The Fake Sound of Progress
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Thefakesoundofprogress is the debut studio album by the Welsh nu metal band Lostprophets, originally released on November 27, 2000 through Visible Noise, the album would be released in 2001 by Columbia Records and meeting stronger sales numbers around the world. The band began work on the album in 2000 after finding the suitable bass player in the band.
Thefakesoundofprogress was a critical and commercial success and became the band's breakthrough album. It peaked at number 186 on the Billboard 200 selling over 120 thousand copies in the United States alone and reached high positions on charts worldwide. Two singles were released from the album: "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" and "The Fake Sound of Progress", these singles helped Lostprophets reach mainstream popularity. In 2001, the album was certified gold by the BPI in the United Kingdom. In 2010, the album was certified platinum by the BPI in the United Kingdom.
Recording
Much of the album was made up of old demos that only took two weeks to make.[2] Many of these demos came from the The Fake Sound of Progress EP. Songs like "MOAC Supreme" became "A Thousand Apologies" and "Directions" was used as a B-side for their debut single "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja". Because of the albums short recording process, they didn't think it truly reflected their abilities as a band.[3] This is why they called their second studio album Start Something, as they felt it better reflected their music abilities.[3]
The album was recorded in one week for around £4000, and while originally intended as a demo went on to be released on Visible Noise Records.[4] When the band signed to Columbia Records in 2001 it was partly re-recorded, remixed and re-released (notably combining many of the between track interludes into the end of songs, shortening the tracklisting) much to the chagrin of fans of the earlier release.[4] Furthermore, the title track of the album, in addition to being partially re-recorded, was sped up significantly. This re-released version of the album was released in 2001 in the UK and US respectively.[5] The re-released remastered album was produced by famous producer Michael Barbiero.[6]
Release
The album didn't initially receive much attention, but following the re-release, remastering and the release of the first single from the album, "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" the 26 September 2001 the album entered the Billboard 200 chart later that year and would rechart in Britain. On Friday March 1, 2002 the album was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and on Friday April 26, 2002 the album was certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry again.[7][8] According to Rolling Stone Magazine the album has sold more than 120 thousand copies in the United States and 250 thousand copies in the United Kingdom.[3][9]
At the end of April 2002, Thefakesoundofprogress reached it peak at 186 on the Billboard 200, 13 on the Top Heatseekers, 9 on the Top Heatseekers West North Central and 8 on the Top Heatseekers Mountain chart in the United States. The album first charted on the UK Albums Chart at 116 in 2001, in 2002 it peaked at its peak position 44 and after the release of Start Something in 2004 the album re-charted and peaked at 166.[10] Two singles were released from, the album the debut single was "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja which peaked at 33 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The follow up single "The Fake Sound of Progress" peaked at 21 on the UK Singles chart without charting abroad.[11]
Reception
When released the album was met with mixed reviews by music critics alike. Allmusic reviewer Brian O'Neil gave the album two out of five stars and said that "the only redeeming quality is the great production by Michael Barbiero, that allows all instruments to be heard perfectly in all their ennui-inducing glory, proving that no matter how much you polish up a turd, it's still a turd."[12] Ben Rayner from Drowned in Sound however gave the album 10 out of 10 stars and quoted "in the world of Lost Prophets it's very easy to find something different with every listen with their non-chaotic but well textured tunes."[13] NME reviewer John Mulvey called the album "weirdly impressive", while no stars were given the album got a positive review.[14] The album would also meet with glansing reviews from the music publishers Panorama and Sputnikmusic.[15]
Tour
After the release of the album Lostprophets went on a tour in Europe and America.[5] Before the release of "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" the band went on a brief tour with the fellow British rock band Muse. They toured Austria and Germany together from October 21–27, 2001.[16] The band would also tour for the NME Carling Awards Tour which featured dates in the London Astoria among others.[17] They built up a strong live following with support slots to popular acts like Linkin Park, Deftones as well as several headlining stints of their own.[4] They also took part in the successful Nu-Titans tour with Defenestration and other famous British metal bands. The band subsequently toured on the Irish leg of Ozzfest, where they toured with famous acts such as System of a Down, Slayer among others.[18] They had also played at the Glastonbury and the Reading and Leeds Festivals.[4] In 2002 the band headlined the Deconstruction festival in Finsbury Park, London on June 3, 2002, supporting acts was Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Mad Caddies among others well known artists.[19] In October, 2002 Lostprophets returned to the UK for a tour visiting big cities such as Glasgow, Manchester and London.[20]
Track listing
All songs by Lostprophets All lyrics by Ian Watkins
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Obscure Intro" | 0:25 |
