Watch Out! (Alexisonfire album)

Last updated
Watch Out!
Alexisonfire watchout.png
Studio album by
Alexisonfire
ReleasedJune 8, 2004
Studio Julius Butty's house
Genre Post-hardcore
Length42:24
Label Distort
Producer Alexisonfire, Julius Butty
Alexisonfire chronology
Alexisonfire
(2002)		Watch Out!
(2004)		 The Switcheroo Series: Alexisonfire vs. Moneen
(2005)
Singles from Watch Out!
  1. "Accidents"
    Released: April 6, 2004
  2. "No Transitory"
    Released: October 19, 2004
  3. ""Hey, It's Your Funeral Mama""
    Released: September 12, 2005

Watch Out! is the second studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on June 8, 2004. The album debuted at number 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 6,580 copies in its first week of release, and was certified Platinum (indicating sales of over 100,000 copies) by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) in 2007. [1]

Contents

Background and production

Alexisonfire released their self-titled debut studio album in October 2002. [2] It spawned music videos for "Pulmonary Archery", "Counterparts and Number Them", and "Water Wings (And Other Poolside Fashion Faux Pas)", all of which achieved success on the TV channel MuchMusic and its sister channel MuchLoud. [3] The album would eventually sell 30,000 copies in Canada, and peak at number 127 in that country. [4] Throughout 2003, the band promoted the album with two Canadian tours, and four treks across the United States. [3]

For their next album, the band were told to go with a popular producer, and to record at a big studio. [3] Instead, Watch Out! was produced by the band and Julius Butty; sessions were held at Butty's home studio close to Hamilton, Ontario. [3] [5] Butty also acted as engineer and mixer; Brett Zilahi mastered the album. [5]

Composition

Watch Out! is a post-hardcore album, which saw more of a focus on Green's melodic singing, and less emphasis on Pettit's screaming. [6] [7] According to guitarist Wade MacNeil, the closing track of their debut, "Pulmonary Archery", incorporated the "atmospheric sound" that the band expanded upon with Watch Out!. [8] Pettit expanded on this by the saying the band were listening to a lot of ambient rock acts, such as the Appleseed Cast and Mogwai. [6] "Accidents" was written in the basement of MacNeil's mother's house. [8] "Side Walk When She Walks" uses metal guitar riffs and different tempo changes. "No Transitory" opens mid-screaming. [9] "Sharks and Danger" is a darker track that was reminiscent of "Spike" (2003) by the Network. [7]

Release

In March 2004, the group went on the Equal Vision Records Tour with Bane, Armor for Sleep and Silent Drive. [10] On April 19, 2004, Watch Out! was announced for release in two months' time. Alongside this, the album's track listing was posted online. [11] In April and May 2004, the band went on a tour of Canada with Boys Night Out and Blue Skies at War. [12] On May 27, 2004, "Accidents" was made available for download. [13] In May and June 2004, the band went on tour with Silverstein, Emery, the Higher, and Hawthorne Heights. [14] Watch Out! was released in Canada on June 8, 2004, through Distort Entertainment with distribution from EMI Music Canada. The US release occurred three weeks later, through Equal Vision Records. [4] The following month, the band appeared at Hellfest, [15] and a music video for "Accidents" was released to video outlets. [3] In September and October 2004, they went on a Canadian tour, dubbed the Bored with the U.S.A Tour, with Moneen, Hopesfall and Closet Monster. [16]

Following this, the band supported Hot Water Music on their headlining North American tour for two months, and appeared at The Fest. [17] [18] They played two shows in Australia, before embarking on a tour of the United Kingdom with the Bled and ending the year with a few Canadian gigs. [19] Between January and April 2005, Alexisonfire toured the US West Coast with Rise Against, the US East Coast with Emanuel, the Black Maria and Codeseven, and a tour of Canada with Rise Against. [20] [21] [22] Alexisonfire and Rise Against then toured across Europe in April and May 2005. [23] The band toured Canada in September 2005 with the Used and Underoath, which was followed with a headlining tour of Europe the next month. [24] [25] They closed out the year with a US tour in November 2005 with A Wilhelm Scream, the Receiving End of Sirens, Idiot Pilot, and 3. [26] [27]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Chart Attack Favorable [28]
IGN 7.2/10 [7]
NeuFutur4.9/10 [29]
Now 3/5 [30]
Ox-Fanzine 7/10 [31]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [32]

