| America, Location 12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 2, 2017 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Label | Bomber Records | |||
| Producer | John Dragonetti, Mike Sawitzke | |||
| Dispatch chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from America, Location 12 | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| classicrock.net | 7/10 [6] |
| Musikexpress | [7] |
| PopMatters | 7/10 [8] |
America, Location 12 is a 2017 album by United States indie/roots folk band Dispatch. It is their sixth full-length studio album, the first recorded in five years. [9]
The band began working on the album nearly two years before its release. [10] Before recording, Chad Urmston told the other two members of the band that he wanted to be the "captain" for the upcoming album, a proposal they readily accepted. [11] He had retreated to a cottage for a winter and wrote 25 to 30 songs, [12] which differed from their previous material so significantly that a manager asked Urmston whether he disliked their old songs. [13] The songs' material concerns "veterans coming home, childhood memories, [and] being a parent." [14]
The band recorded the album in Panoramic Studios at Stinson Beach, California, which was built in the 1960s and features vintage analogue gear. [15] The album was produced by John Dragonetti of The Submarines and Mike Sawitzke of The Eels, and was mastered by Dave Cooley. [16]
A short series of videos was recorded with OurVinyl to document the making of the album. [17] Much of the focus was on the improvement in the bandmates' interpersonal relations compared with their breakup in 2004. [18]
The album was announced in February 2017 along with tour dates. [19] Between the announcement and the release, the album was made available for pre-order with various rewards, including merchandise, concert tickets, [20] and Skype interviews and pick-up basketball with band members. [21] [22]
In March, three months before the album's release, Pete Heimbold announced on the band's public Facebook page that he was taking a leave of absence from the band, including from the tour dates, as he was battling chronic depression. [23] Guest musicians have been present at live performances and on tour. [24]
Five songs were released in advance on YouTube between the announcement and the release, [25] as well as live acoustic performances. [26] This resulted in other artists covering songs even before the album's release, something the band encouraged. [27] On the day of the album's release, the band uploaded the full album to be streamed for free. [10]
"Only the Wild Ones", the first single and the first pre-released track, reached No. 9 on Billboard's AAA chart, [28] marking the band's highest position to date on that chart and their first top 20 track on the radio. [16]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Be Gone" | 6:00 |
| 2. | "Only the Wild Ones" | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Curse + Crush" | 4:18 |
| 4. | "Painted Yellow Lines" | 5:20 |
| 5. | "Skin the Rabbit" | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Midnight Lorry" | 5:39 |
| 7. | "Begin Again" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Rice Water" | 4:35 |
| 9. | "WindyLike" | 4:59 |
| 10. | "Ghost Town" | 3:05 |
| 11. | "Atticus Cobain" | 3:48 [9] |
| Chart (2017). | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [29] | 80 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [30] | 4 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [31] | 15 |
