played the tambourine on "Driving in the Dark".
Rhodes performed various percussion instruments on the recordings. Reed Black contributed a number of instruments to different tracks: electric piano, grand piano, mellotron and synth. Schnapf and Boehm mixed the album at The Sound Factory with assistance from engineer Kevin Dean. Ted Jensen mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York City. Conley later revealed that the group created "a record we're proud of". Two songs that did not make it on to the album, "Shattered" and "Delusional", were re-worked for the group's next album, Sound the Alarm.

Composition

While working with Schnapf on Stay What You Are, Conley learned that he was writing songs out of his vocal range. He subsequently learned how to sing notes naturally as opposed to forcing them. Conley's voice subsequently changed for In Reverie. Comparing the material to that of Stay What You Are, Conley described the songs as being "more harmonically intricate" as well as "more complicated melodically". He said that after getting into the Beatles following Stay What You Are, he learned "a bunch of complex chords", which influenced his creativity. Despite being credited to the band, Conley wrote all of the songs. Though, he said he was "nowhere near dictator" and often enjoyed what parts the other members came up with. He added, whenever guitarist David Soloway came up with a part "it’s exactly the right thing; it’s more than I could have imagined." Musically, the album has been described as indie rock, melodic punk, pop and power pop.
One day, Conley was playing guitar and came up with the opening riff for "Anywhere with You". The remainder of the song soon followed. Bassist Eben D'Amico said the track was originally titled "Cactus Stomp" before it had any lyrics. Conley said it talks about "longing for something better — for a feeling of peace or completeness". "What Went Wrong" was written nine to ten months before the group worked on the album. Conley did not think the track was worthy enough, until one morning when he woke up with the song in his head. The song is about a kid who is being strip-searched despite having done nothing wrong. "Driving in the Dark" is about searching for peace in the world and not in a person. Conley said "Rise" was about "looking around and seeing everyone else trying to buy this or that and thinking it's going to make them happy." Conley mentioned that reverie refers to being in a dreamlike state, and the title-track is about that: "...floating through life and trying to figure it all out... transcending the things you get really pissed off about".
"Morning in the Moonlight" talks about joy. "Monkey" is about filling up empty space with material possessions, despite said possessions still leaving you empty. Conley came up with the melody for "In My Waking Life" while at his mom's house. The track simply "appeared in my mind as if it were a cloud coming over the horizon." "She" is about being both confused and in love with the various aspects of life. Around the time the band toured with Weezer, Conley was suffering from Crohn's disease, which inspired "Where Are You?". The track is about "taking everything in, the depression, confusion and anxiety, but also the incredible highs." "Wednesday the Third" is about "telling... off" The Man. Conley explained he's "drawing a line in the sand and crossing over to the other side, which means I'm done with the past – onward and inward." With "Tomorrow Too Late", Conley is personifying the feeling of restlessness and the need for peace.

Release

On June 10, 2003, In Reverie was announced for release. "Anywhere with You" was released to radio on August 12. Around this time, a music video was filmed for the song in Los Angeles. It features the group performing the song in a recording studio. On August 16, the group released an e-card, which included four new songs: "Anywhere with You", "Driving in the Dark", "What Went Wrong" and "Where Are You?". In Reverie was released through DreamWorks Records on September 16. The album's artwork was done by Brazilian artist Stephan Doitschinoff, who the group met while in the UK in 2002. A few days later, , a tribute to the band's former bassist Sean McGrath, was released featuring an In Reverie outtake "Don't Go Outside". From mid-September to late November, the group went on a co-headlining US tour with Taking Back Sunday. They were supported by Moneen.
Following the band's biggest headlining show at Ashbury Park to 4,000 people, Conley received a call from the band's A&R person at DreamWorks: "e said, 'None of the programmers at radio are biting at the single, and MTV doesn't want to play the video, so we're going have to start thinking about the next record.' I had a total breakdown. I was like, 'How is this possible? The album just came out!'" A few weeks after In Reveries release, the label was absorbed by Interscope Records. Shortly afterwards, Saves the Day was dropped from the label. In March and April 2004, the band went on a co-headlining US tour with Grandaddy, with support from The Fire Theft. Dios opened the first half of the tour, while Hey Mercedes opened the second half. Halfway through it, The Fire Theft dropped off the tour due to their vocalist falling ill. In April 2009, the band was tentatively planning to re-release the album with up to 12 additional tracks. According to Conley, the reissue would've included demos and "whatnot. 'Zeebs' and 'Sister Sophs' and all that shit, 'Blossom' and what have you. All that. Then more."

Reception

In Reverie sold 34,000 copies in its first week, reaching number 27 on the Billboard 200. The album was a commercial disappointment for the band and would soon change the band's direction in their next two albums Sound the Alarm and Under the Boards.

Track listing

All music by Saves the Day and all lyrics by Christopher Conley.
  1. "Anywhere with You" – 2:32
  2. "What Went Wrong" – 2:49
  3. "Driving in the Dark" – 3:14
  4. "Rise" – 3:12
  5. "In Reverie" – 2:27
  6. "Morning in the Moonlight" – 1:55
  7. "Monkey" – 3:23
  8. "In My Waking Life" – 2:49
  9. "She" – 2:34
  10. "Where Are You?" – 1:47
  11. "Wednesday the Third" – 3:39
  12. "Tomorrow Too Late" – 3:33

    Other songs from the ''In Reverie'' era

Personnel per booklet.
Saves the Day
Additional musicians
Production