Selfish Machines

Selfish Machines
Studio album by Pierce the Veil
Released	June 22, 2010 (2010-06-22)
Recorded	December 9, 2009 – February 25, 2010 Ocean Studios (Burbank, California), The Green Room (Hollywood, California)
Genre	Post-hardcore, experimental rock,[4] progressive rock
Length	47:06
Label	Equal Vision
Producer	Vic Fuentes, Mike Green
Pierce the Veil chronology
A Flair for the Dramatic (2007) Selfish Machines (2010) Collide with the Sky (2012)

Selfish Machines is the second studio album from post-hardcore band Pierce the Veil, released by Equal Vision on June 22, 2010. It was produced by Vic Fuentes and Mike Green, and recorded between late 2009 and early 2010. Ex-A Day to Remember guitarist Tom Denney co-wrote with Fuentes a majority of the songs, as well as some of the music. Vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, also of A Day to Remember, guested on the track "Caraphernelia", which had its music video released on September 28. "Bulletproof Love" was released as the follow-up music video on July 7, 2011. Although the album was met with a varied critical reception, with reviewers criticizing the use of auto-tune on the tracks, it appeared on several American Billboard charts, including its Top Heatseekers and 200 chart. The album was reissued, with remixed production, on September 24, 2013.

Background and recording

Pierce the Veil had been recording, demoing and writing new material, at a home studio in San Diego, since they finished the 2009 Taste of Chaos tour.^[5] In an interview with AbsolutePunk in early 2009, guitarist and vocalist Vic Fuentes said the band's next album would be "completely inspired by our fans."^[6] Fuentes also said in the interview that he was not certain when the album would be released, but that it would be published by record label Equal Vision.^[6] Selfish Machines, along with the band's next album Collide with the Sky (2012), was written in a cabin that belonged to Fearless Records president Bob Becker.^[7] The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Mike Green during December 2009 and January 2010, with a planned release later that year.^[8] Green was selected as the producer as previous albums he had worked on "sounded amazing", as Fuentes commented, and that he was "a very down to earth and passionate person."^[9]

It was revealed on December 27, 2009 that Mike Fuentes had recorded all the drum tracks in one day.^[10] By January 11, 2010, the vocals and keyboard tracks had yet to be recorded and that the music for the songs were finished.^[11] A studio update posted on February 19 noted there was "eight days left of recording vocals".^[12] Fuentes later said he wasn't going to be recording in Los Angeles again as there "were a lot of distractions that we didn't need."^[13] Shortly after finishing the recording process, the band contributed a cover of Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" to the Punk Goes Classic Rock (2010) compilation.^[14] Before release, "The Boy Who Could Fly" was available for streaming on the band's MySpace account,^[15] and for free download^[16] from their PureVolume account, on May 10.^[17]

Music and lyrics

The majority of the songs featured on Selfish Machines were written between Fuentes and ex-A Day to Remember guitarist, Tom Denney;^[19] the pair also worked on the music for "The Boy Who Could Fly", "Disasterology" and "The Sky Under the Sea".^{[nb 1][18]}

Tracks 1–6

The music for "Besitos" shows off the band's Latin influence, and the lyrics describe Fuentes' relationship with a girl, from her point of view, who he "couldn't stop hurting over and over again."^[18] "The Boy Who Could Fly" was originally 6 minutes in length, but the intro was split off as a separate track, "Southern Constellations", because of its length.^[18] "Southern Constellations" is about Fuentes' fascination with southern girls.^[18] Fuentes called the guitar tone as "one of my favorite tones" from the album, which was made using a Stratocaster through a custom-made amplifier making the "glassy and unique sound we were looking for".^[18] "The Boy Who Could Fly" showed off the band's punk roots that has a hastily played guitar "represent[ing] everything that we loved playing as kids."^[18] The lyrics are about a relationship reliant on the other person with "obsession and desperation, and the stupid things you do when you're in love."^[18] The track was "craziest, most intense song" that Fuentes has written.^[18]

"Caraphernelia" came around based on Fuentes' ex-girlfriend Cara,^[20] who left her possessions at his house, which made Fuentes thinking about her when he saw them.^[18] Before adding the title, Fuentes sent the lyrics to Cara, who "was actually very flattered by the whole thing".^[20] As soon as he started writing the music for the chorus, Fuentes knew he wanted A Day to Remember's vocalist Jeremy McKinnon to appear on the song, asking him several weeks later.^[18] McKinnon screamed the chorus and bridge sections, which made the collaboration "very special" to Fuentes.^[18] Fuentes called "Fast Times at Clairemont High" as a "very selfish song", dealing "with human nature and our selfish tendencies",^[18] and including musical influences of Michael Jackson.^[18] "The New National Anthem" is about one night while Fuentes was visiting a girl and they were making out in the dark in her apartment.^[18] The intro was recorded at Fuentes' apartment and pieces of that recording were used throughout the album.^[18]

Tracks 7–12

"Bulletproof Love" is a song based on Fuentes' interest "with happy songs that have morbid lyrics", calling it "one of the darkest" he's written.^[18] Written in the style of suicide note that would be found by a loved one, the lyrics are about being passionate "with someone to the point where you're hurting yourself."^[18] "Stay Away from My Friends" is about an ex-girlfriend who was trying to be friends with Fuentes' friends, after the pair had broken-up.^[18] The piano featured on the song was played by his friend Dave Yaden, and was written by Fuentes in his residence of San Diego.^[18] The song came about by the band wanting to "make it as different as possible from the rest" of the material, placed in "the middle of the album as a sort of a breath of fresh air."^[18] A majority of the lyrics for "I Don't Care If You're Contagious" were inspired by a female fan telling Fuentes that her boyfriend was involved in a fatal car crash.^[18] The song was written "as a gift" to the fan, from the point of view of the boyfriend "speaking to her, telling her that he is still watching over her and that he will love her forever."^[18]

