Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office and Shadows Are Security: Difference between pages

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{{wikify|date=May 2008}}
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox Album | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{orphan|date=December 2007}}
| Name = Shadows Are Security|
| Type = studio
| Artist = [[As I Lay Dying (band)|As I Lay Dying]]
| Cover = Shadows are security.jpg|
| Released = [[June 14]], [[2005]]<br/> Limited Edition [[June 23]], 2005<br/> Special Edition [[October 17]], [[2006]]
| Recorded = Big Fish ([[Encinitas, California|Encinitas, CA]]), January, 2005
| Genre = [[Metalcore]]<br/>[[Thrash metal]]
| Length = 43:24
| Label = [[Metal Blade Records]]
| Producer = [[Tim Lambesis]]<br />[[Phil Sgrosso]]<br />Steve Russell
| Reviews =
* [[Allmusic]] {{Rating|3.5|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:6idqoa9aeijr link]
*[[Cross Rhythms]] {{Rating|9|10}} [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/As_I_Lay_Dying/Shadows_Are_Security/13645/ link]
* Montagpress.co.uk [http://www.montagpress.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1711&Itemid=40 link]
* [[Blabbermouth.net]] 6.5/10 [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=332 link]
* MetalReview.com Favorable [http://www.metalreview.com/viewreview.aspx?ID=1811 link]
* MusicOMH.com {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.musicomh.com/albums/as-i-lay-dying_1106.htm link]
* [[Punknews.org]] {{Rating|3.5|5}} [http://www.punknews.org/review/4077 link]
| Last album = ''[[Frail Words Collapse]]''<br />(2003)
| This album = '''''Shadows Are Security'''''<br />(2005)
| Next album = ''[[A Long March: The First Recordings]]''<br />(2006)
}}


'''''Shadows Are Security''''' is the third album by the [[Thrash metal|Thrash]]/[[metalcore]] band [[As I Lay Dying (band)|As I Lay Dying]]. The album was released on [[June 14]], [[2005]] through [[Metal Blade Records]], and was produced by [[Tim Lambesis]], the band's vocalist, and [[Phil Sgrosso]], one of the band's guitarists, along with Steve Russell. A Limited Edition was released on [[June 23]], 2005 with a bonus [[DVD]] of a show filmed at the Substage Club in [[Karlsruhe, Germany]] on [[November 28]], [[2004]]. The CD was released again as a Special Edition on [[October 17]], [[2006]] with a DVD on the making of the album and included videos of Confined, Through Struggle, and The Darkest Nights. It also featured additional linear notes from vocalist [[Tim Lambesis]] on the concept of the record and little known facts on the making of the album.
The position of [[chief executive officer]] was established by ordinance in 1938 to assist the [[County board of supervisors|Board of Supervisors]] in handling the mounting administrative details of the County. The CEO is responsible for making recommendations to the Board that will result in cost-efficient programs that will better serve the public, the Board and County departments.


It peaked at #35 on the [[Billboard 200|US Billboard 200]] and sold,a as of 2007, about 275 000 copies. It has also produced three singles in "Confined," "Through Struggle" and "The Darkest Nights." Music videos were shot for all three of them.
The 38 County department heads are hired by the Board of Supervisors and report directly to the Board, but the CEO works closely with them to ensure that Board policies and priorities are followed. The CEO also monitors the departments' spending and recommends to the Board what the departments' budgets should be each year.


Although Clint Norris was the bassist when this album was recorded, he is not featured on the album on both bass and vocals. Phil Sgrosso is credited with recording bass on the album.
The responsibilities of the CEO are wide-ranging, including:


=Meanings to each song=
Preparing budget and operational recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
In the album booklet of the album, there are lyrics to each song and linear notes explaining what the song and lyrics mean to the lyricist, singer and writer [[Tim Lambesis]]. Also there are closing remarks.
Monitoring and controlling countywide expenditures.
Analyzing and advocating legislation.
Coordinating capital projects; debt management; asset, leasing and space management.
Performing demographic and geographic research.
Coordinating [[Emergency management|emergency preparedness]] activities and cost recovery efforts following major disasters.
Administering insurance management programs.
Addressing [[unincorporated area]] issues.
Handling centralized [[security management]] for employees and facilities.
Advising Board and departments on international protocol issues.
Managing the County's employee relations program and compensation systems.
Coordinating centralized marketing programs.
Coordinating centralized workplace programs, such as ridesharing, saving bonds, charity and volunteers.
Initiating and promoting activities which provide information about the County to the public.
Providing centralized photographic and [[graphic arts]] services.
To carry out these responsibilities, the CEO has established an [[organizational structure]] with six divisions: executive, budget and operations, financial and asset management, intergovernmental relations, service integration, and unincorporated area services and special projects. The heads of these divisions report directly to the CEO.


''Meaning In Tragedy'' - "I thought that I was done writing lyrics for the record when Meaning In Tragedy became a song. Since I'd covered everything that I wanted to conceptually, this song challenged me to look at the album from an outside perspective. There are so many resolute thoughts expressed throughout the other songs, so I decided to write about the initial journey that inspired the lyrics to come. The titile 'Meaning in Tragedy' gives hope that reflecting upon our past experience can ultimately lead us to change for the better. Lines like "confined freedom guides us to security" help identify that the fact that we are comfortable being told what to and believe as long as we are somehow manipulated into thinking we had a choice. We are comfortable when the idead of truth is put right in front of us because we all want to know the answers to our questions, but we don't have the discipline to find the asnwers for ourselves. Therefore, most of us accept things as truth that have never been questioned. We are told what to and think and are happily guided into our place of life because we have the passion and courage to fight the battles we will face. This courage is not worth being spent on an agenda that has been past down by generations of those who are already misguided."
The 2004-05 CEO department budget was $77,165,000, with 432 budgeted positions.


[[Confined (song)|Confined]] - "In this song, "home" is a place of purpose and vision. This song is about losing that sense of purpose and being caught up in the meaningless things of this life, like materalism and the temporary emotions that control our thoughts and actions. As easily as I identify these meaningless things, I often catch myself being emptied into these passionless desires. There is such a strong sense of urgency for everything that we do in life, but how many of those urgent tasks will last long enough to justify our efforts? I begin to ask myself that same questions while looking out the window beyond the grey walls of our tour van. There are so many places we have gone that I will never forget, but that same van has taken me to countless cities in pursuit of what I will never be able to take with me beyond this life"
=Current Chief Executive Officer=
WILLIAM T FUJIOKA


''Losing Sight'' - "Lyrically, this song is very short and one of the most straight forward. It builds on the ideas established in Confined that we need to reevaulate what really matters in life. In addiction to recognizing what is meaningless, the song was a way for me to come to grips with that fact that I need to let go of the vain things that I cling to. Letting go and becoming dead to my selfish desires and emotions is something that I will always have a hard time doing, but I know that is with this death that I will truly experience the life I was designed for"
William T Fujioka, former city administrative officer for the [[City of Los Angeles]], became chief executive officer of the [[Los Angeles County, California|County of Los Angeles]] on July 20.


[[The Darkest Nights]] - "The Darkest Nights is the first of two climatic points in the concept of the record. It is during this song that I have been able to fall in love and pour my heart out into something of worth but it is the very emotional side of love that this song describes. Regardless, it is this love that was initially able to save me. Knowing how much of this life is meaningless, I experience a deep sense of sorrow wondering what is worthwhile for my heart to pursue. This song describes a feeling that is very momentary but nonetheless proviced a memory that was capable of giving me hope through the dark times that would follow."
Fujioka, 54, was selected unanimously by the County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, July 10 to replace David E. Janssen, who retired in January but continued to serve in the role while the Board searched for his successor.


''Empty Hearts'' - "This song very directly deals with the false belief that love can be experience without sacrifice. "Lossless paradise" describes our modern sense of love, which is achieving selfish fulfillment without commitment or sacrifice. It is a search that leaves us feeling empty while we will look anywhere but ourselves in efforts to solve this impossible combination. I was divided between a dissolute self and the sacrificial sometimes sorrow-filled devotion that is required for true love. In the end, the answer became simple when I asked myself which one will last. Which form of love will still be there when the dark night passes though?"
Fujioka was highly praised by all five supervisors following his appointment.


