February Son is the second studio album and major label debut from post-grunge band Oleander. It was produced by Steven Haigler and released on Universal Records on February 23, 1999, and was certified gold on May 5, 2000.[3] February Son contains some of Oleander's most successful singles. It included new drummer Scott Devours who was hired to replace the band's original drummer, Fred Nelson Jr. Most of the songs on the album had been previously released on the band's independent debut. The album has been certified gold in sales by the RIAA.
| February Son | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 23, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
| Studio | Studio D (San Francisco, California) | |||
| Genre | Post-grunge | |||
| Length | 44:57 | |||
| Label | Republic | |||
| Producer | Steven Haigler | |||
| Oleander chronology | ||||
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| Singles from February Son | ||||
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Promotion and touring
editThe album features Oleander's breakout lead single, "Why I'm Here," and "I Walk Alone." The latter had a music video while the lead single was featured on the popular TV series Dawson's Creek, as well as in the films American Pie and Scary Movie 2. A cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" would serve as a UK single supported by a video in the summer of 2000. Directed by Cousin Mike, the video stars Bloodhound Gang leader Jimmy Pop who played a nerdy man living in an apartment. Oleander surrounds him as they loudly perform the song, forcing him to weep. Frontman Thomas Flowers explained that the song "really typifies and exemplifies everything that I'm already trying to say on the album."[4]
In promotion of February Son, the group opened for headliners Creed and Our Lady Peace.[5] They also performed at Woodstock '99. In December 1999, Oleander and Kid Rock performed a charity concert for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The band also played a New Year's Eve concert with Fastball at the Sacramento Convention Center.[6]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Kerrang! | [8] |
February Son received some criticism for allegedly imitating the influential grunge flagship Nirvana, particularly on "Why I'm Here" which begins with a similar note pattern as "Heart-Shaped Box."[9] However, despite the accusation, other songs were cited as having unique and enjoyable melodies, and the album managed to sell over a half-million copies.
Adrianne Stone of Rolling Stone wrote, "Razor sharp guitars on 'Lost Cause,' violin enhancing the warm tones of first single 'Why I'm Here,' and a surprise false ending on 'Never Again' are typical augmentations on a riff-laden album that hints of Nirvana's pained alterna-pop."[10]
Track listing
editAll lyrics are written by Thomas Flowers; all music is composed by Oleander, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You'll Find Out" | 3:12 | |
| 2. | "Stupid" | 3:51 | |
| 3. | "Down When I'm Loaded" | 4:24 | |
| 4. | "Why I'm Here" | 3:58 | |
| 5. | "I Walk Alone" | 4:09 | |
| 6. | "Lost Cause" | 4:28 | |
| 7. | "Where Were You Then?" | Flowers, Ivanisevich | 4:05 |
| 8. | "Shrinking The Blob" | 4:25 | |
| 9. | "How Could I?" | 5:13 | |
| 10. | "Boys Don't Cry" (The Cure cover) | Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey | 3:14 |
| 11. | "Never Again" | 3:58 | |
| Total length: | 44:57 | ||
Personnel
edit- Oleander
- Thomas Flowers – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Doug Eldridge – Bass guitar
- Ric Ivanisevich – Lead guitar
- Fred Nelson, Jr. – Drums
- Production
- Steven Haigler – Producer, engineering, mixing
- Ted Jensen – Mastering
- Mike Crenshaw – Assistant engineering
- P.R. Brown – Art Direction
- Additional personnel
- Jonathan Mover - drums
- Rich Mouser - guitar
- Kristina Kopriva - backing vocals
- Steven "Tambourine Man" Haigler - percussion
Charts
edit
Singlesedit
|
Certificationsedit
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External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Adds for January 25 & 26". Gavin Report. No. 2239. January 22, 1999. p. 36.
- ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1309. July 23, 1999. pp. 133, 137.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Gottlieb, Meridith Oleander Taps Bloodhound Gang's Pop For Video MTV.com (June 12, 2000). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
- ^ Bercovici, Jeff Creed Saves: In Concert with Oleander and Our Lady Peace Archived January 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine NYRock.com (October 1999). Retrieved on 1-05-08.
- ^ Basham, David Kid Rock, Oleander To Play Food Bank Benefit MTV.com (December 8, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Beebee, Steve (January 22, 2000). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 785. EMAP. p. 45.
- ^ Michael Christopher. "Thomas Flowers of Oleander". PopMatters. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
- ^ Stone, Adrianne Oleander Toy With Love, Agression, Melody [dead link] Rolling Stone (February 24, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
- ^ "Oleander Billboard Albums Chart". billboard.com.
- ^ "RIAA Database Search Results". Recording Industry Association of America.