Headspace (Issues album)

Last updated

Headspace
Issues Headspace.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 20, 2016
RecordedJanuary 23 – August 13, 2015 [1] [2]
Studio
Genre
Length43:59
Label Rise
Producer
Issues chronology
Diamond Dreams
(2014)
Headspace
(2016)
Beautiful Oblivion
(2019)
Singles from Headspace
  1. "The Realest"
    Released: March 24, 2016
  2. "COMA"
    Released: April 19, 2016
  3. "Blue Wall"
    Released: May 9, 2016

Headspace is the second studio album by American metalcore band Issues. Released on May 20, 2016 on Rise Records, the band recruited Kris Crummett once more to produce the album. It is their final studio album to feature original member and co-vocalist Michael Bohn before his departure in January 2018, and is their first release since the departure of keyboardist and disc jockey Tyler "Scout" Acord. Despite this, Acord performs synthesizers and production on the album, and appears in the music video for its first single "The Realest". The album showcases the group's experimental approach to their signature metalcore-contemporary R&B hybrid sound, exploring elements of nu metal, pop, hip hop and funk.

Contents

The album was supported by three singles; "The Realest", "COMA" and "Home Soon". In support of the album, the group toured with Volumes, from September to November 2017. They also performed on the Vans Warped Tour in 2016 and 2018.

Background and recording

Issues began recording the album on January 23, 2015, and discussed a hopefulness in an exciting change in sound. [1] Ty "Scout" Acord left the band, as an official member, a month before album's recording was done, however continued to record the album with the band. Recording sessions for the album concluded on August 13, 2015. [2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Alternative Press (positive) [7]
Dead Press!9/10 [8]
Rock Sound 6/10 [9]
Soundfiction(positive) [4]

Upon its release, the album has received generally positive reviews. The record has largely been seen as an improvement over their self-titled record, most notably the guitar work has been stepped up utilizing jazz chords, more lead riffs, and choppy syncopated rhythms. Reviewers also showed their appreciation for a new mix of genres the band has tampered with including country ("Home Soon" and "Yung and Dum"), jazz ("Hero"), funk ("Hero" and "The Realest") and rap. "Blue Wall", regarded as one of the heaviest song on the album, features vocals from guitarist A.J. Rebollo. Carter rapped a significant amount of lyrics on songs "Flojo", "Blue Wall", and "Someone Who Does". The vocal dynamic between Bohn and Carter has been the center of attention, because Bohn had not taken clean vocal duties prior to Headspace. Praising the album, Michelle Beck for Revival Media said, "Headspace is a mish-mash masterpiece of genres and one huge step forward in Issues' development as a band. You can clearly hear both lyrically and musically how much the band have matured in the two years since the release of their self titled album." [10] Jack Appleby of Alternative Press commended Carter and Bohn's vocal progression from their first album, going on to say that, "...Carter's hook might be the obvious spotlight, but Bohn's feisty verses set the foundation in a fresh way. Suddenly the band are accessible while maintaining heavy tendencies thanks to two strong personalities on the mics." [7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Realest"
  • Issues
  • Erik Ron
4:00
2."Home Soon"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
4:04
3."Lost-n-Found (On a Roll)"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
3:05
4."Yung & Dum" (featuring Jonathan Langston)
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
3:06
5."Made to Last"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
  • Jared Lee
  • Mario Marchetti
3:12
6."Flojo"Issues3:30
7."Hero"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
3:23
8."Coma"Issues2:53
9."Rank Rider"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
  • Colin Cunningham
3:43
10."Blue Wall"Issues2:41
11."Someone Who Does"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
4:15
12."I Always Knew" (Instrumental)Issues2:04
13."Slow Me Down"
  • Issues
  • E. Ron
  • C. Cunningham
4:04
Total length:43:59
Japanese edition bonus tracks [11] [12]
No.TitleLength
14."Yung & Dum" (Japanese version featuring Taka of One Ok Rock)3:09
Total length:47:08

Personnel

Taken from album liner notes.

Issues
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [13] 36
UK Albums (OCC) [14] 73
US Billboard 200 [15] 20
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [16] 1

Related Research Articles

<i>Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean</i> 2006 EP by Dance Gavin Dance

Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean is the debut EP by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance. Released on November 14, 2006, the album was originally recorded over a six month period with producer Phil Devereux and was subsequently produced and mastered by Kris Crummett after the band signed to Rise Records.