''Reflection'' - "Reflection describes the dark night that the previous two songs refer to. It is my best effort to write down every emotion that I felt during that time. Even now, the lyrics seem to be the only accurate description I can offer. In the end, everything I felt was the result of the world I had created for myself through selfish lving and a lack of sincere sacrificial love."
“Bill Fujioka is a man of experience and integrity, who has a strong [[work ethic]] and a very independent mind. He is the right man for the job at a time when Los Angeles County faces some very difficult and critical decisions,” said Chairman [[Zev Yaroslavsky]].


''Repeating Yesterday'' - It was a very humbling process for me to realize how true these words had become. However, I was finally at a point where I recognized what I need to do in order to fully love. It wasn't the modern self-gratifying emotion I had seen in the moives. It was a total removal of myself and the formation of something new."
Fujioka is not new to the County. He first came to work for the County in 1978 as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and was human resources manager when he left in 1997 to become general manager of the Personnel Department for the City of Los Angeles. In August 1999 he was named Los Angeles’ city administrative officer. During his 19 years with the County, he was an examinations analyst, Civil Service appeals analyst, personnel officer, and administrator in the [[Department of Health Services]], including administrator and chief executive officer of High Desert Hospital/Antelope Valley Cluster.


''Through Struggle'' - "Through Struggle represents a very positive point in the concept of the record. While writing this song I was able to understand that growth starts by first removing what holds us back. My heart was like a machine that ran on feeling. There was a problem: Feeling is no more love than excitement is dedication. Tru love involves commitment and sacrifice. Which are two things that seldom exist when emotions have past."
“I’m very excited about this job,” said Fujioka. “It’s coming full circle. I appreciate the opportunity. It is an absolute honor.”


''The Truth of My Perception'' - Our emotions can be like windowless room that closes almost forcing us to think or act a certain way . This song is about waiting for clarity when those feelings are gone. Often, positive emotions give us motivation to love, but, in the end, that should bnot be the only reason we do what is right. When first feelings fade, I hope that I will still love with sincerity and devotion."
Fujioka retired as CAO of Los Angeles in February 2007. He at first was not interested in applying for the County position, but changed his mind when the Board of Supervisors approved a structural change that gave the position more power. Most departments will now report to the Chief Executive Office instead of directly to the Board. Previously it was the Board that supervised the departments and made the decisions to hire and fire the department heads.


''Control Is Dead'' - The closing line is The Truth of My Perception (''I will still be here'') shows a strong sense of confidence and determination. But, while, we all want to believe that we can control our every action, there are times in our loves when we fail despite our greatest efforts. Selfishness is so ingrained in our hearts that we often settle for what is easy or what feels secure for the moment. The phrase "shadows are security" comes from this song. Shadows are easy to identify but they always changing. Like emotions they are with us one minute and gone the next. The song is about overcoming temporary and false sense of security."
Yaroslavsky said all the Board members have worked with Fujioka either at the city or County and “all of us have been impressed.”


''Morning Waits'' - "Morning Waits was originally going to be the last song on the album. It is a testament to God's faithfulness despite my own. After everything I have learned, I now know it was always me who needed to change and God who was always faitful."
Supervisor [[Yvonne Brathwaite Burke|Yvonne B. Burke]] said Fujioka has tremendous experience in government, with extensive knowledge of the County. “I am just very, very proud that we were able to get someone of this caliber.”


''Illusions'' - This song fits well at the end of the concept because it is very retrospective. Looking back on all of the meaningless things I had left behind it makes sense to ask the question: how could I go back to live amongst the dead?"
Supervisor [[Gloria Molina]] said Fujioka’s background with the County is an asset because he knows the County and its issues. “I think it is a big plus for all of us,” she said, adding that she was happy that all supervisors supported his appointment.


