Sick | ||||
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Studio album by Loaded | ||||
Released | March 30, 2009 (See release history) |
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Recorded | June 4–18, 2008 at Jupiter Studios, Seattle, Washington | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, hard rock, punk | |||
Length | 49:50 | |||
Label | Century Media Eagle Rock Entertainment (reissue) |
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Producer | Martin Feveyear | |||
Loaded chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Limited Edition Digipak
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Singles from Sick | ||||
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Sick is the second studio album by American hard rock band Loaded. It is their first album since reforming after they went on hiatus in 2002. It was recorded and produced by Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington, and was released on March 30, 2009 in Europe and April 7 in the US, through Century Media Records. Writing for the album began in 2008 when vocalist Scott Weiland departed Duff McKagan's other band, Velvet Revolver, in April of the same year. Recording for the follow-up to their 2001 debut album Dark Days began and was completed in June 2008.
Following the release of the album, Loaded went on to promote it for over half a year; releasing one single and touring in several regions, including the United States, South America and several countries in Europe as well as playing at several music festivals. The album received generally positive reviews, many of which made some comparisons to McKagan's former band, Guns N' Roses. The album produced one single, "Flatline."
A Limited Deluxe Edition of Sick was released the same day as the standard Europe release. It included a bonus DVD of Loaded's show at The Garage in Glasgow, Scotland, a promotional music video of "No More" and all five of the band's Webisodes, including the UK Tour Webisode. This edition of the album is to be re-released in April 2011, following the band's signing to Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Contents |
When singer and guitarist Duff McKagan began working on a new project with his former Guns N' Roses band mates Slash and Matt Sorum in 2002,[1][2] he effectively put Loaded on hiatus the same year.[3] Adding former Loaded[4] guitarist Dave Kushner and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland to the lineup, they formed the hard rock supergroup Velvet Revolver in 2003.[1] They released their debut album, Contraband, in 2004 and the follow-up, Libertad, in 2007. Loaded reunited in 2006 to perform a benefit show for Jerry Allen's Cancer Fund[5] and continued to play shows on occasion.[3][6] Knowing that Velvet Revolver's tour was ending,[6] McKagan announced that Loaded were working on a new album.[7]
Loaded rented a rehearsal space[6] and wrote new material[8] including "Mothers Day," "I See Through You," "Sleaze Factory," "Flatline," and worked on older material such as "Sick," wrote in 2002, and "Wasted Heart," wrote in 2006-07.[6] They began recording the album on June 4, 2008[9] with producer Martin Feveyear at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, Washington.[10] The album was primarily recorded by the band,[10] with Norman Baltzo, Greg Schroeder and Nate Schlermer providing horns on the song "Blind Date Girl,"[10] and was completed in less than two weeks, costing only $20,000.[6] Loaded subsequently signed a deal with independent record label Century Media[11]
On June 24, 2008, Loaded made Dark Days available for free download, from select websites, to help promote the band.[12] They began touring prior to the release of the album, touring the UK, Europe and Japan.[6] They released an EP entitled Wasted Heart, featuring four songs from Sick as well as a bonus song, on September 22, 2008 to coincide with their European Tour.[6] The band filmed and released a promotional music video for the song "No More" for the EP release.[8] They also performed at the Italian music festival Rock of Ages,[9] the Azkena Festival in Spain[13] and the Loud Park Festival in Japan.[14]
Following the release of Sick, Loaded toured the United States, South America,[15][16] and Europe. They released one single, "Flatline," though it failed to chart.[6] In June 2009, the performed at Download Festival in the UK[17][18] Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany, Rockfest in the United States,[19] and the Sauna Open Air Festival in Finland.[20] They joined Mötley Crüe on their tour of Europe,[21] as their support band, before joining Black Stone Cherry on their tour of Europe and the UK.[22]
