| Purity of Essence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 March 2010 | |||
| Recorded | November–December 2009 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 61:09 | |||
| Label | Sony | |||
| Producer | Hoodoo Gurus,Charles Fisher | |||
| Hoodoo Gurus chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Purity of Essence | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| The Australian | (Positive)[2] |
| The Age | (Positive)[3] |
Purity of Essence is the ninth studio album by Australian groupHoodoo Gurus. It was released on 12 March 2010 and peaked at No. 16 on theARIA Charts.
The album was co-produced by the band withCharles Fisher, who produced two of the band's previous albums,Mars Needs Guitars! andBlue Cave. The album was mixed byEd Stasium, who previously worked with the Hoodoo Gurus on theKinky andCrank.
Hoodoo Gurus were formed in 1981 in Sydney, their eighth studio album,Mach Schau, was released in 2004.[4] They were inducted into theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)Hall of Fame on 18 July 2007.[5] This was followed by a national tour of Australia called 'Clash of the Titans' withThe Stems andRadio Birdman.[6] According to Hoodoo Gurus frontman,Dave Faulkner, there were tentative plans to release a new album in 2009, although little material had been written by July 2008.[7]
In March 2009, Hoodoo Gurus signed a new recording contract withSony Music Australia, the deal includes the band's back catalogue as well as a new album, the band's ninth studio album.[8][9] The album was originally scheduled for release in September 2009 but they were not happy with the final mix.[10]
We weren't really satisfied with the studio we were in and a whole lot of things, so we had to pull the plug on that and then rethink. We just had to eat the expense, you know, we had to give them a week's cancellation (fee).
— Dave Faulkner[10]
Hoodoo Gurus then sent their songs off toDurango, Colorado, whereEd Stasium, who worked on the band's previous albumsKinky andCrank, worked with Faulkner. Faulkner flew to the US after Hoodoo Gurus performed inJapan,[11] their first performances there in over 20 years.[10]
In August 2009 it was revealed that guitaristBrad Shepherd had been diagnosed withcancer and was recovering from recent surgery.[12] It was his second cancer diagnosis, having had amelanoma removed five years earlier.[12]
The first single from their new album, "Crackin' Up", was released in December 2009[13] and received some airplay on Australian radio stations.[14] The album,Purity of Essence, was released on 12 March 2010 in Australia and internationally on 11 May.[15]
A limited edition of the album was also released which included a bonusDVD containing four live tracks, part of the "Max Sessions in the Sand", recorded at theSt Kilda Festival on 10 February 2008.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Crackin' Up" | Dave Faulkner[16] | 3:55 |
| 2. | "A Few Home Truths" | Faulkner[16] | 3:32 |
| 3. | "Are You Sleeping?" | Faulkner[16] | 4:35 |
| 4. | "Burnt Orange" | Faulkner[16] | 3:01 |
| 5. | "I Hope You're Happy" | Faulkner[16] | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Ashamed of Me" | Faulkner[16] | 3:55 |
| 7. | "What's in It for Me?" | Faulkner[16] | 3:23 |
| 8. | "Over Nothing" | Faulkner[16] | 5:01 |
| 9. | "You've Got Another Thing Coming" | Brad Shepherd[16] | 2:57 |
| 10. | "Only in America" | Faulkner[16] | 4:44 |
| 11. | "Somebody, Take Me Home" | Faulkner, Shepherd[16] | 3:04 |
| 12. | "Let Me In" | Faulkner, Shepherd[16] | 3:24 |
| 13. | "Evening Shade" | Faulkner[16] | 3:39 |
| 14. | "Why So Sad?" | Faulkner[16] | 4:26 |
| 15. | "1968" | Faulkner, Shepherd[16] | 2:37 |
| 16. | "The Stars Look Down" | Faulkner[16] | 5:33 |
| Total length: | 61:09 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bittersweet" (Music Video) | |
| 2. | "Come Anytime" (Music Video) | |
| 3. | "1000 Miles Away" (Video) | |
| 4. | "I was a Kamikaze Pilot" (Video) |
Credited to:[17]
Hoodoo Gurus members
Additional musicians
Production details
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] | 16 |
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 12 March 2010 | Sony Music | CD,Digital download | 88697645112 |
| Limited Edition CD (with bonusDVD) | 88697670902 | |||
| United States | 11 May 2010 | CD | 881626927724 | |
| Worldwide | ||||
| Brazil | 7 Dec 2010 | Som Livre | CD | 1755-2[19] |
