| Rubbing Doesn't Help | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 21, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | November–December 1995, City Lab Studios, Los Angeles, California, United States | |||
| Genre | Pop punk, pop rock, power pop | |||
| Length | 41:30 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Play It Again Sam/Priority | |||
| Producer | Geza X | |||
| Magnapop chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rubbing Doesn't Help | ||||
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Rubbing Doesn't Help is the third album by Magnapop, released in 1996.
The sessions for Rubbing Doesn't Help were produced by Geza X at City Lab Studios in Hollywood, California in late 1995. [1] Drummer David McNair left the group prior to recording, so they hired session musician Josh Freese to fill in on drums. This would be the band's final album for almost a decade; their record label folded while promoting Rubbing Doesn't Help and they were contractually barred from recording under that name. The band (along with Freese) also went to Plus Four Recordings Studios, in Sherman Oaks, California with engineers Sandy Solomon and Bernie Zwass in June 1995 to record their cover of Tom Waits' "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" for the compilation album Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits . The title of the album comes from a Ben-Gay slogan. [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Blender | favorable [4] |
| Boston Phoenix | favorable [2] |
| Robert Christgau |  [5] |
| College Music Journal | favorable [6] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [7] |
| Launch Magazine | [8] |
| Melody Maker | favorable [9] |
| Ray Gun | favorable [10] |
| The Washington Post | favorable [11] |
The album received mostly positive reviews, with some mixed responses. Positive critics noted the album's emotionally powerful lyrics [2] in addition to its aggressive instrumentation—particularly the guitar. [9] Ambivalent reviewers criticized the lack of variety between this album and Magnapop's previous efforts, [7] as well as a lack of focus in the production. [3]
All songs written by Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris, except where noted.
The Dutch edition of the album has a slightly different track listing, with "Hold You Down" (3:29) as the fourth track and omitting "Cherry Bomb".
A promotional EP entitled Tracks from Rubbing Doesn't Help was released by Play It Again Sam in the United States in 1996 (catalogue number PROMOBIAS 033 CD) with the following track listing:
The album was initially released on Priority Records in the United States and Play It Again Sam in Europe, with the Japanese edition published by King.
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | March 21, 1996 | Priority | Compact Disc | P2 53992 |
| cassette tape | P4 53992 | |||
| Europe | Play It Again Sam | Compact Disc | 450.0321.20 - BIAS 321 CD | |
| LP (red vinyl) | 450.0321.10 - BIAS 321 LP | |||
| Australia | 1996 | Cortex | Compact Disc | CTX058CD |
| Japan | 1996 | King | Compact Disc | KICP 507† |
| The Netherlands | 1996 | Play It Again Sam | Compact Disc | 450.0321.26 - BIAS 321 CDX |
†Special edition with bonus tracks
| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Heatseekers | 22 [12] |
Magnapop is an American rock band based in Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1989, the band has consistently included songwriting duo Linda Hopper as vocalist and Ruthie Morris on guitar. Magnapop first achieved recognition in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg through the festival circuit and have remained popular in Europe throughout their career. After modest success in the United States in the mid-1990s with the singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door" and a series of albums produced by Michael Stipe, Bob Mould, and Geza X, the band went on an extended hiatus due to the dissolution of their record label. They returned with a new rhythm section in 2005 on the Daemon Records release Mouthfeel. The band has continued to perform and record since this reunion and have self-released two more albums. Magnapop's musical style is noted for blending the pop vocals and melodies of Hopper with the aggressive, punk-influenced guitar-playing of Morris and her back-up vocal harmonies.
Ruth Mary "Ruthie" Morris is the guitarist for the rock band Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop guitar style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door".
Magnapop is the debut album by Magnapop, released in 1992 and re-released with bonus tracks on July 29, 1997.
Hot Boxing is the second studio album by Magnapop, released in 1994. "Lay It Down" and "Slowly, Slowly" were released as singles. Music videos were created for "Lay It Down", "Slowly, Slowly", and "Texas". Having Priority release the album was a radical departure from the label's earlier emphasis on rap.
Mouthfeel is the fourth studio album by the pop band Magnapop. It was released in 2005 through Daemon Records, with European distribution through DevilDuck Records. The album is the band's first release since their last record in 2004.
The discography of Magnapop—an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia—consists of five studio albums, one live album, four extended plays, and six singles.
Kiss My Mouth is a 1993 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record Two of these tracks would later be re-recorded for their 1994 studio album Hot Boxing.
Big Bright Cherry is a 1994 EP by Magnapop released promotionally in the United States by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 10" gramophone record red vinyl Several of these songs also appear on the studio album Hot Boxing.
Fire All Your Guns at Once is a 1996 EP by Magnapop released in the United Kingdom by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 7" gramophone record In the United States, it was issued by SideOneDummy Records on purple vinyl (603967000979) on April 1, 1998, and as a promotional Compact Disc by Priority Records in 1996. Two of these tracks are also featured on their studio album Rubbing Doesn't Help.
Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005 is a 2005 live album by Magnapop, released through online music providers including eMusic, the iTunes Store, and Rhapsody.
"Slowly, Slowly" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record, as well as a limited-edition white vinyl version A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50804. A recording of the song is also featured on the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1994 and it was featured on the 1995 soundtrack to the film Mad Love.
"Lay It Down" is a 1994 single by Magnapop from the album Hot Boxing, released by Play It Again Sam Records on CD and 12" gramophone record A promo CD edition was released by Priority Records as DPRO 50820. A live recording of the song appears on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the song also appears on 1993's Kiss My Mouth. A music video was created for the song in 1994.
"Open the Door" is a 1996 single by Magnapop released by Play It Again Sam Records as a CD maxi-single, two-track CD and 7" on red viny. A promotional CD and 10" were released by Priority Records. Live recordings of the song appear on the German edition of 2005's Mouthfeel and the live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005. A music video was created for the song in 1996.
"This Family" is a 1996 single by Magnapop by Play It Again Sam Records on CD
Sugarland is a 1992 EP by Magnapop released in Europe by Play It Again Sam Records on Compact Disc and 12" gramophone record The former two of these tracks are also featured on their debut album Magnapop and the latter two were added on to the 1997 re-release of the album.
"Merry" is a song by American power pop band Magnapop. It was initially released in 1990 as the B-side to a 7" through Safety Net Records under the band's original name of Homemade Sister. The song was re-recorded and released again on the EP Sugarland as well as the band's self-titled debut album in 1992 on Solid Records (527.9013.40.)
Chase Park is the fifth studio album from Magnapop, released on September 4, 2009. The recording is the first from the band released independently on the vanity label The Kraft Records. Lead songwriters Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris began writing for the album after they ceased touring for Mouthfeel in 2006 and the track "Future Forward" debuted on the 2005 live album Magnapop Live at Maxwell's 03/09/2005.
Linda Elizabeth Hopper is the vocalist for the Atlanta, Georgia-based rock group Magnapop. Her pop punk/power pop vocal style helped to define the band's sound and she has co-written their minor hit singles "Slowly, Slowly" and "Open the Door". Prior to the formation of Magnapop, Hopper was a member of the Athens, Georgia music scene in the early 1980s, which included R.E.M., The B-52s, and her own band Oh-OK.
The Circle Is Round is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock/pop punk band Magnapop.
