SYMMETRY has been out for exactly a week and it’s already sold out across the nation! 2011 is shaping up to be a great year for New Empire as they’ve been on the road with the likes of Good Charlotte, Owl City and soon, Simple Plan. With a track record like that, it seems only fitting to release their second album as well as their own national tour later on this year.
From the consensus, there have already been favourites picked out by fans from this long awaited album after two weeks of previews. Songs such as: Here In Your Eyes, Give Me The World, Train On Time and One Heart / Million Voices have resounded through the crowds throughout the nation.
Just like Speak Now, I’ve reviewed Symmetry song-by-song and added my favourite lines from each song. Enjoy!
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Across The Oceans
“In coming home you’ll find you’ll have all you need.”
What I really like about this song is the drum beat that is complemented by the acoustic riff. When I listen to this song I think of Pirates of the Caribbean and Pocahontas all in one. Especially in the second verse, where Jeremy sings about buried treasure and the anticipation of hitting the unknown shores. This song talks about a journey all across the world and yet finding that there’s no place like home.
The first time I heard this song I was lying in my bed at 3am and I was thinking, “I could really get up and dance right now.” (I didn’t, because I was up at an ungodly hour!) But seriously, it’s one of those songs that you can’t stand still to. You have to be bopping your head, tapping your foot or mouthing along to the lyrics.
Train On Time
“You just have to know, that I can’t let you go.”
Who doesn’t like a song with a ‘call and response’ aspect to it? What’s really good about this song is the music coincides with the story it’s telling. There’s a sense of urgency that the music builds up until the final moments where it dies down – like the person running is taking a breath from their run – and then the chase picks up again.
Did anyone notice the paradox between the story and the title of the song?
“When your head says, ‘Go, ’cause they’re coming after you, like a train on time.”
The protagonist is running away and the people running after her are ‘like a train on time’. Usually when you go to catch a train you’re hoping it’s on time, but in this simile she’s hoping that there’ll be a delay, but there’s an expectation that she will be caught (because they’re ‘on time’). That is, she can keep running, but she may never get away.
Moving away from my English student persona – this song really pushes you to run. I recommend playing it while you’re exercising. Sadly, yes, I have done this – but exercise is exercise! Why not?! Or dance - which ever is fine!
“So count me in, you can count on me.”
Music wise, it’s very rock-ish and different to all the other songs that we’ve previously heard from New Empire. It’s definitely one of the louder tracks on the album and it’s one of those songs that you belt out.
Lyrically though I can’t pin down who the speaker is asking the world from, neither can I see from who’s perspective it is being sung. I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, but I just think it’s a little too simple to say that it’s coming from a guy who is saying it to the girl. Or maybe it is…the story behind this song is a little ambiguous as to who the lyrics are talking about. Another perspective I can think of is God talking to His people – but then the entire song breaks down. Like, why would God need the world and then give it back? (John 15:18-25)
To be honest, I may just be reading into the song. (Which is probably that English student rearing in her ugly head!) But whenever I listen or sing this song, it’s the question that runs through my head; my question aside, this song is worth a listen and is one you can rock out to.
“I’m chasing shadows as they surround you in this empty room.”
At first I didn’t really like this song. I thought it was just a little too different. The only way I can explain my discomfort is if you type in “McFly” into iTunes and compare their earlier tuff to their current album (Above the Noise). There’s a conscious change in the musical direction and it’s similar to what New Empire have chosen to do with Symmetry.
With Ghosts I just felt like it wasn’t New Empire. But what ‘salvaged’ this song from the skip button are the lyrics. I’m not saying that the music is terrible – it’s just a little too common (different to New Empire’s sound, but similar to many others already being played all around the world). What I like to do with this song is just sit and listen to the lyrics. Unlike Across The Oceans - where you need to be moving - this song just allows you to sit or laydown to contemplate.
I like poetry; so songs with great imagery, allusions and ambiguities capture my attention – and this is one of those songs. I guess the reason I didn’t like it at first was because I saw the video clip before I heard the song. I was focusing a little more on the story of the video than the song. Relax guys; I did like the video clip. I’m pretty sure I’m part of the 100% of New Empire fans who enjoyed the running on the beach, but my favourite part was at the end. As the song finished and they're all slowly disappearing and eventually all you can see are the piano keys playing themselves.
Tightrope
“Keeping your balance is easy when you are sure of the promise that you’ll never fall.”
My favourite song from this album since 16.07.11 (Here In Your Eyes Tour). I loved this song two months before I heard it through and through. The strings at the beginning, the claps in the verses and the metaphor of a tightrope – sold!
