The Constant (Story of the Year album)

In May 2009, guitarist Ryan Phillips revealed that the band were in the writing process for their next album.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/33642/story-of-the-year-begin-writing-next-album|title=Story of the Year begin writing next album|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=May 21, 2009|access-date=October 8, 2022}}

The Constant was recorded at Studio {{notatypo|Barbarosa}} in Bavon, Virginia, with producer Michael Baskette and engineer Dave Holdredge. Jef Mall did digital editing, while Casey White acted as studio assistant. Baskette and Holdredge mixed the recordings, which were then mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.

Frontman Dan Marsala explained that the album title symbolizes the band's work ethic and commitment to both themselves and their fans. "Music is the constant thing in life for us," he said. "When I go to bed I think about music and when I wake up it's the first thing on my mind. The Constant can mean anything; hopefully our band will go on forever and we want music to remain a constant thing in our lives no matter what."[http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18241 I'm Alive Songfacts]

In November and December 2009, the band went on a US tour with the Devil Wears Prada, All That Remains and Haste the Day.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/35836/tours-story-of-the-year-the-devil-wears-prada-all-that-remains-haste-the-day|title=Story of the Year / The Devil Wears Prada / All That Remains / Haste The Day|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=November 3, 2009|access-date=October 12, 2022}} "To the Burial" was posted on the band's Myspace profile on December 7, 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36261/media-story-of-the-year-to-the-burial|title=Story of the Year: 'To The Burial'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=December 7, 2009|access-date=October 15, 2022}} On December 10, Russell and Phillips premiered "I'm Alive" from the album on the Point radio station. The band released "I'm Alive" as a single on January 1, 2010.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-alive-single/345730611|title=I'm Alive - Single by Story of the Year |publisher=iTunes|access-date=March 7, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308165153/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/im-alive-single/345730611|archive-date=March 8, 2018}} On January 6, 2010, The Constant was announced for release the following month; alongside this, its artwork and track listing were posted online.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36557/story-of-the-year-detail-the-constant|title=Story of the Year detail 'The Constant'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Yancey, Bryne|date=January 6, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2022}} "I'm Alive" was released to alternative radio on February 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2010-1-26.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=January 26, 2010|accessdate=July 2, 2016}} The Constant was made available for streaming on Myspace on February 10, 2010, before it was released on February 16, 2010 through Epitaph Records. It was promoted with a tour of the Southern US states in March and April 2010; the trek included an appearance at the Extreme Thing festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/37297/less-than-jake-the-used-reel-big-fish-story-of-the-year-playing-extreme-thing|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017074901/https://www.punknews.org/article/37297/less-than-jake-the-used-reel-big-fish-story-of-the-year-playing-extreme-thing|title=Less Than Jake, the Used, Reel Big Fish, Story of the Year playing Extreme Thing|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 1, 2010|archivedate=October 17, 2022|access-date=October 17, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36995/tours-story-of-the-year-the-constant|title=Story of the Year: 'The Constant'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=February 10, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

On August 9, 2010, the band announced that the next single off the record will be "The Dream Is Over".{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} In late September and early October 2011, the band toured Australia as part of the Soundwave Counter-Revolution festival.{{cite web|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/soundwave-counter-revolution-mini-festival-lineups/822556|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403232843/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/soundwave-counter-revolution-mini-festival-lineups/822556|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 3, 2016|title=Soundwave Counter-Revolution mini-festival lineups|work=FasterLouder|publisher=Junkee Media|author=Mann, Tom|date=August 26, 2011|accessdate=July 12, 2017}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 65/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-constant/story-of-the-year/critic-reviews|title=Critic Reviews for The Constant|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=2 August 2012}}

| rev1 = AbsolutePunk

| rev1Score = 73%{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1501672|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130111211100/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1501672|title=Story of the Year - The Constant|work=AbsolutePunk|author=Beringer, Drew|archivedate=January 11, 2013|accessdate=January 6, 2010}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |first=Gregory |last=Heaney |title=Review: The Constant |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-constant-mw0001957449|publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=18 February 2010}}

| rev3 = Exclaim!

