Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Race The Sun released their 11 track album "The Rest Of Our Lives Is Tonight" in Japan and sold 3,000 copies the first week landing them #6 on the Japanese Charts. - Christina
RTS do what they do and they do it well - which is well executed vocal harmonies, toe tapping rhythms, and sugary sweet guitar tone and lyrics to match.
- Jake Shirley
Race The Sun was Picked as "One of the top 100 bands to know in 2005".They also got a 9 out of 10 on AP.net for the review of their '2005' release in the United States.
Review:
good vocals.... tight musicianship.... good melody.
Daniel has one of the most unique vocal deliveries that you will ever hear for this style of music. He is just one of the driving factors that will make Race The Sun stand out above all of the other "rock/pop punk" bands.
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The vocal gymnastics of Daniel Long hit octaves that most emo frontmen can only fantasize about. Long possesses the ability to make even the most mundane lyrics absolutely addicting. Take the brain candy hook of “The Vanity Score”, which proudly proclaims, “I’ve got my best shoes on”. The words and hum of the melody behind them have been in my subconscious since the first listen, often popping out of my mouth at the most inopportune times. - Russ Hockenbury
Virginia?s Race The Sun hit all the right notes on their debut record: hooky pop melodies, technical guitar work, and one of the most distinctive voices to come out lately. The eleven tracks bristle with everything that made Can?t Slow Down era Saves The Day and Nothing Gold Can Stay era A New Found Glory so guiltily irresistible; the knowledge that such great vocal harmonies and tuneful music could, no, definitely will be co-opted by the masses and the attention that will soon be fostered upon them. - --------
Reviewed: 3rd April 2005
Wow. This is the best pop-punk (and I mean that stuff with more melodies than an old cartoon, not Descendents-esque stuff) record since the last Fallout Boy CD and has become probably one of my favourites ever. This record has more bounce than the intro sequence to Baywatch and is destined to be THE record of the summer for me. Race The Sun don't break any new boundaries - for me they just breathe new life into a predictable and tired genre of music. Each song is based around a simple structure, yet everything from the vocals to the riffs to the drums sounds perfect.
'The Rest Of Our Lives Is Tonight' has hardly left my stereo since I bought it a month ago. From the opening strains of 'Solo Tonight', through to the bouncing riff during the middle of 'As Wings Develop', right through to the finale of '460 To Nowhere', this all sounds great. I guess the obvious nods would be towards New Found Glory and bands such as that - after all, the two and three-way vocal harmonies sound spot on. Daniel Long has quite a unique vocal, a little higher than most bands and while I accept some people might not like it, I think it adds a little something extra.
Highlights? Well every song is great in its own way. But there are obviously songs which standout from the pack - and from other bands in the genre too. 'Solo Tonight' and 'Vanity Score' are great starting points, while 'My Heart, The Compass (points West)' is another track which begs to have you sing along. Basically, this is a record for long, scorching summer days. Get a cold drink, stick this record on and share good times. It's one of the most fun and anthemic records I've heard in ages and after listening to so much crap over the last few weeks, has reaffirmed my faith that there is still good music out there. This is special, go forth and buy - I'd be very surprised if you're disappointed...
- Paul@punktastic.com
Discography
"The Rest Of Our Lives Is Tonight"
Release date: 9/21/04
1. Solo Tonight
2. Vanity Score
3. Paperweights and coffee Stains
4. As Wings Develop
5. Dreams v. Me
6. Weak Would Be Me Flinching
7. My Heart, The Compass (Points West)
8. Can't Wait
9. To Icarus With All Sincerity
10. I Hear the Book Was Better
11. 460 To Nowhere
Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by:
Jesse Cannon at Cannon Found Soundation
Mastered by:
Alan Douches at West West Side music
Under The Boardwalk Compilation April 2004 Featuring:
As Wings Develop
(Demo Version)
Also Featuring:
Brazil, Dynamite Boy, Zolof The Rock & Roll Destroyer, We're All Broken, The Escape Engine
Contents Of A Dead Man's Pocket Demo EP:
1. Casted Shadow
2. Hypnotized And Awake
3. 460 To Nowhere
4. She Said He Wore Steel
5. Fortunate
6. Rest Stop Insomnia
Recorded by: Andreas Magnusson
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Put aside your misconceptions about Virginia - this is Race The Sun, a Powhatan based band that interlaces a lyrical fabric of common themes with songwriting that is both identifiable and contextual.
Interested in playing something more heartfelt and sincere, Race The Sun began writing songs in the sweltering summer of 2002 that combined their energetic punk/alt rock influences with pop and a touch of hardcore.The band drew influences from bands like Jimmy Eat World, Fairweather, and Fall Out Boy to seamlessly incorporate harmony and aggression into a rambunctious mix that is universally appealing.
In late 2002, Race The Sun entered the studio with Andreas Magnusson [Scarlet] to record their self-released 5 song EP titled "Contents Of A Dead Man's Pocket." The album is excitingly genuine, showcasing their unspoiled melodies and unyielding harmonies. Creating a plan for success, the band set out on a guerrilla marketing campaign that involved Internet marketing and taking their CDs directly to potential fans in malls and colleges. Their talent, hard work and determination helped them find immediate success as local radio stations began playing "Casted Shadow." The band succeeded in selling an astounding 3,500 copies of the EP, building a strong underground following of self-made fans.
Since the band's inception, they have amassed a large and devoted hometown crowd, largely thanks to their energetic and raw live shows. From large venues to basements, the band worked to widen their hold on audiences and to toured the East Coast where they performed with a wide range of bands, from Fall Out Boy to Spitalfield to Acceptance to Jamison Parker, Count The Stars, River City High, and The Early November.
By the second half of 2003 Race The Sun signed to Fidelity Records and released their debut album in September of 2004 titled The Rest Of Our Lives Is Tonight. The album was produced and Engineered by Jesse Cannon [A Static Lullaby, Senses Fail, Hot Rod Circuit, Northstar, The Cure] and Mastered by Alan Douches [Thrice, Hot Water, Jets to Brazil, Saves The Day, Brand New, Alakaline Trio]. The result is a carefully crafted 11 track LP; built for sing alongs and delivering brilliantly inspirational messages while conjuring up images of youthful, innocent, and carefree afternoons under Virginian skies.
Renowned Producer/Director Darren Doane [Thursday, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Thrice, AFI, Deftones, A Static Lullaby] was brought aboard and filmed Race The Sun's premiere video for their first single "Solo Tonight." Released in conjunction with their debut album, the video cleverly captures the essence of who these boys are where they come from.
This Band's sheer energy and passion is nothing less than sincere and is testament to their savvy sense of their pop-punk roots. Perhaps the band says it best themselves; "The music is fun to listen to and at the same time, the lyrics give a positive message to never give up... something we try to show through our willingness to sacrifice and work hard at our dream of Race The Sun."
RTS has the drive, determination and most of all the DIY attitude to turn their once dream into a reality.
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