So Far, So Good... So What! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 19, 1988 | |||
Recorded | 1987 | |||
Studio | Music Grinder, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | Thrash metal | |||
Length | 34:26 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer |
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Megadeth chronology | ||||
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Singles from So Far, So Good... So What! | ||||
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So Far, So Good... So What! is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on January 19, 1988, by Capitol Records. [1] It was the band's only album recorded with drummer Chuck Behler and guitarist Jeff Young, both of whom were fired from the band in early 1989, several months after the completion of the album's world tour. So Far, So Good... So What! features music performed at fast tempos with technical ability; lyrically, frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine addresses a variety of topics, including nuclear holocaust and freedom of speech.
So Far, So Good... So What! was well received by critics upon its release, although retrospective analysis has been less favorable. It managed to enter the top-thirty of the Billboard 200 (although it received no commercial radio play), and charted in several other countries as well. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA, and indicated Megadeth's forthcoming emergence from the underground music scene. [2]
Guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson had been both fired from the band following the conclusion of the Peace Sells tour for disruptive behavior, including Poland's habit of pawning band equipment to pay for drugs. [3] Samuelson was immediately replaced by his drum technician, Chuck Behler [4] (although Slayer's Dave Lombardo considered joining). [5] However, a new guitarist would take longer to emerge. At first, the band hired guitarist Jay Reynolds from the band Malice, [6] but Reynolds was not up to the task of recording, and was subsequently replaced by his guitar teacher, Jeff Young. Dave Mustaine has since stated his regret for the way he handled Reynolds's firing. [7] Other guitarists considered included Slash from Guns N' Roses. [8]
Work on the album started while Reynolds was in the band, but continued after the induction of Young. To mix the album, the label turned to Paul Lani, who had remixed the band's previous album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?. [9] Mustaine was initially skeptical, but later became very irate with Lani's "eccentricities" and his way of handling things. To mix the album, Lani relocated himself and Mustaine to Bearsville Studios, near Woodstock, New York, ostensibly for the purpose of inspiration. [10] Mustaine decided that he had his limits when he, having just awakened and made coffee, noticed Lani outside in his underwear feeding an apple to a deer. Mustaine flew back to Los Angeles later that day and fired Lani, who was replaced by Michael Wagener. Mustaine has since criticized Wagener's "pedestrian" mixing efforts, citing the album's "muddy feel", in particular. [11] Mustaine was able to recruit Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones to perform guitar parts on "Anarchy in the U.K." [12]
According to music critic J. D. Considine of Spin , So Far, So Good... So What! displays music performed at "volumes approaching the threshold of pain". [13] This was the first album where another band member other than Mustaine contributed to writing, with bassist David Ellefson contributing to either lyrics or music on half of the album's songs. The album features fast guitar solos, multiple tempo changes and technical dexterity. [14] Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic observed that the album offers the classic "take no prisoners" style which is commonly associated with Megadeth; however, he noted that the sound does not differ much from the other underground metal bands from that period. [15] Jim Farber of Rolling Stone called Mustaine's vocals "bloodthirsty" and praised the musicianship for keeping rhythmic pace even at the "most anarchic moments". [16] Los Angeles Times journalist Dennis Hunt noted that the music was filled with extensive and "torrid" instrumentals and described Mustaine's singing as a combination of extreme shrieking and screaming. [17] Despite the positive overview, "Anarchy in the U.K." received some negative criticism, partially because it was perceived to lack the rebelliousness of the original version. [18]
The lyrical themes on the album explore a variety of subjects, from nuclear holocaust ("Set the World Afire") to revisionism and censorship ("Hook in Mouth"). [17] Still, the majority of the songs are accompanied by the same sentiment of disillusion and nihilism as their previous two albums. [19] Unlike traditional topics related to heavy metal music, the song "In My Darkest Hour" contains emotional lyrics which deal with loneliness and isolation. [20] Dave Mustaine revealed that he tried to write about subject matters that were in touch with reality, including social issues and taboo topics. [17] The lyrics on Megadeth's cover of "Anarchy in the U.K." were slightly mistaken because Mustaine claimed he had heard them incorrectly. [21]
