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Texas Is The Reason

Do You Know Who You Are?
1996
Revelation

Texas Is The Reason - Do You Know Who You Are? (Cover Artwork)

Review by: benz
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Published on July 22nd 2003

Yeah, yeah, I know this album is over half a decade old, I just always assumed that there was a review of it on this site. I was actually surprised when I found out that there was no trace of coverage for this influential, inspirational, and frequently imitated band.

The now defunct Texas Is The Reason (named after a line in the song “Bullet” by the Misfits) have left the world with their sole full-length recording*, “Do You Know Who You Are?” (named after the last words John Lennon supposedly heard before he died). Formed from the ashes of various hardcore bands, TITR was a venue for Garrett Klahn, Scott Winegard, Norm Arenas, and Chris Daly to create more personal music and shed the viciousness of hardcore.

“Do You Know Who You Are Now?” does what all good albums do – the songs are not meant to stand alone (although they easily could), rather the album as a whole is the true work of art in this case. It takes the listener on a journey with the band, going along with the story they have to tell. The hardest part of reviewing this album is that the feeling created by listening to it cannot be described. The aural oddysee begins with the upbeat track “Johnny On The Spot”, leading into “The Magic Bullet Theory”, probably the best song to use in order to describe TITR’s overall sound. With the next three songs you can easily see how this band has influenced the increasingly popular emo genre. The title track is a haunting three minute instrumental that leads right into “Back And To The Left”, undoubtedly the most explosive track on the CD. From there, the album begins to calm down, escorting the listener into the incredible ender “A Jack With One Eye”, a song that starts out slow, but turns into a towering sonic detonation. Vocalist Garrett Klahn ends the last TITR song (ever) with a final warm phrase – “Your face is still at the heart of my everything”.

If you are tired with current offerings by bands, then I ardently recommend this album. TITR was an innovative band that created music that was soaring, yet subtle; aggressive, yet beautiful; and profound, yet down to earth. As guitarist Norm Areanas once said, “We want to be a part of history.” This album, lauded by scensters and casual listeners alike, has become a milestone in the history of underground music.

*I also highly advise you to check out their eponymous debut EP, all three songs on it are brilliant. They also have released singles on split albums with The Promise Ring (featuring one of their best songs, “Blue Boy”) and Samuel.

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Posted by dev on 2007-06-06 12:07:40
My Score:

LOL, yeah looks like Scott was wrong.
But a lot of people are still wrong about how great this album is. Just over 10 years later and it's still sounds as fresh as when I unwrapped it from the plastic in 1996. There is not a single note or lyric out of place on this album. It truly is the greatest album ever made by anyone, anywhere. And if you don't agree, like I said, you'd be wrong.

Posted by patrickingeneral on 2007-04-24 09:55:26
My Score:

God could not have made a finer album.

Posted by BrendanKelly on 2006-11-18 03:27:05

scott was wrong

Posted by VStoriesFallen on 2006-04-20 15:53:03
My Score:

One of the best records ever made.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 4:33 PM (EST)
My Score:

This band is so good. They did this whole melodic hardcore the best. I say it's right up there with Inside, Clockwise, and Silent Majority. Why don't band play like those bands mentioned anymore?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at 11:36 AM (EDT)
My Score:

man cd is awesoem. so much of the shit out there is a blatant rip off; as much as i like the get up kids only was it when i heard this cd (and the ep) that i realised just how good this band were. i'm just pleased they were able to make a couple of cd's (one being small) when so many other great bands havn't been able to do this.

juzzy

Posted by mxdsignals on 2003-07-24 16:47:49
My Score:

I agree - whoa.

Posted by Kurt_F on 2003-07-24 01:51:59
My Score:

Whoa.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 11:40 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Stumbled across this somehow. Years and years later no one ever gets the story right.

I don't hate Garrett. Garrett was not on heroin. We had lots of personal problems, we were under a tremendous amount of pressure, we didn't know how to deal with it.

We're all still friends and we all speak on a regular basis. We respect each other and realize that, through this intense experience, we became a part of all our lives forever.

We're grateful to everyone who still cares. Thank you.

--Norman

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 1:17 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Diary is better, but this disc is still quite good, not great.

Posted by soulbleed on 2003-07-23 10:27:43
My Score:

what a stupid question, heh

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 at 2:06 AM (EDT)
My Score:

how does this rank up to Sunny Day Real Estate's "Diary"?

Posted by Kurt_F on 2003-07-23 01:08:14
My Score:

Goodness. This album...oof. I don't even know where to start. So good. And unlike what the genre has become, this album actually has feeling.

Man I love this band.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 11:26 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Whenever I refer to a member of a band by their first name it's because saying their full name takes too long. I'm lazy. It's the same with abreviating band names... why say "Social Distortion" when I can just say "Social D". It makes my life, and those of the people around me, easier. Plus I think I have a studdering problem, so long words are hard.

-ty

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 8:28 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Well if you are going to do a review and quote a line lyric, why dont you get it right
"your place is at the heart of my everything"

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 3:50 PM (EDT)
My Score:

to quote a great band, "texas is the reason emo kids suck" .

Posted by inagreendase on 2003-07-22 15:24:18
My Score:

too bad this score can't go past 10, so this score is for the comment below...i've never laughed so hard...because its so true, and i do it too and 99.999% of the time i don't know the members

Posted by flocktothebeat on 2003-07-22 13:32:19
My Score:

i hate when people talk about people in bands and use there first names in way like they know them even if they really do. they should really just say " i am a god damn scenster and i want to show everyone that i know more about bands than they do, fuck i know texas is the reason by the first god damn name, who do you know? i know god damn texas is the reason. so where are my god damn scenster points, im saving up my points to turn in at my local thrift shop so i can wear ratty ass scenster clothes and talk about all the god damn bands i know so much about, over and out" or something like that. that said me and garret and norm where hangong out the other day and they said no chance for a reunion

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 12:32 PM (EDT)
My Score:

What?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at 10:41 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Wow I love this band. Let make all of the 13 year olds who think Further Seems Forever are the only emo band to rise from hardcore bands listen to FSF granddaddy here.. just a thought.

Posted by funkisdead on 2003-07-22 08:04:57
My Score:

why even say stuff like that if you don't know for a fact its true? i mean, wow... thats a pretty huge accusation to make.

Posted by jheisel on 2003-07-22 03:49:19
My Score:

i rarely find myself agreeing with my younger brother, but yeah, this album blows compared to that ep. too bad the band blew their wad with that one release and then never did anything interesting again.

Posted by maverick on 2003-07-22 00:07:08
My Score:

They'll never get back together, from what I've gathered. Norm still hates Garrett. The old story goes that Garrett was so addicted to heroin, he sold all of the band's equipment to get his fix on tour or something like that.

Of course, this is heard from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from... and so on.

But yeah, TITR will never get back together.

Also, this album is pure crap compared to their 3-song 7"/CDEP [which Rev charges an arm and a leg for on CD]. That EP is amaaaaaaaazing.

-Scott

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 21, 2003 at 11:58 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Best band name ever

terrible band

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 21, 2003 at 11:45 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Maybe the best emo record of all time. Texas is the Reason lyrics are so inspirational and so heart warming. The rumor that has always went around that they got so drunk at their shows, they just wasted their talent. It would be a great day if these guys got back for a reunion show. Excellent review as well I might add

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