More than clever verses and catchy choruses, truly timeless albums offer listeners the keys to another world; they catapult you into another frame of mind and jostle your soul a little bit along the way. Broken Side of Time, Alberta Cross’ ATO Records debut, is one of those albums.
A cathartic, kaleidoscope of influences, from Depeche Mode to The Band, it’s also the sound of Alberta Cross’ two principals—frontman/guitarist-vocalist Petter Ericson Stakee and bassist Terry Wolfers—going for broke and stumbling across the sound of their dreams in the process.
Broken Side of Time took root in an April 2008 jam session, Stakee and Wolfers’ first with three players they would quickly enlist—guitarist Sam Kearney, drummer Austin Beede and keyboardist Alec Higgins. With the aid of a little drink and a little smoke, the five jammed on a group of Stakee’s then-new songs, giving birth to Alberta Cross’ second incarnation almost immediately: “I remember thinking that night, ‘This is gonna be insane,’” remembers Stakee.
It was a time of upheaval for Stakee and Wolfers, ex-pat Brits living in Brooklyn. They had moved to a new, tough city, lost the major-label record deal they had moved there with, and were in the midst of reinventing both their band and their sound, while sleeping on friends’ couches. Their well-received debut EP, 2007’s The Thief & the Heartbreaker, was a modest, folk-minded, acoustic-based disc that garnered glowing reviews. But, for Stakee and Wolfers, it was a baby step.
Broken Side of Time, meanwhile, is a giant stride ahead, one that marks the band’s official introduction to America. Grand in volume and vast in vision, it’s an inspired set of electric songs that finds the intersection of The Verve, My Morning Jacket and Neil Young (with or without Crazy Horse). Recorded in Austin, produced by the band with Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Dead Confederate, Heartless Bastards) and mixed by John O’Mahoney (Depeche Mode, Coldplay, Kasabian) at Electric Lady Studios, the album melds propulsive, throbbing bass lines and crashing waves of guitar to a haunting, impassioned voice that can sound ancient and Appalachian.
Something of an about-face from The Thief & the Heartbreaker, the album, says Stakee, bears the influence of years of frustration logged in the shadow of Manhattan: “It’s kind of a desperation album, a darker album; it’s definitely angrier. We’ve been in a crazy place during the whole album, and you can hear that.” Appropriately, Stakee was listening to Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, and the grimmer, gospel songs of Depeche Mode while writing the songs of Broken Side of Time. On songs like “Rise From the Shadows” and “Ghost of City Life” he speaks directly of their situation and surroundings.
Despite any struggles, Wolfers and Stakee in many ways have had a charmed career thus far. Born in Sweden—where he spent a childhood on tour and in studios with his musician father before moving to London in his late teens—Stakee and Wolfers—a Brit charmed by everyone from Prince and My Bloody Valentine to Metallica and Ride as a teen—were playing in a guitar-rock band in London’s east end some four years ago, when Stakee brought some new songs and ideas to the band. When all were roundly rejected, Wolfers invited his bandmate to record those humble, acoustic songs on the makeshift equipment in his apartment.
“Right then and there I instantly realized that he was an extremely talented fellow,” Wolfers says. “That’s when I realized I had found someone who I could create some really great music with—after just jamming on a few things.” Those demos would become The Thief & The Heartbreaker—featuring Petter’s brother, John Alexander Ericson, on keyboards—released via Fiction in the U.K. and re-released by popular demand on the bands new U.K. label, Ark Recordings.
Bored with the scene in London and in need of a burst of energy, Stakee and Wolfers moved to New York, where they immediately created a buzz, playing spellbinding acoustic shows at venues like The Living Room, en route to capturing a new deal with ATO Records. Seeking to create more of a band vibe—“and we wanted it to be a family,” says Wolfers—they added Beede, Higgins and Kearney and a louder, grittier sound was born. “We had a show at The Mercury Lounge [in New York] like two days after that first jam,” says Wolfers, “and, without really any real time to rehearse, I remember being onstage that night thinking, ‘This is the best I’ve heard the material.’”
Alberta Cross has toured extensively through the U.K., sharing the stage with Oasis, The Shins, Bat for Lashes and Simian Mobile Disco, among others. “If we weren’t playing for people every night, we would be going mad.” Stakee says. Adds Wolfers, “We do it, because we have to.”
