The Alternative (album)
| The Alternative | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by IAMX | ||||
| Released | 28 April 2006 | |||
| Genre | Electronic, Synthpop, Dark cabaret, Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 45:22 | |||
| Label | Independent | |||
| Producer | Chris Corner | |||
| IAMX chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
The Alternative is the second studio album by IAMX, released on 28 April 2006 in Europe and a year later in the UK and Ireland. It was re-issued on Metropolis Records in the US on May 6, 2008. It is the second IAMX album to contain tracks intended for SP4 and is generally viewed as an underground classic of its genre by many music critics and the fans.
Overview
The US and UK versions differ significantly from the original German/Swiss release. Many of the songs saw significant parts rerecorded or remixed, most noticeably "The Negative Sex" and "Spit It Out", as well as "The Alternative", "Nightlife" and "Song of Imaginary Beings". "This Will Make You Love Again" is among a handful of songs to have been edited to include vocals by Janine Gezang.
The re-released versions also include a string version of "Spit It Out" as a hidden track. Both album versions carry alternate covers.
Nightlife was used heavily in the promotion for the vampire film We Are The Night. It is featured in a sequence in the film as well, which features no dialogue but is told rather through the images set to the song.
Track listing
Original 2006 release
All music composed by Chris Corner, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "President" | 3:54 |
| 2. | "The Alternative" | 4:00 |
| 3. | "Nightlife*" | 4:21 |
| 4. | "Lulled by Numbers*" | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Song of Imaginary Beings*" | 4:27 |
| 6. | "The Negative Sex" | 3:08 |
| 7. | "Bring Me Back a Dog" | 3:23 |
| 8. | "S.H.E*" | 3:58 |
| 9. | "Spit It Out" | 3:34 |
| 10. | "After Every Party I Die*" | 3:50 |
| 11. | "This Will Make You Love Again*" | 4:39 |
2008 re-release
All music composed by Chris Corner, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "President" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "The Alternative" | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Nightlife*" | 5:01 |
| 4. | "Lulled by Numbers*" | 3:59 |
| 5. | "Song of Imaginary Beings*" | 4:31 |
| 6. | "The Negative Sex" | 3:11 |
| 7. | "Bring Me Back a Dog" | 3:29 |
| 8. | "S.H.E*" | 4:02 |
| 9. | "Spit It Out" | 3:55 |
| 10. | "After Every Party I Die*" | 3:50 |
| 11. | "This Will Make You Love Again*" | 4:47 |
| 12. | "Spit It Out (String Version) [Bonus Track]" | 5:52 |
- Lyrics on Tracks 3 and 5 co-written by Sue Denim
- Lyrics on Track 8 co-written by Igor Vdovin
- Lyrics on Tracks 4, 5 and 10 co-written by Ian Pickering
- Lyrics on Tracks 5 and 10 co-written by Liam Howe
Trivia
"S.H.E." stands for "secret harmonic emotion" as follows from the lyrics to the song.