Track Listing

1. Perfect Ending
2. Tension And The Terror
3. Existentialism On Prom Night
4. Another Word For Desperate
5. Mistakes We Knew We Were Making
6. Dignity And Money
7. Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)
8. Tool Sheds And Hot Tubs
9. It's For The Best
10. Now It's Done
11. Sympathy For The Martyr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60403 in Music
• Released on: 2004-10-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

CD Description
Some might have affixed the "career suicide" tag to John Nolan and Shaun Cooper's departure from rising emo stars Taking Back Sunday. However, Nolan and Cooper landed on their feet by forming Straylight Run, and releasing a top-notch self-titled debut that goes in an entirely different musical direction from their punky origins. In addition to recruiting ex-Breaking Pangaea drummer Will Noon, the duo made the brilliant move of roping Nolan's singing, piano-playing sibling Michelle into the cause.
As a result, Straylight Run combines emotive lyrics with a keen melodic pop sense that is occasionally reminiscent of Ben Folds and Ben Kweller. Michelle Nolan's talents often come to the fore, particularly on the jangly, New Wave-ish nugget "Tool Sheds and Hot Tubs", with its piano runs and thumping beat. Of course, lingering feelings from the Taking Back Sunday split pop up throughout the record, ranging from the somber yet compelling "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" to "Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)", a follow-up to the TBS cut "There's No I in Team". While acknowledging the past, however, Straylight Run remains focusedon moving forward, making for an excellent initial outing.

Customer Reviews

Warning!
DON'T BUY THIS JUST BECAUSE OF THE TBS CONNECTION. The sound is completly different, so much so that I urge anyone who is thinking of buying this to make sure they check out some of their work on their website before buying it.

Putting that aside this album is almost perfect. The only letdowns are the first track and the fact that 6 of the tracks have been available for download from their website for a while. These tracks have however had a reworking and feel much fresher and better for this effort. Highlights are definatlty The Tension and the terror, Existentialism on prom night and Mistakes we knew we were making as the powerful blended vocals of John and Michelle Nolan fit perfectly as do the piano parts.

Overall a very good album that deserves credit of it's own and an end to the TBS connection.

Buy this album
Firstly this is not anything like Taking Back Sunday but it is a thoughtful, beautifully written c.d. It hasn't been off my c.d player since it came out and everyone who's heard no matter their musical tastes has loved it. If you're looking for something fresh try this.

John Nolan is a very special man
It's disappointing but unsurprising to read the majority of reviews relating to this album making mention of Taking Back Sunday. Straylight Run are a band in their own right, and TBS need not even be quoted when discussing their music - John and Shaun have moved on, and so should we.

Straylight Run's self-titled debut has something for everyone. Had it not been quite so over-produced, it would have been a sure-fire 5-star record but having heard the beauty in their online demo tracks two years previously, I cannot say that this is the best they can be.

However, Straylight Run have produced an album of epic proportions and will surely expand their already massive online fanbase with this chart-esque offering. The first single, 'Existentialism On Prom Night', has a beauty unseen in most songs around at the moment and my personal favourite, 'Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)' is a fantastic example of vocalist/pianist John Nolan's lyrical and musical expertise. The addition of Michelle Nolan, also on vocals and piano makes this band one to watch - this is not your usual pop-rock.

And they're also very nice people.