Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies
Encyclopedia
Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies is a 2005 multi-artist collaborative album by Neverending White Lights
. Conceived by Daniel Victor
, it features lead vocal performances by members of different bands, including several well known Canadian acts, such as Our Lady Peace
, Finger Eleven
, Alexisonfire
, The Watchmen
, Creeper Lagoon
, and Age of Electric
.
Sonically, the album mixes diverse ambient textures and symphonics with drum loops and melancholic vocal melodies creating a style of ambient indie-pop/rock much different and more experimental than other acts in the same class. It was Victor's debut album as a writer, producer and performer. The album as a whole took 4 years to realize from start to finish and proved very trying to complete.
The first single off the album, "The Grace
", features Dallas Green
, and was originally entitled "Grace of a Happy Death". The single was a big hit in Canada (hitting # 1 on the video charts and # 3 on the radio charts) and brought the project into the mainstream almost over night. Two more singles were released afterward ("Angels & Saints" and "Age of Consent"). A series of connecting videos were coincided with the singles (known as the NWL video trilogy) where Victor played a dream-like Victorian character searching for an angel love interest (played by Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner
).
Tracks that were to appear on Act I include another track sung by Daniel Victor entitled "Head Down", "Throwing Chairs" featuring Jonathan Foreman
of Switchfoot
, "John Dies at 56" featuring Mogwai
, "Shipbuilding
", an Elvis Costello
cover featuring Andy Yorke
, and "This Is My Fate", another track featuring Dallas Green. They were all cut for various reasons.
The album led Victor to many award nominations and wins, including "Favourite Single of the Year" (Indie Awards) and "Favourite Group of the Year" (Radio Music Awards) in 2007. It also gave Victor his first Juno
nomination for "New Artist of the Year
" (at the 2007 Juno Awards
).
II: My Angel, My Queen, My Death, My Treasure
III: A Pale Nation Sleeps in Misery
Neverending White Lights
Neverending White Lights is a Canadian music collaboration project fronted by Daniel Victor from Windsor, Ontario, and featuring several artists mainly from Canada and the United States. Daniel Victor performs all musical instruments, with most of his songs featuring guest singers...
. Conceived by Daniel Victor
Daniel Victor
Daniel Victor is a Canadian recording artist and producer who is most famous for his work in the collaboration of Neverending White Lights.-Early life:...
, it features lead vocal performances by members of different bands, including several well known Canadian acts, such as Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace
Our Lady Peace is a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1992. Headed by lead vocalist Raine Maida since its formation, the band additionally consists of Jeremy Taggart on percussion, Duncan Coutts on bass, and Steve Mazur as lead guitarist...
, Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven
Finger Eleven is a Canadian rock band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1989. They have currently released five studio albums, with their album The Greyest of Blue Skies bringing them into the mainstream...
, Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire was a five-piece, Juno-nominated post-hardcore band that formed in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada in 2001. The band consisted of George Pettit , Dallas Green , Wade MacNeil , Chris Steele , and Jordan Hastings .They describe their music as "the sound of two Catholic high-school girls...
, The Watchmen
The Watchmen
The Watchmen is a Canadian rock band. They were one of the most commercially successful Canadian alternative rock groups of the mid to late 1990s. During their peak years the band had three gold records and one platinum record...
, Creeper Lagoon
Creeper Lagoon
Creeper Lagoon is a San Francisco indie rock band originally started by Sharky Laguana as a solo project in 1991. They are currently on Sharky's digital record label, Neglektra.- History :...
, and Age of Electric
Age of Electric
Age of Electric was a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1990s.The band, consisting of two pairs of brothers, formed in Lanigan, Saskatchewan in 1989. The members were guitarists Ryan Dahle and Todd Kerns, bassist John Kerns and drummer Kurt Dahle. Ryan, Todd and Kurt all contributed vocals as...
.
Sonically, the album mixes diverse ambient textures and symphonics with drum loops and melancholic vocal melodies creating a style of ambient indie-pop/rock much different and more experimental than other acts in the same class. It was Victor's debut album as a writer, producer and performer. The album as a whole took 4 years to realize from start to finish and proved very trying to complete.
The first single off the album, "The Grace
The Grace (song)
The Grace is a song written by Canadian recording artist and producer Daniel Victor in August 2005 and appears on the Neverending White Lights' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies.-Background:...
", features Dallas Green
Dallas Green (musician)
Dallas Green is a Canadian musician who releases music as City and Colour. He is also known for his work as the former vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the post-hardcore band Alexisonfire.-Name:...
