AWOLNATION "Sail" // Composer Reaction and Song Breakdown // The Decomposer Lounge

[@FranklinSteele]

Fun video idea you didn't ask for: comparing old versions of songs to their remastered versions and explaining the differences in production and how it might have been done.

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Love that - thank you!

[@davehowie03]

@@KeyOfGeebz I think this would be fantastic. May I recommend Surfing with the Alien by Joe Satriani?

[@TheViralInfekT]

That is a great idea ^^

[@dominotetris]

Oh I would love this!! This is a fantastic idea!

[@DUKE_of_RAMBLE]

Yea I wanted to recommend that too, with how Reznor has been reacquiring the rights to his music and then remastering and re-releasing (on Vinyl) his works heh Pretty Hate Machine, The Downward Spiral, and The Fragile albums have all been remastered for sure.

[@ericpayne9091]

I read a bit about the band while listening to this, and discovered Aaron Bruno, the main guy behind AWOL is mostly deaf in his left ear, so he tends to mix certain instruments/parts he likes more to the right side, leading to the kinda weird L/R splits all over the track

[@eugeniabaranskaya1989]

wow, really?

[@chickenmonger123]

Neat. I like that kinda thing. Unique feel. Keeps it fresher longer.

[@emigogo8059]

I'm also deaf in my left ear and just found out about this. It's really cool!

[@tonycole340]

just realized this song is a decade old o_O

[@MegaKikeo]

ouch that hurts

[@overkill1025]

Oof

[@sludgeon]

what?

[@TheViralInfekT]

Moments like these tend to make one seem to be very old all over sudden :)

[@gryphon0468]

This song and Seven Nation Army feel decades older than they really are. Anyone know what I’m talking about? For ages I thought Seven Nation Army was from the 60/70s.

[@daveb4841]

Whole album is a masterpiece.

[@claylavalley3164]

Whenever this song come on, I automatically turn the volume up as high as I can stand. Listening to you break down songs is something special.

[@HEEEERESxFREDDY]

A lot of people seem to think AWOLNATION is a one hit wonder, but they actually have a lot of great songs. I love Mayday!!! Fiesta Fever

[@Cleancutchaos]

Awolnation is crazy versatile. Became one of my favorite bands real quick.

[@ShavidDerf]

Knights of Shame MUST be your next AN song. Trust me.... Thank you for what you do, sir!

[@jasonlottig3065]

Agreed, knights of shame is my favorite song by them for sure

[@jonfernandez4271]

Good call, that song has everything

[@scottt2383]

Agree 100%

[@derricktipps9867]

In it for a minute to win it... as you would say.

[@parsanorm]

Thank you and special thanks to your brother for asking this! I can never listen to this song without listening to WOODKID Run Boy Run next, so I'd recommend that for decomposition.

[@2jzdashgte]

Woodkid's Iron video is pure art.

[@Republic3D]

One of the best of the 2010s. I think this one is gonna be a recognizable classic years from now.

[@Jollyroger84103]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Tron: Legacy OST, composed by Daft Punk. Arguably some of their best work, and easily my favorite of their albums. In particular, End of Line is phenomenal.

[@TinaLynn]

One of the most unique songs ever made! Good choice!!

[@geoff3610]

"Woman woman", "i am", and "not your fault" are a few other great AWOL songs. Also, you talked about dynamics in this so much that I can't imagine you don't know thomas dolby. Pulp culture is an incredible example of great mixing and engineering.

[@trex9263]

Very cool. I would love to hear your take on more Awolnation, please. Liked and subbed!

[@wmlye1]

Every time I hear this I remember Jeb Corlis's "Grinding the Crack" BASE jumping video

[@Keilnoth]

YES! That's also how I discovered the song. Just checked him, I am surprised that guy is still alive.

[@wmlye1]

@@Keilnoth Yeah, me too. He had one or two pretty serious falls, but he came through with surgery and time off.

[@Keilnoth]

@@wmlye1 His story is pretty cool tho.

[@X3R0D3D]

@@Keilnoth same af

[@ElevenHymn]

Same, and then the cat video parody of it.

[@eloisapantazis6232]

I really enjoyed this video reaction. Please do their whole album, Angel Miners And The Lightning Riders. It’s such an awesome album. I’ve only discovered Awolnation during lockdown. Rivers Cuomo (big Weezer fan here 😊) had him on his webinar to promote that album and their collaboration on one of the songs, titled Pacific Coast Highway In The Movies and upon listening to the entire album, I became a big fan. Can’t stop listening to them. When I heard they were touring last year and coming to the Bay Area, I dragged my husband to go with me and he was quite impressed, he’s a big metal, Rush, AC/DC fan.

