Candlebox has had a successful career for three decades! The Seattle-based alternative band “weren’t the punks that paved the road for all these other bands that came along,” says Kevin Martin, lead singer. “The statement is that music has always been there and nobody’s doing anything differently. You think that you’re invincible and you try to grab all those things that come along with being in a rock band and touring the world. But inevitably, you’re left with yourself, and if you don’t have something within yourself that can keep you grounded, what are you doing it for?” To celebrate their success, their 8th studio album, The Long Goodbye is serving as a capstone of their career.
As the name implies, it seems like this is a long goodbye for the band, and this collection of songs is a perfect way to do it. It opens with a banger, “Punks” which is already out, and each song serves as a storytelling milestone, and you can hear the evolution in the album. The beginning of the album starts off gritty, just like the band, and throughout it grows softer into beautiful melodic pieces. “Maze” was one that stood out to me with the acoustic guitar and piano. It also has some Mumford and Sons influence in the track.
“I Should Be Happy” has a great tempo, it’s a great dance song, but when you listen to the lyrics, it mirrors Kevin’s quote about trying to keep up with what goes into being a rock band.
“Maze” has a drastic shift in the sound of the album with the guitar and piano and slowered tempo. It has a Mumford & Sons influence with the rising chords of the song. It has a sad but beautiful message with “What is said and done, our bones turn to dust. Your love’s still the only truth I’ve known. And I’ll never understand.”
“Cellphone Jesus” is a fun track with tinny vocals reminiscent of landlines. The staccato rhythm of the song helps with the “tick tock tick tock” lyrics making the listener get the message of running out of time, and spending too much on the phone.
As a Candlebox fan, I’m saddened to think this is their last album, but this is a great last album to leave, telling the story of the band, and the emotion behind the decision.
They are currently on their Long Goodbye tour. Dates can be found here. Pre-save and pre-order The Long Goodbye today and get an instant download of “Punks.”
Tracklist:
Punks
What Do You Need Ft. Mona
Elegante
I Should Be Happy
Nails On A Chalkboar
Ugly
Maze
Cellphone Jesus
Foxy
Hourglass