On March 20, 2009, Loaded released a limited deluxe edition of the album with a bonus DVD in Europe. The DVD featured the band's performance at The Garage in Glasgow, Scotland, filmed in December 2008.[23] Also included was the promotional video of the song "No More" and the five Webisodes including the UK Tour Webisode. The iTunes edition of Sick included the track "Roll Away" as well as an instrumental of the single "Flatline." Following the band's signing to Eagle Rock Entertainment in 2010, Sick is to be reissued in April, 2011 with the DVD.[23]
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | [24] |
Allmusic | [25] |
Artistdirect | [26] |
Billboard | (positive)[27] |
Blogcritics | [28] |
The Boston Globe | (favourable)[29] |
Exclaim! | (negative)[30] |
The Sun | [31] |
Ultimate Guitar Archive | [32] |
Sick was released in Europe on March 20[33] and in the United States on April 7, 2009.[34] It entered the U.S. Billboard Top Heetseakers charts at #43 in its first week,[35] selling over 1,400 copies.[35]
Sick was met with generally positive critical reviews. Most reviewers noted punk influences on the album and offered some comparison to that of McKagan's former band Guns N' Roses. Tim Grierson of About.com said that the band "will appeal to those who wished GNR had just kept making albums like Appetite for Destruction until the day they died" noting "[t]he emphasis is on brawling guitar riffs and three-minute songs" but "occasionally McKagan slows down the tempo for bluesy ballads."[24] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic stated that the album "doesn't necessarily rock with abandon" that "it's a bit too precise, a bit too clean for that" but "it does have a kick and spirit, enough energy to power through the somewhat pedestrian songwriting."[25] Amy Sciarretto, reviewing the album for both Artistdirect and Ultimate Guitar Archive, compared McKagan's and Guns N' Roses singer Axl Rose vocals, noting a similarity between the two while stating the songs "Sick" and "Sleaze Factory" "blend Los Angeles glitz, Sunset glam and grunge, Seattle-inspired guitars" and "are kicked up by the punk rock intensity."[26][32] Steve Morse of The Boston Globe notes Iggy Pop, Ramones and Lou Reed influences on the album, stating the "highlights are the riff-laced love songs with a domestic edge."[29] Chris Beaumont of Blogcritics said that Loaded "come together as a solid unit, delivering the goods" on the album.[36] He continued, stating that the songs "may not be the greatest, but there is an inviting quality about them that encourages listeners to just rock along for the ride" and noted that they "giv[ed] off a feeling of experience grounded by youthful energy."[28]
All songs written and composed by Loaded, except where noted[10].
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Sick" | 2:51 | |
2. | "Sleaze Factory" | 3:47 | |
3. | "Flatline" | Trey Bruce, Brian Howes, McKagan | 3:02 |
4. | "IOU" | 3:36 | |
5. | "The Slide" | 3:10 | |
6. | "Translucent" | 3:08 | |
7. | "Mother's Day" | 3:50 | |
8. | "I See Through You" | 3:57 | |
9. | "Forgive Me" | Loaded, Bruce | 4:12 |
10. | "No Shame" | Bruce, McKagan, Squires | 3:32 |
11. | "Blind Date Girl" | 5:10 | |
12. | "Wasted Heart" (electric version) | 4:57 | |
13. | "No More" | Bruce, McKagan | 4:33 |
Total length:
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49:50 |
iTunes edition | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Length | |||||||
14. | "Roll Away" | 4:59 | |||||||
15. | "Flatline" (instrumental) | 3:02 |
Deluxe Edition DVD | |||||||||
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | ||||||
1. | "Sick" (live) | ||||||||
2. | "Queen Joanasophina" (live) | ||||||||
3. | "IOU" (live) | ||||||||
4. | "No More" (live) | ||||||||
5. | "Dark Days" (live) | ||||||||
6. | "Superman" (live) | ||||||||
7. | "Sleaze Factory" (live) | ||||||||
8. | "Executioners Song" (live) | ||||||||
9. | "10 Years" (live) | McKagan, Gilby Clarke | |||||||
10. | "Translucent" (live) | ||||||||
11. | "I Wanna Be Your Dog" (live The Stooges cover) | ||||||||
12. | "No More" (promo video) | ||||||||
13. | "Webisode #1" | ||||||||
14. | "Webisode #2" | ||||||||
15. | "Webisode #3" | ||||||||
16. | "Webisode #4" | ||||||||
17. | "UK Tour Webisode" |
Chart (2009) | Peak Position |
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U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers | 43[35] |
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Region | Date | Label | Format |
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Europe | March 30, 2009[33] | Century Media | CD, digital download, Vinyl |
United States | April 7, 2009[35] | ||
International | April 2011[23] | Eagle Rock Entertainment | CD/DVD, digital download |