2. | "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" | 2:47 |
3. | "The Fake Sound of Progress" | 6:19 |
4. | "Interlude" | 0:47 |
5. | "Five Is a Four Letter Word" | 4:26 |
6. | "...And She Told Me to Leave" | 5:05 |
7. | "Interlude" | 0:59 |
8. | "Kobrakai" | 5:34 |
9. | "The Handsome Life of Swing" | 2:40 |
10. | "Interlude" | 1:13 |
11. | "A Thousand Apologies" | 4:05 |
12. | "Still Laughing" | 4:13 |
13. | "Interlude" | 1:35 |
14. | "For Sure" | 4:20 |
15. | "Awkward" | 4:25 |
16. | "Ode to Summer" | 3:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" | 2:47 |
2. | "The Fake Sound of Progress" | 5:32 |
3. | "Five Is a Four Letter Word" | 4:24 |
4. | "...And She Told Me to Leave" | 5:55 |
5. | "Kobrakai" | 5:33 |
6. | "The Handsome Life of Swing" | 3:49 |
7. | "A Thousand Apologies" | 4:06 |
8. | "Still Laughing" | 5:43 |
9. | "For Sure" | 4:20 |
10. | "Awkward" | 4:24 |
11. | "Ode to Summer" | 3:15 |
- "Obscure Intro" has been removed on the remaster edition
- All interludes has been re-recorded merging with previous tracks
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "The Lesson Pt. 1" (b-side from Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja CD single) | 3:12 |
13. | "Directions" (b-side from Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja CD single) | 4:55 |
Personnel
- Ian Watkins – Lead vocals
- Lee Gaze – Lead guitar
- Mike Lewis – Rhythm guitar
- Stuart Richardson – Bass
- Mike Chiplin – Drums, Percussion
- DJ Stepzak – Synth, Turntables, Samples (2000 original)
- Jamie Oliver – Synth, Turntables, Samples (2001 remaster)
- Dan Sprigg - Production
Chart positions
Albums
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
2001 | US Top Heatseekers (West North Central)[21] | 8 |
US Top Heatseekers (Mountain)[22] | 9 | |
US Top Heatseekers[23] | 13 | |
US Billboard 200[24] | 186 | |
UK Album Charts[10] | 44 | |
2002 | UK Album Charts[10] | 116 |
2004 | UK Album Charts[10] | 166 |
Singles
Year | Name | Chart | Peak |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | "Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja" | Modern Rock Tracks[25] | 33 |
UK Singles Chart[10][26] | 41 | ||
161 | |||
2002 | "The Fake Sound of Progress" | 21 |
Release history
Year | Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue # | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | United Kingdom | 13 November | CD | Visible Noise | TORMENT5CD | Promo copies list track 1 as "Intro" and list the tracks in the wrong order.[27] | [28] |
2001 | United Kingdom | 8 October | CD | Visible Noise | TORMENT10CD | Re-release | [29] |
2001 | United States | 4 December | CD | Columbia | CK 85955 | Re-release | [30] |
2002 | Japan | 22 January | CD | Epic | 30 | Re-release version, features the two bonus tracks. | [31] |
2003 | United Kingdom | 23 February | 12" Vinyl | Visible Noise | TORMENT10LP | Track listing features shorter titles. | [32] |
Footnotes
- ^ "Lostprophets". BBC Wales. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ Robert Cherry. "New Faces: Lostprophets". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ a b c Joe D'Angelo (February 25, 2004). "Lostprophets Ready To Start Something Orchestral With Second LP". MTV. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ a b c d David Jeffries. "Lostprophets biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ a b "Lostprophets". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ Inner liner notes, Thefakesoundofprogress, UK release from Visible Noise
- ^ "BPI - FAKE SOUND OF PROGRESS (Silver)". BPI. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ "BPI - FAKE SOUND OF PROGRESS (Gold)". BPI. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ James McLaren. "About rock music". BBC Wales. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- ^ a b c d e "Chart Log UK 1994–2006 DJ Steve L. – LZ Love". Zobbel. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ Brian O'Neil. "The Fake Sound of Progress". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ Ben Rayner. "Lostprophets: thefakesoundofprogress". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ John Mulvey. "Lostprophets: The Fake Sound Of Progress". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Lostprophets - The Fake Sound Of Progress". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Prophet From Your Favourite Band's Needs!". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "A View To a Hit". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Fest of Fun". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "'Prophet Take Top Billing". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "The Lost Boys Return!". NME. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Heatseekers (West North Central) – thefakesoundofprogress". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ "Heatseekers (Mountain) – thefakesoundofprogress". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ "Heatseekers – thefakesoundofprogress". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ "The Fake Sound of Progress". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-17. [dead link]
- ^ "Lostprophets Charts & Awards Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Chart Stats - Lostprophets". Chartstats.com. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
- ^ "Lostprophets – The Fake Sound Of Progress (T5CD promo)". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Lostprophets – The Fake Sound Of Progress (T5CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Lostprophets – The Fake Sound Of Progress (T10CD)". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Lostprophets – The Fake Sound Of Progress (CK 85955)". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "The Fake Sound of Progress [Japan Bonus Track] - Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Lostprophets – The Fake Sound Of Progress (T10LP)". Discogs. Retrieved 2008-09-03.