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
Studio album by
Staind
ReleasedApril 13, 1999
RecordedDecember 1998 – January 1999 in Jacksonville, Florida
StudioStudio Litho in Seattle, Washington[1]
GenreNu metal, alternative metal
Length56:05
LabelFlip, Elektra
ProducerTerry Date, Fred Durst
Staind chronology
Tormented
(1996)		 Dysfunction
(1999)		 Break the Cycle
(2001)
Singles from Dysfunction
  1. "Suffocate"
    Released: February 4, 1999
  2. "Just Go"
    Released: May 27, 1999
  3. "Mudshovel"
    Released: October 29, 1999
  4. "Home"
    Released: February 6, 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[3]
NME[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

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.TitleLength
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
Limited Edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
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

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
  1. Dysfunction (booklet). Staind. Elektra. 1999.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Dysfunction at AllMusic. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  3. Christgau, Robert (2000-10-15). "Staind". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 9780312245603.
  4. "Dysfunction". NME.
  5. 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.
  6. "Staind | Awards". Allmusic.
  7. "RIAA Database Search Results for Staind". Recording Industry Association of America.
  8. "Staind Tour Dates". Eventful.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  9. Florino, Rick (August 25, 2008). "Interview - Staind (Aaron Lewis)". ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  10. Grierson, Tim (August 20, 2008). "Staind Interview". About.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  11. "Heavy Metal Classifications: A History of Nu Metal". Metal Descent.
  12. "Music Review: Staind - Dysfunction". Attrition.org.
  13. Booklet for Up the Dosage. Wonderdrug Records.
  14. Chart information at AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  15. Awards at Allmusic
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