Black Ribbons

Last updated

Black Ribbons
Black Ribbons - album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Shooter Jennings
ReleasedMarch 2, 2010
Recorded2009
Genre
Label Black Country Rock
Producer Dave Cobb
Shooter Jennings chronology
The Wolf
(2007)		Black Ribbons
(2010)		Family Man
(2012)
Singles from Black Ribbons
  1. "Wake Up"
    Released: December 22, 2009 [1]

Black Ribbons is the fourth studio album by American musician Shooter Jennings. Released on March 2, 2010, the album marked a departure from Jennings's established Southern rock sound. It is a dystopian concept album and rock opera presented as the final free radio broadcast of a fictional disc jockey named Will 'o the Wisp (voiced by writer Stephen King), who, in defiance, plays the music of the fictional hard rock band Hierophant, whose music has been banned from airplay, on the evening before his radio station is to be taken over by the government to be used to air propaganda.

Contents

Composition

Musical style

The music of Black Ribbons is a departure from Jennings's established Southern rock sound. [2] The album has been classified as hard rock or heavy rock, [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] industrial rock, [5] psychedelic metal, [8] progressive metal, [2] progressive rock [7] and stoner rock. [5] Cited influences on the album's sound include Pink Floyd and Rage Against the Machine. [9] Stephen Thomas Erlewine compared the album to a Nine Inch Nails retelling of Roger Waters' concept album Radio K.A.O.S. [2] The website Bloody Disgusting said of the album's style, "Musically, Black Ribbons is a mind-blowing opus that completely obliterates genre distinctions. On this unprecedented work, twanging dobros coexist with Nintendo chipsets; brutally assaultive passages alternate with moments of unabashed tenderness, and surreal Floydian soundscapes float above smoking slabs of whiskey-soaked southern soul. It's an electrifying thrill ride across a dense, dark and gloriously decadent musical landscape." [10]

Lyrics and themes

Conspiracy theorist David Icke was credited as an inspiration for the concept of Black Ribbons. David Icke in 2013.jpg
Conspiracy theorist David Icke was credited as an inspiration for the concept of Black Ribbons.

Black Ribbons is a concept album [11] and rock opera [12] set in a dystopian near future, presented as a broadcast by fictional disc jockey "Will 'o the Wisp", during his last night on the air before the U.S. Government takes control of the airwaves. He has vowed to play the one band the American government does not want him to play, Hierophant. According to Shooter Jennings, "I had this fictional band, and it was like wearing a mask of some sort. I was able to create this thing where I could be anything." [13] Jennings said that conspiracy theorist David Icke was one of the inspirations for the album. [13]

According to Jennings, "The whole album is kind of this big concept record about truth, and about the importance of love and two people connecting. It's masqueraded as this kind of futuristic story that goes on with this guy. As a whole, I believe it is something that is a really cool piece of art." [14] Jennings told Billboard , "I've always been drawn to the darker side of things. When I was doing this record, I was reading a lot on everything, from past civilizations to government conspiracies to UFOs to the brief history of time to books on the occult. I was soaking up this dark counterculture of the world. We're in a very grim time. So I needed to paint the grim picture to let the colors of the positive message of the record shine." [15]

Jennings told The Washington Post , "I think the whole thing is a metaphor for how hard it's been to get my voice heard. Whether it's a success or not, at the end of the day I know that I didn't play by anyone's expectations. This is the anti-expectations album." [16]

In February 2009, it was announced that writer Stephen King would play a major role in the album. According to the Associated Press, "King is the voice of Will O' The Wisp, a radio talk-show host being phased out by government censorship. He spends his last hour on the air delivering a diatribe about the decline of America, and playing the music from a radical band, Hierophant." [17] [18]

Jennings also said King rewrote portions of the narration, saying "He took what I'd done, doctored it and made it his own. He threw in some awesome lines. That made me feel vindicated for any frustration I'd felt. It told me I really was on the right path." [19]

King said, "It's a tremendously spooky idea. He sent me a draft, and it was just about perfect. I altered a few things and expanded some of it, but he knew exactly what he wanted. . . . To me, it was brilliant, the way the talk and the music weave in and out." [20]

King is a fan of Jennings and even mentioned him in his novel Lisey's Story . [21]

Release

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [22]
No Depression (no rating) [23]

The album was released on March 2, 2010 on vinyl record, compact disc and as a digital download. [24] In 2011, the album was reissued in an abridged "Bullet Version" which removed Stephen King's narration. [25] The first single, "Wake Up", was released on December 22, 2009. [1] To promote the album, Jennings was interviewed on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' InfoWars program. [4] The album sold less than Jennings's previous albums, which had been selling progressively worse with each release. [4] However, one of the album's fans was Marilyn Manson, which led to the musician meeting Jennings in 2013 through Twiggy Ramirez, and later to Jennings collaborating with Marilyn Manson on a 2016 cover of David Bowie's song "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" for Jennings's album Countach (For Giorgio) , and Jennings producing Marilyn Manson's eleventh studio album, We Are Chaos , in 2020. [26]

