Razorblade Suitcase | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 19 November 1996 [1] | |||
Studio | Sarm Hook End and Abbey Road Studios, London, England, U.K. | |||
Genre | Grunge [2] [3] | |||
Length | 61:43 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Steve Albini | |||
Bush chronology | ||||
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Singles from Razorblade Suitcase | ||||
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Razorblade Suitcase is the second studio album by English rock band Bush, released on 19 November 1996 by Trauma and Interscope Records. The follow-up to their 1994 debut Sixteen Stone , it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with engineer and producer Steve Albini. Its sound is more raw than that of its predecessor and has frequently been compared to Nirvana's In Utero (1993), which was also produced and engineered by Albini. [4] [5] The album is widely regarded as being the last major "grunge" album of the 1990s.
Razorblade Suitcase debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 293,000 copies in its first week of sales in the United States. [6] To date, it remains the only Bush album to top the Billboard 200. [7] The twentieth anniversary of the album was marked with a reissue officially titled Razorblade Suitcase (In Addition) on 16 December 2016, including the remastered album and four rare bonus tracks: "Broken TV," "Old," "Sleeper" and "Bubbles." [8]
Gavin Rossdale wrote most of the songs for Razorblade Suitcase in under one month. "Swallowed", along with others from the album were written while on the road. [9] In an interview with the Deseret News published on 2 January 1997, Rossdale explained:
"I was trying to write songs while my life was falling apart. While my longtime girlfriend of five years was leaving and packing in one room, I was writing in the other room." [9]
The band chose Steve Albini to produce the album. In an interview with Spin during the final stages of the recording process Rossdale was quoted as saying that Albini "has been more important to me in terms of records I've listened to than any other person." [10] Around the same time Albini declared that he put more time and energy into Razorblade Suitcase than he had with any previous albums. [10]
Described as a grunge album by Entertainment Weekly , [3] Razorblade Suitcase invited strong comparisons to the music of Nirvana, whose final album In Utero had been produced by Albini in 1993. [4] "Swallowed" and "Bonedriven" in particular conjured a description of "irresistibly reminiscent" of Nirvana. [11] "Straight No Chaser" was opined by The A.V. Club to be the "sister ballad" to the band's earlier hit "Glycerine", [12]
Nicholas Slayton of Medium opined that the lyrics of Razorblade Suitcase "focused on three main ideas and problems";being trapped in situations with no way out, fallout from relationships and loneliness. [13]
"Personal Holloway", according to Slayton, reflected lament for societal norms forced on women. Gavin Rossdale, in 1999,stated that the song was about a female friend who attempted to commit suicide; the song contains references to paracetamol as a result. It contained a lyric "deaf and dumb with the lights on, married by signs" which was inspired by list of all the people who'd lived in an English country house, at which Rossdale stayed, for the past 300 years; one couple from around 200 prior were listed as "deaf and dumb, married by signs". [13] [14]
Gavin Rossdale commented in 2017 that the lead-single, "Swallowed", reflected "massive success after failing for years". [15]
"Insect Kin" has been described by Rossdale as being "mood, pure mood". The song's lyrics mention vicodin, an opiate pain medication, and Red Stripe, a brand of lager beer, which Rossdale explained "were pretty much what I lived on when my stomach was really bad". "Insect Kin" contains references to Rossdale's previous love interest Courtney Love, particularly in the lyric "it's all the pain in the way she walks, it's all the pain in her wave goodbye". [13] [14]
"Cold Contagious" musically has been compared to the work of Neil Young. [16] Rossdale has introduced the song at live performances as being "about revenge", although Rossdale has stated that the song is about several subjects, including seeing households fall apart following the breakup of relationships. [14]
In 1997, Bush embarked on a worldwide tour, the Razorblade Suitcase Tour, to promote the album. Stretching from late January into November of that year, it took the band through Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia. It included stops at many major music festivals around the world, including Glastonbury Festival, Pinkpop Festival, Reading Festival, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, and Pukkelpop. [17] [18]
Razorblade Suitcase was released on November 19, 1996, through Trauma Records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 293,000 copies in its first week. [6] It remained at number one during its second week of release in the US. The album also debuted at number one in Canada, with first-week sales of 45,900 copies. [6] Despite the album selling fewer copies than Sixteen Stone in the US, it marked a commercial peak for the band in their native Britain, where it reached number four on the UK Albums Chart. [19]
The band originally planned to release the album in early 1997 but decided it would be better for a late 1996 release, especially considering that U2's next album was pushed into 1997. [9]
The lead single from the album, "Swallowed", was released in October 1996 and was a huge success in the US, holding the number one spot on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for 7 weeks. [20] It remains the band's longest charting number one single. "Swallowed" also marked the commercial peak for the band in their native United Kingdom's singles charts, where it made number 7.
