WHEN THE RAINE COMES CRASHING DOWN...

As a little teaser of the upcoming RAINE album "Peace", MTM send us some information about the album and the songs. Take it over, vocalist David Linblad!

Rainmaker

As a whole the human race is destroying Mother Earth. This song just raises the question of why we continue to destroy something that is as much a part of ourselves as we are of it. This song is a warning, with an obvious reference to the Natives of America. Ben did an amazing job of writing the drums for this tune and Mark wood put a Violin solo down that is one of the most incredible things on tape I have ever heard.

I am

Simply a song about letting a friend, or anyone that you are attracted to, know that you would be good for them. This song is just an easy way of telling them.

Everytime

It was actually written for a close friend of the band at MTM though inspired by someone I have never met. I really wanted to write some cool lyrics without using the standard "oh baby, I love you" garbage. Rennie hates the word "love" in a song so it can make writing the lyrics a bit of a challenge, especially when you're writing a love song! I actually ended up very happy with how it came out and both Ben and Rennie are really into it. Here in NYC, it is the favourite off the CD. When Mark Wood came out to the studio to lay down the Violin, the power failed and a real nasty summer storm hit. We just lit a bunch of candles in the studio, hit the generators and off we went. Mark really caught a great mood with the Violin and Steve Chams did an amazing job with the piano. We triple tracked Rennie's Bass lines so it really made writing the vocal an easy job.

What I'd rather be

Steve Chams, Tom Walsh, Rennie and myself wrote this tune when we were all in a popular NYC band called Crystal Pistol. Both Steve and Tom did a lot of work on this Raine record and aside from being amazing musicians, we always had a blast working together and they are really great friends. Chams actually stopped by the studio one night after the tune was done and we started throwing down new vocal lines everywhere. It was completely unplanned and spontaneous which I always think is the best way and Chams is amazing at pulling it off. The tune was written with the idea of what you have to sacrifice to be successful in the entertainment business. It's not easy, but it is a lot fun knowing that you never have to grow up!

2am (Hang out here)

This tune was completely re-written 24 hours before the guys at MTM received the master tapes. Ben laid down a lot of percussion that was real cool and had left for London. The song was to be mixed the next morning but after listening for a bit, Rennie did not like the vibe that was laid down with the electric guitar. "It's too stiff Dave, it's too stiff man". I kept on saying, "Ren, no way, the song is done" He wore me down and out came the acoustic guitars. We pulled a 22-hour recording session and replaced all the guitars and then re-mixed the entire song that morning. Considering we spent the better part of 9 months recording, it was an interesting evening to say the least. The song is about hanging out at a bar as it is closing and just kind of looking around for anyone to talk to, just so the night does not have to end. Though it is a simple tune, it is one of my favourites.

Miracles

Ben brought this song into the band and the vocals just kind of came out of nowhere. We all have that one thing in life that can get you through the bad times, be it a person, place or belief. Many times during the making of the record, we would walk outside the studio, look up and say: "Anytime God, take us anytime!"

Lost Angels

This one was supposed to make one of Steve Perry's last records but did not for various reasons. Magnus at MTM had been given the song by his friend Cliff Magness who also co-wrote the tune and gave to us asking if we wanted to cover it. We all thought the tune was cool and though I really don't think it is possible to improve upon something Steve Perry has sung, I am happy as to how our interpretation of the song came out.

Without You

Another Crystal Pistol tune that was a favourite when the band played live. Written about travelling and the toll it takes on relationships. It simply says: I miss you Inside out This tune was written when a few of us were a bit upset with the people we were seeing at the time. It is tough to have a relationship when you are recording 13-15 hours a day six days a week for almost a year, though it does give you plenty of lyrical idea's. It's an angry tune and Chams did a killer job, as he is the other voice singing with the lead vocal.

I believe

Another Crystal Pistol tune that was really well written. The first time I heard Chams play the idea at the rehearsal studio I just flipped. I just love the lyrics and though I very rarely listen to anything that I sing, this is one that I throw on every now and then.

Never Alone

Rennie really loves this tune. We flew Scott Murray (who will be officially joining the band for the next record) up from Texas to help us out with the keys on a couple tunes and this was one of them. Rennie and Scott had this vision for the verses and Ben and I let them go at it. They worked it out and Ben and I just sat there going, yea, that's cool, whatever guys.

Blinded

This is the only tune that survived the pre-production re-writes. Chams did a great job with the keys and gave it a cool twist. Just a fun, loose tune that is made for driving.

Making the Record

The recording of 'Peace' began June 1999 and carried on through to March 2000 at Crash studios NY. USA. Famed NYC producer Tattoo Shea manned the production duties, and mixing began February 2000. We tried use many different ideas on 'Peace', and so the recording sessions where pretty experimental. If anyone had an idea, no matter how strange, we tried it. Sometimes it worked though other times it did not.

We never set up parameters as to what anything had to sound like so we really enjoyed the creative freedom that came along with that. Magnus and Mario up at MTM were also extremely supportive and that really made it great for us. I personally have never worked with a record company that was so flexible and for that the band really owes them. We also enjoyed using many additional musicians, such as the guy who works in a Coffee shop in NY who laid down some guitar on 'I am'. We wanted as many different feels and styles to be incorporated into the songs as possible and that really made it fun. Anytime someone came into the studio the first words out of my mouth was: "Want to be on a record?" It really was a blast!

The sound we hoped to create at the start of recording sessions for 'Peace' was one of melodic rock, but with a nineties feel and vibe. Our personal influences today are so varied and I think it's cool that each member brings a unique sound to the band. Again it's just the idea of recording what ever comes naturally regardless of the genre. We left a lot of mistakes on the record just because the feel was right.

Most of the songs on the album where a collaboration between all the members of Raine. Someone would have a rough song or idea, and then the band would pull it apart, arrange and complete the song. The writing process for Raine involves all members equally and that's what makes it work.The unreleased Steve Perry song featured on the album was also co-written by Cliff Magness.

Raine's future plans are to tour as much as they can, record an even more diverse follow up album, and work with new and old friends and colleagues in the music industry. The band is looking forward to playing live in Japan and other supporting countries and has already written several songs for the next record that will start production in August of 2000.

Raine would also like to thank Magnus, Mario and the entire staff at MTM for their amazing patience as we recorded this album. We would also like to thank Mr. Jun Endo and everyone else King Records for their support and promotion. A special thanks also goes out to Mr. Masao Fujiki for writing the liner notes for our debut album in Japan. We are honoured that he has taken the time to do this for us. We would also like to thank all the fans that support melodic rock. If it were not for your love of music, we would never be able to do what we love to do. Thank you!