Watch Out! was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. AllMusic reviewer Johnny Loftus wrote that the band "discovered a new yen for moody exploration, and fill the middle of Watch Out! with battered water wings that float on waves of emotion and reverb", though the album "really only refines what Alexisonfire already had the chops and lyrical potential for." [9] Keith Carman of Chart Attack opened his review by stating that the "worst part" about the album was that it was "a massive step up" from their debut. He added that it was "[m]ore experimental without alienating their inherent style," with a "stronger fusion of thunderous metal riffs and throat-tearing vocals". [28] IGN's JR called the album "a fine disc, but boy, things have changed." He went on to note the increase on melodic vocals and the decrease in screaming, which was "a major adjustment, but it makes Watch Out! feel considerably more balanced". [7]

Ox-Fanzine writer Christian Meinders said that the band "perfected their style [of screamo], to put it positively, or the edges that could still be heard on the debut were rounded off to put it less positively." [31] Punknews.org staff member Jordan Rogowski wrote that issues with their debut, such as lack of replay ability and poor production, were "remedied this time around." He went on further to add that "[e]very screamed vocal, and every single chord is dripping with passion and urgency, and it's all put together masterfully." [32] Dylan Young of Now noted that the "very qualities that strengthened this screamo band's debut are intact: the music is anthemic, the screaming fury impossibly difficult to understand, and the lyrics (when discernable) slightly above par." [30]

The album debuted at number 6 on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 6,580 copies in its first week of release. [4] By April 2005, it had sold 50,000 copies in Canada, and 27,500 copies in the US. [33] It was certified Platinum in Canada in April 2007. [1]

Track listing

All songs written by Alexisonfire. [5]

No.TitleLength
1."Accidents"4:09
2."Control"3:43
3."It Was Fear of Myself That Made Me Odd"3:55
4."Side Walk When She Walks"4:22
5.""Hey, It's Your Funeral Mama""4:22
6."No Transitory"3:16
7."Sharks and Danger"4:39
8."That Girl Possessed"3:26
9."White Devil"3:35
10."Get Fighted"3:05
11."Happiness by the Kilowatt"5:12
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."Sharks and Danger" (extended version)5:04

Personnel

Personnel per booklet. [5]

Certifications

CountryCertificationSales/shipments
Canada Platinum [1] 100,000

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexisonfire</span> Canadian post-hardcore band

Alexisonfire is a Canadian post-hardcore band formed in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2001. The band's members are George Pettit (vocals), Dallas Green, Wade MacNeil, Chris Steele (bass) and Jordan Hastings. The band has won numerous awards, and in Canada their albums have all been certified either gold or platinum.

<i>Alexisonfire</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Alexisonfire

Alexisonfire is the debut studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on October 31, 2002.

<i>Let It Enfold You</i> 2004 studio album by Senses Fail

Let It Enfold You is the debut studio album by American rock band Senses Fail, released on September 7, 2004, through Vagrant Records. After finalizing their line-up, the band released their debut EP, From the Depths of Dreams, in 2002, which attracted the attention of Drive-Thru Records. The label signed Senses Fail; it had a distribution deal with MCA Records, which allowed them to acquire acts from Drive-Thru. Recording for the band's debut occurred at several studios in New Jersey in April 2003 with producer Steve Evetts. Additional recording took place at the end of the year. Described as an emo and screamo record, several of the songs on Let It Enfold You were influenced by poetry and literature.

