Anchors Aweigh (album)

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Anchors Aweigh
A ship sailing into darkness while under the illumination of moonlight
Studio album by
The Bouncing Souls
ReleasedAugust 26, 2003
RecordedJanuary 2003
StudioLakeview Farms, North Brookfield, Massachusetts; Water Music, Hoboken, New Jersey
GenrePop punk, punk rock
Length47:28
LabelEpitaph
ProducerJohn Seymour, Pete Steinkopf, Bryan Kienlen
The Bouncing Souls chronology
The Bad the Worse and the Out of Print
(2002) 		Anchors Aweigh
(2003) 		The Gold Record
(2006)

Anchors Aweigh is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Bouncing Souls. It was released on August 26, 2003 though Epitaph Records. Following the release of their fifth studio album How I Spent My Summer Vacation (2001), bassist Bryan Kienlen went through a breakup, and wrote new material as a result of it. Recording took place at Lakeview Farms, North Brookfield, Massachusetts, and Water Music, Hoboken, New Jersey, with John Seymour as the main producer, and Kienlen and guitarist Pete Steinkopf as co-producers. Anchors Aweigh is a pop punk and punk rock album that had a darker sound than its predecessor.

Anchors Aweigh received generally favourable reviews from critics, several of whom complimented the Bouncing Souls' musicianship. It peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200, and number eight on the Independent Albums component chart. The band toured the United States, Europe (as part of the Deconstruction Tour), and Canada prior to the album's release. Following it, they went on additional stints of the US and Europe, with Tsunami Bomb and Strike Anywhere, to close out the year. The Bouncing Souls underwent three more US tours (with the likes of Hot Water Music, Randy, and Against Me!), as well as a trek to Australia, and appeared on Warped Tour, throughout 2004.

Background

The Bouncing Souls released their fifth studio album, How I Spent My Summer Vacation, in May 2001 through Epitaph Records.[1] It was promoted with a massive tour with Hot Water Music; in 2002, the band released the compilation album, The Bad, the Worse, and the Out of Print and a split with Anti-Flag.[2] During this time, bassist Bryan Kienlen went through a dark period in his life following the end of a relationship of eight years.[3][4] He subsequently wrote a lot of the material that would end up on the band's next album.[3] Prior to the Plea for Peace Tour, the band had eight songs, and following its conclusion, they spent more time writing.[5] The band toured Japan, returned to the US to continue working on new material, and then went on a two-week California tour with Anti-Flag.[6]

Anchors Aweigh was produced by John Seymour, with co-production from guitarist Pete Steinkopf and Kienlen.[7] Sessions occurred in January 2003, and were mainly held at Lakeview Farms Studios in North Brookfield, Massachusetts with assistant engineer Chris Evans.[7][8] They picked the location as it was away from any city and allowed them not to be distracted by outsider influences.[9] Additional recording was done at Water Music in Hoboken, New Jersey with assistant engineers Ted Young and John Bender. The tracks were mixed at Big Blue Meenie Recording Studio in Jersey City, New Jersey with assistant engineer Cody Brown, before they were mastered by Robert Vosgien at Capitol Mastering in Los Angeles, California.[7]

Composition

Musically, the sound of Anchors Aweigh has been described as pop punk[10] and punk rock;[11] it continues the atmosphere of How I Spent My Summer Vacation and pushes it into darker territory.[12][13] Drummer Michael McDermott said this was intentional, as the band toyed with different rhythms and melodies during the writing process.[14] Discussing the album's title, vocalist Greg Attonito said its "technical meaning" was "pulling up an anchor on a boat and leaving for an adventure".[15] "Apartment 5F", a fast-tempo track, opens the album with its loud guitarwork, leading into the slow, mellow intro of "Kids and Heroes".[16][13] "New Day" is about living in the moment instead of letting life pass one by. "Sing Along Forever" exemplifies the album's overall tone, according to Nick Madsen of IGN: "An energized, punk rock song at heart [...] It's your typical three chord song, easy to learn and even easier to sing along to".[17] The anthemic "Born Free" tackles US politics; Attonito said: "“As you get older, you worry more about the world and what's going on around you. [...] But that's just the point that needs to be talked about".[14][16]

