Monster Monster

Monster Monster is the second album by American rock band The Almost, released on November 3, 2009.

Monster Monster
Studio album by
The Almost
ReleasedNovember 3, 2009
RecordedMay 2009
StudioSeattle, Washington
GenreAlternative rock, emo
LabelTooth & Nail, Virgin
ProducerAaron Sprinkle
The Almost chronology
Monster EP
(2009)		 Monster Monster
(2009)		 Fear Inside Our Bones
(2013)
Singles from Monster Monster
  1. "Lonely Wheel"
    Released: September 17, 2009
  2. "Hands"
    Released: October 2, 2009
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk(80%) [1]
Allmusic[2]
Alternative Press[3]
Bring On Mixed Reviews [4]
Jesus Freak Hideout [5]
Melodic [6]
Sputnikmusic [7]

Background

The Almost released their debut album, Southern Weather in 2007. On November 9, 2008, it was announced that the band had parted ways with drummer Kenny Bozich. Later that month, the band released a holiday-themed EP, No Gift to Bring.[8]

Recording

On April 29, 2009, the band arrived at Dark Horse Recording studio in Franklin, Tennessee. The recording process was documented with tweets, a live Stickam stream, and blogs.[9] Like the band's debut Southern Weather, Monster Monster was produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Due to the band's lack of a drummer at the time, lead singer Aaron Gillespie played drums for the record. After the recording and mastering of the record, Gillespie stated, "This now feels like a real band. Everyone gave up a piece of his own agenda for the good of the final result. And that's how you end up with something special. They supplied the bricks and we built this house together."[10] On May 7, a studio update was posted online,[11] followed by another on May 26.[12]

Release

The first single from the album is "Hands" and it was released onto radio stations October 2, 2009,[13] and it has cracked the Top 5 on the Christian Rock charts. When speaking of touring, Gillespie noted that "[The Almost] plan on hitting it as hard as we can." Vilardi concurred with "We'd like to leave and not come back for two years."[10] In October and November, the group supported the Used on their headlining US tour.[14] In February and March 2010, the band performed at Soundwave festival in Australia.[15] The third track on the album, "No I Don't," debuted on the Christian Rock chart on March 5.[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Aaron Gillespie, Dusty Redmon, Alex Aponti and Jay Vilardi.

No.TitleLength
1."Monster Monster"3:20
2."Lonely Wheel"3:14
3."No I Don't"3:54
4."Hands"3:48
5."Young Again"2:58
6."Summer Summer"4:00
7."Hand Grenade"3:51
8."Books & Books"3:31
9."Souls On Ten"3:25
10."Want To"3:30
11."Get Through"3:24
12."Monster"6:16
Best Buy limited edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."West"3:40
14."Wrong"3:03
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Me & Alone"3:03
Re-issue deluxe edition bonus tracks[17]
No.TitleLength
13."Birmingham"2:21
14."July"3:28
15."Wrong"3:03
16."Out West"3:40
17."Me & Alone"3:04
18."Hands" (music video)3:33
19."Lonely Wheel" (music video)3:13
20."No I Don't" (music video)4:10
21."Monster Monster" (music video)3:34

Personnel

The Almost[18]

Additional musicians

  • John Davis - steel guitar
  • Chris Scruggs - steel guitar
  • Josiah Holland - keyboards

Production

  • Aaron Sprinkle - producer, guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Zach Blackstone - assistant
  • Jordan Butcher - art direction, design
  • Mike Carr - assistant engineer
  • Matt Carter (Emery) - mixing
  • Roberto Chamorro - photography
  • Brandon Ebel - A&R, executive producer
  • Ted Jensen - mastering
  • Brian Kroll - A&R
  • Ethan Luck - photography
  • J.R. McNeely - mixing
  • Randy Nichols - management
  • Dave Powell (Emery) - drum technician
  • Melisssa Sabo - assistant
  • Rob "Just Fine" Stevenson - A&R
  • Matt Watts - assistant

Monster EP

Monster EP[19] was released on October 6, 2009, one month before the launch of Monster Monster.[20] It was sold exclusively through retail store Hot Topic, the band's website and a tour supporting Monster Monster.[21]

No.TitleLength
1."Lonely Wheel"3:14
2."Hands"3:49
3."July" (b-side)3:29
4."Birmingham" (b-side)2:22
5."Monster"6:16

The song "Hands" is the first single, which will include a music video, from Monster Monster and the EP to be released to radio stations.[22] The EP packaging is a double-disc digipak, one of the discs contain the music and the other contains no data at all, but depicts the artwork that Monster Monster will have on the disc's label along with lyrics and printed track listing.[21]

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References
  1. "Almost, The - Monster Monster - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  2. Freeman, Phil. "Review: Monster Monster". Allmusic. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  3. Ferris, D.X. (December 2009). "File Under: Alt-Country-Kissed Power Pop". Alternative Press. Cleveland, Ohio: Alternative Magazines, Inc. (257): 107. ISSN 1065-1667.
  4. Pernell Fowler. "The Almost - Monster Monster - Review | So, Bring On Mixed Reviews". Bringonmixedreviews.com. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  5. "The Almost, "Monster Monster" Review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  6. Roth, Kaj (October 25, 2009). "The Almost - Monster Monster". Melodic. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  7. "The Almost - Monster, Monster (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 14, 2012.
  8. "The Almost part ways with drummer Kenny Bozich". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. November 9, 2008. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
  9. "The Almost set to record LP2". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 29, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  10. "The Almost Mall Monster – Almost News @". Antimusic.com. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  11. "The Almost post video studio update". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. May 7, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  12. "The Almost post third video update from the studio". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. May 26, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  13. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  14. Wippsson, Johan (August 24, 2009). "The Used Announce Venues For Nationwide Headlining Tour". Melodic. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  15. Dan (October 13, 2009). "My Chem, You Me At Six, Paramore, and Gallows for Soundwave". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  16. "Nothing found for 2009 09 07 The-almost-monster-monster-2". Indievisionmusic.com. February 26, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  17. "The Almost Monster Monster - Deluxe Edition". Tooth & Nail Records. October 25, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  18. "The Almost - Monster Monster". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  19. "The Almost, "Monster EP" Review". Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  20. "The Almost Monster EP Tracklisting and Artwork | News". Indie Vision Music. February 24, 2012. Archived from the original on February 19, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  21. "Jesusfreakhideout.com Music News, September 2009: EMI, HOT TOPIC AND THE ALMOST CREATE A NEW RETAIL MODEL PRE-RELEASE OF MONSTER MONSTER FULL-LENGTH NOV. 3". Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  22. "Twitter / aaron gillespie: Shooting a video for the n". Twitter.com. September 8, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
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