"Greedy Fly" was the second single released from Razorblade Suitcase and reached number three on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. [20] The singles "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly" peaked at number seven and number twenty-two, respectively, on the UK Singles Chart. [19]
"Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" followed as singles but did not make an impact on the charts. [20]
"Mouth" was remixed and later released as a single from the band's 1997 album Deconstructed . The remixed version reached number five on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. [20] "Mouth" is featured on the soundtrack and in the film An American Werewolf in Paris . The "Mouth" music video features Julie Delpy, who also starred in the film. [21]
The 20th anniversary of Razorblade Suitcase was marked by a reissue, officially titled Razorblade Suitcase (In Addition). It was released digitally on 16 December 2016, [22] and on vinyl on 10 February 2017. [23] The reissue includes the remastered album and four rare bonus tracks: "Broken TV", "Old", "Sleeper", and "Bubbles". Prior to the reissue, three of the four bonus tracks had been released as B-sides ("Broken TV" with "Swallowed" and "Old" with "Greedy Fly") or found on compilations, but "Sleeper" had never received a proper release. [8] The vinyl release of the reissue is on 180 gram black and white swirl vinyl and comes housed in a metallic silver gatefold cover with re-interpreted artwork, a poster of lyrics (including the songs that weren't on the original), and liner notes from producer Steve Albini. [8]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
Entertainment Weekly | C [3] |
The Independent | (Negative) [11] |
Rolling Stone | [24] |
NME | 1/10 [25] |
Select | [26] |
Spin | 5/10 [27] |
Razorblade Suitcase received polarized reviews upon its release. Some critics dismissed the album because they felt that although the band attempted to distance themselves from bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam in terms of their sound, they ultimately failed at creating a sound of their own. For example, Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne stated that some of the songs on the album could have easily been on the record Nirvana never made (due to Kurt Cobain's suicide). Andy Gill from The Independent also stated that portions of the album are very reminiscent of Nirvana, citing songs such as "Swallowed" and "Bonedriven" as irresistible reminders of Nirvana. [11] Rolling Stone's Matt Diehl criticized the album at the time of its release, giving the album two out of five stars. [24] Johnny Cigarettes from NME gave the album an extremely negative review, rating it 1/10 "for spelling their name right on the top of the record". [25] However, Razorblade Suitcase was not criticized by all critics. Select magazine gave the effort three out of five stars. [26]
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated:
"The problem is that Gavin Rossdale has not come up with any hooks, which means that while Razorblade Suitcase is more pleasing and visceral on the surface, it offers no hooks to make it memorable, unlike the hit singles from Sixteen Stone." [5]
The album's working title was Ghost Medicine but was changed for unknown reasons. The title Razorblade Suitcase comes from the lyrics of the song "Synapse" and is lead singer Gavin Rossdale's interpretation of "emotional baggage." The album artwork was by Vaughan Oliver and Adrian Philpott. Oliver had previously created the artwork for the Pixies' Surfer Rosa , which was also produced by Steve Albini. [5]
All songs written by Gavin Rossdale [28]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Personal Holloway" | 3:23 |
2. | "Greedy Fly" | 4:30 |
3. | "Swallowed" | 4:51 |
4. | "Insect Kin" | 4:27 |
5. | "Cold Contagious" | 6:00 |
6. | "A Tendency to Start Fires" ( [note 1] ) | 4:04 |
7. | "Mouth" | 5:45 |
8. | "Straight No Chaser" ( [note 2] ) | 4:02 |
9. | "History" | 4:17 |
10. | "Synapse" ( [note 3] ) | 4:52 |
11. | "Communicator" | 4:25 |
12. | "Bonedriven" | 4:32 |
13. | "Distant Voices" (ends at 5:16; includes hidden track "Whatever/History Reprise") | 6:39 |
Total length: | 61:43 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Broken TV" | 4:28 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Old" | 2:50 |