“I remember going to see The Verve on the Storm in Heaven tour, and I stood right in front of [guitarist] Nick McCabe the whole night,” the bassist continues. “I remember walking out of that show feeling like I had just seen a group of people pour their heart and soul out, and I felt it. It changed my life. And that’s what we want to do: We want to give people something honest, and move them, make them feel.”
Echoes Stakee, “We’re trying to give people truly soulful music, which is hopefully inspirational. I want to ease their minds and give them a little break from reality.”
Life Without Warning
Alberta Cross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But keep on dreamin'
Time to live up
Start believing
Decide how do we want it
To live when i want it
You can try if you want to
Yeahhh
I said break outs
Find a heading
I said don't give up
You catch a feeling
And keep on dreaming
Find a meaning
To laugh when we want it
To live without warning
You can leave if you want to
Buy this love if you need it
You got lots of bittersweet
You could try if you want to
The life that we wanted
To live without warning
Yeahhh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo....
The life that we wanted
To live without warning
You can need if you want to
Buy this love if you need it
You got lots of bittersweet
You could fight if you want to
The life that we wanted
To live without warning
Yeahhh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo.... ahh
Ooh-hoo....
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
I keep on dreamin
The lyrics to Alberta Cross's song Life Without Warning speak to the idea of living life on your own terms and pursuing your dreams without hesitation or fear. The opening lines urge the listener to wake up and start believing in themselves, suggesting that it's time to stop merely dreaming about the life they want and start actively pursuing it. The lyrics go on to encourage taking action towards one's goals and finding meaning in life by laughing and pursuing one's passions.
The repetition of the phrase "live without warning" throughout the song emphasizes the idea of taking risks and living life to the fullest without holding back. The notion of buying love and needing it is presented, possibly cautioning against becoming too reliant on other people's approval and affection. The chorus encourages the listener to keep dreaming and finding meaning in life, even if it means fighting for it.
Overall, the song seems to be a call to action for the listener to embrace their passions and pursue their dreams, even in the face of uncertainty or opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey wake up
It's time to wake up and live life to the fullest.
But keep on dreamin'
But don't forget to keep dreaming and imagining what could be.
Time to live up
It's time to fulfill your potential and be the best version of yourself.
Start believing
Believe in yourself and your ability to achieve what you want.
Decide how do we want it
Make a conscious decision about the life you want to live.
To live when i want it
Live life on your own terms, without waiting for anyone else's approval.
You can try if you want to
You have the power to try and achieve anything you set your mind to.
Or lie if you need it
But if you feel the need to deceive yourself or others, it may be a sign that you're not truly living a fulfilling life.
I said break outs
I encourage you to break free from your comfort zone and go after what you really want.
Find a heading
Find a clear direction in life and stick to it.
I said don't give up
Don't give up on your dreams no matter how hard it may seem at times.
You catch a feeling
When you're doing what you love, you'll feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness.
And keep on dreaming
Continue dreaming and imagining what could be, even after you've achieved your goals.
Find a meaning
Find meaning and purpose in your life, something to strive towards and work for.
To laugh when we want it
To be able to laugh and enjoy life whenever you want to.
To live without warning
To live each day fully without any preconceived notions or restrictions.
You can leave if you want to
You have the freedom to leave behind anything that's holding you back from living the life you want.
Buy this love if you need it
If you feel like you need love or validation from outside sources, it might be a sign that you're not fully content with your own life.
You got lots of bittersweet
Life is often a mix of good and bad, and it's important to accept and appreciate both sides of that coin.
You could try if you want to
You have the power to try and achieve anything you set your mind to.
The life that we wanted
We have the ability to create and live the life that we truly desire.
I keep on dreamin
I will keep dreaming and imagining what could be, even as I work towards my goals.
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BoneDog1215
Such a good track. Great band.
Sim Barr Fidel
The most brilliant band. An attack on the head heart and soul.
billabong35
Guitar is powerful.
all8upchamp
this is the second band ive been introduced to by the David Letterman Show, in the last few weeks. so, contrary to what the adults in my life have told me my whole life television CAN be educational.