The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi is the second and final studio album by Boston experimental rock band the Receiving End of Sirens. It is the band's first album with guitarist/keyboardist Brian Southall who joined the band after the departure of guitarist/vocalist Casey Crescenzo. This album was produced by Matt Squire (Panic! at the Disco, Boys Like Girls, Hit The Lights). Writing for the album occurred from October 2006 to January 2007. The album peaked at #130 on the Billboard 200, #3 on Top Heatseekers, and #15 on Top Independent Albums.
Background and production
The Receiving End of Sirens released their debut album Between the Heart and the Synapse in April 2005, though independent label Triple Crown Records. The group promoted it with four US tours (supporting the likes of Gatsbys American Dream, Acceptance and Alexisonfire), stints on the Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos, leading up to the group's first headlining tour in early 2006. The members were suffering from interpersonal tension, which guitarist/vocalist Casey Crescenzo attributed to himself: "I was the epicenter ... There were too many creative egos, and I suppose mine had to be the loudest." He left the group after the conclusion of their headlining tour in May 2006, citing "many factors, personal and creative" as the reasoning.
However, it was later discovered he was suffering from a series of undiagnosed medical issues – namely, throat and stomach ulcers, kidney and pancreatic failure, burst lung capillaries and memory loss – that he was unable to afford care. Vocalist/bassist Brendan Brown and vocalist/guitarist Alex Bars handled the singing role for the remainder of their touring commitments for the year, which consisted of two further US tours, and treks of Canada and the UK, up to late 2006. Cody Bonnette of As Cities Burn filled Crescenzo's role for three months, though they didn't record or practice together, and was replaced by Brian Southall of Boys Night Out joined the band as their guitarist; he was previously their one-time touring manager. They went to a secluded llama farm in Connecticut, which was owned by Bars' grandparents, where they spent two months writing new material. Starting in February 2007, the group began recording their second album with producer Matt Squire. Sessions were held at SOMD studios, located in Beltsville, Maryland. On April 17, the band announced recording had concluded.
Composition
Overview
The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi is a concept album, which takes its story and title from Johannes Kepler, a 16th-century astronomer, in a book of his which the band were intrigued by. He theorized that the solar system produced tones, such as Venus being a major sixth note, and the Earth as the relative minor sixth note, culminating in the Mi-Fa-Mi scale. Additionally he pondered on the idea that the Earth "'singing' Mi Fa Mi could truly stand for Misery, Famine, Misery and ultimately, that is the song the Earth and Venus continued to sing. Misery, referring to an empty place and Famine, referring to the appetite or thirst for things." Bars incorporated his love for astronomer Carl Sagan into the album.
The record's secondary topic is about a family breakdown; Brown wrote all of the lyrics, in contrast to their debut, where he collaborated on them with Crescenzo and drummer Andrew Cook. Musically, the sound of it has been described as arena rock, emo and progressive rock, drawing a comparison to Kid A (2000)-era Radiohead. It utilized multi-layered vocals, in addition to call-and-response parts, with the tracks being sung from different perspectives, such as animals (in the track "Smoke and Mirrors), planets and human beings. Unlike their debut album, which had Crescenzo handle all of the programming, all of the members contributed programming for their second album, and basted some of the tracks around it.
Tracks
The opening track "Swallow People Whole" is a quiet rock track with elements of electronic music, reminiscent of Depeche Mode. Brown woke up in a hotel room with the drum pattern and chorus melody in his head; he worked on the sequencing over the course of a night. It talks about being a stranger in one's own body and that one's actions didn't reflect their own perception of themselves. "Obliette (Disappear)" tackles the theme of emptiness, and features programming from Southall. "The Crop and Pest" discusses desire and features pomp rock-styled organ. One of the verses details an evil spirit using a human host as a home; it makes reference to a nautilus shell, which is done as a metaphor for perfection. The track reuses some of the lyrics from an outtake from the album sessions, "The Afterglow".