XX (album)

XX (pronounced Double X) is the fourth major label album by industrial metal band Mushroomhead, released in 2001. Originally released through Eclipse Records, where Mushroomhead took classic tracks and re-recorded them. XX was entirely re-recorded and re-released on Universal Records later in the year. XX contains tracks from the band's three independently released albums – Mushroomhead, Superbuick, and M3. The release of XX through Universal Records helped introduce Mushroomhead on a national and international level, while previously being known predominantly on a regional scale.

The album has sold over 300,000 copies.^[2] It was also available in a free mail-away offer for those who placed a Mushroomhead promotional banner on their website. The album (along with Savior Sorrow) is also available for purchase from Mushroomhead's website.

Difference between versions

The Eclipse Records version contains a hidden prank call at the end of "Bwomp" extended mix. It was originally due to appear on the Universal Records release, but due to a law suit filed by Eclipse for the way Mushroomhead left the label, it was left off the album. The band originally stated that the only reason they originally included the prank call was because the guy that made it included Mushroomhead in the conversation, as he was said to have been a big fan of the band.

The Eclipse Records release included an instrumental track titled "Epiphany" as well as a bonus hidden track, which is the same prank phone call skit that concludes M3. The Universal Records release included additional tracks of "Fear Held Dear," "Too Much Nothing," and a cover of Pink Floyd’s "Empty Spaces." The version of "Empty Spaces" is placed directly in front of "Born of Desire" on the track listing to duplicate Mushroomhead's live version that would allow "Empty Spaces" as an intro of sorts to begin "Born of Desire."

The Eclipse version has all the tracks re-recorded from their original albums. The Universal versions of the songs are re-mixed and in some cases certain parts are re-recorded from the versions on the Eclipse release. So the songs on both albums are different versions of each other, and of the original versions on previous releases.

There is a change in members marked in the booklets for the two versions. The Eclipse edition lists J.J. Righteous on Guitar and Bronson as Samples below a picture of the band. The alternative mixed version available from Universal features a different inside picture listing Bronson on Guitar and the introduction of St1tch on Samples. Due to the masked conformed nature of the members, Righteous is still on the cover of both versions. Part of the reason XX was re-mixed/re-recorded was so that St1tch could appear on the recordings, and Bronson could do some guitar work.

Music videos

"Solitaire/Unraveling" is the only song on the album to have a music video produced which was directed by Dean Karr. The video is set in a Southern California airplane hangar and features the band in specially designed masks. According to J Mann, the song "acts as a metaphor for the cycles of life and the duality of man." Drummer and founder Skinny adds "It's very much us: dark, creepy, surreal." It found moderate airplay on Uranium and MTV2.

According to the now defunct Mushroomhead.org, "Before I Die" was also going to have a video, but at the time, the band said they were "still shopping for a director." A montage video for "Before I Die" is featured on the band's debut DVD Mushroomhead: Volume 1.

Track listing

Personnel

• Steve Felton – Producer
• Mushroomhead – producer
• Bill Korecky – Engineer
• Pat Lewis – Engineer
• Scot Edgell – Additional vocals
• Toby Wright – Mixer
• Elliott Blakey – Mix Assistant
• Steven Marcussen – Mastering
• Vanessa Solowiow – Photos, layout & design

Reception

• CMJ (4/30/01, p.17) - "Employs piano, clean vocals, and strong song structures; and beckons more to Faith No More ca. King For A Day or Fool For A Lifetime." ^[3]

Chart positions

Covers

Local Dallas rapper, Baby Hulk samples "Solitaire/Unraveling" on his first album, Super Thowed Hero.

References

External links

• View the lyrics to this album at Mushroomhead.com