A Jackknife to a Swan | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 9, 2002 | |||
Recorded | February 2002 | |||
Genre | Ska punk | |||
Length | 40:30 | |||
Label | SideOneDummy | |||
Producer | The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, John Seymour | |||
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones chronology | ||||
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A Jackknife to a Swan is the seventh studio album by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It was released on July 9, 2002, by SideOneDummy Records. It was recorded over a few weeks in February 2002. [1] This album marked the band's return to an indie label, and was the last album released by the group before their four-year hiatus between 2003 and 2007.
The album title is a reference to both the elegant Olympic high dive and the death of something beautiful. Dicky Barrett has said in interviews that the title of the album upset his mother greatly, as her maiden name was Swan, as well as her mother's.
An earlier version of "The Old School Off The Bright" was originally featured on a promotional EP titled Fabled Barney and The Population given out at the band's Hometown Throwdown in 2002. The promotional version of the album features an alternate version of the song "Seven Ways to Sunday". "Sugar Free" was later featured in the 2006 movie Beerfest .
The track "I want My City Back" is a lament about the loss of The Rathskeller, commonly called The Rat, the club in Boston where the Bosstones got their start.
On March 3, 2002, A Jackknife to a Swan was announced for release in July; it was revealed that the band had signed to SideOneDummy Records. [2] On April 20, 2002, "Mr. Moran" and "Sugar Free" were posted on the label's website. [3] In May and June, the band toured Europe as part of the Deconstruction Tour. [4] A Jackknife to a Swan was made available for streaming the label's website on June 25, 2002, before it was released on July 9, 2002. [2] [5] To promote its release, the band appeared on The Late Late Show and Mohr Sports. [6] On September 26, 2002, a music video for "You Gotta Go!" was posted online. [7] In November and December 2002, the group went on a headlining US tour, with support from Bigwig, Slick Shoes and Simple Plan. [8] On May 21, 2003, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! . The following month, they embarked on a brief east coast tour with Voodoo Glow Skulls, the Pietasters, and Catch 22. [9] On June 6, the band appeared on 54321. [10] In October, the band went on a short tour of Germany. [11] In December, the band announced they were going on hiatus. [12]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | favorable [14] |
The album reached #131 on the Billboard 200, and #9 on the Top Independent Albums.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones is an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. Since the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky Barrett, bassist Joe Gittleman, tenor saxophonist Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton and dancer ("Bosstone") Ben Carr have remained constant members. The line-up also includes drummer Joe Sirois, saxophonist Leon Silva, guitarist Lawrence Katz, keyboardist John Goetchius, and trombonist Chris Rhodes.
Change Is a Sound is the debut album by the punk rock band Strike Anywhere, released in 2001. The album's lyrics explore such themes as women's rights ("Chalkline"), and police brutality. The song "Refusal" was also featured on the soundtrack to the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground. The band signed to Jade Tree in February 2001, and recorded their debut album in April 2001.
Pay Attention is an album by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It was released on May 2, 2000 by Island Records. The video for "So Sad to Say" premiered on MTV's 120 Minutes on April 25, 2000. In March and April 2001, the band held several shows in certain US cities as part of a multi-day club tour.
Open Your Eyes is the fourth album by Goldfinger. It was released on May 21, 2002. This was the first album to feature former Ünloco guitarist, Brian Arthur, after Charlie's departure from the band.
The Movielife is a Long Island punk rock band composed of vocalist Vinnie Caruana, guitarist Brandon Reilly, and drummer Brett Romnes. The band originally formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2003, but announced their official reunion in December 2014.
Anthem is the fifth studio album by American ska punk band Less Than Jake, released on May 20, 2003 on Sire Records. Produced by Rob Cavallo, the album was preceded by the single "She's Gonna Break Soon", and was the band's most commercially successful album to date, reaching number 45 on the Billboard 200. It is the first of the band's albums to feature saxophone player Peter "JR" Wasilewski since he joined the band in 2000.