<i>Life in Dreaming</i> 2005 studio album by Hidden in Plain View

Life in Dreaming is Hidden in Plain View's first full-length album, released on February 22, 2005 by Drive-Thru Records.

<i>When Broken Is Easily Fixed</i> 2003 studio album by Silverstein

When Broken Is Easily Fixed is the debut studio album by Canadian post-hardcore band Silverstein, released in 2003 under the label Victory Records.

<i>Trainwreck</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Boys Night Out

Trainwreck is the second studio album by Canadian rock band Boys Night Out, released on July 26, 2005 through Ferret Music. After some line-up changes, the band took a short break; guitarist Jeff Davis wrote a short short which would serve as the direction for their next album. Recording took place at iiwii Studios in Weehawken, New Jersey, The Machine Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey and Harariville in Weehawken, New Jersey, with producer Machine. Trainwreck is a concept album about a character known as The Patient murdering his wife, being hospitalized and trying to convey the music he hears in his head. Its emo and pop rock sound incorporated elements of progressive rock, post-hardcore and dream pop.

<i>An American Paradox</i> 2002 studio album by Strung Out

An American Paradox is the fourth album by punk band Strung Out, released by Fat Wreck Chords. The album was the band's first to debut on the Billboard 200. This is their first album with current bassist, Chris Aiken.

<i>Make Yourself Sick</i> 2003 studio album by Boys Night Out

Make Yourself Sick is the debut studio album by Canadian rock band Boys Night Out. A music video was released for the song "I Got Punched in the Nose for Sticking My Face in Other People's Business". The bonus track, "Where We Breathe", was only put on the first pressing of the CD. It was a re-recorded version of the song that appeared on their debut EP, Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses.

Northstar was an American band formed in 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Audio Karate is an American rock band from Rosemead, California.

<i>Mute Print</i> 2004 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Mute Print, released on April 20, 2004 through Nitro Records, is the third full-length album from the Massachusetts based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream. It is their first studio album since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002.

<i>Decadence</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Head Automatica

Decadence is the debut studio album of American rock band Head Automatica that was released on August 17, 2004, through Warner Bros. Records. Vocalist Daryl Palumbo toured as a member of Glassjaw until early 2003, when he wrote material for a new band. Shortly afterwards, he formed Head Automatica with drummer Larry Gorman and producer Dan "Dan the Automator" Nakamura. Recording sessions for their debut were held in September and October 2003 at The Glue Factory in San Francisco, California, with Nakamura producing the majority of the songs and Howard Benson producing two of them. Decadence is a dance-rock, garage rock, and electronic rock album that was influenced by the works of Joe Jackson, Nick Lowe, and Primal Scream.

<i>Crisis</i> (Alexisonfire album) 2006 studio album by Alexisonfire

Crisis is the third studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on August 22, 2006.

Name Taken was an American rock band from Orange, California. They were originally known as All That's Left in October 1999 until they discovered that the name was already taken; thus the name "Name Taken". The band started in the ninth grade where they would play shows in their amphitheatre at lunch. They later succeeded to record for such compilations as Atticus I and Warped Tour 2002.

<i>Nightmare of You</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Nightmare of You

Nightmare of You is the debut studio album by American rock band Nightmare of You.

<i>Ruiner</i> (A Wilhelm Scream album) 2005 studio album by A Wilhelm Scream

Ruiner, released on August 16, 2005 through Nitro Records, is the fourth full-length album from the Massachusetts-based melodic hardcore band A Wilhelm Scream, and their second album since changing their name from Smackin' Isaiah in 2002. It received mostly very favourable reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flatliners</span> Canadian punk rock band

The Flatliners are a Canadian punk rock band from Richmond Hill, Ontario. Since their formation in 2002, the band has been a growing influence in the Toronto punk/ska movement, with consistently well-received albums and live shows.

Over It was a rock band based in Orange County, California. Originally from Alexandria, Virginia, the band formed in 1998 to play pop punk. Most recently signed to Virgin Records, Over It is currently unsigned and inactive.

