Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat

Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat is the fourth studio album by Greensburg, Pennsylvania indie-rock band The Juliana Theory.

Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat
Studio album by
The Juliana Theory
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2005
RecordedLate 2004
StudioSeedy Underbelly
GenreEmo, alternative rock, indie rock
Length48:46
LabelAbacus, Paper Fist
ProducerJohn Travis, Brett Detar
The Juliana Theory chronology
Love
(2003)		 Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat
(2005)		 A Small Noise
(2006)

Background and production

The Juliana Theory released their third album Love in February 2003 through major label Epic Records.[1] Within a few weeks of its release, as the group were readying themselves for media promotion for MTV and radio, the label informed them: "The record's dead."[2] Frontman Brett Detar said the label viewed it as "dead before it came out" due to it leaking seven months prior. In addition to people at the label who championed the band had left or were fired,[3] the label focused their efforts on Jennifer Lopez and Good Charlotte instead.[2] The band's contract had an out-clause, which meant they didn't have to give the label another album and the label still had to pay the band. They used this money to fund the creation of their next album.[4] Undeterred by the situation, the group were in the process of writing new material for a new album by April, and aimed to release it in the following year. They recorded some demos in June.[5] In September, Detar described the new material as "a lot more raw and energetic" and "like The Juliana Theory on speed".[6]

Around this time, the band debuted several new songs during their performances, namely "French Kiss Off", "Temptations with a Sharp Dagger" and "Opposite Parallel Poles". Towards the end of the 2004, the group started recording the follow-up to Love.[7] Sessions were held at Seedy Underbelly Studios in Valley Village, California.[8] They recorded around 85% of the album live-in-the-studio;[2] Detar said they wished to capture a performance that was representative of their live show.[8] According to Detar, the final mixes make the album sound "like a rock record with the guitars extremely loud and the vocals are kind of quiet".[4]

Composition

Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat mixed the experimentation of the group's preceding releases into its progressive rock sound.[9] The lyrics tackles the themes of saying goodbye to partners, bad relationships and towns. Detar explained it was "basically a goodbye album, a farewell record. It’s one long series of goodbyes after another, except they aren’t sappy, sad goodbyes. Most of them are good riddance type of goodbyes."[8] At the time, Detar bassist Chad Alan were dealing with relationship issues, alongside the fallout with Epic Records.[2] Detar's vocals were reminiscent of Billy Squier.[10] "This Is a Lovesong... For the Loveless" was compared to Coldplay.[11] "Leave Like a Ghost (Drive Away)" is about leaving a small town.[12] Detar said "I Love You to Death (Drive Safe)" served as a "lullaby for the end of the world".[8]

Release

On July 13, 2005, Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat was announced for release in September.[13] A few days later, the group performed at Afterfest.[14] It was eventually released on September 13 as a joint release from Abacus Records and the band's own Paperfist Records.[13] The artwork recalled the Beatles' self-titled album (1968).[10] It also includes a bonus DVD which features the making of the album and four bonus tracks. During the same month, "This Is a Lovesong... For the Loveless" was released to modern rock radio stations.[15] The group played a few shows in the UK in January 2006[16] as part of their European tour with Haste the Day.[17] Some of the shows featured Turmoil and Most Precious Blood.[18] Later in the month, they played their final show in Germany before announced their break-up two months later.[19]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Melodic[10]
Metal.de7/10[11]
Miami New TimesUnfavorable[20]
Ox-Fanzine8/10[21]
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteFavorable[12]

Kaj Roth of Melodic said it was their "most energetic" release, and found it "a little better" than Love.[10] The album was a "a giant smorgasbord of anthemic rock", with "French Kiss Off and "Her Velvet Voice" being branded as "nothing but filler".[10] Metal.de's Florian Schörg said Detar's vocals "skilfully walking the fine line between kitsch and tearfulness."[11] Despite one "or the other fountain pen has sneaked in between mostly high-quality song material," he'd "warmly" recommend the release to "every emo fan."[11] He complimented the "earthy and pleasantly rocking" production, and found that the majority of the tracks didn't wane with repeated listens.[11]

