Rock Like War
Encyclopedia
Rock Like War is a song by Rustic Overtones
that appears on the band's 2007 studio album Light at the End
.
, along with a half-dozen other new songs. The song entered the band's normal rotation of live songs that appeared on their set lists, although they left the song off both 1998's Rooms by the Hour
and 2001's Viva Nueva!
When the band broke up in 2002, the song still remained unrecorded and was circulated only by fans who had access to live versions of the song. During the band's 2007 reunion, the Rustic Overtones recorded the song along with six other older unrecorded songs to appear on their new album, Light at the End
. The song received its first radio airtime on Portland, Maine
's alternative station WCYY
in June, 2007 after the premier of new song "Troublesome," (also on the album) and the announcement of the band's appearance at a live WCYY patio show in July. It was at this show where the song was premiered live for the first time in its new post-breakup form as the show's closing song. In live shows after the patio show, the song has often been used as the final song before the encore set.
. The song is much more guitar based than many of the band's other songs, and uses the horn section mainly as support for the main melodies that are played on guitar. The version of the song that was recorded in 2007 is mostly similar to the version that the band originally used to play on tour before the breakup, although there are a few key differences between the two versions. The recorded studio version featured an electrical guitar with much less distortion than the heavy alternative style found on the older version, and the entire end section after the second chorus and bridge was completely re-written. The old ending sounded like a slightly more upbeat section of the rest of the song and featured the song's title in the lyrics, while the new version of the song's ending sounds like a radical departure from the rest of the song, cutting to a synths/violin section that gradually builds into a horn, guitar, drum, and vocal section that has a very similar feel and concept as the end of The Beatles
' classic Hey Jude
. The catchy sing-along ending is often sung along to by the rest of the crowd during live shows.
's "top five at five" for many weeks, and is still found in the station's regular song rotation today.
Rustic Overtones
Rustic Overtones is a rock/jazz/funk band from Maine active from 1993–2002 and 2007–present. They were the first group to perform live on XM Satellite Radio, and their 2007 album Light At The End was the fastest-selling local disc ever in the state of Maine....
that appears on the band's 2007 studio album Light at the End
Light at the End
Light at the End is a 2007 studio album by the Portland, Maine, band Rustic Overtones, the first album by the band since its break-up in 2002. The album was recorded in spring 2007 and released on July 24, 2007. It has become the fastest-selling local disc ever in the state of Maine...
.
History
"Rock Like War" was first premiered by the band on July 26, 1998 at a performance at the State Theater in Portland, MainePortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, along with a half-dozen other new songs. The song entered the band's normal rotation of live songs that appeared on their set lists, although they left the song off both 1998's Rooms by the Hour
Rooms by the Hour
Rooms by the Hour is an album released in 1998 by Rustic Overtones. The band's third full length offering, it is credited with earning major label interest in the band and leading to their subsequent contract with the Warner Music Group.-Track listing:...
and 2001's Viva Nueva!
Viva Nueva!
Viva Nueva! is the fourth album by the Rustic Overtones, released in 2001 before their highly publicized breakup a year later. With 16 tracks, the album has the most songs of any Rustic Overtones album to date. Tommy Boy Records distributed the album after relations soured between the Rustic...
When the band broke up in 2002, the song still remained unrecorded and was circulated only by fans who had access to live versions of the song. During the band's 2007 reunion, the Rustic Overtones recorded the song along with six other older unrecorded songs to appear on their new album, Light at the End
Light at the End
Light at the End is a 2007 studio album by the Portland, Maine, band Rustic Overtones, the first album by the band since its break-up in 2002. The album was recorded in spring 2007 and released on July 24, 2007. It has become the fastest-selling local disc ever in the state of Maine...
. The song received its first radio airtime on Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
's alternative station WCYY
WCYY
WCYY is a commercial radio station located in Portland, Maine. It broadcasts to the Portland, Maine area on 94.3 FM and formerly on 93.9 FM from Lewiston, Maine. Its target audience are people from ages 18–44. The station airs a modern rock music format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media....
in June, 2007 after the premier of new song "Troublesome," (also on the album) and the announcement of the band's appearance at a live WCYY patio show in July. It was at this show where the song was premiered live for the first time in its new post-breakup form as the show's closing song. In live shows after the patio show, the song has often been used as the final song before the encore set.
Musical style
The song is one of the band's heavier songs, resembling material that might be found on the band's 2001 album Viva Nueva!Viva Nueva!
Viva Nueva! is the fourth album by the Rustic Overtones, released in 2001 before their highly publicized breakup a year later. With 16 tracks, the album has the most songs of any Rustic Overtones album to date. Tommy Boy Records distributed the album after relations soured between the Rustic...
. The song is much more guitar based than many of the band's other songs, and uses the horn section mainly as support for the main melodies that are played on guitar. The version of the song that was recorded in 2007 is mostly similar to the version that the band originally used to play on tour before the breakup, although there are a few key differences between the two versions. The recorded studio version featured an electrical guitar with much less distortion than the heavy alternative style found on the older version, and the entire end section after the second chorus and bridge was completely re-written. The old ending sounded like a slightly more upbeat section of the rest of the song and featured the song's title in the lyrics, while the new version of the song's ending sounds like a radical departure from the rest of the song, cutting to a synths/violin section that gradually builds into a horn, guitar, drum, and vocal section that has a very similar feel and concept as the end of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' classic Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
. The catchy sing-along ending is often sung along to by the rest of the crowd during live shows.
Reception and Legacy
The new version of Rock Like War was immediately well received by the band's fans. After the song's premiere, it held the number one spot on WCYYWCYY
WCYY is a commercial radio station located in Portland, Maine. It broadcasts to the Portland, Maine area on 94.3 FM and formerly on 93.9 FM from Lewiston, Maine. Its target audience are people from ages 18–44. The station airs a modern rock music format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media....
's "top five at five" for many weeks, and is still found in the station's regular song rotation today.