A Cruel World

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A Cruel World
A Cruel World cover
Studio album by Bloodsimple
Released March 29, 2005
Recorded Warehouse Studios Vancouver, Canada
Genre Alternative Metal
Length 44:49
Label Reprise
Producer GGGarth and Bloodsimple
Professional reviews
Bloodsimple chronology
Demo 2004
(2004)		 A Cruel World
(2005)		 Red Harvest
(2007)

A Cruel World is the debut album by New York Alternative Metal band Bloodsimple, released on March 29, 2005.

Contents

[edit] Musical style

In broad terms, Cruel World's songs can be seen as falling into one of two categories: brutal but commercially digestible hardcore ("Straight Hate", "Path to Prevail", "What If I Lost It", "Blood in Blood Out", "Cruel World", "Falling Backwards"), or Alice in Chains styled alternative rock ("Sell Me Out", "Running from Nothing", "Flatlined").

The record's sound carries on, to some extent, in the direction of Vision of Disorder's last release, From Bliss to Devastation, which blended more commercial alternative rock elements with hardcore sounds.

[edit] Production and marketing

The band’s debut record was recorded with rock producer GGGarth Richardson in Vancouver, Canada. Richardson had previously worked with a number of metal / alternative rock acts, including Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot, 40 Below Summer, Chevelle and Trapt. According to the band, Richardson understood the sound the band was seeking and did not attempt to "tone it down".

The record's production was a lengthy process, spanning approximately three years from beginning to end. After an extended period of writing, the band spent three and a half months in the studio. The basic elements of the album, including most of the vocals, were recorded in six weeks. After taking some time off, the band received an initial mix of the record, but were dissatisfied with the results. The record was remixed with more success by Mike Frazier.

[edit] Songs

The themes of Cruel World include war ("Straight Hate"), failed relationships ("Leaving Song", "Sell Me Out"), paranoia ("Running from Nothing") and drug addiction ("Flatlined").

The album's first single, the brutal "Straight Hate", was written about American soldiers fighting in Iraq. Vocalist Tim Williams stated that the song was about how difficult it was for the soldiers and that he wanted to write something where the words would help them through the day. Williams denies that the song is political, stating that he does not care about the Government's reasons for deployment of troops to the Gulf.[1]

The song “Flatlined,” is about drug addiction, and was written from the perspective of a drug addict who eventually dies. Williams states that one of his best friends, who loved the song, ended up dying in the same way.[2]

The song "Running From Nothing" was one of the band's oldest songs. The band was hanging out at the Brooklyn apartment of guitarist Mike Kennedy when guitarist Nick Rowe brought in the song, half-written. Rowe gave it to Williams, who thought it was "one of the coolest pieces of music [he] had heard in a really long time". He wrote the lyrics on Kennedy's toilet with headphones in a matter of minutes.

The track "Falling Backwards" features a guest performance by Mudvayne's Chad Gray.

"What if I Lost it" was used as the theme music for Fuse TV's Metal Asylum.

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Straight Hate" - 4:46
  2. "Path to Prevail" - 3:18
  3. "What If I Lost It" - 3:25
  4. "Blood in Blood Out" - 2:20
  5. "Sell Me Out" - 3:38
  6. "Leaving Song" - 4:32
  7. "Running from Nothing" - 4:12
  8. "Cruel World" - 3:56
  9. "Flatlined" - 4:14
  10. "Falling Backwards" - 3:51
  11. "Plunder" - 6:45
  • This song ends at 3:23 followed by silence until 4:53, at which point an inaudible phone conversation fades in which leads to the end of the song.

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Charting Positions

Album

Year Chart Position
2005 Top Heatseekers 44

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
2005 "Sell Me Out" Mainstream Rock Tracks 39
2005 "What if I Lost it?" Mainstream Rock Tracks 38

[edit] External Links