"Inside Out" is one of the more hostile tracks on the album, centred around a minor chord progression.[17] It deals with the difficulty of living while on tour.[17] "Simple Man" talks about wanting a more structured life, and is similar in form to "Gone", the closing track from How I Spent My Summer Vacation.[18][19] "Better Days" is about the loneliness in the aftermath of a relationship.[10] "Night Train" is a slower song that features a sample of a motorbike, and stars Kienlen on lead vocals.[7][18][19] "Todd's Song" features strings by John Angier, and deals with the subject of suicide.[7][18] It is dedicated to Todd Eckhardt of the Pietasters.[20] "Highway Kings" has additional background vocals from Seymour, as well as Epitaph employee Jeff Abarta and the band Madcap.[7] "Anchors Aweigh" includes piano parts from Kienlen; "The Day I Turned My Back on You" also has Kienlen on lead vocals, and features references to Bruce Springsteen.[7][16] The album's closing track, "I'm from There", lasted for nearly five minutes, before leading into crackling sounds, and then the acoustic hidden track "The Fall Song".[18]

Release

In March 2003, the Bouncing Souls went on a brief East Coast US tour with the Casualties.[21] A staff member of Epitpah told the band that if they could make a music video within a period of two weeks, it could be included on the Punk-O-Rama DVD. They went to a friend's house and picked one of the album's tracks randomly.[9] A music video was subsequently filmed for "Kids and Heroes" was filmed at Asbury Park, New Jersey.[22] On April 22, 2003, Anchors Aweigh was announced for release in August.[23] On May 21, 2003, the album's artwork was posted online,[24] They toured Europe as part of the Deconstruction touring festival in May and June 2003.[25] followed by the track listing on June 17, 2003.[26] On July 1, 2003, "Kids and Heroes" was posted on the label's website.[27] Eight days later, the music video for the track was also posted on the same website.[28] After appearing at Hellfest 2K3 in Syracuse, New York and Krazy Fest 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, the band embarked on the Punk-O-Rama tour in Canada with Hot Water Music, the Forgotten, and Worthless United.[29][30] Anchors Aweigh was made available for streaming via an E-card on August 15, 2003,[31] before being released on August 26, 2003, through Epitaph Records.[23] According to Derek Scancarelli of Forbes, the artwork, made by Kienlen, symbolized "a ship sailing off into the dark distance, marking the end of a chapter".[3] He made it using oil paints instead of his typical 2D, comic style.[32] The album was promoted with three release shows, and a headlining US tour with Tsunami Bomb, Strike Anywhere, and Vision between September and November 2003.[29][33]

Following this, the band went on a tour of Europe with Tsunami Bomb, which ran into December.[34][35] On January 16, 2004, the band appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, where they performed "Kids and Heroes".[36][37] In February 2004, the band went on a west coast US tour, dubbed the True Bromance Tour, with Hot Water Music, Let It Burn, Randy, and Longshot.[38][39] The following month, the band toured Australia with Frenzal Rhomb. They appeared at Skate and Surf Festival, before touring the US with Avial, the Unseen, and Let It Burn.[40] Randy was due to appear on the stint, but were unable to due to their label not providing support to get the band to the US.[41] Between June and August 2004, the band appeared on the Warped Tour.[42] A music video was filmed for "Anchors Aweigh" on June 25, 2004, at the Asbury Park boardwalk in New Jersey.[43] They played a handful of European shows with Strung Out and Reel Big Fish.[44] In November 2004, they embarked on a brief East Coast tour with Against Me!, Murphy's Law and Let It Burn.[45] They opened 2005 with a one-off show in California that was filmed for The Show Must Go Off! series.[46] Following this, they supported the Dropkick Murphys on their headlining UK tour in February and March 2005.[47] They toured the US East Coast in April 2005 with Let It Burn, the Loved Ones and the Explosion, and appeared at The Bamboozle festival.[48][49]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
IGN7.7/10[17]
Now2/5[50]
Ox-Fanzine9/10[12]
Punknews.org[16]
Rolling Stone[51]

