Dysfunction (album)
| Dysfunction | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Staind | ||||
| Released | April 13, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | December 1998 – January 1999 in Jacksonville, Florida | |||
| Studio | Studio Litho in Seattle, Washington[1] | |||
| Genre | Nu metal, alternative metal | |||
| Length | 60:43 (64:34 with the limited edition bonus track) | |||
| Label | Flip, Elektra | |||
| Producer | Terry Date, Fred Durst | |||
| Staind chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Dysfunction | ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| Robert Christgau |  [3] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
| NME | [5] |
Dysfunction is the second studio album by American rock band Staind. It is also the group's first release on any label at all, in this case the Flip/Elektra label. "Suffocate", "Just Go", "Mudshovel", and "Home" were released as singles. The song "Mudshovel" can also be found on the band's previous album, Tormented, albeit in a slightly different form; that version of the song goes under the title spelled "Mudshuvel". It would serve as Staind's breakout single, peaking at number 10 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[6] The album was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.[7]
Background, music and lyrics
Despite trying to remove Staind from opening for Limp Bizkit at a 1997 concert, due to the intense cover illustration on their 1996 album Tormented, Fred Durst was impressed with their performance. After hearing their four-song demo, Durst signed Staind to Flip/Elektra to record the band's album Dysfunction. However, Durst suggested Staind would become more melodic. Durst and Staind then traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to begin developing new songs, and after a meeting with Flip, Staind recorded a three-track sampler in Los Angeles, California. By February 1998, they acquired a record contract and after performing on the summer Warped Tour began recording Dysfunction in December.[8]
Staind's vocalist, Aaron Lewis, has stated he feels that, "Dysfunction was a huge step away from Tormented."[9]
Guitarist Mike Mushok expressed frustration in how label personnel were in no way intrusive on the production of Dysfunction, but after it sold over a million copies, the band would be relentlessly hassled during the production of future albums.[10]
Considered nu metal[11] and alternative metal,[2] Dysfunction is known for having both singing and screaming.[2][12] The album is also known for having songs with slow parts that then turn into aggressive parts with screaming.[12] The album's lyrics are noted for being either angry or depressing.[2][12]
Touring and performance
Staind toured with Kid Rock in the spring before joining the Family Values Tour 1999 along with various nu metal and rap metal musicians. Three tracks were performed live during the band's MTV Unplugged performance in 2002: "Me", and "Home", and the hidden track "Excess Baggage".
Track listing
All lyrics written by Aaron Lewis[1]; all music composed by Staind[1].
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Suffocate" | 3:17 |
| 2. | "Just Go" | 4:50 |
| 3. | "Me" | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Raw" | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Mudshovel" | 4:42 |
| 6. | "Home" | 4:04 |
| 7. | "A Flat" | 4:59 |
| 8. | "Crawl" | 4:29 |
| 9. | "Spleen" ("Spleen" ends at 4:38. A hidden track titled "Excess Baggage" starts at 16:20, after 11 minutes and 42 seconds of silence) | 20:58 |
| Total length: | 60:43 | |
| Limited Edition bonus track | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 10. | "Bring the Noise" (featuring Limp Bizkit) | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 64:34 | |
Notes
- The hidden track "Excess Baggage" starts with Staind frontman, Aaron Lewis, walking into, presumably, a bathroom. He sits down on the toliet with the seat down, and you can hear some metal clanging and then the metal falls to the floor. No one really knows what made the noise. Then Aaron takes a sip of a beverage, or wine, from a wine glass. Then he starts playing the song. An interesting thing is that Aaron was unaware he was being recorded. No one knows who had secretly recorded Aaron.
Personnel
Staind
- Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Excess Baggage"
- Mike Mushok – lead guitar
- Johnny April – bass, backing vocals
- Jon Wysocki – drums
Production
- Fred Durst – producer
- Terry Date – producer, engineer, mixing
- Gregory Burke – artwork, design, concept
- John Burton – mixing assistant
- Roger Lian – mastering
- Jordan Schur – executive producer
- Staind – producer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Ulrich Wild – engineer
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)[13]
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Top Heatseekers[14] | 1 |
| The Billboard 200[14] | 74 |
References
- 1 2 3 Dysfunction (booklet). Staind. Elektra. 1999.
- 1 2 3 4 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Dysfunction at AllMusic. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Staind, Dysfunction Album review". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
- ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 775. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ↑ "Dysfunction". NME.
- ↑ "Staind | Awards". Allmusic.
- ↑ "RIAA Database Search Results for Staind". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ↑ "Staind Tour Dates". Eventful.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
- ↑ Florino, Rick (August 25, 2008). "Interview - Staind (Aaron Lewis)". ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
- ↑ Grierson, Tim (August 20, 2008). "Staind Interview". About.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Heavy Metal Classifications: A History of Nu Metal". Metal Descent.
- 1 2 3 "Music Review: Staind - Dysfunction". Attrition.org.
- ↑ Chart information at AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- 1 2 Awards at Allmusic