| rev3Score = Unfavorable{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/story_of_year-_constant_2|title=Story of the Year The Constant|work=Exclaim!|publisher=Ian Danzig|author=Persaud, Travis|date=February 16, 2010|accessdate=April 1, 2018}}

| rev4 = Melodic

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=8388|title=Story of the Year - The Constant |work=Melodic|author=Holmgren, Henrik|date=February 14, 2010|accessdate=July 18, 2017}}

| rev5 = Ox-Fanzine

| rev5score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/rev/71244/reviews.207.html|title=Reviews: Story of the Year / The Constant|work=Ox-Fanzine|author=Schumann, David|date=April–May 2010|accessdate=April 20, 2020|language=DE}}

| rev6 = Punknews.org

| rev6Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/9086/story-of-the-year-the-constant|title=Story of the Year - The Constant|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Daley, Sloane|date=March 5, 2010|accessdate=April 20, 2020}}

| rev7 = Rock Hard

| rev7score = 8/10{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/story-of-the-year-the-constant_346155.html|title=Story of the Year - The Constant|work=Rock Hard|author=Schnädelbach, Buffo|date=March 17, 2010|accessdate=April 20, 2020|language=de}}

| rev8 = Rock Sound

| rev8Score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/read/story-of-the-year-the-constant|title=Story of the Year - The Constant|work=Rock Sound|author=Thomas, Jen|date=February 15, 2010|accessdate=February 20, 2010}}

| rev9 = Sputnikmusic

| rev9Score = 3.5/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/35043/Story-of-the-Year-The-Constant/|title=Story of the Year - The Constant (staff review)|author=Davey Boy|publisher=Sputnikmusic|date=15 February 2010|accessdate=2 August 2012}}

| rev10 = Ultimate Guitar

| rev10Score = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/story_of_the_year/the_constant/8440/|title=The Constant review by Story of the Year|publisher=Ultimate Guitar|author=UG Team|date=February 17, 2010|accessdate=December 11, 2016}}

}}

The album debuted at #42 on the Billboard 200 charts with sales of 14,115.{{cite web|url=http://www.dgsource.com/forum/say-what/102272-soundscan-album-digital-songs-sales-03-06-10-a.html |title=dgsource.com |publisher=dgsource.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-10}}

All lyrics written by Dan Marsala and Adam Russell, all music composed by Story of the Year.

{{track listing

| title1 = The Children Sing

| length1 = 4:07

| title2 = The Ghost of You and I

| length2 = 3:55

| title3 = I'm Alive

| length3 = 4:15

| title4 = To the Burial

| length4 = 3:48

| title5 = The Dream Is Over

| length5 = 3:52

| title6 = Remember a Time

| length6 = 4:05

| title7 = Holding On to You

| length7 = 3:43

| title8 = Won Threw Ate

| length8 = 3:44

| title9 = Ten Years Down

| length9 = 3:53

| title10 = Time Goes On

| length10 = 4:06

| title11 = Eye for an Eye

| length11 = 2:14

| total_length = 41:42

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track{{cite web|title=The Constant CD Album|website=CDJapan|url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/EICP-1321|access-date=February 4, 2021}}

| total_length = 46:01

| title12 = Your Unsung Friend

| length12 = 4:19

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Digital download exclusive bonus tracks

| title12 = Your Unsung Friend

| length12 = 4:19

| title13 = Tonight We Fall

| length13 = 3:47

| total_length = 49:48

}}

Personnel per booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=The Constant|others=Story of the Year|year=2010|type=booklet|publisher=Epitaph Records|id=HR788-2}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Story of the Year

• Dan Marsala – lead vocals
• Ryan Phillips - guitar
• Philip Sneed – guitar, vocals, keys, synthesizers
• Adam Russell – bass
• Josh Wills – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Dave Holdredge – strings, string arrangements
• Kalei Sneed – children's choir (track 1)
• Sydney Baskette – children's choir (track 1)
• Alexis Baskette – children's choir (track 1)
• The Bookworms – gang vocals

{{col-2}}

Production and design

• Michael "Elvis" Baskette – producer, mixing
• Dave Holdredge – mixing, engineer
• Jef Mall – digital editing
• Casey White – studio assistant
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Nick Pirtchard – art, design, cover photo
• Tim Harman – band photo
• Josh Wills – subway photo

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6gY2jzgZs8g57AYap88YU6ayfk4tnoQ5 The Constant] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Story of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Constant, The}}

Category:2010 albums

Category:Story of the Year albums

Category:Epitaph Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Michael Baskette