The Fallout (Default album)

The Fallout is the debut studio album by Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band Default. Chad Kroeger, the frontman of Nickelback, contributed to the album's production and co-wrote six of its songs including its second single. With two hit singles, The Fallout is widely considered Default's best work and was their biggest commercial success, gaining platinum certification in the United States.

The Fallout
Studio album by Default
Released	October 2, 2001
Recorded	2001
Genre	Post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock
Length	37:17
Label	TVT
Producer	Rick Parashar, Chad Kroeger
Default chronology
The Fallout (2001) Elocation (2003)
Singles from The Fallout
"Wasting My Time" Released: September 25, 2001 "Deny" Released: April 8, 2002 "Live a Lie" Released: 2002 "Sick and Tired" Released: 2002

The song "Wasting My Time" received much airplay throughout 2001 and 2002. The second single, "Deny", was featured on the soundtrack of the popular NHL 2003 game by EA Sports and also received a great deal of air time, helping launch Default into the mainstream of Canadian rock.

A special edition of this CD, alongside a DVD, included the bonus track "Blind" and acoustic versions of the lead singles "Deny" and "Wasting My Time". An acoustic version of the final track, "Let You Down", also served as the final track to Default's sophomore effort, Elocation.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	C[2]
PopMatters	(positive)[3]

The Fallout received mixed reviews from music critics who were skeptical of the band's musicianship being similar to other bands of its given genre. Stephanie Dickison of PopMatters gave praise to the album's professional yet naturally sounding production and Dallas Smith's performance for giving off the right amount of energy in his notes despite being a bit jovial at times, but felt the band would face problems being similar to 3 Doors Down, Lifehouse and Nickelback, saying that "For a debut, it is excellent. But up against the other heavy-guitar, heartily vocalized bands like the aforementioned, they have their work cut out for them."[3] Andy Hinds of AllMusic highlighted the first three tracks as standouts but found the album overall to be devoid of originality in its borrowing of grunge music, saying it "provides a non-threatening option for those who seek the stylistic affectations of grunge rock, but wish to avoid all of the substance or excitement of its first generation."[1] David Browne, writing for Entertainment Weekly, noticed a slight difference between this and Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean apart from taking elements of grunge into their respective albums: "Default’s debut, The Fallout, is more up-tempo and burly, yet they still manage to use the word never 32 times in one cut (”Slow Me Down”). The song titles – ”Sick and Tired,” ”Wasting My Time,” ”Live a Lie” – say it all."[2]

Track listing

All music is composed by Default, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sick & Tired" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	2:59
2.	"Deny" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	3:55
3.	"Wasting My Time"	4:29
4.	"Slow Me Down" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	3:23
5.	"One Late Night" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	3:10
6.	"Seize the Day" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	2:43
7.	"Somewhere"	3:20
8.	"Live a Lie" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	3:40
9.	"By Your Side"	2:46
10.	"Faded" (writers: Default, Chad Kroeger)	3:23
11.	"Let You Down"	3:29
Total length:		37:17

Original pressing and limited edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Blind"	3:11 and 3:04
13.	"Deny" (Acoustic)	3:55
14.	"Wasting My Time" (Acoustic)	4:18
15.	"Circles" (Original Pressing)	3:27

Personnel

The Default

• Dallas Smith – lead vocals
• Jeremy Hora – guitars
• Dave Benedict – bass guitar
• Danny Craig – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Rick Parashar – keyboards, piano

Artwork

• Benjamin Wheelock – album design
• Blake Little – Photography

Production

• Rick Parashar – producer, mixing
• Chad Kroeger – producer
• Kip Beelman – engineer
• Joe Spivak – engineer
• Joey Moi – engineer, mixing
• George Marino – mastering
• Leonard B. Johnson – A&R

Charts and certifications

Album Chart (2001) Peak position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[4] 49 US Billboard 200[5] 51 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[6] 1 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[7] 1 Singles Year Single Chart Position 2001 "Wasting My Time" US Modern Rock Tracks 3 US Hot Mainstream Rock Track 2 2002 US Billboard Hot 100 13 US Top 40 Tracks 13 US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks 14 US Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) 11 US Top 40 Adult Recurrents 6 "Deny" US Modern Rock Tracks 14 US Hot Mainstream Rock Track 7 Live A Lie US Hot Mainstream Rock Track 31 US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks 14

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Canada (Music Canada)[8] Platinum 100,000^^ United States (RIAA)[9] Platinum 1,000,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Limited edition DVD

1. "Wasting My Time (Video)"
2. "Deny (Video)"
3. "Deny (Live)"
4. "Rockumentary"

References

1. Hinds, Andy. "The Fallout - Default". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
2. Browne, David (March 8, 2002). "Reviews for The Fallout, Hoobastank's Hoobastank, The Calling's Camino Palmero and Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
3. Dickison, Stephanie (October 14, 2001). "Default: The Fallout". PopMatters. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
4. "Charts.nz – Default – The Fallout". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
5. "Default Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
6. "Default | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
7. "Default Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
8. "Canadian album certifications – Default – The Fallout". Music Canada.
9. "American album certifications – Default – The Fallout". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.