Album Notes

Up until 2007, This Glass Embrace had functioned as a casual collective of ten or so musicians centering around songwriter Matt LeFevers. This single/EP displayed the newly minted permanent lineup: having rounded out the longtime core of Matt LeFevers (vocals, guitars) and Jackie Roche (keyboards, vocals) with new bassist Kenny Rice and drummer Zack LeFevers. With a solid lineup in place and a few shows under their belt, the group was eager to put out some music as a four-piece.

This single was originally released as a teaser for the group's first full-length with the new lineup, 2008's "A Ghost in the Photograph". It features the single from that record and three non-album tracks.

The title song -- the pivotal scene from the "Ghost" concept album -- contrasts bright, guitar-driven pop rock with a story of betrayal, loss, and confrontation. "The Quiet League" features a duet between the group's two singers, over a soundscape of echoing guitars and piano. The catchy "Ever the Optimist" dissects the performing life with morbid self-deprecation, and the acoustic closer "A Cracked and Broken Vessel" is a vulnerable portrait of spirituality stripped bare.