The band has sold over five million albums worldwide, won four Juno Awards, and ten MuchMusic Video Awards. OLP has released eight studio albums to date, with "Clumsy" often being considered the most popularized of the set. The Heavyweight Songfacts reports that their eighth studio album Curve was recorded from 2010 through 2012 at vocalist Raine Maida's home recording studio. It was released on April 3, 2012.
Full circle: a theme that eagerly resonates with each member of multiplatinum survivors, Our Lady Peace. As the band approached the release of their seventh studio album, a feeling of renewal and excitement washed over Toronto’s favorite sons in a manner not felt since their earliest days.
Self-produced in lead singer Raine Maida’s Los Angeles home studio, the 10-track Burn Burn (in stores July 21 2009), marks the longest period between studio albums for Our Lady Peace. It also signifies a sonic and philosophical rebirth. The band now enjoys a creative and professional freedom that they haven’t experienced since the release of their now classic debut. “I think about the way we made Naveed,” Maida recalls. “We were just starting, we knew nothing about the business and we had no expectations. It was four guys in a room just trusting their instincts. We went back to that. ‘Liberating’ doesn’t really even sum it up.”
Burn Burn is a triumphant return to what Maida terms “a proper, mature rock album,” steeped in the kind of raw intensity that drove their early material. Blinding rays of anthemic light make way to the tender poise and precision of a band that was looking for a way out and found a satisfying new way in.
With caution thrown to the wind, tracks such as the stunningly arranged “Dreamland” and the overpowering first single, “All You Did Was Save My Life,” soar above angry clouds of confusion and insecurity with an ascending clarity that can only come from experience and growth.
The pounding affirmation of “The Right Stuff” and the vigilant build of band favorite “Refuge,” also reinforce the notion that OLP now occupy a unique and enviable mindspace. “We’re not looking back with any kind of regret,” Maida points out, “but we’ve been doing this long enough now that we know what we want to say. We didn’t want to compromise a thing.”
Having scattered in different directions after the release of 2005’s Healthy In Paranoid Times, all four members took on projects of their own, ranging from solo records, production and songwriting work, tours and guest performances. Over the last two years, Raine Maida, guitarist Steve Mazur, bassist Duncan Coutts and drummer Jeremy Taggart sporadically reconvened and lived at Madia’s home, creating what he calls their best effort to date.
Members would leave each session without tapes, giving themselves a much fresher perspective on the material they created when they returned. Producing themselves and an adherence to rolling tape off the floor gave birth to an urgent, natural body of work. “We didn’t put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” Coutts confirms. “We left things alone and haven't done that in a long time."
“For us,” adds Maida, “a big part of this band is playing live. It has to be something that we’re going to enjoy; a real dynamic collection of songs. When we really started to understand that, the record took on this whole other life.”
This work ethic allowed room for guitarist Steve Mazur, who joined the band in 2002, to blossom on Burn Burn. “On this album I really felt comfortable with my role and what I sound like as the guitarist of Our Lady Peace.” Mazur shines on tracks such as “Escape Artist” and “Paper Moon,” a song where Mazur’s solowork was nailed on the first go-round.
Our Lady Peace is also striking out on their own professionally this time around, opting for what the band terms a “true partnership” with both North American record labels. “We’ve never been this prepared for an album,” adds OLP founding member Jeremy Taggart. “In the past, we’ve never had the foresight to have maybe two or three singles in the can already with videos, etc.”
“Nobody knows us better than ourselves,” Taggart continues. “We didn’t over think a good song or idea or under think anything. The good songs really picked themselves.”
Are You Sad?
Our Lady Peace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been dried up
Angels that can't keep guard
I'm trying to reach your hand
But I'm on fire
I never planned to fade away
Stay with me
When they say that your nothing
Are you sad, are you holding yourself
You shouldn't be
Are you sad, are you locked in your room
You shouldn't be
I'm drowning inside your head
Help me to answer
Help understand
But its been so long
Since we talked like friends
Please forgive me
I'm just a man
Whose made
Mistakes.
The lyrics to Our Lady Peace's song "Are You Sad?" convey a message of concern and support for someone who is struggling with their life. The opening lines suggest that this person's life has been filled with hardship and disappointment, and that even their supposed protectors - the angels - have failed to keep them safe. The singer then reaches out to this person, expressing a desire to help them endure their pain and stay connected despite the burning emotions that threaten to overwhelm them. The chorus brings a message of hope and encouragement, insisting that the person's sadness and isolation are not justified, and that they should not be withdrawing from the world around them.
The second verse deepens the singer's plea for understanding and connection, acknowledging that the two of them have grown distant despite their past friendship. The singer takes responsibility for this distance, apologizing for their mistakes and expressing their desire to be forgiven and accepted. Overall, "Are You Sad?" is a song that speaks to the universal experience of pain and struggle, while offering a message of hope and solidarity to those in need.
Line by Line Meaning
Your life has seemed so hard
Your life has been difficult and challenging for a while now.
It's been dried up
It feels like all the joy and happiness has been sucked out of you.
Angels that can't keep guard
The things or people you used to rely on for happiness and security have failed you.
I'm trying to reach your hand
I want to help you and be there for you.
But I'm on fire
I am burning with my own problems and struggles, but still willing to help you.
I never planned to fade away
I don't want to disappear from your life or let our friendship deteriorate.
Stay with me
Please don't give up on our friendship or on life. Stay strong and hold on.
Stop pretending
Don't pretend that everything is okay if it's not. Be honest with yourself and others.
When they say that your nothing
When people belittle or undermine you, it's not true.
Are you sad, are you holding yourself
Are you feeling depressed and isolating yourself from others?
You shouldn't be
You deserve to be happy and have support from others.
Are you sad, are you locked in your room
Are you staying in your room all day and avoiding social interaction?
You shouldn't be
You should try to get out of your room and be around people who care about you.
I'm drowning inside your head
I'm trying to understand what you're going through even though it's difficult for me too.
Help me to answer
Please help me understand what's going on and how I can support you better.
Help understand
I want to understand your struggles and be there for you in any way I can.
But its been so long
It's been a while since we really talked and connected with each other.
Since we talked like friends
It's been a while since we had a meaningful conversation like friends do.
Please forgive me
I'm sorry if I haven't been there for you as much as I could have been.
I'm just a man
I'm not perfect and I have my own struggles too.
Whose made
Who has made
Mistakes.
I've made mistakes, but I still want to be there for you and support you through your struggles.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL MAIDA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adonis Verge
Just lost my grandma. And it hurts unlike anything I've ever felt. This song, is my song for when I need to cry on a rainy day and hold myself under the covers
Positively Me
Omg I love the name, “Spiritual Machines” I believe we will make it through these difficult times! Love is so powerful and as humans we all experience the challenge of dealing with feelings. I struggled with feeling sad for way too long and finally took my power back and realized that happiness is a choice! I was a prisoner of my own mind and I let other people’s opinions and judgements determine my life journey for way too long before finally realizing that I am the only one who gets to live my life... stay strong. You are all very special 💕
Justus young
So right this song makes me cry I love this group all the way from the first cd They have good songs
mmjahink
You should hear their live version, it's actually even better!
Positively Me
@mmjahink I will check it out!! Thanks for the recommendation 👍👍
Marie Ward
Such a good comment love this
Positively Me
@Marie Ward thank you 😊 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
scatman64
This band is so underrated
Charley Edwards
this album brought me through the darkest years of my life. and the conversation with the AI opened my eyes to the fantastic and whats truly possible
black spring
Fuck AI