Under Soil and Dirt is the debut studio album by American pop punk band The Story So Far. Prior to the album's release several songs were made available for streaming.

Under Soil and Dirt
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 21, 2011 (2011-06-21)
RecordedSpring 2011
StudioThe Panda Studios
GenrePop punk[1][2]
Length32:12
LabelPure Noise
ProducerSam Pura
The Story So Far chronology
The Story So Far / Morgan Foster Split
(2011)
Under Soil and Dirt
(2011)
What You Don't See
(2013)

Background

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The Story So Far formed in Walnut Creek, California in 2007.[3] The band consisted of Parker Cannon on vocals, Kevin Geyer and Kevin Ambrose on guitar, Ryan Torf on drums, and Kelen Capener on bass.[3] Ambrose parted ways with the band[3] when he went to college and was replaced by William Levy.[4] On April 1, 2010, it was announced that the band had signed to Pure Noise Records.[5] The band supported This Time Next Year in November.[6] The band went on tour with The American Scene in January 2011.[7]

Composition and recording

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Throughout the writing and recording process the band listened to Transit's Keep This to Yourself (2010).[8] All of the band members "loved [Keep This to Yourself] and thought it was next level", according to Capener.[8] The band thought that the "14 awesome, solid" songs were "fucking badass" that they "want[ed] to do", according to Levy.[8] Levy and Geyer would listen to Elliott Smith, The Weakerthans, Wilco, Mother of Mercy, and Black Breath while driving.[8] Levy described Under Soil and Dirt as "Pop-Punk, with lyrics about Girls and growing up; grooviness, lot of energy."[8] Capener said the album isn't "really in your face, but at the same time, it is. It's an honest record, it packs a punch".[8] Levy found it difficult to write material since Capener lived an hour away and Cannon living six hours away.[8] At the time, Capener had a job and was in college.[8]

The members shared what they had written with each other online.[8] One weekend the band did pre-production where they "basically had the framework of each song ready to go" when they were set to go into the studio.[8] The album was recorded at The Panda Studios,[9] in spring 2011,[10] with Sam Pura producing.[9] The band considers Pura a sixth member of the band.[8] If Pura disliked a section of a song the band would listen to Pura.[8] "Mt. Diablo" was re-recorded,[2] the original version can be found a split with Maker.[11] Cannon revealed that the album was recorded while the members were high.[4] Cannon reasoned that this method "makes us look at ourselves from an outside perspective and not be assholes."[4] Cannon did not "record one vocal sober".[4]

Release

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In April 2011 The Story So Far revealed the album's title, Under Soil and Dirt.[12] A month later, the track listing and cover art was revealed.[13] The artwork was illustrated by Cody Sullivan, who also provided the layout.[9] On May 24, "Quicksand" was made available for streaming.[14] On June 6, "High Regard" was made available for streaming.[15] On June 14, "Placeholder" was made available for streaming.[16] On June 17, the album was made available for streaming.[17] Under Soil and Dirt was released on June 21 through Pure Noise.[13][nb 1] The band supported We Are the Union and I Call Fives in July.[19] On July 14,[20] the band released a music video for "Quicksand".[21] The video was directed by James Liberato.[22] The band played a record release show on July 18 at The Red House in Walnut Creek.[23] The band toured alongside Heartsounds and Handguns in August.[24] The band supported Senses Fail in November.[25]

The Story So Far went on a short tour in early December with support from This Time Next Year and Daybreaker.[26] The band supported Set Your Goals on a short holiday tour in mid-December.[27] In January and February 2012, the band toured the UK alongside Man Overboard and Save Your Breath.[28] From late February to early March, the band went on the Pure Noise Records Tour alongside Handguns, I Call Fives, Daybreaker, The American Scene and Forever Came Calling.[29] On March 18,[30] a music video was released for "Roam".[31] The video was filmed around the South Bank in London.[32] In March and April, the band supported The Wonder Years on the Glamour Kills Spring 2012 tour.[33] To promote the tour, a compilation album was released that featured the bands covering one of the other bands' songs. The Story So Far's contribution was a cover of the A Loss for Words track "Wrightsville Beach".[34] The band played some headlining shows in July with Seahaven, Stickup Kid, Troubled Coast and Stateside as support acts.[35] On October 8, the album was released in the UK.[36] In early November, the band supported New Found Glory on the Road to Warped Tour in the UK.[37] From late November to mid-December, the band supported New Found Glory on the 10th anniversary tour for their Sticks and Stones album.[38]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk8.1/10[1]
Alternative Press     [39]
Alter the Press!5/5[2]

