| Title of Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 24, 1999 (1999-8-24) | |||
| Recorded | 1997–1999 | |||
| Studio | Abyssinian Sons (Chicago) and The Townhouse London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 70:23 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Producer |
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| Filter chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Title of Record | ||||
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Title of Record is the second studio album by Americanrock bandFilter, released on August 24, 1999, byReprise Records. The album's earlier sessions were marred with slow progress due to lineup changes and frontmanRichard Patrick's decision to construct his own studio for recording. However, progress improved after solidifying the lineup and bringing in further production help. In support of the album's release, Filter performed on the1999 Family Values Tour.
Title of Record was a critical and commercial success upon its release, peaking at number 30 on theUSBillboard 200. It had sold over 800,000 copies by 2001 and was latercertified platinum by theRIAA for shipments of over one million copies. Three singles were released from the album: "Welcome to the Fold", "Take a Picture", and "The Best Things". "Take a Picture" became the band's most successful single, peaking within the top-20 of nine international charts, including theBillboard Hot 100.
The album was created over an exhaustive four-year period. After the release of Filter's 1995 debutShort Bus, which was created entirely by frontmanRichard Patrick,Brian Liesegang, and adrum machine, the band toured in support of the album throughout 1996. In order to do this, a live band was recruited, consisting of Geno Lenardo on guitar, Frank Cavanaugh on bass, andMatt Walker on drums.[6]
Reports of working on a second album started to arise in early 1997. Initial plans involved Patrick and Liesegang working together on a second album in a similar manner as their first album. Liesegang initially spoke of traveling across North America and recording on aPowerBook whenever inspiration hit them.[7] He referred to a tentative title asLongbutter, a tentative release date of September 1997, and hinted of moving in a more electronic direction now that the band had established themselves as different fromNine Inch Nails, of which they had both been a part prior to Filter.[8] Prior to formal recording sessions for a new album, the two wrote and released a few songs on movie soundtracks, most notably theelectronic rock track "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" withthe Crystal Method, which proved to be a turning-point for the two. The sessions strengthened Liesegang's conviction to move into more of an electronic,Radiohead-type musical direction, whereas it had the opposite effect on Patrick, inspiring him to keep the music heavy and guitar oriented.[9]
With the two both unable to agree on how to proceed, constant arguing and power struggles ensued.[10] Patrick's collaboration with The Crystal Method had also opened his mind to collaborating with different musicians,[11] leading him to start attempting to push Liesegang out of the band.[10] The resulting tensions and fighting led Lenardo, Cavanaugh, and Walker all to leave first.[10] Relations between Patrick and Liesegang continued to deteriorate, and by mid-1997, due to Patrick's "creative dominance", Liesegang quit the band as well, leaving Patrick as the sole member.[12]
Patrick, now on his own, attempted to restart the sessions for the album, but experienced further roadblocks:
"I kind of had to hit rock bottom. I didn't have a band. I didn't have a studio. I had thisplatinum record that showed up in the mail, and I had nothing except for my own talents. So at some point, I forced myself to play the guitar. I would force myself to write lyrics. I was playing people's demos. I was still into the band. It's just that I didn't have anything.[10]
Patrick opted to start over by building his own studio, called "Abyssinian Son"; however, this ended up being far more complicated and time-consuming than he expected, with over two years going into dealing with realtors, property leases, and contractors to get the studio in functioning shape.[10] Once preparations were complete, Patrick met up with, and started early sessions with music producer andsound engineer Rae DiLeo.[10] However, after a month of sessions with just himself and DiLeo's guidance, Patrick decided not to do the entire album himself, and decided to seek out musicians, specifically, theShort Bus touring band.[10]
As several years had passed since members had left, this led to difficulties as well. Walker was unable to return, as he had become the replacement touring drummer forthe Smashing Pumpkins to replace drummerJimmy Chamberlin.[6] Lenardo initially was unable to return, as he had gotten married and had children and was living a life that was contrary to Patrick's requirements for him in the studio. However, after working through it, Patrick became more accommodating to his lifestyle, and Lenardo returned in a desire to provide for his family.[10] Cavanaugh had been touring withProng, but was able to return, and the band recruited new drummer Steven Gillis to replace Walker.[10]
