Sharing Space
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Sharing Space is the second full-length album by Australian rock band Cog, released on 12 April 2008. The album was, once again, produced by Sylvia Massy in Weed, California. The album peaked at number 2 on the Australian Recording Industry Association album chart.
Background
Following the success of the previous album Cog once again chose to record the follow-up at Radiostar Studios in Weed, California with Sylvia Massy.[1] Comfortable with the studio space the band expected a fluid process of recording the album in only 4 months, however a falling out with producer Sylvia Massy left Cog with an inferior studio and production responsibility.[1] After eight months in production Sharing Space was released exactly three years after its predecessor. Commenting on the ordeal, drummer Lucius Borich said "Sometimes you have to struggle through in order to come up with the goods musically. Otherwise it’s not going to have any validity or longevity."[1]
The title "Sharing Space" was inspired by the people and atmosphere the band encountered in Weed, California. Borich, detailing the origin of the term, said “Living and hanging around some of the awesome people we befriended in Weed, instead of saying ‘see you later’ or ‘good to see you’, the phrase they would use instead was ‘it’s been great sharing space with you.’ To me, those simple words made the experience seem a lot more important, and I took it back to the band and said ‘let’s call one of the song’s Sharing Space. The boys liked it so much they said how bout we call the album Sharing Space?”[1]
Lyrics and themes
Flynn Gower stated that after three years from the last album the band had made a "conscious decision" to produce something "very different from our previous albums" and avoid releasing a "New Normal Part 2". In this pursuit, Gower made a deliberate intent to alter their approach to writing the album in that "this time we really tried to nail things. We tried to be as articulate and clear as we could in an effort to get to the heart of the songs" as opposed to the previous effort which he described as "more impressionistic or abstract".[1]
Speaking on the major themes of the album Lucius Borich identified "research into 9/11" and "occult and political subjects" as information that "just needed to get out”. He went on to specify that “sometimes you have to be literal and get to the guts of it, rather than be all airy-fairy and obtuse.” Borich described the sounds and themes were an attempt "to create a freedom in COG’s sound" one that was "not limited by what instruments or style we use". He went on to encapsulate the feel of the album as "a real genuine heart-on-our-sleeves musical statement. We’ve really tried to explore as many possibilities in what music has to offer.”[1]
The sample at the beginning of "The Movie's Over" was a speech given by Mario Savio on December 2, 1964 at the University of California, Berkeley on the steps of Sproul Hall.[2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Metal Storm | 8/10[4] |
| World of Music | [5] |
Upon release Sharing Space was generally well received garnering mostly positive reviews. Stewart Mason of AllMusic observed that Cog "expanded the parameters of their sound" to include: "angst rock", "slow builds to eventual explosions" and even "potential radio fodder". He also commented that the "alternative metal sound" remained intact due, in part to producer Sylvia Massy with a "clean but assertive [sound]" and concludes that "Cog smartly build on their strengths here."
Three songs from the album featured in the Triple J Hottest 100 in 2007 and 2008 collectively; with "What If" at 47 in 2007,[6] "Bird of a Feather" at 31 and "Are You Interested?" at 97 in 2008.[7]
Track listing
All songs written, composed and performed by Cog.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Other Way" | 9:55 |
| 2. | "Are You Interested?" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "The Movie's Over" | 6:39 |
| 4. | "What If" | 4:18 |
| 5. | "Bird of Feather" | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Swamp" | 5:22 |
| 7. | "Sharing Space" | 5:35 |
| 8. | "Say Your Last Goodbye" | 4:04 |
| 9. | "How Long" | 3:26 |
| 10. | "The Town of Lincoln" | 4:18 |
| 11. | "Bitter Pills" | 7:33 |
| 12. | "Four Walls" | 4:11 |
| 13. | "Problem Reaction Solution" | 9:14 |
| Total length: | 72:41 | |
Chart history
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 2 |
Personnel
- Cog
- Flynn Gower – lead vocals, guitar
- Lucius Borich – drums, backing vocals, samples
- Luke Gower – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Production
- Cog – producer, album design
- Sylvia Massy – production, mixing
- Rich Veltrop – production, mixing
- Jim Wood – production, keyboards
- Maor Appelbaum – mixing
- Jason Benham - tracking
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Biography". cog.com.au. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ "Mario Savio Sit-in Address on the Steps of Sproul Hall". americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ Mason, Stewart. "Cog Sharing Space". allmusic.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ Jeff (May 9, 2008). "Cog - Sharing Space review". metalstorm.net. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ "Musik angehört". WOM Magazin (in German) (September 08). World of Music: 29.
- ^ "hottest 100 2007". abc.net.au. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ "hottest 100 2008". abc.net.au. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Cog – Sharing Space". Hung Medien. Retrieved 07 April 2012.
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