Godsmack (album)

Godsmack
Studio album by Godsmack
Released August 25, 1998
Recorded 1997-1998 in New Alliance Studios, Boston, Massachusetts
Genre
Length 55:12
Label Universal, Republic
Producer Sully Erna
Mudrock
Godsmack chronology
All Wound Up
(1997)		 Godsmack
(1998)		 Awake
(2000)
Singles from Godsmack
  1. "Whatever"
    Released: August 25, 1998
  2. "Keep Away"
    Released: June 11, 1999
  3. "Voodoo"
    Released: October 20, 1999
  4. "Bad Religion"
    Released: February 2000

Godsmack is the eponymous debut album by the band Godsmack. The album was initially paid for by the band and released as All Wound Up, before the band was signed to Universal Records and Republic Records. It was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. It featured a new song called "Someone in London" while the song "Goin' Down" was removed, but later appeared on the band's second major album Awake.

Reception and sales

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Hip Online7/10[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]

After playing the Boston area over the following two years, local radio stations began playing the singles "Keep Away" and "Whatever", both of which helped the band to sell copies of their self-financed album All Wound Up. After the demand for their album became too high, Republic Records/Universal Records stepped in and signed the band to their label in 1998. The band replaced drummer Darco with Stewart and All Wound Up was remastered and released six weeks later as their self-titled debut album Godsmack.

On December 4, 2001, the album was certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA.[7]

Controversy

The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, and liner notes containing a Wiccan pentagram and reference to "Salem witches", minus a Parental Advisory warning label.[8] After listening to his son's copy of the album, a father in the U.S. complained to Wal-Mart, who sold him the album, that the lyrics were offensive. Wal-Mart and Kmart took the album off the shelves. The band and its record label later added a Parental Advisory sticker to the album, and some stores ordered amended copies of the album. Erna commented on the situation to Rolling Stone magazine, stating, "Our record has been in the marketplace for more than a year now without a parental advisory sticker and this is the one and only complaint. Stickers and lyrics are by nature subjective. We have decided to put a sticker on the record." This controversy did not hurt album sales, but according to Erna, helped, stating, "It's almost taunting kids to go out and get the record to see what we're saying on it."

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Moon Baby"  Erna 4:23
2. "Whatever"  Erna, Rombola 3:26
3. "Keep Away"  Erna 4:50
4. "Time Bomb"  Erna 3:59
5. "Bad Religion"  Erna, Stewart 3:40
6. "Immune"  Erna, Merrill, Rombola 4:50
7. "Someone in London"  Rombola 2:03
8. "Get Up, Get Out!"  Erna 3:29
9. "Now or Never"  Erna 5:06
10. "Stress"  Erna 5:03
11. "Situation"  Erna, Merrill 5:47
12. "Voodoo" (is 4:40 in length, and includes hidden track "Witch Hunt", which begins at 6:39)Erna, Merrill 9:03
Total length:
 55:12

Personnel

Chart positions

Album
Year Chart Peak
position
1999 Heatseekers 2
The Billboard 200[9] 22
2000 Catalog Albums Chart[9] 1
Singles
Year Song Chart Peak
position
1999 "Whatever" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 7
Alternative Songs[10] 19
"Keep Away" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 5
Alternative Songs[10] 31
2000 "Voodoo" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 5
Alternative Songs[10] 6
"Bad Religion" Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 8
Alternative Songs[10] 32

Certification

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Canada (Music Canada)[11] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[7] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release details

Country Date Label
United States August 25, 1998 Republic/Universal
Japan May 30, 2000 Republic

References

  1. ↑ Weinstein, Deena (2015). Rock'n America: A Social and Cultural History. University of Toronto Press. (January 27th, 2015)
  2. 1 2 Godsmack (album) at AllMusic
  3. ↑ "Awake - Godsmack". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Allmusic Review
  5. ↑ Hip Online Review
  6. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 334. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  7. 1 2 "American album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  8. ↑ "Godsmack - Godsmack". PR Newswire. Retrieved March 19, 2015. GODSMACK to Shoot Video for 'Voodoo'
  9. 1 2 "Godsmack - Godsmack". Billboard.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Godsmack Alternative Songs Chart History". Billboard.
  11. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Godsmack – Godsmack". Music Canada.
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