The album's first track, "Into the Lungs of Hell", is an instrumental composition which features synthesized horns, winds and percussion. [22] "Set the World Afire" is the first song Dave Mustaine wrote for Megadeth after being fired from Metallica. He was a member of Metallica from 1981 to 1983, and was dismissed just before Metallica recorded its debut album Kill 'Em All . He later said that he wrote the lyrics during his journey home from the departure. Inspiration for the song came from a pamphlet he read while on the bus back to California. [23] The initial lyrics were reportedly written with a borrowed pencil on a cupcake wrapper, leading some fans to refer to "Set the World Afire" as "the cupcake song", [24] though Mustaine indicated in a 2019 interview with NME that the lyrics were written on the backing of a Sno Balls cake. [23] The beginning of the song contains a sample of "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire", a 1941 song by The Ink Spots. [25]
"Anarchy in the U.K." is a Sex Pistols cover, which quickly became a staple of the band's live set. [26] Over the years, the song was dropped from the set list because of its [perceived] anti-Christian viewpoint. [27] "Mary Jane" tells a story about a young witch buried alive by her father near the Loon Lake cemetery in Minnesota. According to the legend, anyone who dared to disturb her grave was doomed to a prompt death. [28] The song features descending guitar lines and begins with Mustaine summoning her spirit during the introduction. [29]
"502" is about breaking laws and driving fast cars. The title is a reference to the police code in California for drunk driving; Mustaine himself would be arrested for drunk driving in March the following year when he crashed into a police car. [13] [30] "In My Darkest Hour" was written by Mustaine shortly after the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Mustaine had found out through word of mouth, as his former bandmates never contacted him about the tragic event that occurred in Europe. He later recalled that he was extremely unhappy that day and wrote the song in one sitting. [31] "Liar" is a diss song directed at past member Chris Poland, who Mustaine claimed was stealing guitars and selling them for heroin money. [21] "Hook in Mouth" criticizes censorship and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). Mustaine elaborated that the lyrics were aimed at those who were "fucking around with our constitutional rights and trying to take away our freedom of speech". [32]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [18] |
Los Angeles Times | [14] |
Rock Hard | 10/10 [33] |
Rolling Stone | [16] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [34] |
Sputnikmusic | [35] |
The Village Voice | B− [36] |
The album received positive feedback from music critics at the time of its release. In a contemporary review, Holger Stratmann from Rock Hard hailed the album as "the new masterpiece of Megadeth" and asserted that the band had created a great follow-up to their highly acclaimed Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? [33] Jim Farber of Rolling Stone also gave the album a favorable review, saying it propelled the group "right at the top of the thrash-rock heap". He concluded his review by saying, "amid today's narcoleptic pop scene, albums like So Far, So Good ... So What! offer a disruptive noise that's welcome indeed". [16] Writing for Spin , J. D. Considine felt that the record showed a "genuine maturity" for the band. [13] In The Village Voice , Robert Christgau reacted toward the album with tepid positivity, and wrote that Megadeth garnered "its modest portions of profit and respect" with their latest studio release. He praised "Anarchy in the U.K.", commenting that Mustaine covers the Sex Pistols "like a champ". [36]
Retrospective reviews, however, tend to be more critical of the album. AllMusic's Steve Huey criticized the album for lacking "the conceptual unity and musical bite" of its predecessor. According to him, the album "wants to sound threatening but mostly comes off as forced and somewhat juvenile", citing the cover track as an example. [18] Conversely, Adrien Begrand from MSN Music opined that the record was "somehow ignored" in the band's discography. [21]
The tour that followed the album's release was the first to feature new band members Chuck Behler and Jeff Young. [37] Bassist David Ellefson said that previous members Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland were tired of constantly being on the road and their departure was inevitable. He further revealed that drummer Behler was appointed shortly before because the band feared that Samuelson would not be able to continue touring. [38] However, some problems occurred during the Australian leg of the tour. The band was forced to cancel some of these shows because of drug issues. Mustaine claimed that the group returned home because guitarist Young "ran out of heroin", which Young denied, stating that it was Mustaine who wanted to go back to Los Angeles and seek rehabilitation. [39] Both Young and Behler were eventually fired from the band in 1989. [40]
