So Far from Home is the first installment in a space-themed trilogy released by Christian rock band Brave Saint Saturn

Brave Saint Saturn

Brave Saint Saturn is a Christian rock band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1999. The band is a side-project of former members of Five Iron Frenzy started by Reese Roper...

. This release contains less elements of the trilogy's plot that was developed in the two subsequent albums, opting for a more general feeling of darkness and loneliness. It was released in 2000.

Lyricist Reese Roper shows his typical awareness of social issues, albeit with an unusual melancholy. "Under Bridges" samples clips from the Apollo 8 Genesis reading

Apollo 8 Genesis Reading

On December 24, 1968, in what was the most watched television broadcast at the time, the crew of Apollo 8 read in turn from the Book of Genesis as they orbited the moon...

 and tackles homelessness, through a contemporary interpretation of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. "Two-Twenty-Nine" keeps with the space theme, beginning with a clip from the countdown sequence of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...

, and relays the personal loss of his grandmother.

The album cover includes NASA image STS082-320-029.

Track listing

1. "Prologue"
2. "Space Robot Five"
3. "Independence Day"
4. "Shadow Of Def"
5. "Resistor"
6. "Fireworks"
7. "Under Bridges"
8. "Data Stream One"
9. "Rocketown"
10. "Moon Burns Bright"
11. "Two-Twenty-Nine"
12. "Gloria"

Personnel

• Reese Roper
  Reese Roper
  Michael Reese Roper is an independent filmmaker and the former lead singer and chief song writer of the third-wave ska band Five Iron Frenzy. After Five Iron Frenzy disbanded in 2003, Reese released a single album using the moniker Roper. He is also part of the band Brave Saint Saturn, who released...
  
   - Lead Vocals
• Mike Busbee - Keyboard
• Jeff Campitrelli - Drums and percussion
• Scott Kerr - Electric Guitar
• Tony Lacido - Bass
• Masaki Liu
  Masaki Liu
  Masaki Liu, sometimes referred to as "Saki", is the engineer and producer operating One Way Studio, a digital recording studio in Benicia, California. Masaki has recorded and produced music for many bands, including Five Iron Frenzy, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Echoing Green, The W's and...
  
   - Strings & guitar
• Big Lou The Accordion Princess - Accordion
• Micah Ortega
  Micah Ortega
  Micah Ortega is best known as a guitarist for Five Iron Frenzy. He was born on May 31, 1976 in Greeley, Colorado and is a graduate of Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado...
  
  - Turntables
• Monica Smith - Background Vocals
• Frank Tate - "Mad Rap Skills"
• Andrew Verdechhio - Drums
• Eric Wood - Drums