[@steveb2951]

Geebz....got to check out Clutch. Great rock/blues/metal. Thanks for what you do man!!

[@Dolphins-ov5oe]

First time I heard them. I knew they were going to be big

[@Johannes_W]

Haven't been a big radio music listener for many years, but this is one of the great songs getting its deserved recognition.

[@All-Fur-Coat_No-Trousers]

Geebz, how about some Highly Suspect? They're so clutch and I know there's gotta be folks here bringing them up. Lydia is a spicy chef kiss of a track. Also, another brilliant decomposition, bro ❤

[@SilviaAfurisita]

Yes! Lydia is such a good song, I think he's already done a song by Highly Suspect, "These days", check out the channel, lots of song suggestions get lost in the algorithm. P.S. the lead singer of Highly Suspect is friends with Joe from Gojira and have collaborated on a track :)

[@brucenolin6726]

Yes!

[@MH3GL]

Bath Salts, Serotonia, and My Name Is Human are musts.

[@ronr6951]

Yes. I like “little one”

[@FluffyMcFluffavicMeowskiOFluff]

This song was so huge a few years back. Couldn't escape it. Still super catchy!

[@Tristana.Keauna]

They're such a great group - please please please listen to their song "All I Need"

[@musicformysanity9050]

It definitely sounds like a live kick, I have always LOVED how synthetic 90 percent of the track sounds with the contrast of the very organic sounding kick drum

[@JaySay]

Throwback thursday, want to get a bit of Rolling Stones for everyone? _Gimme Shelter_ is without a doubt my fav song from them, and so many artists have done great covers of it. If you don't get around to doing a vid on them Geebz, you should check out Stone Sour, especially their trilogy of EP's of covers. They do _Gimme Shelter,_ _Love Gun,_ _Creeping Death,_ and so many others from various rock and metal bands throughout the decades. *btw, Corey Taylor, whom is the lead singer for Slipknot, is also the lead singer for Stone Sour. And up until a few years ago, James (Jim) Root from Slipknot was one of Stone Sour's lead guitarists, too.

[@Si_G]

Almost guaranteed a copyright strike though. Look at Verve and Bittersweet Symphony.

[@zachary963]

I love this album!! One of my favorite engineered album. So great. The album is like synthpop meets metal meets orchestral... weird and awesome

[@pantera2366]

The human abstract, "digital veil" album, just throw a dart and you'll find an amazing song

[@nathancotter1770]

Yes... BUT “Vela together we await the storm” would specifically be a great song for him to get down on

[@DaFonz808]

Cheehoo🔥. Great reaction my braddah. Aloha. Auuuurite🤙🏽

[@luislorca6835]

Been watching you from the shadows for a while and it’s funny to me how long it took you to hear and review these guys but I’d recommend there latest two rock albums

[@herculesrockafeller]

I keep expecting to see the cat jumping off the wall, lol

[@mistymoseley2340]

Totally hyped me up! Good vibes 😎

[@roccobierman4985]

Yes! Great song!

[@acceleratum]

This was a one hit wonder for me, its a cool song , ran so much on radio I got tired of it and haven't heard anything else by them.

[@zenseed75]

You are missing out

[@thegraveyardarmy]

AWOL is great, they are a full band, you should see the unofficial music video for Sail. Fanmade but imo better. Please do more AWOLNATION

[@rbeforme]

Definitely had our fill with the one song that they made

[@kevinlynch2248]

I love this! Thank you for turning me on to something new Geebz!!

[@jmc7676]

Aaaawwee right...on of my favorite "dubstep" tunes. This should be fun...

[@trevorpryor9348]

Love it Geebz one of my favorites glad you enjoyed it

[@allcartuner]

Might I suggest Heart for your "face melter" series? Really underrated band IMO, Crazy On You would be perfect for a breakdown!

[@paintingmonkey]

You know, for some interesting layering, you might like the Crowded House track Together Alone. Toward the end, it gets kind of amazing, it's goosebump stuff for me - there's a Māori choir singing in beautiful harmonies about the separation of Rangi and Papa (which is hinted at in the English lyrics), Pacific-style drums, a brass band, all building up over this slow, deceptively simple, melancholy song. The, like, organic depth to it is really quite something. It's actually made me teary before now, it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts on the arrangements etc.