What I really like about this song when I heard it live was the mixture of not knowing the song and having to appreciate it as a wall of sound that embraces you - it was just utter bliss. It was a little hard to hear Jeremy, so all I could decipher was, “You could’ve lied to me…and would you write to me…the hardest part is giving up.” When I got the album and heard the song all the way through, I was really encouraged and inspired by it.
Like I told you guys on Tumblr, sometimes confidence in something you’re not sure you can do is all you need. There’s a part of all of us that hesitates before we take that first step, but we all need to know that there’s always going to be a bar in our hands that will help us keep our balance. Even at the point when we feel like we’re about to fall, we need to know that there’s always going to be someone there to catch us. In truth, the hardest part is not trying, but “giving up”.
Worth The Wait
“I wanna say that you have been worth the wait.”
Another rocky song that requires a series of head banging! Don’t hate me for saying this, but the entire theme of the song kind of reminds me of Taylor Swift’s, Change and Long Live. When I listen to this song I see this image that you only get in those great epic movies when the war is over.
You know what I mean? The mise-en-scene where the hero stands at the centre looking over the damage, but as the sun rises it’s not just him that you see. You also see his men and they’re standing perfectly diagonal on either side of him and they all have that look. The whole, “It is finished.”
Yeah, I watch to many movies. Let me know if you feel the same way when you listen to this song. (Does anyone else get a picture of King David when they listen to this song?!)
Staircase
“I will give you all of my soldier’s heart.”
It does have that R’n’B feel to it, much like One Republic’s, Apologise. Much like Ghost, it’s the lyrics that saved this song from being skipped. But in saying that, what I love the most is the dynamics in the chorus with Jeremy’s falsettos.
I am a little hesitant to say that I prefer the piano version that you get on iTunes over the original because the song overall is not overly embedded with the heavy R’n’B beats, it just has minor elements. As a whole the song is rather quiet so there’s not big difference between the acoustic version and the original track.
Aside from that, I like that it’s kind of like a little prayer. Similar to Tightrope, it gives me the sense of pushing through even if the fight is harder than you thought. Listening to this song I get that feeling that it's ok to ask for help, because it's always there to be found.
Long Way Home
“I will fight for your every word, from years of fighting for me first.”
Another one of my favourites and it’s definitely one of the quieter tracks. I like this song because this is definitely a ballad of surrendering all that you are for a greater cause. I love knowing that this life is not to be done alone – that it’s supposed to be done together, and this song just depicts that beautifully.
I get the image of Footprints whenever I hear this song. The image that God is always walking along side us and whenever we come across challenges He’s right there with us – even better He’s gone a head of us. This song stirs my spirit to a place of security and peace. It’s a really encouraging song, especially on this narrow road we walk.
“As I run through this forest, I’m just a child inside.”
The first single from this album and I have to say, the first time I heard this song I was a little shocked to recognise Jeremy’s voice! I had been so out of the New Empire loop (two years to be exact!) that I felt like I didn’t even know who they were anymore!
But when I saw the video lip, I was like, “This is a great song!” I love that you can dance and sing to it all at the same time. I also like the whole idea of past and present colliding in a moment of bliss. This song is like a secret between two friends that’s been communicated through a single glance.
Imagination
“Do they really need us back in the real world?”
This song reminds me of reading a book or trying to stay asleep when you’re having a great dream. Who doesn’t like to delve into their imagination every now and again? When I listen to this song, I close my eyes and see what it brings to life. Nothing freakish like new worlds or psychedelic metric shapes or anything like that! More like memories of good times I’ve had with family and friends or stories I’ve read or even moments where I was just really happy.
It’s so cheery with the drums and the piano, you can’t help but think of the good things – or see the positive in the negative. There’s always something good, no matter how bad things seem.
One Heart / Million Voices
“Hold on to the words they taught us.”
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have this song as his or her new anthem. The quiet start all the way through to the second chorus just has you contemplating over the words being sung. It talks about promises that are being whispered throughout life that remains with those who are willing to listen. If you listen carefully the heart the beats inside of you may resound the voices that have come long before; voices who listened to those promises.
I’m not going to say much about this song because I generally don’t have many words to explain how encouraging this song is; and because I know you many of you love this song.
Overall
The album is perfect for your everyday commute and chillaxing with friends. I have to admit that some of the slower songs resonate with Jeremy’s solo album, Diamonds Without A Name, but it’s definitely the New Empire that people have known and new fans have grown to love. To secure your copy, be sure to call your nearest JB Hi-Fi / Koorong stores so they can order/save a copy for you. It’s also available on iTunes with TWO bonus tracks and a digital copy of the lyric booklet. I’m pretty sure it’ll be available when the tour starts as well. (PS. If you click the titles for Give Me the World, Ghosts and Here In Your Eyes they'll take you to the video clips.)
sL Star Rating: 5 Stars
Next on sL: CHANGES to sL
