“The Earth & All Within” is an ambitious and bold self-titled debut, combining alternative-rock riffs with epic, sweeping, orchestral sounds. Helmed by Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter James Ellis, the project stemmed from the idea of creating a hybrid album that blends his love of cinematic scores with the music he grew up on.
“It was such a novel idea, a rock band with a string section. It felt like something that should have already existed, so I went ahead and did it myself,” says Ellis.
Featuring the Philadelphia String Quartet, the symphonic sounds lay a beautiful foundation upon which raw emotion and rich storytelling are able to shine, while the album’s punchy guitar riffs and driving drum beats push each song forward.
Ellis’ musical influences are clearly heard throughout “The Earth & All Within,” which has been dubbed a “millennial rock opera.” Taking inspiration from Green Day, Glen Hansard, Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance, composer John Williams, and others, Ellis carefully blends them all into something wholly unique.
The result is an intriguing, genre bending, record that feels both nostalgic and fresh. With touches of alternative, emo, pop-rock, and folk, “The Earth & All Within” offers a twist to an otherwise classic sound.
The album’s lead single, “I Never Liked You (Anyway…),” is a prime example of how well the record blends the two vastly different worlds of symphony and edgy, radio-friendly tunes.
“It was one of those songs that came out in 10 minutes,” Ellis told Given to Rock in a recent interview. “I knew I wanted a big traditional rock song for this project so I had the vibe before the hook. Once those chorus lyrics came into mind, I knew exactly what the song was.”
Despite all being linked together with the common theme of orchestral strings, “The Earth & All Within” is not a one-trick pony, as each track offers something a bit different.
Unlike other songs on the record, “Glitch” brings a touch of industrial-rock to the mix while maintaining the album’s overall vibe. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” on the other hand, sounds more like something straight out of a movie soundtrack.
And then there’s “& All Within” – a song which brings “The Earth & All Within” to a close with its powerful introspective lyrics and emotional vocal performance. The track’s opening line, “I’m before you as I am / Not who I wanna be / Plain and bare / For everyone to see,” seems to almost perfectly encapsulate the album’s overall themes, serving as a summary of the growth and resilience depicted not only in the lyrics, but in the ambitious nature of the songwriting itself.
However, there is nothing “plain” nor “bare” about this record. “The Earth & All Within” is a bold and daring project, creating a unique genre fusion without straying too far from the songwriter’s alternative-rock roots.