[@ozfiredancer]

What a fantastic suggestion! Geebz, please get on this!

[@philb323]

The band DevilDriver did a legit cover of this song. A little context, the singer of DD was the singer of Coal Chamber.

[@bumish]

Requesting: VAST - Touched (It has quite an abnormal musical arrangement with a chanting choir and acoustic guitar breakdowns)

[@robzeiter]

Absolutely second this one!

[@rkoutz]

Third

[@gbantel]

you sir, have my respect!

[@ameliacharles7119]

Jon Crosby always felt like Trent Reznor's little talented brother. I adore VAST. Ever since I first heard Here, which was the last song on a Kerrang! Compilation album. I was hooked immediately. Visual Audio Sensory Theatre is one of the greatest debuts ever in my opinion. Great pick

[@LeglessWonder]

VAST is amaze-balls

[@marchmont5918]

Any love for Silverchair in here? I think anything from their catalogue would be interesting to hear about, but specifically “Emotion Sickness,” “Do You Feel The Same,” or “One Way Mule.”

[@skaughtmc6591]

Sail was definitely their biggest hit. A lot of people were disappointed when they heard the full album, because it’s completely different than anything else they did. I love it though. Try “Jump on my Shoulders” and “Burn it Down”.

[@SleepZeppelinSleep]

Gonna live in the woods for five months after this week and I have to say, I'm excited to see what songs he'll do. Maybe Geebz will do one of the songs I suggested, maybe not hahaha. Still going to come back regardless. Mahalo Decomposer 🤙

[@familiarsting4108]

That’s dope. Where and in what circumstances?

[@SleepZeppelinSleep]

@@familiarsting4108 Kings Canyon National Park CA, going to be doing trail work

[@djmir4]

Jammed this song so hard when it came out, some really great remixes out there too!

[@rickgraham7641]

I love this type of music.

[@deftone366]

You could do every Awolnation track! All are unique and flippin fantastic to decompose! Thanks again

[@hboves4873]

I think your channel is great! Thanks!

[@michaelb1761]

Loved ths song since the first time I heard it as the intro to the Red Bull Rampage broadcast.

[@MikeIsNexciting]

This was an interesting song to see. As a predominately rock/prog/netal fan, I bought the album this was on and really enjoyed the songs on it! Was the beginning to me opening my mind up more to music leaning more towards pop. Something similar to this pop-sort-of-rock, would be a band called Everything Everything, song like To The Blade or No Reptiles.

[@caseyk.1386]

Really love hearing your break downs, super interesting to dive into these songs in a new way.

[@noumangul2221]

You need to do the cover version also devildriver-sail

[@jdubya8762]

Holy crap...thank you that was awesome

[@KoRn_NuTT]

Yes 🔥🤘🔥🤘🔥

[@mtgguiltfeeder4111]

One of the better cover songs of all time IMHO. I liked the original even though it was overplayed, Devildriver’s cover made me LOVE this song especially after seeing them play it live!!

[@matthewscott3368]

Came here to say the same thing

[@joshuacanipe7688]

Came here to say this

[@MegaKikeo]

That was a really cool vid Geebz. When this song came up it hooked me - it came a lot on the radio and I liked it very much because of the emotions it gave me. This is what I react most to. And thanks to your vid and decomposing it's the first time I really pay attention to its engineering, and now I realise that at least 70% of that emotional charge carried through the song actually comes from an out of this world engineering. The layering is very powerful, the synth pad is gut-moving all while the plucked harp or synth is very hooking. Also, it seems to me that the vocals on far left and far right are actually exactly the same take, with only a different distortion/glitch applied to the voice on each channel. it feels like the effect comes with a little bit of delay on the right side. Definitely not listening to this song the same way now, and I hope I will pay more attention to these details in other pop songs too. By the way, could you maybe review some Lana Del Rey? I find the way her songs are produced is very unique. Would love to hear your views on this. Thank you for the great content!!!

[@angelaschreiber2108]

--- From first listen, this song reminded me of people dancing, sweaty, bodies heaving to all of the separate structures, in a modern speakeasy during a thunderstorm while lighting conducts the light show. I always appreciated the under produced shots of drum play, and piano introduction layered in with the heavily distorted and otherwise obvious engineering of the other layers. I thought the hypnotic use of the overriding melody was clever, because it enhanced the allure, and surprise engagement of those elements, and even the repeat of "sail" although the emotional intonation changes ever so slightly from time to time also has a hypnotic quality. This was a great album, but I would love to see you do Drinking Lighting

[@direreveille8372]

My man! Your bro has good taste. I'm usually here for the Tool stuff but this is one of my favorites.