15. | "Broken TV" | 4:26 |
16. | "Sleeper" | 4:19 |
17. | "Bubbles" | 3:02 |
Bush
Other musicians
| Technical personnel
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [48] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada) [49] | 5× Platinum | 500,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [50] | Gold | 7,500^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [51] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [52] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush. He helped form Bush in 1992; on the band's separation in 2002, he became the lead singer and guitarist for Institute and later began a solo career. He resumed his role in Bush when the band reunited in 2010. In 2013, he received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement.
Bush are a British rock band formed in London in 1992. Their current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Gavin Rossdale, lead guitarist Chris Traynor, bassist Corey Britz, and drummer Nik Hughes.
Sixteen Stone is the debut studio album by English rock band Bush, released 1 November 1994 by Trauma and Interscope Records. It became the band's most popular album, peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200 and boasting numerous successful singles. "Comedown" and "Glycerine" remain two of Bush's biggest hits to date, each reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Comedown", "Machinehead", and "Glycerine" were the three songs from the album to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number thirty, number forty-three, and number twenty-eight, respectively. The album was certified 6× Platinum in the United States by the RIAA on 16 April 1997. Although notably less successful in the band's native Britain, the album was nonetheless certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
In Utero is the third and final studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released on September 21, 1993, by DGC Records. After breaking into the mainstream with their second album, Nevermind (1991), Nirvana hired Steve Albini to record In Utero, seeking a more complex, abrasive sound that was reminiscent of their work prior to Nevermind. Although the singer and primary songwriter Kurt Cobain claimed that the album was "very impersonal", many of its songs contain heavy allusions to his personal life and struggles, expressing feelings of angst that were common on the band's previous album.
Deep Blue Something is an American rock band, known for the 1995 hit single "Breakfast at Tiffany's" from their second album Home. Home achieved gold-record status; however, the band parted ways with Interscope Records and went on creative hiatus for several years, only releasing the follow-up Byzantium in Japan and some European countries. They eventually signed with the Aezra label and released Deep Blue Something in mid-2001, breaking up shortly after. The band regrouped with all members at the end of 2014 and signed to drummer John Kirtland's independent label, Kirtland Records.
Institute was an American rock band featuring Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. The band's only album, Distort Yourself, was released on September 13, 2005.
Post-grunge is an offshoot of grunge that has a less abrasive or intense tone than traditional grunge. Originally, the term was used almost pejoratively to label mid-1990s alternative rock bands such as Bush, Candlebox, Collective Soul, Live, Foo Fighters, and Silverchair, that emulated the original sound of grunge.
The Science of Things is the third studio album by British band Bush, released on 26 October 1999, through Trauma Records. The last Bush album released through Trauma, peaked at number eleven on the US Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by both the RIAA and Music Canada. It is the penultimate Bush studio album to feature Dave Parsons and Nigel Pulsford.
Distort Yourself is the only studio album by American rock band Institute, led by then-former Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale. Released on September 13, 2005, through Interscope Records, the album was co-produced by Helmet frontman Page Hamilton. The album also produced the single "Bulletproof Skin."
