Numbers (Woe, Is Me album)

"Number(s)" redirects here. For the singular and plural, see number. For other uses, see number (disambiguation).
Number[s]
Studio album by Woe, Is Me
Released August 30, 2010
July 16, 2012 (reissue)
Genre Metalcore, electronicore, post-hardcore
Length 28:57
Label Rise, Velocity
Producer Cameron Mizell, Caleb Shomo (remixes only)
Woe, Is Me chronology

Number[s]
(2010)
Genesi[s]
(2012)
Singles from Number[s]
  1. "[&] Delinquents"
    Released: July 29, 2010
  2. "Mannequin Religion"
    Released: August 20, 2010
  3. "Fame>Demise"
    Released: March 21, 2011
  4. "#Vengeance"
    Released: September 27, 2011
Deluxe reissue album cover

Number[s] is the debut album by American metalcore band, Woe, Is Me, released on August 30, 2010 through Rise Records and its imprint division, Velocity.[1][2] A re-release of the record was released on July 16, 2012[3] with the band's new line-up due to the departure of Tim Sherrill, Tyler Carter, Michael Bohn and Cory and Ben Ferris. Number[s] was produced by Cameron Mizell in his Orlando, Florida hometown.

Release and deluxe reissue

Upon the release of Number[s], it charted at number 16 on Billboard '​s Top Heatseekers chart, selling 1,700 copies in its first week.[4][5] Two songs were released before the album itself: "[&] Delinquents" on July 29, 2010,[6] and "Mannequin Religion" on August 20, 2010.[7] The demo versions of three songs, "Hell, or High Water", "If Not, for Ourselves", and "I." had also been previously released. It is the last album to feature lead guitarist Tim Sherrill, given his departure from the band during the following year, as well as vocalist Tyler Carter, given his departure from the band in August 2011.[8] A re-issue of the album released July 17, 2012 featuring new vocalist Hance Alligood and former vocalist Michael Bohn as current vocalist. Doriano Magliano was yet to join the band at the time of its recording.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk (66%)[9]
Lexington Music Press (7.5/10)[10]
Corezine (8.5/10)[11]

The album gained mixed to positive reception from critics, with Lexington Music Press saying that it "certainly gets better and better as it plays through and tries more out with its formula." However, they said that the during the first half of the album, "several songs share the same basic formula, keeping them from reaching the potential heights they could." The apparent stand out song was "Hell, or High Water", as they said it included "stand out and memorable moments, such as the hauntingly beautiful bridge (though the breakdown that follows is definitely note worthy as well)." The review closed positively, saying that Number[s] was "quite an explosive debut that will surely help Woe, Is Me rise the ranks quickly."[10]

Max Grundström of Corezine also gave the album a highly praising review, saying that he was "expecting Woe, Is Me to be another run-of-the-mill, whiny post-hardcore band", but that his "mind was blown when [he] started listening to the intro." He said that they "mix catchy verses and bridges with bone crushing breakdowns, and even though it’s often encountered in modern metalcore/post-hardcore, Woe, Is Me succeed in keeping it fresh." He essentially closes the review with: "In a sea with similar acts Woe, Is Me somewhat drift with the other debris, but still manages to stay afloat."[11]

Ryan Gardner, a writer at AbsolutePunk, gave the album a mostly positive review, saying that "Number[s] effectively combines elements found in bands such as labelmates In Fear and Faith and even Emarosa in the clean singing department; the clean vocals are spot on, the screams well placed (for the most part), and the musicianship is definitely there." He used tracks "[&] Delinquents" and "Keep Your Enemies Close" to state that "Michael Bohn can surely scream", and said that he believed "I" "switches back and forth from Woe, Is Me's heaviest material to their most melodic, featuring some of the best lyrics on Number[s]." He closed the review with

While Woe, Is Me are in no way a unique band, they do take all they have learned about their genre and successfully accumulate the sound into this disc. If they can continue to experiment and perhaps find ways to stand out above similar acts in the genre, Woe, Is Me could easily headline stages alongside heavy bands.[9]

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "On Veiled Men"   0:50
2. "(&) Delinquents"   2:56
3. "Mannequin Religion"   2:55
4. "Keep Your Enemies Close"   2:29
5. "Hell, or High Water"   3:41
6. "For the Likes of You"   3:42
7. "I"   3:04
8. "Our Number[s]" (featuring Jonny Craig) 2:55
9. "If Not, for Ourselves"   4:30
10. "Desolate (The Conductor)" (featuring Jonny Craig) 1:55
Total length:
28:57

Personnel

Woe, Is Me line-up on standard issue
  • Tyler Carter – clean vocals
  • Michael Bohn – screamed vocals
  • Tim Sherrill – lead guitar
  • Kevin Hanson – rhythm guitar
  • Cory Ferris – bass guitar
  • Ben Ferris – keyboards, growled vocals
  • Austin Thornton – drums, programming
Woe, Is Me line-up on re-issue
  • Hance Alligood – vocals (tracks 1, 3, 6)
  • Tyler Carter – vocals (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7–16)
  • Michael Bohn – vocals
  • Andrew Paiano – lead guitar (tracks 1, 3), acoustic guitar (track 6)
  • Tim Sherrill – lead guitar (tracks 2, 4, 7–16)
  • Kevin Hanson – rhythm guitar
  • Cory Ferris – bass guitar
  • Ben Ferris – keyboards, growls
  • Austin Thornton – drums, programming

Additional musicians
  • Jonny Craig – additional vocals on tracks 8 and 10 (tracks 14 and 16 on re-issue)
  • Caleb Shomo – remixes on tracks 2 and 4 (re-issue)
Production
  • Produced by Camerom Mizell @ Chango Studios
  • Produced by Caleb Shomo (reissue tracks 1 and 3)

References

  1. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/number-s/id387666471
  2. http://www.allmusic.com/album/numbers-mw0002019609
  3. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/number-s-deluxe-version/id540845363
  4. "Number[s] - Woe Is Me | Billboard.com". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  5. "Atlanta's WOE, IS ME sells 1,700 of their debut Number[s]". indiestar.tv. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  6. "WOE, IS ME post new song and "Number[s]" pre-order". indiestar.tv. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  7. "Woe, Is Me posts new song "Mannequin Religion" + Live Video". indiestar.tv. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  8. Zaleski, Annie. "Woe, Is Me announce new vocalist". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Gardner, Ryan (4 September 2010). "Woe, Is Me - Number[s] - Album review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Lay, Nathaniel (20 August 2010). "WOE, IS ME - Number[s] Review". Lexington Music Press. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Grundström, Max (1 September 2010). "Woe, Is Me - Number[s] | www.corezine.net". Corezine. Retrieved 1 September 2010.