Cheer Up! is the fourth studio album by American ska punk band Reel Big Fish.
The Pietasters are an American eight-piece ska/soul band from Washington, D.C., with additional members from Maryland and Virginia.
Northstar was an American band formed in 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama.
Hard Rock Bottom is the sixth studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name, released on June 16, 2002. The band recorded the album with producer Ryan Greene in January 2002. Song number nine, "This Is a Rebel Song", features Karina Denike from Dance Hall Crashers. A video for "Dumb Reminders" was released and features the band running from angry fans.
Yellow #5 is the fifth album by Mustard Plug. It was named after the ingredient of malt liquor energy drinks, such as Sparks, Tilt, and Core.
Anchors Aweigh is the sixth studio album by New Jersey punk band the Bouncing Souls. It was released on August 26, 2003. "Todd's Song" is a tribute to Todd Eckhardt, a former bassist for The Pietasters, who died in 2001. "I'm From There" is in reference to the departure of previous drummer, and long-time friend, Shal Khichi from the band, who left soon after the release of Hopeless Romantic.
Avoid One Thing is a punk band that started as a side project by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' bassist Joe Gittleman. The Boston-based group's first album, titled Avoid One Thing, was released in 2002 on Side One Dummy Records. The album was written and recorded almost solely by Gittleman. Gittleman assembled a band with which to tour and play his music. Before the release of the band's next album in 2004, the band went through several lineup changes. John Lynch joined the band after Dave Karcich's death due to a sudden brain aneurysm. Later, Delano left and the band continued as a three-piece. The trio returned to the studio and released Chopstick Bridge on May 4, 2004. The album reflected the combined efforts of all three band members and sounds vastly different from their first in many respects; Amy Griffin and Gittleman even split lead vocals on a few tracks. After the release of this album, the band toured until February 2005 before going on hiatus. Since that time, Griffin has been playing guitar for Darkbuster and Gittleman has moved to Los Angeles and is once again a member of the reunited Bosstones. Paul Delano underwent emergency surgery in 2006 and a series of benefit shows were held. John Lynch has since joined up with David Minehan and is now playing drums for The Neighborhoods.
Medium Rare is a compilation album by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released on December 18, 2007, on Big Rig Records. It contains three new songs, nine previously unreleased tracks and some rare B-sides. This is also the band's first release since they went on hiatus in 2003.
Come All You Madmen is the fourth album from Los Angeles-based punk rock band The Briggs. The album was released June 17, 2008 through SideOneDummy Records and was produced by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' Joe Gittleman, as with their previous album Back to Higher Ground.
Over It is a rock band based in Orange County, California. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, the band formed in 1998 to play pop punk. Most recently signed to Virgin Records, Over It is currently unsigned and inactive.
Fluent In Stroll is the fifth studio album by the Boston ska punk band Big D and the Kids Table, released on July 7, 2009 by Side One Dummy Records. It was produced by Joe Gittleman of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and features backing vocals by Sirae Richardson, Hayley Jane, and Nicole and Simone Olivia, who perform as the Doped Up Dollies. Its title refers to the band's new musical direction dubbed "stroll", a mix of double-Dutch, ska, reggae, and soul.
Pin Points and Gin Joints is the eighth studio album by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, which was released on December 8, 2009. It is their first album of all new material since the release of A Jackknife to a Swan in 2002. Pin Points and Gin Joints was produced by Ted Hutt, notable for working with other bands such as The Bouncing Souls, Flogging Molly, and The Gaslight Anthem. Recording and writing sessions for the album lasted from November 2008 to July 2009.
The Magic of Youth is the ninth studio album from Boston ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released on December 6, 2011 on Big Rig Records. The album was released in whole mainland Europe on December 6 via Rude Records.
While We're At It is the tenth studio album from Boston ska punk band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, released on June 15, 2018 on Big Rig Records. It marks the band's first studio album in seven years and is the final part of a musical trilogy that began with Pin Points and Gin Joints in 2009 followed by The Magic of Youth in 2011.