Old Crows / Young Cardinals

Old Crows / Young Cardinals is the fourth studio album from post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on June 23, 2009.[12] The album was originally referred to by the shortened title of Young Cardinals,[13] until the name change was announced on April 1, 2009.[12] The album debuted at #81 on the Billboard 200, making this Alexisonfire's highest charting album in the US to date.[14]

Old Crows / Young Cardinals
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 23, 2009[1]
RecordedFebruary – March 2009
StudioArmoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia and Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario
GenrePost-hardcore
Length42:06
LabelDine Alone
ProducerJulius Butty[2]
Alexisonfire chronology
Crisis
(2006)
Old Crows / Young Cardinals
(2009)
Dog's Blood
(2010)
Singles from Old Crows / Young Cardinals
  1. "Young Cardinals"
    Released: May 12, 2009[3]
  2. "Born and Raised"
    Released: October 14, 2009
  3. "The Northern"
    Released: December 28, 2009
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic69/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk(85%)[5]
Allmusic[6]
Kerrang! (#1267, p.54)
Melodic [7]
Punknews.org[8]
Sputnikmusic[9]
Toro Magazine[10]
Ultimate Guitar(9.3/10)[11]

Background

In October and November 2008, the band toured Europe as part of The Eastpak Antidote Tour.[15] In December, it was revealed that the band would be recording their next album in 2009. Guitarist Wade McNeil said the record would be "fucking heavy."[16]

Recording

In an interview in January 2009, Wade MacNeil and band manager Joel Carriere confirmed that they have 10 songs ready for recording,[17] one of which being "Emerald St." (given full title "Emerald Street" on the album).[18] The band announced they would begin recording on February 1, 2009, documenting the process as it happened on their internet blog,[19] with MacNeil stating that "For the first time ever we have too many songs".[20] Recording took place in Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia,[21] working with engineer Nick Blagona (who has previously worked with April Wine and Cat Stevens, as well as the band's 2006 album, Crisis).[2][22] One week later, Dallas Green announced that the band had already completed seven songs, including "Midnight Regulations",[23] and "probably 8 by the time we finish up".[19]

By March 1, 2009, the band announced in their studio blog that they had "drums, bass and most of the guitars completed", and had "now moved on to leads and overdubs".[24] Later the same week, MacNeil announced that work on the album in Vancouver had been completed, with the exception of Green's vocal parts.[18] Upon returning from Vancouver, further recording took place at Silo Studios in Hamilton, Ontario, the same location used on the band's 2004 album Watch Out! and some parts of Crisis.[22] Here, the band co-produced with Julius Butty, who had also worked on the band's previous two albums.[21] Mastering of the album was completed on April 8, 2009,[25] by Brett Zilahi at João Carvalho Mastering.[26]

Release

Double vinyl record edition.

On April 20, 2009 the band released their first single from Old Crows / Young Cardinals called "Young Cardinals". On May 20, a music video was released for "Young Cardinals".[27] Old Crows / Young Cardinals was released on June 23.[21] The album was released on Dine Alone Records, an independent label founded by the band's manager Joel Carriere. It was mark the first time the band have not released through Distort Entertainment in Canada. Dine Alone released the disc in Canada, Australia and South Africa, while the album will be released in the United States by Vagrant Records.[21] Between late June and late August, the band performed on the Warped Tour.[28]

In February and March 2010, the band performed at Soundwave festival in Australia.[29] On March 3, Dine Alone released Old Crows/Young Cardinals on coloured vinyl discs. After the initial run, a standard black pressing will replace it.[30] The initial run contains the following French quote across all four sides of the album in the deadwax: Et ses mains ourdiraient/Les entrailles du prêtre/Au défaut d'un cordon/Pour étrangler les rois. It is a quote from philosopher Denis Diderot's poem Les Éleuthéromanes, translated to: And his hands would plait the priest's entrails, for want of a rope, to strangle kings. More succinctly, it has been taken to mean, "Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest."[31]

Singles

The first single, "Young Cardinals", was played on radio on April 20.[32][33] The official release date was May 12, 2009. "Born and Raised" was released October 14, 2009 and "The Northern" was released December 29, 2009.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Alexisonfire; lyrics on track 6 based on the hymn "Roll, Jordan, Roll"; all music is composed by Alexisonfire.

No.TitleLength
1."Old Crows"4:17
2."Young Cardinals"3:38
3."Sons of Privilege"3:21
4."Born and Raised"4:01
5."No Rest"3:37
6."The Northern"4:28
7."Midnight Regulations"4:11
8."Emerald Street"3:16
9."Heading for the Sun"3:45
10."Accept Crime"3:14
11."Burial"4:18
Total length:42:06
iTunes pre-order bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."Young Cardinals" (demo)3:51
Japanese Edition
No.TitleLength
12."Two Sisters"1:27
13."Wayfarer Youth"3:41
Australian Edition
No.TitleLength
12."Wayfarer Youth" (bonus track on the first pressing[34])3:41