<i>Downtown Battle Mountain</i> 2007 studio album by Dance Gavin Dance

Downtown Battle Mountain is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, released on May 15, 2007, on Rise Records. The album serves as a follow-up to the band's debut extended play, Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean, which was released in 2006. The title of the album was inspired by the unincorporated town Battle Mountain, Nevada after the band visited the city. The album was produced by Kris Crummett, who would go on to produce most of the band's future studio releases.

<i>Your World on Fire</i> 2009 studio album by In Fear and Faith

Your World on Fire is the debut full-length album by American rock band In Fear and Faith. It was released January 6, 2009 through Rise Records.

<i>Happiness</i> (Dance Gavin Dance album) 2009 studio album by Dance Gavin Dance

Happiness is the third studio album by American rock band Dance Gavin Dance, released on June 9, 2009, on Rise Records. It is the band's second consecutive, and final, studio album to feature Kurt Travis on clean vocals and Zachary Garren on guitar, and is their only studio album to not feature screaming vocalist Jon Mess, who left the group in 2008 before returning in 2010. It is also the band's only studio album to feature bass guitarist Jason Ellis and is their only release to feature screaming vocals from lead guitarist Will Swan. The album serves as a follow-up to the group's sophomore studio album, Dance Gavin Dance (2008) and was produced by Kris Crummett, who recorded the album with the band in Portland, Oregon at Interlace Audio Recording Studio in February 2009. Following its release, the album peaked at No. 145 on the Billboard 200 and No. 30 on the Top Independent Albums chart.

<i>Imperial</i> (In Fear and Faith album) 2010 studio album by In Fear and Faith

Imperial is the second album by In Fear and Faith. It was released June 15, 2010 through Rise Records and is the band's last release to feature vocalist Cody Anderson. Between late June and early August, the band performed on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woe, Is Me</span> American metalcore band

Woe, Is Me is an American metalcore band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2009, the band is signed to Rise Records and its subsidiary, Velocity Records. Their debut album, Numbers, was released on August 31, 2010, and charted at number 16 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart. Due to perpetual conflicts within the lineup the band suffered several lineup changes during its four-year run. The only original member who remained in the band through its lifespan was guitarist Kevin Hanson. Woe, Is Me officially broke up in September 2013. They announced their reunion in July 2022 with the Vengeance lineup and played their first show in over 9 years in Dallas, Texas on October 29, 2022.

<i>A Place Where the Sun Is Silent</i> 2011 studio album by Alesana

A Place Where the Sun Is Silent is the fourth studio album by Alesana. It was released through Epitaph Records on October 18, 2011. The album was produced by Kris Crummett, who also worked on The Emptiness. Being the second concept album released by Alesana, A Place Where the Sun Is Silent was inspired by the epic poem The Inferno by Dante Alighieri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Issues (band)</span> American metalcore band

Issues was an American metalcore band based in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 2012. The band's final lineup consisted of guitarist and vocalist AJ Rebollo, bassist and vocalist Skyler Acord, and drummer Josh Manuel. They were known for their combination of metalcore, nu metal, pop and contemporary R&B.

<i>Black Diamonds</i> (EP) 2012 EP by Issues

Black Diamonds is the debut EP by American metalcore band Issues released on November 13, 2012.

<i>Acceptance Speech</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Dance Gavin Dance

Acceptance Speech is the fifth studio album by American rock band Dance Gavin Dance, released on October 8, 2013, on Rise Records. The album serves as a follow-up to the band's fourth studio album, Downtown Battle Mountain II (2011), and is the band's first studio album to feature clean vocalist Tilian Pearson, bass guitarist Tim Feerick, and guitarist Josh Benton. It is the band's only studio album to feature Benton on rhythm guitar, who departed shortly after the album's release. The album was produced by Matt Malpass, which marks the band's first and only studio album to not be produced by Kris Crummett, who has produced all of the band's previous releases since Whatever I Say Is Royal Ocean (2006).

<i>Issues</i> (Issues album) 2014 studio album by Issues

Issues is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Issues. Released on February 18, 2014, on Rise Records, the album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200, selling over 22,000 copies in its first week. The album was produced by Kris Crummett, Matt Malpass, and the group's keyboardist and disc jockey Tyler "Scout" Acord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Are Harlot</span> British hard rock band

We Are Harlot, often shortened to just Harlot, is a hard rock supergroup organized by singer Danny Worsnop, of Asking Alexandria, and Jeff George, who was formerly Sebastian Bach's guitarist. The lineup also includes bassist Brian Weaver from Silvertide and drummer Bruno Agra formerly of Revolution Renaissance. Formed in 2011, they released their first single titled "Denial" in 2014 and released their self-titled debut album in 2015, which debuted in US and UK charts and sold 5,000 copies in the US in its first week.