Anchors Aweigh was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. Ox-Fanzine writer Lauri Wessel said that it had "hits that can't get out of your head", and went as far to call it the "best [album of the year] so far".[12] AllMusic reviewer Robert L. Doerschuk wrote that the band sounded "tight; McDermott in particular earns his stripes as a punk virtuoso in the artful tempo manipulations" in tracks such as "Apartment 5F and "Blind Date".[18] Nick Flanagan of Now said the band "plow through the songs on Anchors Away in a workman-like manner, sounding sincere, [and] angry".[50] Rolling Stone writer John D. Luerssen found the band to be showing "more heart than ever", and when the fans "pick up this stellar disc, that very void will be filled".[51] IGN's Nick Madsen described the album as a "focus on good times with old friends minus any of the bull$#!+. It's refreshing to say the least". Aside from odd misstep, such as "Born Free" and "The Fall Song", he viewed it as a "great" release.[17]

Punknews.org founder Aubin Paul found the album to display a "new side of the Souls," though "at its core, it's still a bunch of friends who clearly play this music because it moves them".[16] Stuart Green of Exclaim! added to this, noting that the band incorporated "more mood and atmosphere in their songs and production [...], their songwriting and musicality is sounding decidedly more confident".[13] CMJ New Music Monthly's Chad Swiatecki wrote that the album was a "surprise [...] sport[ing] songs with sharp claws that dig in like never before".[52] The Free Lance-Star writer Craig Graziano criticized the band for attempting to retread How I Spent My Summer Vacation, added that "[n]ot much musical ground is broken".[19] Grady Gadbow of Lollipop Magazine said the album's sole "melodic strength" was its "call and response vocals and ubiquitous whoa-oh-ohs", and even then, "those skills alone do not make a record rock. That takes soul".[53]

Anchors Aweigh peaked at number 168 on the Billboard 200, and number eight on the Independent Albums charts.[54][55]

Track listing

All songs by the Bouncing Souls.[7]

  1. "Apartment 5F" – 2:10
  2. "Kids and Heroes" – 2:53
  3. "New Day" – 3:41
  4. "Sing Along Forever" – 1:35
  5. "Born Free" – 1:23
  6. "Inside Out" – 2:24
  7. "Simple Man" – 4:19
  8. "Better Days" – 2:13
  9. "Night Train" – 3:01
  10. "Todd's Song" – 2:06
  11. "Blind Date" – 2:21
  12. "Highway Kings" – 1:49
  13. "Anchors Aweigh" – 2:10
  14. "I Get Lost" – 2:57
  15. "The Day I Turned My Back On You" – 2:49
  16. "I'm from There" – 9:39 (includes hidden track "The Fall Song")

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[7]

Charts

Chart performance for Anchors Aweigh
Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[54] 168
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[55] 8