CLOSING REMARKS:
Supervisor [[Michael D. Antonovich]] said Fujioka “understands and appreciates the diversity” of the County and will work to serve those diverse needs. He praised Fujioka’s “excellent interpersonal skills.”
I have made so many mistakes in my life and done so many things that I have hurt those closest to me. I understand that God does not only love me because He feels like it, which makes me all the more amazed by His perfect example. God's love is an absolute commitment to me despite my reflection of Him. It is beyond temporary thoughts and feelings and straight to what counts...Forever sacrificing for those you love.


==Track listing==
Supervisor [[Don Knabe]] called Fujioka’s appointment “great news.” “He has a proven track record of excellence, leadership and results,” Knabe said.
<small>All songs by [[As I Lay Dying (band)|As I Lay Dying]]</small>
#"Meaning in Tragedy" – 3:12 <small>(feat. Matt Mentley of [[Throwdown]])</small>
#"[[Confined (song)|Confined]]" – 3:11 <small>(feat. Matt Mentley of [[Throwdown]] and [[Dave Arthur]] of [[Kings To You]])</small>
#"Losing Sight" – 3:24
#"[[The Darkest Nights]]" – 3:51 <small>(feat. [[Dave Arthur]] of [[Kings To You]])</small>
#"Empty Hearts" – 2:49
#"Reflection" – 3:11
#"Repeating Yesterday" – 4:02
#"[[Through Struggle]]" – 3:58 <small>(feat. [[Dave Arthur]] of [[Kings To You]])</small>
#"The Truth of My Perception" – 3:06
#"Control is Dead" – 2:56 <small>(feat. [[Dan Weyandt]] of [[Zao (US band)|Zao]])</small>
#"Morning Waits" – 3:56
#"Illusions" – 5:48 <small>(feat. Jason Moody of [[No Innocent Victim]])</small>


==Limited Edition Bonus DVD track listing:==
Fujioka said his mother, Linda, was very pleased when the Board offered him the position. “The first person I had to call was my mother because after leaving city service, she asked me every week, ‘When are you going to get a job?’ and I got this wonderful job.”
#"Falling Upon Deaf Ears"
#"[[94 Hours]]"
#"A Thousand Steps"
#"Elegy" (written by Kyle Fehr)
#"Reflection"
#"Distance is Darkness"
#"Collision"


==Special Edition DVD Content==
Fujioka and his wife, Darlene Kuba, live in Bradbury. He has a 16-year-old son, Jason. His brother, Fred, is a Superior Court judge.
#"Behind The Shadows: The Making of Shadows Are Security"
#"Confined" music video
#"Through Struggle" music video
#"The Darkest Nights" music video
#Behind the Scenes featurettes on all three videos


==Line-up==
=CEO Division Locations=
*[[Tim Lambesis]] – [[Vocals]]
Unless otherwise noted, offices are located in the:
*[[Nick Hipa]] – [[Guitar]]
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
*[[Phil Sgrosso]] – [[Guitar]], [[Bass guitar]] <small>(studio)</small>, [[Piano]]
500 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles CA 90012
*[[Clint Norris]] – [[Bass guitar]] <small>(live)</small>, [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
*[[Jordan Mancino]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]


*[[Dave Arthur]] ([[Kings to You (band)|Kings to You]]) - [[Clean vocals]] <small>(guest musican)</small>
Executive Office - Room 713
Budget Fiscal Services - Room 796
Compensation - Room 526
Employee Relations - Room 526
Emergency Management -1275 N. Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles 90063
Information Technology Services (ITS) - Room 781
OEM Information Technology - Eastern Avenue
Personnel Services/Office Management - Room 785
Protocol - Room 375
Quality and Productivity Commission - Room 565
Security Management - Room 785