Megadeth started performing the album's songs live before the record was released. During 1987 they toured with other thrash metal bands such as Kreator and Overkill at a number of European venues. [41] The following year Megadeth appeared with more established heavy metal acts such as Dio and Savatage for some shows in North America. [42] They also headlined a European tour, with support from Testament and Sanctuary. [43] Later in 1988 the group made an appearance at the Monsters of Rock festival, but were dropped from the line-up after one show; [40] Megadeth was replaced by Testament. [44] [45] Dave Mustaine explained that the band toured quite often because they were not receiving much media exposure: "We do a lot of shows and sell records by word-of-mouth". Los Angeles Times reported that So Far, So Good... So What! sold 400,000 copies one month after its release, becoming Megadeth's fastest selling album at that point. [17] The record eventually went platinum and indicated Megadeth's forthcoming emergence from the underground scene. [46]
All songs written and composed by Dave Mustaine, except where noted. [47]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Into the Lungs of Hell" | (instrumental) | 3:29 | |
2. | "Set the World Afire" | 5:48 | ||
3. | "Anarchy in the U.K." (Sex Pistols cover) | Johnny Rotten |
| 3:00 |
4. | "Mary Jane" |
| 4:25 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
5. | "502" | 3:28 | ||
6. | "In My Darkest Hour" (6:26 on 2004 reissue) |
| 6:16 | |
7. | "Liar" |
| 3:20 | |
8. | "Hook in Mouth" |
| 4:40 | |
Total length: | 34:26 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|
9. | "Into the Lungs of Hell" (Paul Lani mix) | (instrumental) | 3:32 |
10. | "Set the World Afire" (Paul Lani mix) | 5:53 | |
11. | "Mary Jane" (Paul Lani mix) |
| 4:08 |
12. | "In My Darkest Hour" (Paul Lani mix) |
| 6:11 |
Total length: | 54:20 |
Production and performance credits are adapted from the album liner notes. [47]
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Chart (1988) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [48] | 40 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [49] | 51 |
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [50] | 5 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [51] | 27 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [52] | 57 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [53] | 41 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [54] | 37 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [55] | 28 |
UK Albums (OCC) [56] | 18 |
US Billboard 200 [57] | 28 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [58] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [59] 2004 release | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [60] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, responsible for the genre's development and popularization. Their music features complex arrangements and fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes of war, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.
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Rust in Peace is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 24, 1990, by Capitol Records. It was the first Megadeth album to feature guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. The songs "Hangar 18" and "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" were released as singles. A remixed and remastered version of the album featuring four bonus tracks was released in 2004.
Countdown to Extinction is the fifth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on July 14, 1992, through Capitol Records. It was the group's second studio release to feature the "classic" lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, David Ellefson and Nick Menza, with all of them contributing to songwriting on the album. The album features some of the band's best known songs such as "Symphony of Destruction", "Sweating Bullets", and "Skin o' My Teeth", which enjoyed significant chart success and made a great musical impact.
Risk is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on August 31, 1999, by Capitol Records, the band's last album to be released by the label. The first Megadeth album since 1990 to feature a lineup change, Risk marks the studio debut of drummer Jimmy DeGrasso with the band, as well as the final appearance of longtime guitarist Marty Friedman, who announced his departure a year later. Meant to be a breakthrough on alternative rock radio, Risk received a mixed response because of the great deviation from the band's traditional sound. The backlash ultimately resulted in the band returning to a heavier sound on their next album, The World Needs a Hero.