Capener said the album was "received really well".[8] The album was included at number 26 on Rock Sound's "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.[40]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by The Story So Far.[9]

Under Soil and Dirt track listing
No.TitleLength
1."States and Minds"0:51
2."Roam"2:54
3."Quicksand"2:38
4."Swords and Pens"3:09
5."High Regard"3:51
6."Daughters"3:06
7."Mt. Diablo"4:09
8."Four Years"2:44
9."Rally Cap"2:18
10."Placeholder"3:05
11."Closure"3:19
Total length:32:12
Japanese bonus tracks (Ice Grill$ Records)[41]
No.TitleLength
12."680 South" 
13."May" 
14."Unlisted track" (Jawbreaker cover) 

Personnel

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Personnel per back panel.[9]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[42] 35

References

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Footnotes
  1. ^ U.S. Pure Noise PNE112[18]
Citations
  1. ^ a b Nassiff, Thomas. "The Story So Far – Under Soil And Dirt – Album Review". absolutepunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  2. ^ a b c "Album Review: The Story So Far". alterthepress.com. July 28, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Thomas, Fred. "The Story So Far – Biography – AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Interviews: The Story So Far". punknews.org. March 5, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 1, 2010). "Pure Noise signs The Story So Far". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "This Time Next Year West Coast Dates". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  7. ^ "The Story So Far/The American Scene Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Story So Far, The - 03.25.12 - Interview - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  9. ^ a b c d e Under Soil and Dirt (Back panel). The Story So Far. Pure Noise. 2011. PNE112/PNE 112.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ "The Interview So Far". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  11. ^ The Story So Far / Maker (Sleeve). The Story So Far / Maker. Pure Noise. 2010. PNE108.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "The Story So Far Reveals Album Title". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  13. ^ a b Nassiff, Thomas (May 3, 2011). "The Story So Far In June". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  14. ^ "New The Story So Far Song". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  15. ^ "High Regards For The Story So Far". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  16. ^ "New The Story So Far Song". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  17. ^ "The Story So Far Album Stream". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Under Soil and Dirt – The Story So Far – Release Information, Reviews and Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  19. ^ DiVincenzo, Alex (May 13, 2011). "We Are The Union and I Call Fives Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  20. ^ "The Story So Far Music Video". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  21. ^ "The Story So Far post video for "Quicksand"". Alternative Press. July 19, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  22. ^ The Story So Far – "Quicksand" Official Music Video. YouTube. July 13, 2011. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  23. ^ "The Story So Far Video". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  24. ^ Nassiff, Thomas (July 8, 2011). "Heartsounds Tour Dates". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  25. ^ Bird, Michele (September 7, 2011). "Senses Fail announce fall tour with Stick To Your Guns, Make Do And Mend, and the Story So Far". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "The Story So Far, This Time Next Year, Daybreaker to tour". Alternative Press. November 8, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  27. ^ "Set Your Goals announce holiday shows with the Story So Far, This Time Next Year, the Sheds". Alternative Press. November 23, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  28. ^ Kraus, Brian (January 11, 2012). "Man Overboard announce dates with Handguns, Seahaven, Daytrader, Candy Hearts". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  29. ^ DiVincenzo, Alex (January 25, 2012). "The Story So Far, Handguns, I Call Fives Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  30. ^ "The Story So Far release "Roam" video". Alternative Press. March 18, 2012. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  31. ^ "The Story So Far – Roam". Rock Sound Magazine. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  32. ^ "The Story So Far – Roam". bigcheesemagazine.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  33. ^ "Polar Bear Club, Transit and more confirmed for 2012 Glamour Kills tour". Alternative Press. January 12, 2012. Archived from the original on January 3, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  34. ^ Yancey, Bryne (January 17, 2012). "The Wonder Years, Transit, Polar Bear Club on Glamour Kills covers compilation". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  35. ^ "The Story So Far West Coast Dates". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 22, 2015.[dead link]
  36. ^ "In The Studio With The Story So Far". Rock Sound Magazine. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  37. ^ Yancey, Bryne (May 8, 2012). "New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, the Story So Far, Man Overboard at Road To Warped Tour UK". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  38. ^ "New Found Glory announce 'Sticks And Stones' tour; The Story So Far and Seahaven to support". Alternative Press. September 4, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  39. ^ Pearlman, Mischa (June 16, 2011). "The Story So Far – Under Soil And Dirt". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  40. ^ Bird, ed. 2014, p. 71
  41. ^ "Ice Grill$ Official". Icegrills.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  42. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
Sources
  • Bird, Ryan, ed. (September 2014). "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time". Rock Sound (191). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
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