The Positives (album)
Encyclopedia
The Positives is the second full-length studio album
by American rock
band Person L
, released through Academy Fight Song on November 17, 2009. The album was produced by Aaron Marsh
of the band Copeland
and the band completed recording the album in March 2009. On November 12 the band released five songs to Purevolume
for streaming, followed by a full album stream on MySpace
on November 14. In support of the album, Person L toured with John Nolan and Brian Bonz.
The first single from the album is "Untitled", which remained without a title as tribute to its simple nature. Frontman Kenny Vasoli
said he'd prefer to concentrate on the what the song was saying, rather than have "some weird thing that represents how I was feeling or something like that... It felt right that it didn't need a title. I wanted to say something that was very powerful and say it over and over again." Vasoli wrote the song at his home in Philadelphia, in his basement. After a four minute period of creativity and a guitar hook, he came up with the song and it was said to be the spark he needed to put The Starting Line
behind him and advance with Person L. Themes of personal growth and triumph over pain are intertwined through the song.
Spin
said the album features a "surprisingly diverse sound", something Vasoli calls "classic Person L". The magazine described the sound as a mix of garage rock
and downtempo emo
, touched with hints of R&B
, rockabilly
, and ambient
influences. The diverse mix of sounds and genres was then compared to "the creative, boundary-pushing sound" of bands such as Jawbox
and Fugazi. Vasoli also refers to the change in sound from the band's first album, Initial
; "As far as songs go, there aren't a whole lot of songs you can compare from the first record to the second," although he does say the "new album has similar vibes on it". He described The Positives as "more of an old school garage rock-and-roll sort of record" with a lot more "funk and soul."
The album was released on vinyl in December 2009.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Person L
Person L
Person L is an American rock band fronted by Kenny Vasoli, of the pop punk band The Starting Line. Vasoli is the band's lead singer and guitarist and formed Person L in winter 2006 as an outlet to explore other musical styles...
, released through Academy Fight Song on November 17, 2009. The album was produced by Aaron Marsh
Aaron Marsh
Aaron Marsh is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer from Florida. He first gained prominence as the lead singer, guitarist, and pianist for the Florida-based indie rock band Copeland, who formed in 2000...
of the band Copeland
Copeland (band)
Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
and the band completed recording the album in March 2009. On November 12 the band released five songs to Purevolume
PureVolume
PureVolume was the first independently run website of its type, allowing for the upload and stream of music files. It was created in 2003 by Jennifer Welch , in conjunction with the Unborn Media team; Brett Woitunski, Nate Hudson, and Mitchell Pavao; all from the University of...
for streaming, followed by a full album stream on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
on November 14. In support of the album, Person L toured with John Nolan and Brian Bonz.
The first single from the album is "Untitled", which remained without a title as tribute to its simple nature. Frontman Kenny Vasoli
Kenny Vasoli
Kenneth Robert "Kenny" Vasoli is the lead singer and bassist of The Starting Line, a pop punk band. Vasoli attended Hatboro-Horsham High School. At the age of 14, he was invited to join the band after Matt Watts read his AOL Instant Messenger profile. His previous bands include The Prize Fight and...
said he'd prefer to concentrate on the what the song was saying, rather than have "some weird thing that represents how I was feeling or something like that... It felt right that it didn't need a title. I wanted to say something that was very powerful and say it over and over again." Vasoli wrote the song at his home in Philadelphia, in his basement. After a four minute period of creativity and a guitar hook, he came up with the song and it was said to be the spark he needed to put The Starting Line
The Starting Line
The Starting Line is an American pop punk band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1999.- Formation and history :In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an e-mail from guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli...
behind him and advance with Person L. Themes of personal growth and triumph over pain are intertwined through the song.
Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
said the album features a "surprisingly diverse sound", something Vasoli calls "classic Person L". The magazine described the sound as a mix of garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
and downtempo emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
, touched with hints of R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, and ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
influences. The diverse mix of sounds and genres was then compared to "the creative, boundary-pushing sound" of bands such as Jawbox
Jawbox
Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
and Fugazi. Vasoli also refers to the change in sound from the band's first album, Initial
Initial (album)
Initial is the debut album from the band Person L, released on August 5, 2008. Kenny Vasoli self-recorded the album in his home studio in late 2007-2008 and released it through his record label, Human Interest...
; "As far as songs go, there aren't a whole lot of songs you can compare from the first record to the second," although he does say the "new album has similar vibes on it". He described The Positives as "more of an old school garage rock-and-roll sort of record" with a lot more "funk and soul."
The album was released on vinyl in December 2009.
Track listing
- "Hole in the Fence" — 4:53
- "Good Days" — 4:28
- "The Positives" — 2:50
- "Goodness Gracious" — 3:23
- "New Sensation" — 2:35
- "Stay Calm" — 4:40
- "Sit Tight" — 3:11
- "Loudmouth" — 3:22
- "Changed Man" — 6:09
- "Pleasure Is All Mine" — 3:23
- "Untitled" — 5:26
- "I Sing the Body Electric" — 7:12