Deconstructed is a remix album by British band Bush, released on 11 November 1997, through Trauma Records. It did not feature any new material but was a collaborative effort between the band and various producers working in the electronic genre of music to remix some of the band's previously released songs. "Mouth " was released as a single in 1997 and became a minor hit, due largely in part to it being featured prominently in both the trailer and the 1997 film An American Werewolf in Paris.
Golden State is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Bush, released on 23 October 2001 through Atlantic Records. It is the last Bush album to feature Nigel Pulsford and Dave Parsons on guitar and bass, respectively. Bush would not release another studio album again until ten years later with The Sea of Memories (2011). The liner notes of Golden State cite the album in memory of Ian Lowery, founder of Folk Devils. In the documentary Making Of Golden State, the title is revealed as being inspired by the Golden State Freeway, which Gavin Rossdale used to use to get home.
"Glycerine" is a song by English rock band Bush. It was released in November 1995 as the fourth single from their debut album, Sixteen Stone.
"Swallowed" is a song by British rock band Bush, released on 15 October 1996 as the lead single from the band's 1996 album, Razorblade Suitcase. It also appeared on both Bush greatest hits albums, with live versions appearing on Zen X Four (2005) and Live in Tampa (2020), with remixed editions featured on Deconstructed (1997) and Loads of Remixes (2024). The release of "Swallowed" followed the fifth and final single off of the band's 1994 debut album Sixteen Stone, "Machinehead", by only six months.
"Greedy Fly" is a song by alternative rock band Bush, released on 28 January 1997 as the second single from their second studio album, Razorblade Suitcase (1996).
"Bonedriven" is a song by the British rock band Bush, released on 16 April 1997. It is the third single from the band's second album Razorblade Suitcase (1996). It followed the band's hit singles "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly." "Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" are the only Bush singles from 1994–1999 not to be included on the band's 2005 greatest hits compilation, The Best of '94–'99, apparently excluded in favor of two additional tracks from the band's remix album Deconstructed that were not released as singles.
"Cold Contagious" is the fourth and final single from the band Bush's second studio album, Razorblade Suitcase (1996). Along with "Bonedriven", "Cold Contagious" is the only Bush single from 1994-1999 not to be included on the band's 2005 greatest hits compilation, The Best of '94–'99.
British rock band Bush has released nine studio albums, two live album, three compilation albums, and 36 singles released on Interscope Records. The band had released four studio albums before separating in 2002. They reunited in 2010 and have since released five studio albums.
"Mouth" is a song by British band Bush from their 1996 second album Razorblade Suitcase. Though its original version was not released as a single, it was remixed by Bush under the pseudonym "The Stingray" for the 1997 remix album Deconstructed and was released as a single on 7 October 1997, due largely in part to it being featured prominently in both the trailer and the 1997 film An American Werewolf in Paris. The Stingray remix was the version that made the song popular and received airplay on radio, peaking number 5 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Black and White Rainbows is the seventh studio album by British alternative rock band Bush, released on 10 March 2017, through Zuma Rock Records and Caroline International. It is the follow-up to the band's 2014 album, Man on the Run, and is the third featuring the lineup of Gavin Rossdale, Robin Goodridge, Chris Traynor and Corey Britz. It is the last album to feature longtime drummer Robin Goodridge, the only member other than Rossdale who had played on every album dating back to their 1994 debut Sixteen Stone which launched the band's career. He was also the only longtime member to rejoin Bush after their hiatus from 2002 to 2010.
The Kingdom is the eighth studio album by English rock band Bush. It was originally scheduled to be released in May 2020 but it was later pushed back to a release date of 17 July 2020. The band released two singles prior to the album, the first being "Bullet Holes" which was released in May 2019 and featured in the film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and the second single off the album was "Flowers on a Grave" and was released one year later in March 2020.
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