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Limitless (Tonight Alive album)

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Limitless
Studio album by
Tonight Alive
Released4 March 2016 (2016-03-04)
RecordedMarch–July 2015
Genre
Length38:20
Label
ProducerDavid Bendeth
Tonight Alive chronology
The Other Side
(2013) 		Limitless
(2016) 		Underworld
(2018)
Singles from Limitless
  1. "Human Interaction"
    Released: 30 October 2015
  2. "To Be Free"
    Released: 21 November 2015
  3. "Drive"
    Released: 11 December 2015
  4. "How Does It Feel?"
    Released: 10 January 2016

Limitless is the third studio album from Australian rock band Tonight Alive, released on 4 March 2016 through Sony Music Australia in Oceania and Japan, Fearless Records in North America and Easy Life Records in Europe.

Background

[edit]

Production on the album began in March 2015 with producer David Bendeth.[1] In April and May, the group supported All Time Low on their headlining US tour.[2] On 3 July it was announced that they had finished recording, and that the album was expected for release later in the year.[3]

Musical style

[edit]

According to professional music reviews, Limitless is a departure from Tonight's Alive's previous pop punk sound,[4][5][6] being described as pop rock by Blunt Magazine[7] and Beat.com.au,[8] as well as alternative rock by Pure Grain Audio.[9]

Release

[edit]

In late October, the group teased something that would be coming at the end of the month.[10] On 29 October Limitless was announced for release in March 2016. In addition, a music video was released for "Human Interaction".[11] On 11 December "Drive" was made available for streaming.[12] On 11 January "How Does It Feel?" was made available for streaming.[13] On 27 January a music video was released for "Drive".[14]

In February, the group went on a European tour, followed by a UK tour with support from Our Last Night and Milk Teeth.[15] Limitless was released on 4 March through Fearless Records.[11] Following this, the group embarked on a co-headlining US tour with Set It Off, dubbed The Fight for Something Tour. They were supported by The Ready Set and SayWeCanFly.[16] During the tour, the band performed at Self Help Fest.[17] The band played two shows in Japan in April.[15] In November and December, the group supported Sleeping with Sirens in the US,[18] before supporting A Day to Remember in Australia.[19]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
DIY[21]
MOSH (Hit the Floor Magazine)6/10[6]
Rock Sound6/10[22]
Rolling Stone Australia[5]
Upset Magazine[23]

The album has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The band's maturing sound and Jenna McDougall's lyrics have been cited as the record's high points. In a very positive review, Jade Falconer for Musicology wrote, "With their last album being so dark, the more upbeat sound of Limitless could prove to show some positivity in the Tonight Alive camp. The growth and variety of sound they have shown on this album is a clear sign this band has so much more to give and their journey is truly just beginning."

Stephen Ackroyd also gave a more positive review of the album, saying "In breaking their mold - and that of everyone around them - Tonight Alive are being braver than their peers. While they could have moved with the pack and picked up the casual plaudits that come to any band growing their fanbase record by record, they've done what any artist should; been true to themselves."

In contrast, in a very critical review for Clash, Lisa Henderson called the album "an overly ambitious re-invention". Of the lyrics, she judged that the combination of McDougall's sorrowful lyrics and the erratic melodies results in a "distasteful musical theatre sound" and that "the blunder is only worsened by her bizarrely melodramatic vocals".[24]

In a mixed review for DIY, Sarah Jamieson wrote, "When it comes to their latest musical offering, Tonight Alive are being fairly upfront with its sentiments." She also felt that while at times the band's ambitions pay off (in tracks "How Does It Feel?" and "Everywhere"), the album "at times feels a little overwrought, a little too cheesy, with some of Jenna McDougall's lyrics sounding less comfortable than you might expect." She concluded her review with "There's no doubting that Tonight Alive are being brave with their attempts on this new record, but they haven't quite hit the perfect balance between their past and future."