In 2016, a deluxe edition of Black Ribbons was released ahead of that year's presidential election, with Jennings telling Rolling Stone, "We’re pretty close to [the album's storyline] now. With the shootings of cops and of black people and the Trump versus the Clinton camps, we are very divided. And that's the way they like us. Divide and conquer, man. And one day the final executive order is going to be, 'Well, you people can't handle being around each other, so we're going to have to step in and set rules.' That's what Black Ribbons is about." [11]

Critical reception

Although Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Black Ribbons as being "more exhausting than challenging" in his review for AllMusic, he said that "it's hard not to marvel at Jennings confidence[ sic ] in his Frankenstein metal-prog". [2] Writing for PopMatters, Stephen Haag wrote that "Jennings seems, sadly, to have confused quantity with quality, and effort with execution. Black Ribbons is a mess." [22] Writing for No Depression , Adam Sheets described Black Ribbons as being "just as much country as Taylor Swift or Rascall Flatts are and if given the choice I would much rather hear this on the radio", and said that Black Ribbons "may be the best concept album since Southern Rock Opera ". [23]

Chart performance

Chart (2010)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200133
U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums16
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums34

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)performerLength
1."Wake Up!"Shooter Jennings 6:01
2."Last Light Radio 11:01 pm" Stephen King2:30
3."Triskaidekaphobia"Shooter Jennings 3:10
4."Don't Feed the Animals" Dave Cobb, Shooter Jennings 3:27
5."The Breaking Point"Shooter Jennings 5:45
6."Last Light Radio 11:16 pm" Stephen King1:31
7."Everything Else is Illusion"Shooter Jennings, Matt Whyte 3:35
8."God Bless Alabama"Matt Reasor 3:31
9."All of This Could Have Been Yours"Shooter Jennings 4:46
10."Last Light Radio 11:29 pm" Stephen King1:11
11."Fuck You (I'm Famous)"Shooter Jennings 1:43
12."Lights in the Sky"Shooter Jennings 5:11
13."Black Ribbons"Shooter Jennings 4:21
14."Last Light Radio 11:41 pm" Stephen King1:34
15."Summer of Rage"Shooter Jennings 5:39
16."California via Tennessee"Ike Reilly 3:19
17."The Illuminated"Shooter Jennings 4:54
18."Last Light Radio 11:57 pm" Stephen King1:08
19."When the Radio Goes Dead"Ted Russell Kamp 5:07
20."All of This Could Have Been Yours (reprise)"Shooter JenningsStephen King3:10
Total length:71:33

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Manson (band)</span> American rock band

Marilyn Manson is an American rock band formed by namesake lead singer Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1989. Originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, they gained a local cult following in South Florida in the early 1990s with their theatrical live performances. In 1993, they were the first act signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records label. Until 1996, the name of each member was created by combining the first name of a female sex symbol and the last name of a serial killer, for example Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Their lineup has changed between many of their album releases; the eponymous lead singer is the only remaining original member.

<i>Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)</i> 2000 studio album by Marilyn Manson

Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) is the fourth studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on November 11, 2000, by Nothing and Interscope Records. A rock opera concept album, it is the final installment of a triptych that also included Antichrist Superstar (1996), and marked a return to the industrial metal style of the band's earlier work, after the glam rock-influenced production of Mechanical Animals (1998). After its release, the band's eponymous vocalist said that the overarching story within the trilogy is presented in reverse chronological order: Holy Wood, therefore, begins the narrative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Skold</span> Swedish musician and record producer (born 1966)

Tim Skold is a Swedish musician and record producer who produces solo work and has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM, Marilyn Manson and Motionless in White.

<i>Antichrist Superstar</i> 1996 studio album by Marilyn Manson

Antichrist Superstar is the second studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on October 8, 1996, by Nothing and Interscope Records. It was recorded at Nothing Studios in New Orleans and produced by the band's eponymous vocalist along with Sean Beavan, former Skinny Puppy producer Dave Ogilvie and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. The recording of the album was marred by excessive drug use, which provoked a high level of antagonism between band members. Consequently, it was their last release to feature contributions from founding guitarist Daisy Berkowitz, who was acrimoniously fired partway through recording.