[@jordanatural]

I'd like to humbly recommend the band Foals, specifically their album Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part II. They've got a very tight indie-rock sound on that record, and masterful production quality and mixing. Thanks Geebz!

[@Si_G]

Spanish Sahara or Mountain at my gates 👍🏻

[@davechrenek8220]

Enjoy going through some these song I've known and the one I haven't known before, keep them coming, I'd like to suggest the garden by July talk

[@williamclose6978]

I always liked the track "Kill Your Heroes" by AWOL Nation.

[@theæthœr]

I really hope you do Descending by Tool. Also, it’d be killer to hear your take on Saferwaters by Chevelle

[@SparkimusPrime]

Ugh this song is always so good 🖤

[@bagerswell]

Great review, love this song & band In terms of production and strings arrangement, you will be BLOWN AWAY by Radiohead - Daydreaming, or Burn The Witch. Incredible tracks

[@yukoncorneliusjr8273]

Between the Buried and Me - Selkies: The Endless Obsession Pleeeeease 🤞

[@ChefHeisca]

Shit. so many good songs to choose from that group.

[@DerpDerpityDerp]

BTBAM is the best..i love that people are requesting them constantly.. You all are tremendous🤙🥳

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

Yes

[@Swollen_Goat]

yes please!!!! Favorite song.

[@nickhaas9185]

Thats my favorite song of ALL TIME PLEASE GEEBZ!

[@HenritheHorse]

Happy 420!

[@BCowcorn]

Came to revisit the Nanalew unofficial video (with even more views than the official one). Stayed to hear your breakdown. Thanks!

[@pennyhaynes9010]

Love this song!!!

[@Ojinia84]

Love this

[@CerexFlikex]

Very nice, thanks!

[@maccrazy7335]

You should check him/them out live. The singer always gathers a great band around him and they're playing everything live, no programming or pre-recorded stuff...

[@gamermom424]

Oh WOW I remember this song!!

[@iainhamilton9864]

Always loved this tune. Aviations, Outliers. Best progressive metal song I've ever heard, and I've listened to a lot.

[@yotambraunshtein9786]

Have you heard scardust- concrete cages

[@iainhamilton9864]

@@yotambraunshtein9786 I have now, a little too much of a power metal vibe for my tastes but quality for sure.

[@dansourile5444]

Yes, that song is spectacular!! And no repetition/chorus to speak of. Just an incredible piece of art.

[@iainhamilton9864]

@@dansourile5444 The intro alone could be used as the basis of an entire song by a commercially minded, radio friendly band- yet the

[@iainhamilton9864]

song never feels disjointed or lengthy, despite the lack of repetition. Absolute masterpiece.

[@derricktipps9867]

Geeeeeeeeeeebz. Just say screw it and do Dragonforce. Through the fire and the flames. Just make sure it's the full version

[@adamhenton6221]

That's one hell of a song. Geebz would love it. Dragonforce is a insanity with music lol

[@DanBolek]

They have better songs I’d say heroes of our time

[@claylavalley3164]

Never expect you to get to them, but Saintseneca is a band I think you would enjoy. Keep on keepin' on good, Sir!

[@andrwarrior]

If you're still searching for new band suggestions, do please give a listen to Rishloo! Super progressive rock, a.l.a. Tool, with an amazing clean vocalist who nails addictive melodies and lyrical complexity, with very unique song structure through their whole discography. Scissorlips, Landmines, Feathergun in the Garden of the Sun, and their amazing long-style rock anthem Dark Charade (akin to that of a Pink Floyd shine on) are all great options to start with. Thanks for everything geebz! Still here, awwright

[@mikaeljacobsson1437]

As a sound artist i love your videos. And as a listener of music i love your videos. ;)

[@puffythecampfireplayer6143]

Nice! I saw these guys live. This song makes me think of wing suit flying.

[@overkill1025]

Royal Blood - "out of the black" just two guys

[@Stormhawk777]

great 4/20 vid geebs

[@mopo8552]

Love this song

[@demoninveins]

Gotta do Infected Mushroom - Heavyweight!

[@x666xIronMaiden]

From what I was listening to from them, it seems to be this is unique for them as in their other tracks don't have this same style to them. Maybe that changed recently since I have not checked in a couple of years now.

[@liamace1107]

Oh the nostalgia, I was heavily into this song when it came out The album this song is from is quite good

[@jabx55]

Totally different kind of music but I haven't seen you do any Amorphis songs. Smoke, Death of a King, Tree of Ages. Amazing prog metal from Finland.