"Disasterology" is "a typical guy's dream" of girls, going out drinking and living the life somebody wants.^[18] The chorus was "a very philosophical idea that I've played around with for a long time", the creation of "something beautiful only to destroy it."^[18] Fuentes wrote "Million Dollar Houses (The Painter)" as "a gift to my parents".^[18] Fuentes' father worked as a painting contractor, barely earning, throughout his life, enough money to keep the family going and being forced to sell his home.^[18] The song "strongly express[es] my hatred for money and the way it sometimes fucks with people's lives and families."^[18] "The Sky Under the Sea" admits oneself is selfish when it comes with "love and taking what you want without regret."^[18] The "I am the selfish machine" lyric is a reference to the animal instinct that everyone has and won't admit to exists.^[18]

Release and promotion

Equal Vision announced on April 29, 2010,^[9] that Selfish Machines would be released on June 22.^{[nb 2][21]} Cover art was revealed on April 29, with the album being available for preordering the same day.^[22] A commercial was released on June 8,^[23] and the album was later available for streaming on the band's MySpace on June 15.^[24] The iTunes bonus track was "She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty",^[25] a Vic Fuentes and Jonny Craig song recorded in 2007.^[26] A deluxe edition of the album was released and included a bonus, "The Making Of" DVD.^[9] A few days after release, the band went on the Warped Tour.^[9] "Caraphernelia" was available for streaming on July 7.^[27] The album was released in Australia on July 9, and in Japan on August 4; both editions containing exclusive bonus tracks.^[28]

On September 28, a music video for "Caraphernelia" was released,^[29] and was filmed in Los Angeles,^[30] while the band was on the Warped Tour,^[31] and directed by Rob­by Star­buck.^[30] The song was included on the Warped Tour 2010 Tour Compilation,^[32] and on the Equal Vision various artist compilation, New Sounds 2011.^[33] A music video for "Bulletproof Love" was announced on June 28, 2011^[34] and released on July 7.^[35] The video was filmed back in May in Los Angeles with director Dan Dobi.^[36] A behind-the-scenes video was posted on July 27.^[36] A vinyl edition of the album, along with A Flair for the Dramatic (2007), was released on May 24, 2013.^{[nb 3][37]} A reissue was planned on September 17, the album is remixed by Dan Korneff, and would feature "Kissing in Cars", a song that was previously available as a bonus track on the original Japanese edition of the album.^[38] The reissue was set back for release on September 24.^[39]

Reception

Reviews for Selfish Machines were mixed. Under the Gun reviewer Chelsea Pickett said "new listeners are sure to become lifelong fans" upon hearing "the unique sound" of the album.^[40] Noting that "There's room for some moshing, some mic sharing, and some very good times to be had."^[40] Pickett said "I Don’t Care If You’re Contagious" sealing "the record as epic, emotional, and groundbreaking thanks to spot-on songwriting and brilliant instrumentation."^[40] However, she found the auto-tuned sections "a little forced".^[40] Rock Sound's Amy Bangs notes that "Fast Times at Clairemont High" as "sound[ing] way too similar" to "Sunburn Versus the Rhinovirus" by The Matches, and that the album's production was called "over-experimentation" with "particularly autotuned vocals, gives the impression of something to hide."^[41] For AbsolutePunk's Drew Beringer, he noted that despite the opening four tracks that "hit you in the mouth", the band "lose their focus and get a bit indulgent".^[42] Beringer also mentioned about the autotune, saying that it "rears its ugly head" as present on "Million Dollar Houses (The Painter)".^[42] Emily Yeadon for Mind Equals Blown is another one to note the autotune, commenting that was "a little unnecessary".^[25] The album was ranked at number 3 on Dead Press!'s "Top 15 Albums of 2010".^[43]

Track listing

All songs written by Tom Denney and Vic Fuentes, except where noted.^[19]

1. "Besitos" (Vic Fuentes/Dave Yaden) – 4:22
2. "Southern Constellations" (Fuentes) – 1:05
3. "The Boy Who Could Fly" – 4:18
4. "Caraphernelia" – 4:28
   • featuring Jeremy McKinnon of A Day to Remember
5. "Fast Times at Clairemont High" – 4:01
6. "The New National Anthem" – 4:00
7. "Bulletproof Love" – 3:57
8. "Stay Away from My Friends" – 4:41
9. "I Don't Care If You're Contagious" – 3:24
10. "Disasterology" – 3:26
11. "Million Dollar Houses (The Painter)" (Fuentes) – 4:01
12. "The Sky Under the Sea" – 4:36

Bonus tracks

Personnel

Credits for Selfish Machines adapted from Allmusic.^[44]

Pierce the Veil

• Vic Fuentes — Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, Acoustic guitar, Composer
• Jaime Preciado — Bass guitar, Programming, Backing vocals, Composer.
• Tony Perry — Lead guitar, Acoustic guitar, Composer.
• Mike Fuentes — Drums, Percussion, Composer.

Production

Additional personnel

• Jeremy McKinnon;- Vocals on Caraphernelia.
• Dave Yaden;- Piano, Keyboard and Synthesizer.
• Jonny Craig;- Vocals on She Makes Dirty Words Sound Pretty.

Chart performance

References

Footnotes

Citations