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."To Be Free"
  • Jenna McDougall
  • Whakaio Taahi
3:27
2."Oxygen"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
3:33
3."Human Interaction"
3:36
4."Drive"
3:16
5."How Does It Feel?"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Hodges
  • Cameron Walker
3:29
6."Waves"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Bendeth
  • Scott Christopher Stevens
3:38
7."Everywhere"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Bob Marlette
3:05
8."Power of One"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Hodges
  • Ben Moody
  • Steve Solomon
2:59
9."I Defy"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Hodges
  • Solomon
3:34
10."We Are"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
3:59
11."The Greatest"
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
3:51
Japanese bonus tracks[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Drive" (acoustic)
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
  • Egizii
  • Musumeci
3:09
13."Oxygen" (acoustic)
  • McDougall
  • Taahi
3:39

Personnel

[edit]
Tonight Alive
Additional musicians
  • David Hodges – piano on "Human Interaction" and "How Does It Feel?"
  • Douglas Allen – keyboards, programming, effects, string arrangements
  • Steve Solomon – keyboards, programming
  • Brian Robbins – programming
  • Greg Johnson – effects
  • Koby Nelson – background vocals
Production
  • David Bendeth – production, mixing, arranger
  • Tonight Alive – arrangements
  • Jenna McDougall – art direction
  • Mitch Milan – digital editing, engineer, guitar technician
  • Koby Nelson – digital editing, engineer
  • Brian Robbins – digital editing, engineer, mixing engineer, spiritual advisor
  • Steve Sarkissian – drum technician
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Thomas Russell – cover art
  • Mitch Storck – artwork, layout
  • Jordan Knight – photography
  • Matty Vogel – photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 37
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[28] 12
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[29] 20
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[30] 23

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sharp, Tyler (4 March 2015). "Tonight Alive to begin recording new album later this month". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  2. ^ Sharp, Tyler (13 January 2015). "Issues, Tonight Alive, State Champs to open All Time Low's spring headlining tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. ^ Sharp, Tyler (3 July 2015). "Tonight Alive finish recording new album". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b Timothy Monger. "Limitless". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Tonight Alive - Limitless". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Tonight Alive - Limitless Album Review". Hit the Floor. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Review: Tonight Alive – Limitless". Blunt Mag – Alternative Music News, Reviews, and Interviews. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Tonight Alive : Limitless". Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  9. ^ Graham Finney. "Tonight Alive - "Limitless" [Album Review] «  Reviews « PureGrainAudio.com". Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  10. ^ Sharp, Tyler (28 October 2015). "Tonight Alive teasing SOMETHING with incredibly spooky video". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  11. ^ a b Sharp, Tyler (29 October 2015). "Tonight Alive announce new album with "Human Interaction"—listen". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  12. ^ Chatterjee, Kika (11 December 2015). "Listen to Tonight Alive's new single "Drive"". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  13. ^ Sharp, Tyler (11 January 2016). "Tonight Alive drop new single, "How Does it Feel?"". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  14. ^ Ryken, Atreyue (27 January 2016). "Tonight Alive release "Drive" music video". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  15. ^ a b Ralph, Caitlyn (15 February 2016). "Tonight Alive cancel show due to frontwoman Jenna McDougall's health". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  16. ^ Sharp, Tyler (29 October 2015). "Set It Off joining Tonight Alive on co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  17. ^ Force, Sarah (15 March 2016). "A Day To Remember, August Burns Red, Tonight Alive, more stoked for Self Help Fest". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  18. ^ Sharp, Tyler (15 August 2016). "Sleeping With Sirens announce tour with State Champs, Tonight Alive, Waterparks". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  19. ^ Dickman, Maggie (1 September 2016). "Neck Deep, Tonight Alive, Moose Blood added to A Day To Remember world tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Limitless Reviews". Metacritic. (CBS Interactive). Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Album Review: Tonight Alive - Limitless". DIY Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  22. ^ "Tonight Alive - 'Limitless'". Rock Sound Magazine. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Tonight Alive - Limitless". Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  24. ^ Henderson, Lisa (3 March 2016). "Tonight Alive – Limitless". Clash. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Limitless". iTunes. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  26. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tonight Alive – Limitless". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  27. ^ "Tonight Alive | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  28. ^ "Tonight Alive Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  29. ^ "Tonight Alive Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  30. ^ "Tonight Alive Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
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