David Scott Mustaine is an American musician. He is best known as the co-founder, frontman, primary songwriter and sole consistent member of the thrash metal band Megadeth and for his time as the lead guitarist of Metallica. Mustaine has released sixteen studio albums with Megadeth, sold over 38 million records worldwide, with six albums platinum-certified, and won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2017 at the 59th Grammy Awards, for the title track of their fifteenth studio album, Dystopia.
"Peace Sells" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine. The song was released as the band's second ever single in November 1986. "Peace Sells" was the group's breakthrough hit, and is regarded as one of the best songs in the history of heavy metal. Since 1985, the song has since been a constant at Megadeth concerts. According to David Ellefson, it became quickly apparent when playing the song live prior to recording the album that "Peace Sells" would be a hit. In 2006, VH1 ranked "Peace Sells" at number 11 on their list of the "40 Greatest Metal Songs" of all time. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song number nineteen on their list on the 100 greatest heavy metal songs.
Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM and OHMphrey, among others, and has appeared on several projects and albums from a variety of different genres.
Gary Charles "Gar" Samuelson was an American musician best remembered for being the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984 to 1987, contributing to their first two albums, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985) and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986). He is considered one of the most influential drummers of thrash metal, having pioneered the incorporation of jazz fusion into the subgenre.
Charles Conrad Behler is an American musician who played drums for the heavy metal band Megadeth from 1987 through 1989, recording the album So Far, So Good... So What! with the group in 1988. He also appeared in the 1988 rockumentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years. He is currently a member of Motor City Freaks.
American thrash metal band Megadeth has released sixteen studio albums, six live albums, seven compilation albums, one EP, fifty-nine singles, ten video albums, and fifty music videos. After he was fired from Metallica in 1983, guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth along with bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Greg Handevidt, and drummer Richard Girod. After some initial lineup changes during 1984, Megadeth's lineup was cemented, consisting of guitarist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson. The band toured and gained a following, signing with the independent label Combat Records in late 1984. Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985), sold very well for an independent release, and the group attracted the attention of major record labels. By the end of the year, the group signed with Capitol Records. Megadeth's first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986.
Arsenal of Megadeth is a DVD by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on March 21, 2006 via Capitol Records. Presented as an anthology of the band's first 20 years, the two-disc DVD set contains music videos, live performances, interviews, home videos, and special appearances. As a result of licensing issues, videos from soundtrack and non-Capitol albums are not featured, save for "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Go to Hell" as well as despite being on Risk, "Crush 'Em" and "Breadline" were not included. The album was certified gold in the United States and platinum in Canada.
William Lee Rauch was an American drummer who played in several thrash metal bands based in California from 1983 to 1987.
Anthology: Set the World Afire is the third greatest hits album by Megadeth. It was released on September 30, 2008, through Capitol Records. It is a two-disc set with additional songs not offered in previous compilations including demos, live performances and unreleased tracks. The album's name refers to the second song of the band's third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!.
"My Last Words" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth from their 1986 album Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, written by Dave Mustaine.
"Set the World Afire" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the second track from their third studio album, So Far, So Good... So What!, which was released in 1988 by Capitol Records.
The So Far, So Good... So What! Tour was a concert tour performed by the American thrash metal band Megadeth to support their 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!. This was the only tour to feature the lineup of Dave Mustaine on vocals and guitar, David Ellefson on bass, Jeff Young on guitar and Chuck Behler on drums.
"In My Darkest Hour" is a song by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. It is the sixth track from their third studio album So Far, So Good... So What! It was released as a promotional single in 1988. The song is frequently performed live by the band. The song was featured in the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years, where it received a music video as well as featuring on the films official soundtrack released under Capitol. Dave Mustaine has said that the song has one of his favorite solos that he has written.