Yellowcard - The Underdog EP

Yellowcard - The Underdog EP

Underdog

Avondale

Finish Line

Powder

Rocket

Producer: Nick Rucker

Fueled By Ramen Records (2002)

Yellowcard released The Underdog EP on Fueled By Ramen Records in July of 2002. The 5-song EP captures band's transition between One for the Kids (Lobster Recrods, 2001) and the renowned Ocean Avenue (Capitol Records, 2003).

The first song "Underdog" is simply a ballad for any underdog. It's for the kids that were "picked last for the big ball game" and who were "beat up after class." By the end of this song, the underdog has risen and is ready to make a change -- "showed up one day you were not the same / you won't be the last one anymore"

"Avondale" was written by lead singer Ryan Key about Inspection 12's Dan McLintock because apparently the two had some beef back in the day. Key and McLintock were both members of the Jacksonville-based pop-punk band Craig's Brother. The song's title comes from the part of town that McLintock was from and the song itself references the Inspection 12 song "Doppelganger." The Yellowcard lyrics read: "I stuck a knife into his back, inventiveness is what I lack, he's always hanging up on loyalty." The Inspection 12 lyrics read: "so take the knife out of my back, inventiveness is what you lack and I wont stand for this disloyalty." Don't worry folks, the two are friends again!

My personal favorite song from this release is "Finish Line." The song was written in honor of Yellowcard's good friends in The Starting Line--the two of which had toured together in their earlier years. "The finish line is almost here and someone softly whispers in my ear, that times like these are memories to hold deep down inside of you and me"

"Powder" is about drug abuse--according to lead singer Ryan Key, Oxycodone.

"Rocket" delivers a solid ending to the EP. The lyrics, "the two of us we dream as one--the two of us, the two of us / the two of us take breath like one--the two of us, the two of us" were later used in "Inside Out" featured on the groups 2003 release Ocean Avenue.

Bass guitarist Peter Mosely, who recorded on The Underdog EP (2002), Ocean Avenue (2003), Lights and Sounds (2004), and Paper Walls (2007), was also a member of Insepction 12.

Associated acts:

Big If

Craig's Brother

Yellowcard is:

Ryan Key (vocals, guitar)

Ben Harper (guitar)

Warren Cooke (bass guitar)

Sean Mackin (violin)

Longineu W. Parsons III (drums)

Yellowcard (1997 - 2008 hiatus)