==Credits==
Budget and Operations Management Branch - Room 750
*Jacob Bannon - Artwork, [[Design]]
Public Safety - Room 750
*Danny De La Isla - [[Editing]]
Justice - Room 750
*Kevin Estrada - [[Photography]]
Health & Social Svcs Adm - Room 726
*Michael Faley - [[A&R]]
Health - Room 726
*[[Nick Hipa]] - [[Guitar]], Group Member
Social Services - Room 726 & 750
*[[Tim Lambesis]] - [[Singing|vocals]], [[Record producer|Producer]], Group Member
General Government - Room 750
*[[Jordan Mancino]] - [[Drum kit|drums]], Group Member
Finance - Room 726
*[[Clint Norris]] - [[Bass guitar|Bass]], Vocals, Group Member
*Kevin Puig - [[Pre-production]]
*Steve Russell - Producer, [[Audio engineering|Engineer]]
*[[Phil Sgrosso]] - Guitar, Producer, Group Member
*Dave Arthur - [[Singing|vocals]], Kings To You
*Brian Slagel - A&R
*Andy Sneap - [[Mastering]], [[Audio mixing|Mixing]]


==Charts==
Intergovernmental Relations Branch - Room 723
'''Album''' - [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] (North America)
Federal Advocacy Office, 440 First Street, N.W., Ste. 440, Washington, D.C.
{| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 width="550px"
State Advocacy Office, 1100 K. Street, Ste. 400, Sacramento
!align="left"|Year
Public Affairs/Public Information - Room 358
!align="left"|Chart
Graphic Arts - Room 767
!align="left"|Position
Photo - Room 763
|-
Workplace Programs - Room B-1
|align="left"|2005
|align="left"|The Billboard 200
|align="left"|35
|-
|align="left"|2005
|align="left"|Top Independent Albums
|align="left"|1
|-
|align="left"|2006
|align="left"|Top Independent Albums
|align="left"|1
|-
|}


{{As I Lay Dying}}
Service Integration Branch - 222 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles 90012
Central Administrative Unit, 6th Floor
Emergency Management Information Systems (EMIS) - 1275 N. Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles 90063
Community of Care Project MacLaren Children's Center - 4024 N. Durfee Avenue, El Monte 91732


[[Category:2005 albums]]
Facilities & Asset Management Branch - Room 754
[[Category:As I Lay Dying albums]]
Budget Services - Room 785
[[Category:Metalcore albums]]
Disaster Administrative Services - Room 783
[[Category:Hardcore punk albums]]
Management Information Systems - Room 781
Personnel Services/Office Management - Room 785
Risk Management - Room 796
Capital Projects - Room 754
Asset Planning and Strategy - Room 754
Property Development/Space Coordination - Room 754


[[fr:Shadows Are Security]]
CAO Real Estate Division -222 S. Hill St., Los Angeles 3rd Floor
[[it:Shadows are Security]]
Space Management - 4th Floor
[[nl:Shadows Are Security]]
Lease Acquisitions - 4th Floor
[[pl:Shadows Are Security]]
Rent/Budget Administration - 3rd Floor
[[pt:Shadows Are Security]]
Property Management - 3rd Floor
[[fi:Shadows are Security]]
Facility Space Design - 3rd Floor
[[sv:Shadows Are Security]]

Unincorporated Areas Services and Special Projects - Room 723

Unincorporated Area Services - Room 723
Special Projects - Room 726 & 750

==Former Chief Administrative/Executive Officers==
* General Wayne Allen Sept. 9, 1938 - December 1951
* Arthur J. Will Dec. 11, 1951 - Dec. 1, 1957
* Lin S. Hollinger Jan. 14, 1958 - Dec. 11, 1970
* Arthur G. Will Dec. 12, 1970 - Sept. 3, 1974
* Harry L. Hufford Sept. 4, 1974 - Jan. 7, 1985
* James C. Hankla Feb. 14, 1985 - Feb. 27, 1987
* Richard B. Dixon March 1, 1987 - Feb. 2, 1993
* Harry L. Hufford (Interim) Feb. 3, 1993 - Oct. 17, 1993
* Sally R. Reed Oct. 18, 1993 - June 1,1996
* Sandra M. Davis (Interim) June 2, 1996 - Aug. 24, 1996
* David E. Janssen Aug. 25, 1996 - July 19, 2007
* William T Fujioka July 20, 2007 - Present
{{County of Los Angeles}}
[[Category:Chief executives]]

