Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire

Last updated

Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire
Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire.jpg
Studio album by
Released4 March 2002 [1]
Recorded2000–2001
StudioSW1 Studios (Cornwall)
Standard Electrical Recorder (Venice, CA)
Genre Alternative rock
Length50:54 [2]
Label I Am
Producer Ross Robinson [3]
Singles from Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire
  1. "Itch"
    Released: 2001
  2. "Can't Smile"
    Released: 18 February 2002

Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire is the debut album by English alternative rock band Vex Red. It was released on 4 March 2002 through I Am records. The album charted at number 48 on the UK Albums Chart and also spent two weeks on the chart. Two singles were released from the album. "Itch" was released in 2001, followed by "Can't Smile" in 2002 which reached number 45 in the UK Singles Chart. [4]

Contents

The album was produced by nu metal producer Ross Robinson, who also signed the band to his Virgin Records imprint "I Am" in the early 2000s [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Album of the Year68/100 [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music [7] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
Drowned in Sound [8] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg
The Guardian [9] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
NME [10] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
Ultimate Guitar [11] Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg

Critical reception to the album was positive upon release. Drowned in Sound scored the album highly, reviewer Sajini Wijetilleka had particular praise for "Can't Smile", speaking of the track; "Sequenced-synth loops, emotional vocals and energised guitar swirls give us the excellent ‘Can’t Smile’, the best record that Gavin Rossdale wanted to, but could never ever make.". [8] NME reviewer April Long gave the album positive write up stating; "The title says it all. Underpinning every spastic roar and raging riff on Vex Red‘s debut is the burning desire to make something enormous, resonant and real.". [10] The Guardian gave the album 3/5 stars summarizing about the bands potential; " Vex Red take it a step further and become their own men. They might just evolve into greatness.". [9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Vex Red

No.TitleLength
1."The Closest"4:48
2."Dermo"3:33
3."Can't Smile"4:49
4."Untitled"5:18
5."Itch"3:47
6."Bully Me"4:53
7."Cause and Solution"4:27
8."Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire"3:52
9."Clone Jesus"4:36
10."Sleep does Nothing for you"3:55
11."Vert"6:56
Total length:50:54

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2002)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [12] 61
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 48
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [14] 3

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelCat #Ref.
UK4 March 2002CDI AmCDVUS 215, 7243 8 11798 2 6 [15]
JapanVJCP-68421, 7243 8 11798 2 6 [16]
EuropeLP7243 8 11789 1 [17]

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  13. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
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  16. "Start with a Strong and Persistent Desire (Japan) – Album by Vex Red". Discogs. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
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