<i>Old Crows / Young Cardinals</i> Album by Alexisonfire

Old Crows / Young Cardinals is the fourth studio album from Canadian post-hardcore band Alexisonfire, released on June 23, 2009. The album was originally referred to by the shortened title of Young Cardinals, until the name change was announced on April 1, 2009.

<i>...Is a Real Boy</i> 2004 studio album by Say Anything

...Is a Real Boy is the second studio album by American rock band Say Anything, released on August 3, 2004.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Gold & Platinum - April 2007
  2. ↑ "Alexisonfire - Alexisonfire | Release Info". AllMusic . Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 LeBlanc 2004, p. 69
  4. 1 2 3 LeBlanc 2004, p. 59
  5. 1 2 3 4 Watch Out! (sleeve). Alexisonfire. Distort Entertainment. 2004. DE03.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. 1 2 Lindsay, Cam (September 15, 2016). "Rank Your Records: George Pettit Scrupulously Rates Alexisonfire's Six Records". Vice. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 JR (December 23, 2004). "Watch Out!". IGN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  8. 1 2 Barnard, Laurent (August 19, 2015). "12 Best Alexisonfire Songs as picked by Wade MacNeil". TeamRock. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Loftus, Johnny. "Watch Out! - Alexisonfire | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. ↑ White, Adam (February 25, 2004). "Bane, Armor For Sleep, Silent Drive on Equal Vision Records Tour". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ Paul, Aubin (April 19, 2004). "Alexisonfire news". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ Heisel, Scott (March 28, 2004). "Alexisonfire/Boys Night Out/Blue Skies At War Canadian tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ White, Adam (May 27, 2004). "Check out Alexisonfire's Accident". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  14. ↑ Heisel, Scott (April 23, 2004). "Alexisonfire/Emery/Silverstein on tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ Paul, Aubin (May 7, 2004). "Hellfest 2004". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  16. ↑ White, Adam (September 3, 2004). "Alexisonfire, Moneen, Hopesfall, Closet Monster Canadian dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ White, Adam (August 11, 2004). "Hot Water Music fall tour dates with Planes Mistaken For Stars / Alexisonfire". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  18. ↑ White, Adam (August 27, 2004). "Bands playing The Fest 3 announced". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ Paul, Aubin (November 26, 2004). "Alexisonfire touring with the Bled in the UK". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ Shultz, Brian (December 3, 2004). "Rise Against / Alexisonfire / Tsunami Bomb / Only Crime". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ Shultz, Brian (January 16, 2005). "Rise Against in Canada with Alexisonfire, more". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  22. ↑ Paul, Aubin (January 31, 2005). "Codeseven". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  23. ↑ Paul, Aubin (March 19, 2005). "Rise Against announces European dates with Alexisonfire". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  24. ↑ Heisel, Scott (August 7, 2005). "Glassjaw drops off the Used tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  25. ↑ Paul, Aubin (October 1, 2005). "Alexisonfire visiting Europe this fall". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  26. ↑ Paul, Aubin (September 28, 2005). "Alexisonfire touring with A Wilhelm Scream, TREOS, Idiot Pilot". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  27. ↑ Shultz, Brian (October 16, 2005). "3 signs to Metal Blade; upcoming dates with Alexisonfire". Punknews.org. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  28. 1 2 Carman, Keith (June 8, 2004). "CD Releases: Gene Simmons, Royal City, Velvet Revolver, Alexisonfire and more!". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved April 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ↑ "Alexisonfire - Watch Out!".
  30. 1 2 Young, Dylan (June 3, 2004). "Watch Out". Now. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  31. 1 2 Meiners, Christian (November 2004 – February 2005). "Alexisonfire Watch out! CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  32. 1 2 Rogowski, Jordan (June 29, 2004). "Alexisonfire - Watch Out!". Punknews.org. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  33. ↑ LeBlanc, Larry (April 2, 2005). "Up-And-Comers Attracting Attention". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 14. p. 46. ISSN   0006-2510.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.