ARTIST: Classic Case
TITLE: Losing at Life
LABEL: Fearless Records
GENRE: Rock
BITRATE: 174kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 37m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-02-20
RIP DATE: 2007-02-02
Track List
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1. Into A Nightmare 3:12
2. Unsteady 2:57
3. Scott Free 3:23
4. Losing at Life 3:32
5. Devil's Advocate 2:53
6. Fatal Phrase 2:49
7. Living in a Dream 3:39
8. Stalemate (Falling in Love) 4:17
9. Vampires 4:28
10. Elevator Phobia 2:59
11. All Of Us Are In Danger 3:39
Release Notes:
Classic Case keep on keeping on. This four-year-old band, whose members are from
North Carolina and New York City, is a study in perseverance and continuing to
rock, despite surrounding circumstances. Even with its dark, tongue-in-cheek
title and its stormy, moody undertones, the chunky, guitar-driven Losing At Life
represents a new opportunity for a band that just wants to be heard. And after
all, the best, most honest art is always born from darkness, frustration, and
struggle, things Classic Case are familiar with.
Classic Case started out as a quartet, but added a second guitar to their lineup
to thicken their sound. The band formed in Brooklyn, when vocalist Jared
Draughon moved to the borough, eventually hooking up with drummer Durijah Lang
(who originally sat behind the kit for Glassjaw) and bassist Eric Mendelson, and
self-recording the EP, ItÆs Been Business Doing Pleasure With You.
The band toured in support of the EP, despite being label-less, thus building a
recognizable name and reputation in the independent rock/emo/metal/hardcore
scene. Classic Case logged shows with likeminded acts like The Used, A Static
Lullaby, and The Bled. They eventually moved back to North Carolina, and hired
guitarist Josh Moore (who cut his teeth in the defunct Tooth And Nail band
Beloved). Classic Case were gearing up for the release of Dress To Depress via
Fiddler Records, when the label folded. Despite that crushing blow, the band
kept its collective head up, and soldiered on, touring and eventually signing to
Fearless Records.
Draughon, who taught English in Italy after high school, sums up the past few
years for Classic Case, explaining how they affected Losing At Life, saying ôWe
had such high hopes with past records, and we had been doing a lot of tours with
hardcore bands, and weÆre heavy, but weÆre not hardcore. We have a lot of
melodies. A lot of the darkness in the record came from our experience, and
sometimes getting down about it,ö The albumÆs title was born when the band was
on tour û something it does often. The guys were crashing at a friendÆs pad.
When asked what heÆd been up to, the friend responded, ôIÆve been up here,
losing at lifeö in a casual, non-chalant tone. ôI named a glum, lonely song
after that conversation,ö Draughon says. ôItÆs tongue-in-cheek, but itÆs
serious, too! A lot of musicians feel that way. They work so hard, and more
walls go up than come down! But youÆve got to put everything into your music,
because youÆre not looking to be rich and famous, but to succeed in something
you love!ö The album indeed encompasses Classic CaseÆs last 3 years of existence
in the space of 11 songs.
Moore is quick to point out that Classic Case are not negative,
glass-is-half-empty people, either. ôThe tragedy of life is not that man loses,
but that he almost wins,ö he says. ôWe put that quote in the CD artwork. ItÆs
about being almost there, like purgatory being worse than hell, because youÆre
trying to navigate the middle ground to get to the next plane.ö
Draughon describes Losing At Life as ôdriving and melodic, full of harmonies,
but still intense and urgent in a rock æn roll way, with plenty of heartfelt
lyrics,ö and admits that his lyrics probe darker topics. ôThey are dark, but not
in an evil sense,ö the singer says. ôSometimes, theyÆre sullen and gloomy, but I
donÆt consider myself a negative person. WeÆre all pretty optimistic.ö Draughon
prefers to keep his lyrics steeped in reality, because thatÆs what fans relate
to. ôWeÆre dealing with stuff that most kids are feeling on a daily basis. ItÆs
not far fetched and glamorous. ItÆs every day stuff,ö he reveals.
For Losing At Life, Classic Case hired Helmet guitarist/vocalist Page Hamilton
to produce, and headed to Seedy Underbelly Studios in Hollywood. Some songs were
written in the studio, and of the process, Moore says, ôIt was very
collaborative and spontaneous, and thatÆs scary but you just have to trust your
instincts.ö ItÆs a move that