Returning to helm the project is producer Ian Eskelin (All Star United), who also shepherded Stellar Kart’s breakthrough sophomore album, We Can’t Stand Sitting Down. That CD yielded the No. 1 hit, “Me And Jesus,” which also earned the band its first Dove Award for Rock/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year. “Content, content, content,” Eskelin declares. “The music is awesome, the energy is off the charts, but what sets Stellar Kart head and shoulders above the vast majority of its contemporaries is content. These guys are not afraid to say what they believe, straight up, without trying to couch it in some namby-pamby metaphor.”
“We are all fans of different kinds of music, and a lot of times we find ourselves listening to songs that we love, but the message is just terrible,” frontman Agee explains. “We talk with kids after concerts and are always hearing from youth leaders about the issues facing teens today. We wanted to write songs that would address such topics and encourage kids to expect God to work in their daily lives. That is what we have been about from day one. That is what we are still about.”
When Adam, along with bandmates Cody Pellerin (guitar), Jordan Messer (drums), and Brian Calcara (bass) hit the studio, Eskelin’s frenetic energy ignited Stellar Kart’s powder keg of creativity. The result is an explosion of new music chock full of pop melodies, catchy choruses, and singable lyrics.
If it is true that first impressions are the most important, Stellar Kart goes for broke on its first radio single: the blazing, no-holds-barred confessional, “Jesus Loves You.” An impassioned song about conviction and redemption, it cuts through the comfortable shades of gray with an unabashed declaration that “Jesus Loves You,” whether you believe it or not.
“The reason I do what I do now is because of what I didn’t do when I was younger,” Adam explains of the song’s bold lyrics. “I grew up in church; my dad was a pastor. I accepted the Truth at an early age, but I was a kid just trying to get by. I didn’t really do anything with my faith until I got to college. That was when I started to realize there was more to life than just getting by.”
“The bottom line is, we are not doing this just to make music. We want people’s lives to be changed,” Brian interjects.
Stellar Kart proves it can thrive in a broad range of musical realms as Expect the Impossible sustains its momentum with tracks like the classic rock anthem, “Shine Like The Stars” and genre-defying, fist-pumping, “Eyes,” with its synth-laden 80’s groove and Beach Boys-esque, feel-good, summertime melody.
“‘I Give Up’ is hands down my favorite song on the album,” the band’s classically trained guitarist, Cody Pellerin adds. “It’s the kind of song that got me into playing music in the first place. It’s rock ‘n’ roll. It’s Judas Priest meets Van Halen meets Motley Crew. I got to just rip it up on the guitar, which is what I really love to do. I know some people may listen to it and think, ‘Wow, that doesn’t sound like Stellar Kart,’ But this is where we are musically. And I think it is a good progression for us and our fans.”
“Sonically, we wanted to shoot for a broader sound,” Eskelin says. “Stellar Kart has never been afraid to challenge the current trend, so we decided to incorporate some new elements. This album will please the band’s die-hard punk fans while offering something to straight-up pop and rock lovers as well. The goal is to meet listeners where they are, driving an emotional connection to the music.”
Stellar Kart puts an exclamation point on Eskelin’s statement with such diverse tunes as the tender-and-tough pop ballad, “Pray,” in which Adam encourages listeners to ‘Pray...Even if you think you are not good enough.’ The bouncy, infectious, “The Right One,” evokes strains of such pop/rock legends as The Beach Boys, The Cyrkle, and their more contemporary offspring like Weezer and Jimmy Eat World. The happy-go-lucky anthem “Sunshine” boldly asserts that Stellar Kart is as much a bona fide pop band and serious chart contender as it is a punk quartet.
Which is not to say the band has abandoned its punk roots. “Automatic” has enough head-nodding hooks and frantic drum kicks to satisfy punk purists. And frontman Adam Agee even manages a couple of authentic rawk screams on “Eyes” and “Innocent.”
But as satisfying as Stellar Kart’s expanding musical repertoire is, it’s the lyrical honesty coupled with the band’s personal growth that most radically informs Expect the Impossible. “We are a pop band,” Adam explains. “When we made our first record we were young, and it reflected who we were at the time. The next record reflected a natural progression. Expect the Impossible is the next step. It is casting a wider net. It gets more people involved.”