<i>Mechanical Animals</i> 1998 album by Marilyn Manson

Mechanical Animals is the third studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on September 15, 1998, by Interscope Records. The album marked a major shift from the industrial metal and alternative metal styles of the band's earlier efforts, into an experimentation with 1970s glam rock with industrial rock and electronic rock styles. As their first release following the success of their breakthrough album, 1996's Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals' themes primarily deals with the trappings of fame and drug abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twiggy Ramirez</span> American rock musician

Jeordie Osbourne White, better known Twiggy Ramirez or simply Twiggy, is an American musician, mostly known as the former bassist and guitarist of the rock band Marilyn Manson. Previously, he was the bassist for A Perfect Circle and a touring member of Nine Inch Nails, and is currently the vocalist for Goon Moon. He left Marilyn Manson in 2002, later rejoined the band in 2008, and was dismissed in 2017. He has been a principal songwriter for the band and has also contributed to some of the Desert Sessions recordings. He also hosted the Hour of Goon podcast with fellow musician Fred Sablan, on the Starburns Audio network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Manson</span> American musician (born 1969)

Brian Hugh Warner, known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the band that shares his name, of which he remains the only constant member since its formation in 1989. Known for his controversial stage personality, his stage name was formed by combining the names of two opposing American cultural icons: actress Marilyn Monroe and cult leader Charles Manson.

"The End" is an epic song by the American rock band the Doors. Lead singer Jim Morrison initially wrote the lyrics about his break up with an old girlfriend, Mary Werbelow, but it evolved through months of performances at the Whisky a Go Go into a much longer song. The Doors recorded a nearly 12-minute version for their self-titled debut album, which was released on January 4, 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disposable Teens</span> 2000 single by Marilyn Manson

"Disposable Teens" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on November 7, 2000 as the lead single from their fourth full-length studio album, Holy Wood (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 5 (guitarist)</span> American guitarist

John William Lowery, best known by the stage name John 5, is an American guitarist. His stage name was bestowed on him in 1998 when he left David Lee Roth's solo band and joined the rock band Marilyn Manson as their guitarist, taking over for Zim Zum. Still going by the name John 5, Lowery became the guitarist for Rob Zombie in addition to his continued collaborations with musical artists across many genres. In 2022, John 5 left Rob Zombie and became the touring lead guitarist for Mötley Crüe, being promoted to a full member the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shooter Jennings</span> American musician and record producer

Waylon Albright "Shooter" Jennings is an American musician and record producer. He is the son of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. In a career spanning three decades, Jennings has explored a variety of genres as part of his sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beautiful People (song)</span> 1996 single by Marilyn Manson

"The Beautiful People" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Antichrist Superstar, in September 1996. Classified as alternative metal, the song was written by frontman Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez, and was produced by Trent Reznor, Dave Ogilvie and Manson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dope Show</span> 1998 single by Marilyn Manson

"The Dope Show" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released in September 1998 as the lead single from their third studio album Mechanical Animals. The lyrics were written by Marilyn Manson and the music composed by Twiggy Ramirez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunchbox (song)</span> 1995 single by Marilyn Manson

"Lunchbox" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second single from their debut album, Portrait of an American Family (1994). A heavy metal song that features elements of death metal, industrial music and punk rock, "Lunchbox" was written by the band's eponymous vocalist, Daisy Berkowitz, and Gidget Gein, and produced by Manson with Trent Reznor. According to Berkowitz, the track was written as the frontman's plea to be left alone; it was also inspired by a time where Manson defended himself from bullies with a Kiss lunchbox. The track features elements of "Fire" (1968) performed by Arthur Brown, a musician who influenced the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourniquet (Marilyn Manson song)</span> 1997 single by Marilyn Manson

"Tourniquet" is song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second major-label single from their second studio album Antichrist Superstar. The image this song conveys is that of the main character in a world of sorrow and self-pity, prior to his transformation into the Little Horn. It was written by frontman Marilyn Manson, co-founder Daisy Berkowitz and longtime bassist and guitarist Twiggy Ramirez. Like many other songs from Antichrist Superstar, the song's lyrics are based on a dream Manson had.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Hard Road Out of Hell</span> 1997 single by Marilyn Manson and Sneaker Pimps

"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and British trip hop band Sneaker Pimps. It was released as a single from the soundtrack to the 1997 motion picture Spawn. An arena rock and gothic rock song, "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was written by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez and produced by Manson and Sean Beavan. Its lyrics are about self-loathing and its title is derived from John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). After the track was written, the Sneaker Pimps' Kelli Ali was recruited to perform background vocals on it, as the Spawn soundtrack featured collaborations between hard rock artists and electronic music artists. The Sneaker Pimps were dissatisfied with the final track and wanted a remix of it to be released as a single instead; conversely, Manson deemed it a personal favorite.