, and was originally entitled "Grace of a Happy Death". The single was a big hit in Canada (hitting # 1 on the video charts and # 3 on the radio charts) and brought the project into the mainstream almost over night. Two more singles were released afterward ("Angels & Saints" and "Age of Consent"). A series of connecting videos were coincided with the singles (known as the NWL video trilogy) where Victor played a dream-like Victorian character searching for an angel love interest (played by Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner
Emm Gryner is a Canadian singer-songwriter and occasional actress.-Biography:Gryner's childhood was spent in Forest, Lambton County, Ontario. Her father was of half Irish heritage and her mother was Filipina....
).
Tracks that were to appear on Act I include another track sung by Daniel Victor entitled "Head Down", "Throwing Chairs" featuring Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman may refer to:*Jonathan Foreman , born 1965*Jon Foreman, , born 1976...
of Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
, "John Dies at 56" featuring Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
, "Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding (song)
"Shipbuilding" is a song written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer . Written during the Falklands War of 1982, Costello's lyrics discuss the contradiction of the war bringing back prosperity to traditional shipbuilding areas of Merseyside , North East England and Belfast to build new ships to...
", an Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
cover featuring Andy Yorke
Andy Yorke
Andy Yorke is an English musician and former lead singer and guitarist for the band Unbelievable Truth. He is the younger brother of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke.-Early life:...
, and "This Is My Fate", another track featuring Dallas Green. They were all cut for various reasons.
The album led Victor to many award nominations and wins, including "Favourite Single of the Year" (Indie Awards) and "Favourite Group of the Year" (Radio Music Awards) in 2007. It also gave Victor his first Juno
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
nomination for "New Artist of the Year
Juno Award for New Artist of the Year
The Juno Award for New Artist of the Year has been awarded since 1974 as recognition each year for the best new artist/musician in Canada. The category was originally divided by separate awards for men and women...
" (at the 2007 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 2007
The Juno Awards of 2007 were hosted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada on the weekend ending 1 April 2007. These ceremonies honoured music industry achievements in Canada during most of 2006...
).
Track listing
I: The Hour Arrives- 1. "From What I Once Was" – 5:55
- 2. "Angels & Saints" – 3:10
- 3. "Age of ConsentAge of Consent (song)"Age of Consent" is a song by New Order. It appears on their 1983 album Power, Corruption & Lies. It is featured in the teaser trailer of the 2006 film Marie Antoinette, and in an affecting karaoke version in the climactic scene of the 2009 film Modern Love is Automatic. The intro is also used in...
" – 4:08 - 4. "Ending of a Story" – 3:31
- 5. "Return Our Lives" – 6:00
II: My Angel, My Queen, My Death, My Treasure
- 6. "I Hope Your Heart Runs Empty" – 6:23
- 7. "A Littlepiece" – 4:45
- 8. "This Longing" – 5:43
- 9. "Of All the Things You've Done Wrong" – 3:06
- 10. "Tired of Saving Souls" – 5:20
- 11. "How Could I Survive" – 2:58
- 12. "The GraceThe Grace (song)The Grace is a song written by Canadian recording artist and producer Daniel Victor in August 2005 and appears on the Neverending White Lights' debut album, Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies.-Background:...
" – 5:19
III: A Pale Nation Sleeps in Misery
- 13. "First Days of Spring" – 5:50
- 14. "Liar" – 3:45
- 15. "Life Is a Dead Scene" – 4:58
- 16. "Our Final Hymn" – 8:08
Guest Vocalists
| Act 1: Goodbye Friends of the Heavenly Bodies (2005) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song | Artist | Band |
| 1. From What I Once Was | Daniel Victor | Neverending White Lights |
| 2. Angels & Saints | Chris Gordon | Deckard |
| 3. Age of Consent | Nick Hexum | 311 |
| 4. Ending of a Story | Chris Gray | The Black Maria |
| 5. Return Our Lives | Judah Nagler | The Velvet Teen |
| 6. I Hope Your Heart Runs Empty | Scott Anderson | Finger Eleven |
| 7. A Little Piece | Marco DeFelice | Supergarage |
| 8. This Longing | Daniel Greaves | The Watchmen and Doctor |
| 9. Of All the Things You've Done Wrong | Nathan Larson & Jason Martin | Shudder to Think & Starflyer 59 |
| 10. Tired of Saving Souls | John Campsey | Sleepway |
| 11. How Could I Survive | Sharky Laguana | Creeper Lagoon |
| 12. The Grace | Dallas Green | Alexisonfire and City and Colour |
| 13. First Days of Spring | Matt Talbot | Hum and Centaur |
| 14. Liar | Raine Maida | Our Lady Peace |
| 15. Life is a Dead Scene | Todd Kerns | Age of Electric |
| 16. Our Final Hymn | Jimmy Gnecco | Ours |