On February 13, 2009, the band posted the a blog, entitled "There is hope for us...." on their Myspace page with a short message promising more from the band soon. "Thank you all for standing by our side.... We will post something with a little more detail soon. Promise. Love, The Jealous Sound."[3] Another blog post confirmed on June 24, 2009 that the band would accompany Sunny Day Real Estate on their 2009 reunion tour.
Since this time, the band's activity rocketed into the public space again, with the announcement of a new album. This was accompanied by a sporadically updated blog featuring updates on the recording sessions.[4] The band announced that they have been joined by friends Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters to play bass and Bob Penn of CoCo B's to play drums on the new album. Part of Mendell's involvement secured them a year of recording and writing in the Foo Fighter's personal studio.
In October 2011, singer Blair Shehan announced that the new album is to be called "A Gentle Reminder" and it will be released in January 2012. This was followed by an official announcement on the band's Facebook page.[5] In anticipation of the release, the band released a new song called "Your Eyes Were Shining" via Soundcloud.[6]
The band headed out on a short promotion tour in December 2011 and promised a full tour in 2012.
A Gentle Reminder was released on January 31st 2012; the album picks up where Kill Them With Kindness left off, not straying too far from the Midwest emo/indie sound that defined the band on their debut full-length but still refining it along the way.
Following a long period of inactivity, on March 29th 2017 singer Blair Shehan announced via their Facebook page that The Jealous Sound are finished, and that a new band called Racquet Club had been formed consisting of himself and drummer Bob Penn, along with Sergie Loobkoff of Samian/Knapsack and Ian Smith.
Guard It Closely
The Jealous Sound Lyrics
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It's for certain that they'll cross you off the list
And you can't go home and you won't stay here
Refusing to believe a single word they hear
Because after all when you break down
And your back's to the wall
You're a crisis with a backbeat
And said now and then
We miss you mostly
There's an empty chair here
We guard it closely
You're so far gone
You're so unable
It's been so long
When you set the table
Don't set a place for me tonight
So we head for the coastline
Let's leave tonight
For the summer and sunshine
And everything's gonna be alright
This place is a ghost town
And the coast is clear
In a place like this
A ghost like me might find a way to disappear
Because after all when you break down
And your back's to the wall
You're a crisis with a backbeat
A sofa and a loveseat
And said now and then
We miss you mostly
There's an empty chair here
We guard it closely
You're so far gone
You're so unable
It's been so long
Before you clear the table
Raise a glass for me
Did you raise a glass for me tonight
Here's to friends and family
Here's to feelings you can't fight
Here's to comfort that you find
Here's to sleeping through the night
I'll find my way
It's the best that I can say
And said now and then
We miss you mostly
There's an empty chair here
We guard it closely
You're so far gone
You're so unable
It's been so long
So to friends and family
Could you say a prayer for me tonight
The Jealous Sound's song Guard It Closely is a track that encapsulates the experience of being an outsider in a world of accepted norms. The song starts with the singer calling home for Christmas, only to find out that he's been crossed off his family's list. He's in a state of flux, refusing to go back home and simultaneously unable to stay where he currently is. The song speaks of the struggle of being an outcast, of not belonging, and of the human desire to find a place to call home.
The lines "after all when you break down and your back's to the wall, you're a crisis with a backbeat, a sofa and a loveseat" conveys how the singer is at a crossroads in his life, having reached the metaphorical wall. He's having an existential crisis, unsure of where to go or what to do. The words "crisis with a backbeat" and "sofa and a loveseat" suggest that music and comfort are what help him steer through this difficult phase.
The lines "There's an empty chair here, we guard it closely" reiterate the singer's feelings of exclusion and the absence of a place he can call home. The song's chorus asks for forgiveness while simultaneously suggesting that the singer has found his way, even if it might be a difficult one. In the end, the song asks for a prayer for the singer, hoping that he finds solace.
Line by Line Meaning
So you call home for Christmas
You reach out to your family during the holiday season
It's for certain that they'll cross you off the list
Your family will reject you
And you can't go home and you won't stay here
You can't return home and you won't stick around
Refusing to believe a single word they hear
You don't trust anything your family says
Because after all when you break down
In times of crisis
And your back's to the wall
When you feel trapped
You're a crisis with a backbeat
Your troubles come with a rhythm
A sofa and a loveseat
You're looking for comfort in everyday things
And said now and then
Occasionally
We miss you mostly
We mostly miss you
There's an empty chair here
We left a seat open for you
We guard it closely
We're protective of your place at the table
You're so far gone
You've drifted too far away
You're so unable
You're incapable of making it back
It's been so long
It's been an immense amount of time
When you set the table
When you come back home
Don't set a place for me tonight
Don't expect me to come back just yet
So we head for the coastline
We travel to the beach
Let's leave tonight
We should go right away
For the summer and sunshine
To enjoy warm weather
And everything's gonna be alright
It'll all work out in the end
This place is a ghost town
This area is deserted
And the coast is clear
No one is around
In a place like this
In this kind of environment
A ghost like me might find a way to disappear
Someone like me could easily vanish
Before you clear the table
Before everything is over
Raise a glass for me
Toast to my name
Did you raise a glass for me tonight
Did you toast to me this evening?
Here's to friends and family
Cheers to loved ones
Here's to feelings you can't fight
To emotions that can't be controlled
Here's to comfort that you find
To finding solace
Here's to sleeping through the night
To being able to rest well
I'll find my way
I'll figure it out
It's the best that I can say
That's all I can promise
So to friends and family
Thus, to my loved ones
Could you say a prayer for me tonight
Could you request divine help for me this evening?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colonel Bastian
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