Old Crows/Young Cardinals Bonus Tracks EP

Old Crows/Young Cardinals Bonus Tracks EP
EP by
ReleasedJuly 14, 2009
LabelDine Alone
ProducerJulius Butty

Old Crows/Young Cardinals Bonus Tracks EP is an extended play available separately from Old Crows/Young Cardinals. The EP was released on July 14, 2009 through Dine Alone Records.[35] The release contains two tracks written and recorded during the Old Crows/Young Cardinals, but were not released on the standard edition of the album.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Two Sisters"1:27
2."Wayfarer Youth"3:40

Personnel

Alexisonfire

Production

  • Produced by Julius Butty and Alexisonfire
  • Engineered by Nick Blagona
  • Assistant engineering by Rob Stefenson (Vancouver, BC) and Marco Brasette (Hamilton, ON)
  • Mixed by Julius Butty at Metalworks Studios
  • Assistant mixing by Dave MacFarquhar
  • Pre-production by Nicholas Osczypko
  • Mastered by Brett Zilahi at Joao Carvalho Mastering

Art

  • Art direction by Alexisonfire
  • Paintings, collage and design by Paul Jackson
  • Layout by Paul Jackson; assisted by Justin Ellsworth
  • Typed by Tricia Ricciuto; assisted by Scott Rémila

Chart performance

Chart (2009) Chart peak
Canada 1[36]
Australia 17[37]
UK 70[38]
US Billboard 200 81[39]
US Top Independent Albums 9[39]

References

  1. "Single Leaked, Album Out June 23rd". 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  2. Sheppard, Justin (2009-04-01). "ALEXISONFIRE gets ready to unleash OLD CROWS/YOUNG CARDINALS!". Dine Alone Records official website. Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  3. "New Single from Upcoming Alexisonfire Album". Noise Press. Retrieved on 2009-04-22
  4. "Reviews and Tracks for Old Crows/Young Cardinals by Alexisonfire". Metacritic. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  5. "Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.
  6. "Old Crows / Young Cardinals - Alexisonfire". Allmusic.
  7. Kramm, Troy (June 1, 2009). "Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals". Melodic. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  8. "Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinals". Punknews.org.
  9. "Alexisonfire - Old Crows / Young Cardinal (staff review)". Sputnikmusic.
  10. "Old Crows/Young Cardinals". Toro Magazine.
  11. "Old Crows / Young Cardinals Review". Ultimate Guitar.
  12. "Alexisonfire Amend New Album Title". Rock Sound. 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  13. Bezer, Terry (2009-01-02). "Alexisonfire Name New Album". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 2009-04-14. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  14. Alexisonfire Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com
  15. "Big raffle for the Eastpak Antidote Tour with Anti-Flag". Ox-Fanzine (in German). September 10, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  16. "Alexisonfire to begin recording new album in 2009". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. December 18, 2008. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  17. "2009 Album Preview: Alexisonfire - Young Cardinals". Thrash Hits. 2009-01-09. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  18. Harper, Kate (2009-03-06). "Alexisonfire Bassist Solo Project Coming?". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  19. Harper, Kate (2009-02-23). "Alexisonfire Launch Studio Blog". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  20. "New Alexisonfire In 2009". Metal Hammer. 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  21. Harper, Kate (2009-04-01). "Alexisonfire Album: Old Crows/Young Cardinals". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  22. Harper, Kate (2009-03-17). "Alexisonfire Finishing Young Cardinals". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  23. Harper, Kate (2009-02-07). "Alexisonfire Avoid Narc Sting". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  24. Harper, Kate (2009-03-02). "Alexisonfire's Young Cardinals Release Inches Closer". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on 2009-06-25. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  25. "Jordan Hastings update". Twitter. 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  26. "João Carvalho Mastering update". Twitter. 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  27. "Alexisonfire premiere "Young Cardinals" video online". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. May 20, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  28. Paul, Aubin (March 26, 2009). "Warped Tour 2009". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  29. Dan (October 13, 2009). "My Chem, You Me At Six, Paramore, and Gallows for Soundwave". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  30. "Old Crows / Young Cardinals - buy VINYL NOW!". Retrieved 2010-03-06.
  31. "Denis Diderot Author Page". Retrieved 2010-03-05.
  32. "Twitter / Dale Speaking Ltd.: Just heard the Alexisonfir". Twitter.com. 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  33. "Twitter / Dale Speaking Ltd.: AOF single is called "Youn". Twitter.com. 2009-04-20. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  34. "OLD CROWS / YOUNG CARDINALS | Music , Music Genres, Alternative : JB HI-FI". Jbhifionline.com.au. 2009-06-19. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
  35. Old Crows / Young Cardinals Bonus Tracks (EP). Dine Alone Records website. Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
  36. "Ultimate Guitar". UltimateGuitar.com. Retrieved on July 9, 2009.
  37. "Australian Albums Charts". australian-charts.com. Retrieved on July 2, 2009.
  38. "CHART LOG UK: NEW ENTRIES UPDATE (2009) Week 26". Zobbel. Retrieved on July 2, 2009.
  39. "Artist Chart History - Alexisonfire - Albums". Billboard. Retrieved on July 2, 2009.
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