[@dansourile5444]

Yes! Can't wait for their new albums they just recorded! Queen of Time and Under the Red Cloud are sooooo good!!

[@ericgurley5355]

AWOLNATION is an interesting band. I never really listened to them until I saw them open for Prophets of Rage. AWOLNATION won me over that day.

[@tonytorrez1256]

The raspy/megaphone sounding quality of the singers voice reminds me of a couple of Tom Waits songs, and I was wondering if you'd be down to check some of his crazy stuff out? King Kong & Hang Me In The Bottle come to mind... And from some of the earlier comments, PLEASE try Between the Buried and Me--I love the versatility in their song Ad A Dglgmut, but Selkies: The Endless Obsession is also a good entry into the band

[@MilanMart1]

Amazing!! Loved it. You should check out Awolnations' "Jailbreak" [which has some similar vibes to Sail], "Slam (Angel Miners)" [a little more experimental I think], "Soul Wars" [for something a bit more heavy-rock type stuff, really cool]

[@corey6393]

Geebz? You played Hockey? Not sure it is possible for me to like you any more than I already do!

[@KeyOfGeebz]

Yep - 20 years of pick-up (younger years) then coaching inline for kids :)

[@MaddDogg316]

@Cory, I had literally this exact same thought.

[@lananiella]

Best Awolnation songs: "Woman Woman", "Hollow Moon" and "I Am". Great videos for all 3 of these as well. The best UNofficial video for "Sail" is this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJKkiJein813a9E So good it has TWICE as many views as the official one! Just fun.

[@katiebrotherton5639]

Love woman woman and hollow moon

[@X3R0D3D]

man i love this song! great vid :D

[@JustinRittenhouse]

I used to super love this album back in the day! I’m still hoping someday we can decompose The Dear Hunter! I’d love for you to dissect anything from Act IV or Act V, but A Night on the Town would be what I’m hoping for the most! (Sorry if this is getting annoying. I reeeeeaally want them to get more exposure, haha)

[@mattdm82]

I've always wondered if the live drum fills in the second verse are a musical reference to Piggy by Nine Inch Nails. The first one happens at 6:02 after the line "maybe I should kill myself", which of course is the overall theme of The Downward Spiral.

[@alexrixey975]

Probably not, but this is still an awesome observation either way - they are pretty similar for sure, so definitely possible

[@Liquessen]

Have you heard Mars Volta's The Widow, it's one of my favourites by them. I also like Vermicide.

[@alyssaschrems9319]

43% burnt by the dillinger escape plan! Surprisingly intricate arrangement. There's a strongs cover that really highlights the details of the composition

[@dochubbell]

The first time I haeard this song, I was watching a video of them taking a tree down from the top. It starteed with the chainsaw guy at the top and you are looking down as he cuts the tree layer by layer dropping each cut section. It was so cool listening to that song while watching the man cut from a gut churning height. Have loved this song since I first heard it. Good critiquing on your part. Makes a listener understand just what it took to make this songs sounds.

[@AnthonySell]

Really enjoying the channel. There is a band that I think you would really get into decomposing, unfortunately now defunct, by the name of Arcane Roots. Check out the songs "Rouen" "Off the Floor" or "Curtains"

[@luke7842]

Good song. I prefer the cover by Devildriver as it's more my style. Please react to some Devildriver! Maybe 'End Of The Line' or 'The Fury Of Our Makers Hand'

[@DingDangJon]

Fun fact about the singer of Awolnation, he is a surfer too. Also in an interview he did a while back, he said that he originally made music for his friends and family to listen to. But the planets aligned and this song got out to the world and now he is one successful dude.

[@bloodtruck3554]

Hey Geebz, glad to hear you cranking through that list. I'll be hear every time. How about Just A Ride by Rishloo? You love dynamics, you love great phrasing? Sir. Rishloo.

[@corygumminger6349]

Hey Geebz, have you considered making the list of upcoming songs into a document that's available for people to see, so they know whether their suggestion has been seen already?

[@TheMadHexa]

When I first met my girlfriend, I stalked her IG and the was a picture of her, next to a quote from this Song. Still in love with her today and also with the Song. 🥰

[@michaelmullins6396]

I don’t know the technical term but to me, it always sounded like the lead singer was signing at the “normal” octave level of the song but over it is also what almost like him screaming it…it definitely happens at the end where he’s singing “sail!”.