With a working band back together, the album's final sessions began. Some tracks, such as "Take a Picture" and "Welcome to the Fold", would still be written entirely by Patrick, while others would entail Lenardo coming up with a rough idea, and Patrick polishing it into its final form.[13] The exception was "It's Gonna Kill Me", where Patrick conceded that Lenardo wrote the entirety of the music of the track.[13] Cavanaugh did not contribute to the writing process other than creating thebass line to the track "Cancer", otherwise just playing as directed by others.[13] Gillis oftentimes had to re-record his drum tracks multiple times due to Lenardo altering the guitar parts of the songs.[13] The band continued to work with Dileo on the album, but also brought in music producerBen Grosse to assist with the album's production andmixing.[14] Other collaborators includedD'Arcy Wretzky, former bassist of theSmashing Pumpkins, who provided vocals for the chorus of the track "Cancer".[15] Eric Remschneider, who had also contributed to the Smashing Pumpkin's song "Disarm" was also brought in to playcello on the opening track "Sand",[15] lead single "Take a Picture"[15] and closing track "Miss Blue".[16]
Described as being "firmly within theindustrial-metal tradition",[2] the record expands on thegrunge-influencedindustrial rock sound ofShort Bus withelectronic textures and elements fromfolk,worldbeat andpsychedelia.[17]
The album was released on August 24, 1999, and debuted on theBillboard 200 chart at no. 30.[18] In support of it, the band performed onFamily Values Tour 1999.[19] By October 2001, the album had amassed over 800,000 sold,[18] and was eventuallycertified platinum, indicating over one million units shipped.[20] On August 9, 2019, the band released a 20th Anniversary reissue of the album via Craft Recordings, which compiled a number of b-sides and remixes that had been released separately around the time of the album's release.[21]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Alternative Press |  [22] |
| Robert Christgau |  [24] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[23] |
| Q | [22] |
| Rock Hard | 9/10[25] |
| Rolling Stone | [17] |
The album was commercially and critically well received.AllMusic criticStephen Thomas Erlewine praised the album for its "subtle differences in tension and dynamics that keep it fresh and engaging throughout", albeit "a little out of place within the modern rock world of 1999" (due to the prominence ofnu metal) and ultimately "a strong album".[2]Entertainment Weekly's Steven Mirkin regarded the record as "derivative", while noting the band's "attention to melody and craft" to be refreshing.[23]Greg Kot ofRolling Stone thought that the album "rehashes theJekyll and Hyde dynamics that have become alternative rock's creative downfall." Nevertheless, Kot further stated: "WithShort Bus, Filter sounded like the latest and lightest in a long line of industrial-rock bands, butTitle of Record expands the possibilities."[17]
The album sold more than 1 million copies, and the hit single "Take a Picture" fared well on several charts. In 2005,Title of Record was ranked number 493 inRock Hard magazine's bookThe 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[26]
The album was featured as number 8 onLoudwire's list of "15 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1999".[3]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sand" | Richard Patrick | 0:36 |
| 2. | "Welcome to the Fold" | Patrick | 7:40 |
| 3. | "Captain Bligh" | Patrick | 5:12 |
| 4. | "It's Gonna Kill Me" | Patrick, Geno Lenardo | 5:04 |
| 5. | "The Best Things" | Patrick | 4:26 |
| 6. | "Take a Picture" | Patrick | 6:03 |
| 7. | "Skinny" | Patrick, Lenardo | 5:43 |
| 8. | "I Will Lead You" | Patrick, Lenardo | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Cancer" | Patrick, Frank Cavanagh | 6:39 |
| 10. | "I'm Not the Only One" | Patrick | 5:49 |
| 11. | "Miss Blue" (track ends at 5:36; after 13 minutes of silence, incoherent screaming andbackmasking occurs.) | Patrick | 19:48 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Jurassitol" (fromThe Crow: City of Angels soundtrack) | Patrick,Brian Liesegang | 5:13 |
| 13. | "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" (fromSpawn soundtrack) | Patrick, Liesegang,The Crystal Method | 4:28 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "One" (cover; fromThe X-Files: Fight the Future soundtrack) | Harry Nilsson | 4:07 |
| 13. | "A Note from the Author" | Patrick | 1:13 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Jurassitol" (2009 remaster version; fromThe Crow: City of Angels soundtrack) | Patrick,Brian Liesegang | 5:13 |
| 13. | "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" (2009 remaster version; fromSpawn soundtrack) | Patrick, Liesegang,The Crystal Method | 4:28 |
| 14. | "Take a Picture" (H&H remix; from "Take a Picture" single) | Patrick | 4:17 |
| 15. | "The Best Things" (Humble Brothers remix; from "The Best Things" single) | Patrick | 6:36 |
Band
Additional musicians
Production
Weekly Charts[edit]
| Year-end Charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[36] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[37] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
