Undressing Underwater

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Undressing Underwater
Undressing underwater.jpg
Studio album by
Releasedlate 2003;
re-released 13 September 2005
Genre Indie rock
Length40:51
Label Surfdog Records
Producer Rusty Anderson
David Kahne
Mudrock
Parthenon Huxley
Rusty Anderson chronology
Undressing Underwater
(2003)
Born on Earth
(2009)
Alternative cover
Undressing underwater alternative.jpg

Undressing Underwater is the debut solo album by Rusty Anderson, originally released on Anderson's own Oxide Records in late 2003, and re-released on September 13, 2005 through Surfdog Records.

Contents

Background

Undressing Underwater was recorded at Oxide Studios in Southern California, Sunset Sound and Henson Studios. The album was self-produced by Anderson, along with David Kahne, Mudrock and Parthenon Huxley. [1]

The title of the album was picked by Anderson from a boyscout handbook of the early sixties that listed various things to do underwater, including getting undressed. [2]

The leading track "Hurt Myself" features most of the touring Paul McCartney band, with McCartney on bass and backing vocals, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums, David Kahne on keyboards and production duties, and Wix Wickens adding additional keyboards. [3]

Anderson stated in an interview that the majority of the recordings "were done in between touring" with Paul McCartney. In that same interview, Anderson mentions that "the songs are mostly about facing one's demons and attempting to bottle them". [1]

Track listing

  1. "Hurt Myself" – 3:21
  2. "Devil’s Spaceship" – 4:36
  3. "Electric Trains" – 4:20
  4. "Damaged Goods" – 4:29
  5. "Coming Down To Earth" – 4:10
  6. "Ol’ Sparky" – 4:04
  7. "Catbox Beach" – 4:28
  8. "ishmael" -3:45
  9. "Sentimental Chaos" – 4:14
  10. "Everybody Deserves An A in This Country" – 3:30

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

The reception of Undressing Underwater was generally positive. Gary Glauber of PopMatters stated that the album was "an impressive debut from a startlingly talented musician who has taken a lot of time to get things right". [3] Some reviewers praised Anderson for the number of big-ticket guest stars on the album, from McCartney to Parthenon Huxley. Anderson’s guitar playing ability, experimental views to rock music, and striving to create new combinations of music were mentioned among the positives of the album. [5] [6]

However, reviewers noted that the album did not live up to the greatness that was expected, as stated by a reviewer: "The material itself seems somewhat limited... most of them don't seem to reverberate very far". [3] Reviewer Meredith Williams stated that Rusty Anderson "provides the oh-so-common rock-pop appeal of a catchy chorus, with guitar solos echoing in the background — but not always effectively". [7]

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 Rusty Anderson – Undressing Underwater at CD Baby, archived from the original on October 11, 2008, retrieved January 19, 2009
  2. Kovacich, Mike (May 12, 2003), Macca Report Interview with Rusty Anderson, archived from the original on October 30, 2009, retrieved January 19, 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Glauber, Gary (March 24, 2004), Undressing Underwater Review , retrieved January 19, 2009
  4. Allmusic review
  5. Haber, Alan (November 27, 2004), Undressing Underwater Review , retrieved January 19, 2009
  6. Celtic, Bob (October 24, 2005), Rusty Anderson - Undressing Underwater Review , retrieved February 6, 2009
  7. Williams, Meredith, Undressing Underwater Review , retrieved February 6, 2009
  8. Rusty Anderson – Undressing Underwater at CD Universe , retrieved January 19, 2009
  9. Undressing Underwater at AllMusic , retrieved January 19, 2009