<i>Countach (For Giorgio)</i> 2016 studio album by Shooter Jennings

Countach (For Giorgio) is the seventh studio album by Shooter Jennings, released on February 26, 2016 on vinyl through Jennings' own Black Country Rock label. A 16-bit music video for the song "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" featuring Marilyn Manson was released on August 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are Chaos (song)</span> 2020 single by Marilyn Manson

"We Are Chaos" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on July 29, 2020, through Loma Vista Recordings as the lead single from their eleventh studio album of the same name. The song was written and produced by Manson and Shooter Jennings: Jennings wanted the song to sound like the music of Jeff Lynne and Elvis Presley. "We Are Chaos" received generally positive reviews upon release, with numerous publications comparing it to the work of The Beatles. It was also a commercial success, entering the top five of numerous music download and airplay charts, and was their third top ten hit on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart. A music video for the song was created by Matt Mahurin, which featured Manson's likeness being inserted into a series of surrealistic vignettes.

<i>We Are Chaos</i> 2020 studio album by Marilyn Manson

We Are Chaos is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was produced by Marilyn Manson and Shooter Jennings, and was released on September 11, 2020, by Loma Vista Recordings and Concord Music. The title track and "Don't Chase the Dead" were both issued as singles. The album was a critical and commercial success upon release, garnering mostly positive reviews and becoming their first number one album in Portugal, and their first number one record in Australia since 1998's Mechanical Animals.

"Don't Chase the Dead" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on September 10, 2020 by Loma Vista Recordings as the second single from the band's eleventh studio album We Are Chaos. The single was issued as a one-track digital download a day ahead of the album's release. A music video for the song was directed by Travis Shinn, and featured actor Norman Reedus and Manson's wife Lindsay Usich. The track peaked at number 29 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock, making We Are Chaos the band's first studio album since 1998's Mechanical Animals to contain more than one top thirty single on that chart. It was the final single released by the band through Loma Vista before they were dropped by the label in February 2021 following accusations of abuse made against the band's vocalist, allegations he has denied.

References

  1. 1 2 "[Stream] Shooter Jennings- Wake Up". December 10, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Black Ribbons Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Amorosi, A D. (August 5, 2016). "Shooter Jennings brings his eclectic electric dreams - and his dad's backing band -to Ardmore". The Inquirer. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Kohn, Daniel (September 16, 2020). "SHOOTER JENNINGS: NEW AGE OUTLAW". Spin. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Staff (July 10, 2010). "SHOOTER, STRAIGHT UP". OC Weekly. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ Staff (November 3, 2010). "Jennings has gift in "Black Ribbons"". Monterey County Herald. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  7. 1 2 NPR News (October 1, 2010). "Shooter Jennings And Hierophant In Concert". WBUR. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ Malitz, David (March 5, 2012). "Shooter Jennings's 'Family Man': A little bit country, a little more rock-and-roll". Washington Post. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Specker, Lawrence (September 9, 2010). "Shooter Jennings brings paranoid 'Black Ribbons' to Mobile". Advance Local Media. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ Bloody-Disgusting.com (January 6, 2010). "BD Music News – New SHOOTER JENNINGS Album 'Black Ribbons' Features Guest Appearance By Author Stephen King". Bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  11. 1 2 Hudak, Joseph (November 8, 2016). "Inside Shooter Jennings' Dystopian, Trump-Predicting Concept Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ Horowitz, Hal (August 21, 2018). "Shooter Jennings: Shooter". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Hughes, Rob (October 25, 2016). "Shooter Jennings: Meet the outlaw country renegade with a taste for darkness". Louder. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Shooter Jennings Hints At New Album : Music Features". PlugInMusic.com. July 27, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Shooter Jennings paints new songs "Black"". Reuters. February 6, 2010.
  16. ↑ Richards, Chris (February 26, 2010). "Shooter takes aim: Toting an exciting mix of metal and rock-and-roll, the son of two country icons has his own brand of rebellion". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Shooter Jennings taps Stephen King for album - Entertainment - Music". Today.com. January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  18. ↑ essar1 on January 19, 2010 (January 19, 2010). "Stephen King Lends Voice to Shooter Jennings Concept Album :: Music :: News :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Recording Shooter Jennings Black Ribbons Album". Mixonline.com. February 1, 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  20. ↑ Lewis, Randy (February 27, 2010). "Shooter Jennings and Stephen King team for "Black Ribbons"". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  21. ↑ Flood, Alison (January 7, 2010). "Stephen King makes horrifying guest appearance on rock album". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  22. 1 2 Haag, Stephen (March 28, 2010). "SHOOTER JENNINGS & HIEROPHANT: BLACK RIBBONS". PopMatters. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  23. 1 2 Sheets, Adam (March 5, 2010). "Review: Shooter Jennings & Hierophant- Black Ribbons". No Depression. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ ""Black Ribbons" - Releases". AllMusic. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  25. ↑ ""Black Ribbons" (Bullet Version)". AllMusic. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  26. ↑ Horsley, Jonathan (September 23, 2020). "Shooter Jennings: "Marilyn Manson's miraculous poetic ability doesn't grow cold, like a lot of people's songwriting"". Guitar World. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.