Revision as of 15:02, 12 October 2008

Untitled

Shadows Are Security is the third album by the Thrash/metalcore band As I Lay Dying. The album was released on June 14, 2005 through Metal Blade Records, and was produced by Tim Lambesis, the band's vocalist, and Phil Sgrosso, one of the band's guitarists, along with Steve Russell. A Limited Edition was released on June 23, 2005 with a bonus DVD of a show filmed at the Substage Club in Karlsruhe, Germany on November 28, 2004. The CD was released again as a Special Edition on October 17, 2006 with a DVD on the making of the album and included videos of Confined, Through Struggle, and The Darkest Nights. It also featured additional linear notes from vocalist Tim Lambesis on the concept of the record and little known facts on the making of the album.

It peaked at #35 on the US Billboard 200 and sold,a as of 2007, about 275 000 copies. It has also produced three singles in "Confined," "Through Struggle" and "The Darkest Nights." Music videos were shot for all three of them.

Although Clint Norris was the bassist when this album was recorded, he is not featured on the album on both bass and vocals. Phil Sgrosso is credited with recording bass on the album.

Meanings to each song

In the album booklet of the album, there are lyrics to each song and linear notes explaining what the song and lyrics mean to the lyricist, singer and writer Tim Lambesis. Also there are closing remarks.

Meaning In Tragedy - "I thought that I was done writing lyrics for the record when Meaning In Tragedy became a song. Since I'd covered everything that I wanted to conceptually, this song challenged me to look at the album from an outside perspective. There are so many resolute thoughts expressed throughout the other songs, so I decided to write about the initial journey that inspired the lyrics to come. The titile 'Meaning in Tragedy' gives hope that reflecting upon our past experience can ultimately lead us to change for the better. Lines like "confined freedom guides us to security" help identify that the fact that we are comfortable being told what to and believe as long as we are somehow manipulated into thinking we had a choice. We are comfortable when the idead of truth is put right in front of us because we all want to know the answers to our questions, but we don't have the discipline to find the asnwers for ourselves. Therefore, most of us accept things as truth that have never been questioned. We are told what to and think and are happily guided into our place of life because we have the passion and courage to fight the battles we will face. This courage is not worth being spent on an agenda that has been past down by generations of those who are already misguided."

Confined - "In this song, "home" is a place of purpose and vision. This song is about losing that sense of purpose and being caught up in the meaningless things of this life, like materalism and the temporary emotions that control our thoughts and actions. As easily as I identify these meaningless things, I often catch myself being emptied into these passionless desires. There is such a strong sense of urgency for everything that we do in life, but how many of those urgent tasks will last long enough to justify our efforts? I begin to ask myself that same questions while looking out the window beyond the grey walls of our tour van. There are so many places we have gone that I will never forget, but that same van has taken me to countless cities in pursuit of what I will never be able to take with me beyond this life"

Losing Sight - "Lyrically, this song is very short and one of the most straight forward. It builds on the ideas established in Confined that we need to reevaulate what really matters in life. In addiction to recognizing what is meaningless, the song was a way for me to come to grips with that fact that I need to let go of the vain things that I cling to. Letting go and becoming dead to my selfish desires and emotions is something that I will always have a hard time doing, but I know that is with this death that I will truly experience the life I was designed for"

The Darkest Nights - "The Darkest Nights is the first of two climatic points in the concept of the record. It is during this song that I have been able to fall in love and pour my heart out into something of worth but it is the very emotional side of love that this song describes. Regardless, it is this love that was initially able to save me. Knowing how much of this life is meaningless, I experience a deep sense of sorrow wondering what is worthwhile for my heart to pursue. This song describes a feeling that is very momentary but nonetheless proviced a memory that was capable of giving me hope through the dark times that would follow."

Empty Hearts - "This song very directly deals with the false belief that love can be experience without sacrifice. "Lossless paradise" describes our modern sense of love, which is achieving selfish fulfillment without commitment or sacrifice. It is a search that leaves us feeling empty while we will look anywhere but ourselves in efforts to solve this impossible combination. I was divided between a dissolute self and the sacrificial sometimes sorrow-filled devotion that is required for true love. In the end, the answer became simple when I asked myself which one will last. Which form of love will still be there when the dark night passes though?"

