Dysfunction (album)
Dysfunction is the second studio album by American alternative metal band Staind, released on April 13, 1999. It is also the group's first release on any label at all, in this case the Flip/Elektra label. It is also their first to feature their famous logo. "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]
Dysfunction | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
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 | 56:05 | |||
Label | Flip, Elektra | |||
Producer | Terry Date, Fred Durst | |||
Staind chronology | ||||
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Singles from Dysfunction | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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]
A demo of the song "Spleen", recorded in October 1997, had earlier appeared on the compilation Up The Dosage by Wonderdrug Records.[13]
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 are written by Aaron Lewis[1]; all music is composed by Staind[1].
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Suffocate" | 3:17 |
2. | "Just Go" | 4:50 |
3. | "Me" | 4:36 |
4. | "Raw" | 4:13 |
5. | "Mudshovel" | 4:41 |
6. | "Home" | 4:06 |
7. | "A Flat" | 5:00 |
8. | "Crawl" | 4:31 |
9. | "Spleen" | 4:41 |
10. | "Excess Baggage" | 4:41/3:56 |
Total length: | 56:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Bring the Noise" (Public Enemy cover; featuring Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit) | 3:51 |
Total length: | 64:34 |
Personnel
Staind
- Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Excess Baggage"
- Mike Mushok – lead guitar
- Johnny April – bass, backing vocals
- Jon Wysocki – drums
Production
- Jordan Schur – executive producer
- Staind – producer
- Fred Durst – co-producer
- Terry Date – producer, engineer, mixing
- Ulrich Wild – engineer
- Tom Smurdon - assistant engineer
- John Burton – assistant mixing
- Roger Lian – mastering
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
Artwork
- Mike Mushok - concept
- Gregory Burke - art director, art design, concept
- EXUM - photography
- Jane Choi, Joe Macchio - special effects make-up
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)[14]
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1999 | Top Heatseekers[15] | 1 |
The Billboard 200[15] | 74 |
References
- Dysfunction (booklet). Staind. Elektra. 1999.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Dysfunction at AllMusic. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
- Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). "Staind". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 9780312245603.
- "Dysfunction". NME.
- 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.
- "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.
- "Music Review: Staind - Dysfunction". Attrition.org.
- Booklet for Up the Dosage. Wonderdrug Records.
- Chart information at AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- Awards at Allmusic