By M&C News Aug 10, 2007, 1:30 GMT
Returning this week to the upper end of the Billboard Top 200 album sales chart with a first-week debut at No. 30, Virgin Records modern rockers The Starting Line confirm that their third album, ‘Direction,’ has successfully plotted the aggressive upward trajectory of the band, both creatively and commercially.
Founding TSL members singer/bassist Ken Vasoli, guitarists Matt Watts and Mike Golla, and drummer Tom Gryskiewicz have been joined by keyboardist and backing vocalist Brian Schmutz for the album, and for the band’s summer-long slot on the main stage of Vans Warped Tour, just winding up its final two weeks this month.
‘Direction’ is already being greeted as the band’s best so far. The Starting Line “…concoct an album that gives pop-music its soul back,” says AbsolutePunk. Adds Spin, “If ‘Need To Love’ doesn’t raise some goosebumps, consider defrosting your heart.” ‘Direction,’ Alternative Press sums up, is a collection of “flawless pop-punk songs that should appeal to anyone with a pulse.” “It was a huge leap in maturity and form for the band,” notes producer Howard Benson. “That’s what you look for in an artist.” On the album, Saosin vocalist Cove Reber duets with TSL lead singer Vasoli on “Something Left To Give.”
Armed with their strongest set list ever, TSL is in a continuous commune this year with the fans who have followed them loyally since the breakthrough of their first independent album in 2002. After closing the Warped tour, three weeks of TSL headlining dates will span the eastern half of the country, starting September 13th, and a major co-headlining fall tour is to be announced shortly.
The Starting Line played a MySpace secret show at Asbury Park’s legendary Stone Pony bar just prior to the album’s release; on the band’s MySpace.com page, three new songs and two TSL classics have generated over 6 million streams
‘Direction’ is the much-anticipated follow-up of The Starting Line’s 2005 Billboard Top 20 album, ‘Based on a True Story.’
The Starting Line headlining tour, Fall 2007 Sept 13 New Haven, CT Toad’s PlaceSept 16 Burlington, VT Higher Ground BallroomSept 17 Lancaster, PA Chameleon ClubSept 18 Richmond, VA Toad’s Place RichmondSept 21 Isle of Palms, SC Wind JammerSept 22 Columbia, SC Headliners LiveSept 23 Hilton Head, SC Monkey BusinessSept 24 Tallahassee, FL Floyds Music StoreSept 26 Birmingham, AL Workplay TheatreSept 27 Baton Rouge, LA Varsity TheatreSept 28 Cordova, TN Skate Park of MemphisSept 29 Louisville, KY Great Lawn @ Waterfront ParkSept 30 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amp./UMB BankOct 2 Toledo, OH Gatorz Bar & GrillOct 4 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock
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