“I love seeing kids attach themselves to something bigger than just school or work or friends or the latest fad,” Brian adds.
EYES
Stellar Kart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all gone gray
I'm searching for sunshine
In pouring rain
All this world can offer
I'll leave behind
I've had enough of being blind
Open my eyes
I wanna see what you see
Beyond these beautiful lies
Open my eyes
To find what lasts forever
Look to the soul that's inside
Open my eyes
So focus my sight
To see right through
These walls that have kept me
From seeing truth
Forgive me for all my unbelief
And give me faith in things unseen
[Chorus]
Heal me from my blindness
Take away this darkness
Show me the light
[Chorus]
Open my eyes...
The song "Eyes" by Stellar Kart is a powerful plea to see beyond what this world has to offer and to find the lasting truth that lies within the soul. The opening verse sets the stage for the recurring theme of searching for light in the midst of darkness. The imagery of cloudy vision and pouring rain creates a sense of confusion and hopelessness, a feeling that many of us can relate to in our own lives. However, the chorus provides a glimmer of hope as the singer seeks to see what is beyond the "beautiful lies" that often cloud our perception of reality. The repetition of the phrase "Open my eyes" emphasizes the urgent desire to gain a new perspective and to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from seeing the truth.
The second verse shifts the focus to the need to break down the walls that keep us from seeing clearly. This could refer to personal obstacles such as doubt or fear, or societal barriers like prejudice and misinformation. The singer acknowledges their own struggles with unbelief but pleads for faith in things unseen. The bridge of the song brings a resolution to the plea as the singer asks to be healed from their blindness and shown the light.
Overall, "Eyes" is a call to look beyond the surface level and to search for deeper truth. It offers a message of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity and encourages listeners to have faith in what cannot be seen.
Line by Line Meaning
My vision is cloudy
I am unable to see things clearly
It's all gone gray
Everything around me appears dull and colorless
I'm searching for sunshine
I am seeking a ray of hope that would brighten up my life
In pouring rain
Even when there is trouble and chaos around me
All this world can offer
All the materialistic things that the world has to offer
I'll leave behind
I don't find any fulfillment in such things, and I am prepared to abandon them
I've had enough of being blind
I have realized that my ignorance has been a major obstacle to my growth
Open my eyes
I want to have a deeper understanding of the world around me
I wanna see what you see
I want to have the same perception as that of a higher power
Beyond these beautiful lies
I want to see beyond the superficial appearances and grasp the true nature of things
To find what lasts forever
I want to discover something that is eternal and unchanging
Look to the soul that's inside
I understand that the answers lie within me and not outside
So focus my sight
Help me to direct my gaze towards what is essential
To see right through
To penetrate the illusions and see through them
These walls that have kept me
The mental blocks that have hindered my spiritual growth
From seeing truth
From comprehending the essence of existence
Forgive me for all my unbelief
I confess that I have doubted the existence of a higher power, and now I seek absolution
And give me faith in things unseen
I want to believe in something that transcends the mortal realm
Heal me from my blindness
Free me from my ignorance and grant me wisdom
Take away this darkness
Allow me to see the light of truth and dispel all the obscurities
Show me the light
Illuminate my path and guide me towards the right direction
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: ADAM AGEE, IAN ESKELIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vania Trevizo
Ive been trying to find this band for years!!! i finally found my favorite songand you have no idea how happy i am :)
Morgan Lamm
Stellar Kart is amazing! Gonna see them in concert soon!!!! Thanks for the great video :)
BoxOf64Crayons
i love the high notes these guys hit
Kheven xD
i love this song
filiciaous
beautiful music
elinalovve
Great job;) But it is beyond these beautiful lies and not lights;) Or they didn't wrote it good at the album and their site, haha but i guess not;) stellar kart rocks!
hrdzi
best song!!
Laser Circus
still good
cat tomlinson
one person must be blind and have hearing problems cuz stellar kart is amazing
Rawk4Life
The opening 29 seconds remind me exactly of that song. Good thing Van Halen didn't sue for them for stealing one of their melodies huh? lol