Reflection - "Reflection describes the dark night that the previous two songs refer to. It is my best effort to write down every emotion that I felt during that time. Even now, the lyrics seem to be the only accurate description I can offer. In the end, everything I felt was the result of the world I had created for myself through selfish lving and a lack of sincere sacrificial love."

Repeating Yesterday - It was a very humbling process for me to realize how true these words had become. However, I was finally at a point where I recognized what I need to do in order to fully love. It wasn't the modern self-gratifying emotion I had seen in the moives. It was a total removal of myself and the formation of something new."

Through Struggle - "Through Struggle represents a very positive point in the concept of the record. While writing this song I was able to understand that growth starts by first removing what holds us back. My heart was like a machine that ran on feeling. There was a problem: Feeling is no more love than excitement is dedication. Tru love involves commitment and sacrifice. Which are two things that seldom exist when emotions have past."

The Truth of My Perception - Our emotions can be like windowless room that closes almost forcing us to think or act a certain way . This song is about waiting for clarity when those feelings are gone. Often, positive emotions give us motivation to love, but, in the end, that should bnot be the only reason we do what is right. When first feelings fade, I hope that I will still love with sincerity and devotion."

Control Is Dead - The closing line is The Truth of My Perception (I will still be here) shows a strong sense of confidence and determination. But, while, we all want to believe that we can control our every action, there are times in our loves when we fail despite our greatest efforts. Selfishness is so ingrained in our hearts that we often settle for what is easy or what feels secure for the moment. The phrase "shadows are security" comes from this song. Shadows are easy to identify but they always changing. Like emotions they are with us one minute and gone the next. The song is about overcoming temporary and false sense of security."

Morning Waits - "Morning Waits was originally going to be the last song on the album. It is a testament to God's faithfulness despite my own. After everything I have learned, I now know it was always me who needed to change and God who was always faitful."

Illusions - This song fits well at the end of the concept because it is very retrospective. Looking back on all of the meaningless things I had left behind it makes sense to ask the question: how could I go back to live amongst the dead?"

CLOSING REMARKS: I have made so many mistakes in my life and done so many things that I have hurt those closest to me. I understand that God does not only love me because He feels like it, which makes me all the more amazed by His perfect example. God's love is an absolute commitment to me despite my reflection of Him. It is beyond temporary thoughts and feelings and straight to what counts...Forever sacrificing for those you love.

Track listing

All songs by As I Lay Dying

  1. "Meaning in Tragedy" – 3:12 (feat. Matt Mentley of Throwdown)
  2. "Confined" – 3:11 (feat. Matt Mentley of Throwdown and Dave Arthur of Kings To You)
  3. "Losing Sight" – 3:24
  4. "The Darkest Nights" – 3:51 (feat. Dave Arthur of Kings To You)
  5. "Empty Hearts" – 2:49
  6. "Reflection" – 3:11
  7. "Repeating Yesterday" – 4:02
  8. "Through Struggle" – 3:58 (feat. Dave Arthur of Kings To You)
  9. "The Truth of My Perception" – 3:06
  10. "Control is Dead" – 2:56 (feat. Dan Weyandt of Zao)
  11. "Morning Waits" – 3:56
  12. "Illusions" – 5:48 (feat. Jason Moody of No Innocent Victim)

Limited Edition Bonus DVD track listing:

  1. "Falling Upon Deaf Ears"
  2. "94 Hours"
  3. "A Thousand Steps"
  4. "Elegy" (written by Kyle Fehr)
  5. "Reflection"
  6. "Distance is Darkness"
  7. "Collision"

Special Edition DVD Content

  1. "Behind The Shadows: The Making of Shadows Are Security"
  2. "Confined" music video
  3. "Through Struggle" music video
  4. "The Darkest Nights" music video
  5. Behind the Scenes featurettes on all three videos

Line-up

Credits

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
2005 The Billboard 200 35
2005 Top Independent Albums 1
2006 Top Independent Albums 1
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