Daylight

Description

Daylight is the major label debut album by the American alternative rock band NEEDTOBREATHE, released on Atlantic Records in 2006, a Warner Music Group Company. (The band self-released an album entitled The Feature in 2001.) The album was recorded both in the UK and the US; at Helioscentric Studio in Sussex, England, and at Plantation Studios (the home studios of Needtobreathe) in Charleston, South Carolina, USA; with Andy Green producing and engineering. Additional engineering by Julian Willmott. Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge (tracks 1, 6, and 9) at Resonate Music in Burbank, California; and by Shawn Grove (tracks 2 to 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11) at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

Featuring Bear Rinehart on lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, and harmonica; Bo Rinehart on guitar and background vocals; Seth Bolt on bass and background vocals (as well as bass programming); and Joe Stillwell on drums, percussion, and background vocals.

Debut albums don’t come much more impressive than this one. South Carolina based quartet Needtobreathe have entered the world of grown-up LPs after several independently released EPs in the States with this quite wonderful offering. The band recorded ‘Daylight’ in England last summer with producer Andy Green (Keane, KT Tunstall), and it’s the high-production standards that clinch it; this album is essential listening. Imagine a voice similar to John Mayer backed by Switchfoot-esque in-your-face guitars. Then think of big choruses in a similar vein to Oasis, you’re almost there. There is a spiritual element to the songwriting in a similar way U2 or Athlete incorporate their Christian worldview, creating themes of compassion, forgiveness and romance. The most obviously faith influenced tracks are the majestic «You Are Here» and the stadium rocking «More Than». There are bursts of genius in the melody lines in most tracks. There isn’t one bad song out of the 11 tracks on this CD; opener «Don’t Wait For Daylight» being my favourite. The arrangement and production is very slick, but most of the songs are perhaps just a little too similar, and they’ve stuck to the same formula throughout the album. But, there is so much to enjoy here, it just doesn’t matter. This will surely be a successful album, and a successful band. I just hope they’ll be received by a wider audience than the CCM scene. [Dave Griffiths, Cross Rhythms, June 2006]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/daylight/135127520)

CD tracklist:

01. Don’t Wait For Daylight – 3:47
02. Quit – 3:27
03. Shine On – 4:13
04. Don’t Leave Just Yet – 3:55
05. Haley – 3:22
06. You Are Here – 3:19
07. Knew It All – 3:10
08. More Than – 3:37
09. Over Now – 3:36
10. Lost – 4:05
11. I Won’t Look Back – 3:07

Note: The enhanced portion of the disc contains a screensaver and an artist interview video. Re-issued on 12-inch vinyl LP by Atlantic in 2016.