Inspired by the sonic grandeur of classic albums like U2s The Joshua Tree, Peter Gabriel s So and Joni Mitchell s Blue as well as all things Bowie and Eno, Levine quietly honed his love of song and melody while most of his peers reveled in the sounds of local acts like Linkin Park and Incubus.
Musical salvation came when Levine met magnetic drummer Sal Cortez through an ex- girlfriend. The two hit it off immediately and began the long process of finding kindred spirits to join them. After many months of searching they finally found guitarist RC, a former guitarist of local thrashy hardcore band R.O.H. Then came keyboardist Andrew Ampaya, a classically trained piano virtuoso whose influences meshed with their own. With innovative and like-minded bassist Agustin Sanchez joining shortly thereafter, the first and final line up of Test Your Reflex was cemented.
Heres where things start moving fast. After being together for just several months, the word of their talent spread very quickly with one industry enthusiast even wanting to sign them to a management deal based on his immediate belief in their talent. The only catch was that since Cortez was seventeen, the group had to wait until he was legal to sign the necessary paperwork. It was like needing a hall pass or permission slip to play music, he jokes. A fitting metaphor for someone just out of high school.
Within four months of forming, Test Your Reflex performed their first show at the only place in town that would allow them to play since they were all under 21 and one that would become, as Ampaya kids, their own CBGBs but without the booze and the vibe, --- the Thousand Oaks Teen Center. In the following months, friends, friends of friends, girlfriends and former chem lab partners came out to the Center and danced their asses off to the groups highly combustible songs.
The Center was the real birthplace of the band, adds Levine. A few of us had been rehearsing in the practice rooms there with other bands since we were 12, so when everyone starting come out to see us, it was like a homecoming the spark that really drove us.
After winning over even the most jaded of crowds in Hollywood and continually selling out and tearing the roof off of the Teen Center, Test Your Reflex headed to a boutique North Hollywood studio in January of 2006 to begin work on The Burning Hour. Intent on capturing the full spectrum of their electric sound, the group spent many months perfecting their craft and making sure every melody, hook and beat was just so. It was very important to us to write a complete and developed album, says Levine. We wanted the ballads to co-exist alongside songs that were more electronic and others that were full-on rock. We had so many songs already written that it was about choosing the ones that were most real to us and not over-thinking anything.
What resulted after all was said and done was a pure distillation of Test Your Reflex's frenetic energy and raw yet tuneful sensibilities into eleven tracks that are as diverse and unpretentious as they are catchy. From the dreamy opener Im Not Sorry to the anthemic I Am Alive, and the impossibly infectious first single Pieces of the Sun, The Burning Hour is a sublime synthesis of the accessible with the unexpected. All eleven tracks cleverly showcase the depth of this record on which every song will be someones favorite.
Its an album for anyone looking to escape from sadness, boredom or the everyday and step into a danceable, hum-able, heartfelt daydream. Its the pop life seen through new eyes.
New Year
Test Your Reflex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find some peace of mind
'Cause it's a lonely place when
All that we need we cannot find
Wait, wait, 'cause I don't wanna be lost
Wait, Wait, 'cause I don't wanna be lost
And I don't wanna be the one to drag you down
For a new day, for a new year
I'll be standing on my own
In a new place, with my hands out
Looking for the answers
It's such a sweet solution
To close our eyes and walk in line
And all our contributions
Just seem to fade away with time
Wait, wait, 'cause I don't wanna be lost
Wait, Wait, 'cause I don't wanna be lost
And I don't wanna be the one to drag you down
I can't stand here, waiting
With my hands out, for the ceiling
But I won't lie, I won't try
I can't walk such a straight line
And these bright lights, surround me
People are so friendly
But I won't lie, I won't try
I can't pretend that it's alright
Wait
For a new day, for a new year
I'll be standing on my own
In a new place, with my hands out
Looking for the answers
Write down your name (x4)
In Test Your Reflex's song "New Year," the lyrics describe the feeling of being lost and searching for something meaningful in life. The singer is running around in circles, trying to find some peace of mind, but it proves challenging as everything they need seems out of reach. They express a desire to wait for a new day, a new year, and find themselves standing on their own, looking for answers with their hands outstretched. The lyrics highlight the struggle of not wanting to be left behind or to drag others down. It's a powerful message about finding one's way in the world and the difficulties that come with it.
The song's overall message is relatable to many people who have gone through or are currently going through a challenging time. The lyrics describe a struggle to find meaning in life and the constant battle of overcoming obstacles that are standing in the way of personal growth. The part "wait for a new day, for a new year" could indicate that the singer is looking for change or a fresh start to overcome their problems. It could also be interpreted as them holding onto hope, that no matter how difficult things may seem at the moment, there's always a chance for a new beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm running 'round in circles
I am moving continuously in a circular path without any definite direction
Trying to find some peace of mind
I am searching for mental calmness and tranquillity amidst my chaotic thoughts
'Cause it's a lonely place when
This environment becomes isolated and desolate
All that we need we cannot find
Despite our efforts, we are not able to locate what we require
Wait, wait, 'cause I don't wanna be lost
Hold on, as I do not want to be directionless and clueless
And I don't wanna be the one to drag you down
I do not wish to become a burden or hindrance to someone else
For a new day, for a new year
Anticipating the beginning of a fresh and optimistic period
I'll be standing on my own
I will be standing independently and solely for myself
In a new place, with my hands out
At an unfamiliar location, with my hands outstretched
Looking for the answers
Seeking the solutions and explanations to my doubts
It's such a sweet solution
The easy way out seems attractive
To close our eyes and walk in line
Ignoring the reality and following a predetermined path
And all our contributions
The things we offer or give to society
Just seem to fade away with time
Gradually losing their significance as time passes
I can't stand here, waiting
I cannot endure idling, waiting for something to happen
With my hands out, for the ceiling
Raising my arms towards the sky or ceiling for something to grasp
But I won't lie, I won't try
I won't pretend or attempt to deceive anyone
I can't walk such a straight line
I am unable to follow a fixed and unchanging path
And these bright lights, surround me
Intense and glaring lights are present around me
People are so friendly
Others are amiable and sociable
I can't pretend that it's alright
I cannot feign that everything is acceptable or satisfactory
Write down your name (x4)
Repeating the phrase 'write down your name' four times, which may imply the importance of self-identity and individuality
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RYAN A LEVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beckie F
LOVE LOVE this song!!! Another great song from them!!
eileendover6969
yay! i love this song :-)
Walter Cerquin
good Song!!!!
TeensyDragon
Hey Paige! It's the devil from the Audition, remember? Please see this comment and reply damn it! Lol. I hope you are okay.