<i>Leave Your Love</i> 2015 EP by Tyler Carter

Leave Your Love is the debut EP release by American singer-songwriter and former Issues clean vocalist Tyler Carter, which was released on January 13, 2015 through Rise Records. The lead single, "Georgia" was released on December 16, 2014 through Rise Records along with a music video. "Tears on the Runway Pt. 1", featuring recording artist Nylo, was released as a promotional single on December 19. The title track, "Leave Your Love" was released as a single along with a music video on December 22, 2014. On February 26, 2015, Tyler uploaded the music video for the third and final single off the EP, "Find Me".

<i>Mothership</i> (Dance Gavin Dance album) 2016 studio album by Dance Gavin Dance

Mothership is the seventh studio album by American rock band Dance Gavin Dance, released on October 7, 2016, on Rise Records. The album serves as a follow-up the group's sixth studio album, Instant Gratification (2015), and is their second consecutive studio release with the same consistent line-up. The album was produced by Kris Crummett. Upon its release, the album sold over 19,000 copies within its first week in retail, debuting at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

Tyler Joseph Acord, also known by his stage name Lophiile and formerly known as Scout, is an American record producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter born in Lakewood, Washington. He is a member of the English-American R&B group Radiant Children and is a former member of the American metalcore band Issues.

<i>Diamond Dreams</i> (EP) 2014 EP by Issues

Diamond Dreams is the second EP by American metalcore band Issues released on November 18, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Carter</span> American singer

Derek Tyler Carter is an American musician and songwriter from Habersham County, Georgia. Carter began his musical career performing drums in local bands in Atlanta. Following his underground success, he joined metalcore outfit Woe, Is Me, releasing their debut studio album, Number[s], in 2010, in which he left the following year.

<i>Moonshine</i> (Tyler Carter album) 2019 studio album by Tyler Carter

Moonshine is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and former Issues lead vocalist Tyler Carter, released on February 1, 2019, on Velocity and Rise Records. The album is a follow-up to Carter's debut extended play (EP), Leave Your Love. It was produced by long time collaborator Lophiile, Medasin, Brandon Paddock, Femdouble, Maui Black, and SmarterChild. The album was recorded in 2018 and was written over the course of three years, between 2016 and 2018. The singer continues his unique sound of soul, R&B, and electronic music with elements of country and pop. A companion extended play, Moonshine Acoustic, was released in June 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tapping Out (song)</span> 2019 song by Issues

"Tapping Out" is a song by American metalcore band Issues, released for digital download and streaming as the lead single from their third studio album, Beautiful Oblivion, on May 3, 2019, on Rise Records. It is the group's first song to be released since the departure of vocalist Michael Bohn, as well as the second to feature vocals from AJ Rebello, the first being their previous single "Blue Wall".

<i>Beautiful Oblivion</i> 2019 studio album by Issues

Beautiful Oblivion is the third and final studio album by American metalcore band Issues, released on October 4, 2019, on Rise Records. It serves as a follow-up to their second studio album, Headspace (2016) and was produced by Howard Benson. The album showcases the group's progression of experimenting with other musical styles and influences, using elements of nu metal, progressive metal and djent, and influences of neo-soul, R&B, funk, electronica and pop. Less than a year following the album's release, lead singer Tyler Carter was fired in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct; the band later announced in late 2023 that they would be breaking up following three farewell shows in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 ""Tyler "Scout" Acord will not be on the road with us"—Issues talk changes, a new album, more in 2015". Alternative Press. January 2, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Issues Finish Recording New Album". Kerrang!.
  3. Magazine, Alternative Press (May 20, 2016). "Issues grab a whole new bag of influences for 'Headspace' (review)". Alternative Press .
  4. 1 2 3 Tyler H. (May 16, 2016). "Album Review: Issues - Headspace". Soundfiction. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Album Review: Issues - 'Headspace'". June 9, 2016.
  6. "Issues Josh Manuel Talks Studio Work and Collaborating on Rhythm and Grooves". Moderndrummer. March 20, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Jack Appleby (May 20, 2016). "Issues - Headspace". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  8. "ALBUM REVIEW: Issues - Headspace". DEAD PRESS!. May 20, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  9. "Rocksound Album Review: Issues - Headspace". Rocksound. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  10. Michelle Beck. "Issues - Headspace Review". Revival Media. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
  11. "Instagram".
  12. "Issuesの「Headspace (Japanese Version)」". March 29, 2017 via music.apple.com.
  13. "Australiancharts.com – Issues – Headspace". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  15. "Issues Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  16. "Issues Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2019.