The All-American Rejects (album)

For the album by Bikini Kill, see Reject All American.
The All-American Rejects
Studio album by The All-American Rejects
Released October 15, 2002 (original)
January 17, 2003 (commercial)
Recorded 2001 at Mission Sound and Headgear Studio, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Genre Emo, pop punk, power pop
Length 42:54
Label
Producer Tim O'Heir
The All-American Rejects chronology

Same Girl, New Songs
(2001)		 The All-American Rejects
(2003)		 Move Along
(2005)
Original cover
Cover of original 2002 release
Singles from The All-American Rejects
  1. "Swing, Swing"
    Released: December 2, 2002
  2. "The Last Song"
    Released: April 11, 2003
  3. "Time Stands Still"
    Released: July 14, 2003

The All-American Rejects is the self-titled debut studio album by American rock band The All-American Rejects, originally released October 15, 2002 by Doghouse Records,[1] before being re-released commercially on January 17, 2003[2] by Dreamworks Records.

Production and promotion

The band duo of Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler recorded the album in New York City in 2001 after being signed by the independent label Doghouse Records, they later released The All-American Rejects on October 15, 2002. The album attracted the attention of DreamWorks Records, who signed The All-American Rejects to them and re-released their LP in early 2003, when it gained commercial success; earning a Gold Certification from Canada and a Platinum edition from the United States.

The All-American Rejects was released as a CD, a 12" vinyl pressed in orange (also pressed in a limited amount of red and blue) and a cassette tape exclusively in Indonesia.

Singles

The band's debut single "Swing, Swing" was released on December 2, 2002 when they were joined by two new members; Mike Kennerty on rhythm guitar and Chris Gaylor on drums - months after recording the album. "Swing, Swing" peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in the United States and #13 on the UK Singles Chart respectively, gaining the band media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, a music video followed its release on January 7, 2003.[3] The second single "The Last Song" was released on April 21, 2003 and charted on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks at #29 and the UK Singles Chart at #69, a music video followed its release a month later.

The band's third and final single from the album "Time Stands Still" was released on July 14, 2003,[4] but gained no commercial success. A music video directed by Meiert Avis followed its release in August. The album's opening track "My Paper Heart" was later released in late 2003 as a promotional single - a music video made up of footage from the band's Live from Oklahoma... The Too Bad for Hell DVD! as well as their "Lost in Stillwater" documentary was released to help promote it.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [5]
Blender [6]
Common Sense Media [7]
Melodic [8]
Now [9]
PopMatters (average)[2]
Punktastic [10]
Rolling Stone [11]
Spin A−[12]

The All-American Rejects received mixed reviews from music critics. Spin magazine gave it a grade of A-.

AllMusic stated that The All-American Rejects are "A talented band destined for great things" and that "[The band] are capable songwriters, accomplished vocalists, and skilled instrumentalists. Guitar-driven and underpinned with a humane-sounding drum machine cranking out frenetic backbeats, each cut on this self-titled debut brims with harmonies that recall the early Who and classic Beach Boys.[5] Kaj Roth of Melodic stated that the pop rock duo had "plenty of good vibes and catchy uptempo powerpop that will force the rain to take a hike and let the sun shine through", and favoured the song "Your Star"; saying it has "A superb groove that will make you ride a horse on the rodeo" and that "'Time Stands Still' will make the flowers bloom in the middle of winter."[8] Punktastic commented with "The first thing you realise about The All American Rejects is how young they are. The second is how much talent the duo have at such a young age. The guys haven't been around for a full three years yet, but are already riding the waves of popularity as this and you soon realise they are smothering initiative with music that will be plastered over MTV in no time."[10]

Elizabeth Bromstein of Now magazine was more negative towards the sound of the album and gave it a rating of 1 out of 5 stars, quoting "As if their horrifyingly overdone pop-punk thing weren’t bad enough, The All-American Rejects seem intent on embodying their name. Every last song on this record deals with lost love and loneliness. Incorporating the odd classic rock or 80s pop element doesn’t improve things. In fact, it makes it worse, since it feels like they’ve crammed everything they know in here."[9]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler. 

No. Title Length
1. "My Paper Heart"   3:49
2. "Your Star"   4:21
3. "Swing, Swing"   3:53
4. "Time Stands Still"   3:31
5. "One More Sad Song"   3:04
6. "Why Worry"   4:16
7. "Don't Leave Me"   3:28
8. "Too Far Gone"   4:05
9. "Drive Away"   3:00
10. "Happy Endings"   4:25
11. "The Last Song"   5:00
Total length:
 42:47

Credits

Band
Production
  • Produced, engineered and mixed by Tim O'Heir
  • Recorded at Mission Sound and Headgear Studio, Brooklyn, New York City
  • Mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge, New York City, New York
  • Management: Mosaic Media Group
Marketing and A&R
  • Booking: Jenna Adler at CAA
  • A&R: Michael Goldstone
  • Art Direction: The All-American Rejects
  • Illustrations and layout: Asterik Studio, Seattle
  • Object photography by Erin Thompson
  • Doghouse Records A&R: Dirk Hemsath
  • Doghouse Records assistant A&R: Laura Echler
  • Legal Representation: Richard J. Grabel at Grubman, Indursky & Shindler, P.C.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Japanese Albums Chart[13] 86
UK Albums Chart[14] 50
US Billboard 200[15] 25
US Billboard Top Heatseekers[16] 8
US Billboard Top Independent Albums[15] 9

Certifications

Region Certification
Canada[17] Gold
United States[18] Platinum

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States October 15, 2002 (original) CD, digital download Doghouse
Australia January 17, 2003 Dreamworks
United States February 4, 2003 (commercial)
United Kingdom March 3, 2003 Polydor
United States December 9, 2008 12" vinyl Dreamworks

References

  1. ↑ "The Ultimate Punk Music Store!". Interpunk.com. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Williams, Adam (2003-03-13). "The All-American Rejects: self-titled". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  3. ↑ 1/7/03. "Swing, Swing | The All-American Rejects | Music Video". MTV. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  4. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-08-20). "All-American Rejects Make 'Time Stand Still' With New Single - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Semioli, Tom. "The All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects". AllMusic.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Goldmark, Kathi Kamen (2003-02-04). "The All-American Rejects - Music Review". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Roth, Kaj (2002). "The All-American Rejects - s/t". Melodic. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bromstein, Elizabeth (March 13–20, 2003). "The All-American Rejects". Now. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jay (2003-01-26). "The All-American Rejects S/T". Punktastic. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  11. ↑ "The All-American Rejects: The All-American Rejects : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. January 28, 2003. Archived from the original on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  12. ↑ "All-American Rejects CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  13. ↑ "オール・アメリカン・リジェクツ-リリース-ORICON STYLE ミュージック". Oricon.co.jp. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  14. ↑ "The All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects". Chart Stats. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "The All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  16. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p535218/charts-awards/billboard-albums
  17. ↑ "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum - January 2005". Cria.ca. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
  18. ↑ "The All-American Rejects certifications". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-06-11.