Ox-Fanzine writer Thomas Eberhardt found the material "very mature" musically, with the addition of the keyboard making it seem like a "dreamy, but also very stirring affair."[21] He praised Detar's "characteristic and empathetic" vocals for adding "the uniqueness of the group as always."[21] Emily L. Mullin of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the opening track set the stage for the remainder of the record with its "catchy, upbeat" sound, and "[a]fter that, the songs flow well and fit together".[12] She praised Detar's voice as being "powerful, almost haunting at times."[12] Miami New Times's Jonathan Garrett said it was "an unapologetically white-knuckled take" on their usual sound, however, it had "weak underlying hooks and occasionally embarrassing lyrics".[20]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Brett Detar, except where noted; all music is composed by The Juliana Theory.

No.TitleLength
1."This Is a Lovesong... For the Loveless"3:36
2."We Make the Road by Walking"3:52
3."Shotgun Serenade" (Detar, Chad Alan)4:11
4."Leave Like a Ghost (Drive Away)"3:45
5."My Heart Is a Soldier"3:21
6."I Love You to Death (Drive Safe)" (Detar, Alan)3:52
7."This Valentine Ain't No Saint"3:49
8."10,000 Questions"3:59
9."The Final Song"4:11
10."French Kiss Off"4:06
11."Her Velvet Voice" (hidden track)9:26
Total length:48:42
Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Making the Album"25:41
2."Over the Earth" (music track)5:19
3."Slowly Flying Solo" (music track)3:20
4."Opposite Parallel Poles" (music track)3:35
5."Can't Suspend It" (music track)3:58
6."Driving with Brett"10:04
7."The Ghost of Jeff Porcaro"5:33
8."The Making of Loopy"8:34

Personnel

References

Citations

  1. "Love - The Juliana Theory | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. Mervis 2005, p. 73
  3. "The Juliana Theory Announces Reunion Tour, Singer Brett Detar Comes to Terms With Emo's Pop Masterpiece". Billboard. April 17, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  4. Bayer, Jonah (May 11, 2017). "Rank Your Records: Brett Detar Rates The Juliana Theory's Four Divisive Albums". Noisey. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  5. Harmon, Rod (April 30, 2003). "Underground band builds better to fame". Beaver Country Times. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  6. Mitchell, Daniel L. (September 9, 2003). "The Juliana Theory: Love is Far From Dead". Ink19. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  7. Manley, Brendan. "Men in Motion: The Juliana Theory's Ongoing Evolution". Long Island Press. Archived from the original on September 18, 2004. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  8. "The Juliana Theory". Abacus Recordings. Archived from the original on August 30, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  9. Pomranz, Kristyn (November 9, 2005). "The Juliana Theory". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  10. Roth, Kaj (September 9, 2005). "The Juliana Theory - Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat". Melodic. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  11. Schörg, Florian. "The Juliana Theory - Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat". Metal.de (in German). Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  12. Mullin 2005, p. C-9
  13. Kremkau, Bryan (July 13, 2005). "The Juliana Theory To Release Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat On Sept. 13th!". ReadJunk. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  14. "Collegian Magazine Arts Fest '05: Verve Pipe and others headline this year's After-fest extravaganza". Daily Collegian. July 13, 2005. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  15. Tady 2005, p. 11
  16. "US Rockers For UK". Cross Rhythms. December 22, 2005. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  17. "The Juliana Theory In-store Signing in Yeovill!". Abacus Recordings. January 6, 2006. Archived from the original on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  18. "Haste The Day / The Juliana Theory European Tour 2006". Abacus Recordings. November 30, 2005. Archived from the original on September 28, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  19. "Goodbye Juliana". Cross Rhythms. March 7, 2006. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  20. Garrett, Jonathan (September 15, 2005). "The Juliana Theory". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  21. Eberhardt, Thomas (December 2005 – January 2006). "Juliana Theory Deadbeat Sweetheartbeat CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.

Sources

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