Between the Sun & Moon
Lost and confused, you're persuaded by the man at the crossroads that you sold your soul
- when you didn't...
The New concept album by Steve Brooks & The Fourth Level
The Story
Inspired by the "devil at the crossroads" legend, Between the Sun & Moon is a modern folk tale in the form of a concept album. The songs - including three #1 hits on the Euro and World Indie Charts - tell the story of a young musician at a spiritual and psychological crossroads in his life. Coincidentally, he meets a "salesman" who believes suffering is the only path to wisdom, and that it's his job to cause it. Convinced by the salesman he's sold his soul, the musician is caught between eternity and everyday life, in search of a way to express the inexpressible. The meeting at the crossroads becomes the first step on the only road to redemption - not selling out to fear.
Video
Official videos for the album's #1 title song "Between The Sun & Moon" as well as the #1 songs "She Comes Around" and "Where Are You?". Please like and subscribe - it helps others find the music!
Between The Sun & Moon
She Comes Around
Where Are You?
About SB4
Steve Brooks & The Fourth Level is an Americana Rock band with a
story to tell. Drawing from his experience playing anywhere from
smoky dive bars to music halls with the best acoustics, Steve has
created a soundscape that is deeply grounded in the storytelling
tradition of American music. Inspired by the “devil at the
crossroads” legend, his new concept album “Between The Sun &
Moon” tells the story of a musician who is persuaded by the devil
that he’s sold his soul – when he hasn’t.
Steve writes songs that simultaneously hold three separate meanings.
First, they are events that have happened in his life, sometimes told
through metaphor. Second, they tell a basic story that anyone can
relate to. “Just Another Song” is a perfect example: when the musician’sgirlfriend leaves him, he writes a song about her
and she becomes “just another song” instead of his wife.
The third meaning Steve weaves into his songs is an element of
mythological, spiritual, or folk tradition in the background of the story.This is true for “Between The Sun & Moon” as a concept album as well as for the
individual songs. In “She Comes Around” - the final song on the album -the musician finds redemption after following his own path and
not “selling out” to fear.
Even with these multi-layered meanings, just enough is left to the
imagination. The songs are crafted with an open ended approach
to allow the listener to relate to and maybe even find themselves in
the story. Like all great songs, they are as much about the listener as they are
the songwriter.Steve Brooks is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, drummer, rhythm guitarist,
and producer. Combining his life on the road with
his Masters’s degree in music, he has created a modern folk tale
that has something new to say with every spin.The Crossroads
Where everyday life meets eternity...
Lost Between The Sun & Moon
With the full moon rising in the East and the sun ready to set in the West, you meet "the man at the crossroads". He has a wild look about him, and for some reason you can't look away as he locks eyes with you.
You're just about to ask for directions when he says:
"Are you in a hurry, or would you like to smell the roses along the way? Either way, you pay me a toll. What do you say?"
You respond with silence, and judging from the reaction you get, he finds this insulting.
"I'll give you a piece of my mind you won't forget!"
An eternity passes in an instant as two thoughts simultaneously enter your mind. There's something clearly "off" about this guy, but you were told in the town you just passed through that he knows his way around.
How does he know where you're going?
And it's almost as if he'd been here waiting for you...
You've always thought it best to stop and smell the roses, but while the advice would be welcome, there's no way you're paying some crazy "toll" - or take a piece of his mind, for that matter.
You exhale loudly as you try to collect your thoughts.
Then, in the manner of saying "let's see now", and to nobody in particular, you say:
"OK".
Suddenly there's a look in his eyes you hadn't seen before - a depth of pain & sorrow, combined with a self satisfied grin that's not at all the look of a helpful soul giving directions.
"The direct route is left, but if you go straight through, you'll see things the likes of which you never imagined. Now you must pay".
You realize he thinks you've agreed to his terms... given the sign... putting your name on the line.
"I wasn't talking to you! I don't know who you think you are old man, but I haven't agreed to anything!".
Insanely, he says : "Say what you will, but you've already given me a great deal... The toll can wait, but in the end, you will pay!"
At this point you've had enough and continue on your way - straight through the crossroads. You're scared now, and as you walk on down the road, he yells with a tone of complete confidence: "you'll get yours!" Then the words that will haunt you: "It's all just a game!" They echo in your mind as the sound of his voice evaporates into silence.
This is the crux of "Between The Sun & Moon", a concept album about walking through the night towards the rising sun of a new day. Traveling through the darkness, you use the light of the full moon to guide your way, remembering that moonlight is really the light of the sun, reflected.
The nine songs tell the stages of the passage: departure, the crossroads, the journey into darkness, false dawn, the search for companionship, three muses, and sunrise:
1) The Eastbound Road (Departure)
2) I Wasn't Talkin' To You (The Crossroads)
3) Shaman (Into the Darkness)
4) Everything Is You (False Dawn)
5) Where Are You? (The Seeker)
6) The Worst Best Thing (Carmen)
7) Between The Sun & Moon (Tara)
8) Just Another Song (Louise)
9) She Comes Around (Sunrise - Penelope)
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