The Reason (EP)
The Reason is the second major-label EP (and third overall) by American rock band X Ambassadors, released on January 27, 2014.[1] It spawned the single "Jungle" and also includes the track "Unsteady".
| The Reason | ||||
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| Released | January 27, 2014 | |||
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| X Ambassadors chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Reason | ||||
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Composition
Musically, The Reason has been described as an album with elements of trap music and indie pop, with "a country vibe to it".[2] X Ambassadors member Sam Harris cited rock singer Bruce Springsteen as a big influence on the album.[2]
In an interview with The Emory Wheel, the band commented on their inspirations: "We've always tried to write songs for anyone who feels marginalized, underrepresented: [people] who feel like they're different or are unable to speak up for themselves. A lot of the songs off of VHS and our previous EP, The Reason, were written with that in mind."[3] According to Craig D. Lindsey of The News & Observer, the running theme through the EP is Sam Harris' struggling with self-doubt.[4]
On January 30, 2014, X Ambassadors posted a message on their Facebook account about the goal of the EP. They stated that The Reason is their attempt to tell a story "about someone who gave up chasing a dream and who had the courage to start over."[5]
Promotion and release
On January 23, 2014, the band released a three-minute preview of the upcoming EP.[6]
Critical reception
Jeffrey Howard of Campus Times described it as a "pretty interesting" album.[2] Tina Roumeliotis of Buzznet wrote a positive review about the EP, stating "[t]he bravery runs rampant in this release and it has me quite inspired".[5]
Track listing
All songs composed by X Ambassadors.[7]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Free & Lonely" | 4:08 |
| 2. | "The Business" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Giants" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Unsteady" | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Shining" | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Jungle" (with Jamie N Commons) | 3:09 |
| Total length: | 22:24 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Free & Lonely" | 4:08 |
| 2. | "The Business" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Giants" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Shining" | 3:38 |
| Total length: | 16:03 | |
Charts
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[9] | 7 |
References
- "X Ambassadors: The Reason". AllMusic. January 27, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- Howard, Jeffrey (March 27, 2014). "X Ambassadors: taking from the past, looking to the future". Campus Times. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- Conway, Hannah (May 12, 2016). "X Ambassadors Talk Spontaneity, Willingness to Experiment". The Emory Wheel. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- Lindsey, Craig D. (October 16, 2014). "X Ambassadors: Out of the 'Jungle' and into Chapel Hill". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- Roumeliotis, Tina (January 30, 2014). "REVIEW: X Ambassadors 'The Reason' EP". Buzznet. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "LISTEN: X Ambassadors Preview New 'The Reason' EP". Variance. January 23, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
- The Reason - EP by X Ambassadors, retrieved 2019-12-28
- The Reason - EP by X Ambassadors, retrieved 2019-12-28
- "X Ambassadors Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2017.