References

Citations

  1. ^ Green, Jo-Ann. "How I Spent My Summer Vacation - The Bouncing Souls | Release Info". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Deming, Mark. "The Bouncing Souls Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Scancarelli, Derek (December 10, 2020). "Sing Along Forever: The Bouncing Souls Enter Their Fifties And Fatherhood—Together". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Another incredible CD review comes in for TheBouncing Souls!". Epitaph Records. October 1, 2003. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "The Bouncing Souls are interviewed by Punk-it.net". Epitaph Records. October 15, 2002. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Bouncing Souls". Punk-It. September 25, 2002. Archived from the original on December 20, 2002. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Anchors Aweigh (booklet). The Bouncing Souls. Epitaph Records. 2003. 6669-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Popzineonline.com interviews The Bouncing Souls". Epitaph Records. October 30, 2002. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "The Bouncing Souls". ThePunkSite. August 21, 2003. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "The Bouncing Souls are interviewed by Aversion.com". Epitaph Records. August 18, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "The new Bouncing Souls album gets reviewed by Surfer Girl!". Epitaph Records. July 7, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Wessel, Lauri (September–November 2003). "Bouncing Souls Anchors Aweigh CD". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Green, Stuart (August 1, 2003). "Bouncing Souls Anchors Aweigh". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Pinter, Zoli (June–August 2004). "Bouncing Souls: Older and wiser". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  15. ^ "Teenpeople.com loves the new Bouncing Souls album!". Epitaph Records. September 15, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
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  17. ^ a b c d e Madsen, Nick (August 26, 2003). "Anchors Aweigh". IGN. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Doerschuk, Robert L. "Anchors Aweigh - The Bouncing Souls | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  19. ^ a b c Graziano 2003, p. 3
  20. ^ "The Bouncing Souls give Mean Street Magazine a great interview!". Epitaph Records. October 3, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  21. ^ White, Adam (February 25, 2003). "Bouncing Souls / Casualties East Coast Dates". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "The Bouncing Souls shoot a new video and cause a 'ruckus'". Epitaph Records. April 9, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  23. ^ a b White, Adam (April 22, 2003). "Bouncing Souls 'Anchors Away' on August 26th". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  24. ^ Heisel, Scott (May 21, 2003). "Bouncing Souls & Weakerthans artwork posted". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  25. ^ White, Adam (March 8, 2003). "Deconstruction Tour Bands & Dates". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  26. ^ White, Adam (June 17, 2003). "Upcoming Bouncing Souls, Pennywise Release Info". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  27. ^ White, Adam (July 1, 2003). "New Slackers, Bouncing Souls, Joykiller Tracks Online". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  28. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 9, 2003). "New Bouncing Souls video drops!". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  29. ^ a b White, Adam (June 28, 2003). "Bouncing Souls Summer Shows". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  30. ^ "A brand new Bouncing Souls/Hot Water Music contest is underway!". Epitaph Records. July 10, 2003. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  31. ^ "Hear the new Bouncing Souls record "Anchors Aweigh" now!". Epitaph Records. August 15, 2003. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  32. ^ Lieblind, Adam; Kao, Jennifer (October 10, 2003). "Check out an all-new interview with The Bouncing Souls!". Epitaph Records. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ White, Adam (September 21, 2003). "Vision Touring To Support New Record". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  34. ^ White, Adam (November 15, 2003). "Bouncing Souls European Dates / Shooting Video". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  35. ^ Heisel, Scott (November 22, 2003). "Tsunami Bomb headed into studio". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  36. ^ Heisel, Scott (January 12, 2004). "Bands on TV - week of 1/12/04". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  37. ^ "Bouncing Souls Conan O'Brien video on Punkrockvids.com". Epitaph Records. January 29, 2004. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Heisel, Scott (January 13, 2004). "Hot Water Music's Spring itinerary". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  39. ^ "Check out a brand new interview with The Bouncing Souls". Epitaph Records. February 17, 2004. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  40. ^ Heisel, Scott (February 27, 2004). "Bouncing Souls / Avail / Randy / The Unseen / Let It Burn touring in April". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  41. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 22, 2004). "Randy drops off Bouncing Souls tour". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  42. ^ "Huge Warped Tour update posted!". Epitaph Records. April 16, 2004. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  43. ^ White, Adam (June 25, 2004). "New Bouncing Souls video / Johnny X at MOCCA". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  44. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 29, 2004). "Strung Out titles record, tours". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  45. ^ Paul, Aubin (September 19, 2004). "Bouncing souls ravage the bible belt, and other adventures". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  46. ^ Shultz, Brian (December 8, 2004). "Chunksaah Records updates: Bouncing Souls live DVD, The Loved Ones 10 inch". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  47. ^ White, Adam (December 12, 2004). "Bouncing Souls and God Awfuls added to Dropkick Murphys UK tour". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  48. ^ Shultz, Brian (February 14, 2005). "Bamboozle lineup". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on July 5, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  49. ^ White, Adam (April 8, 2005). "The Explosion touring with the Bouncing Souls, Let It Burn, the Loved Ones, Throw Rag". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  50. ^ a b Flanagan, Nick (August 14, 2003). "Bouncing Souls". Now. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  51. ^ a b Luerssen, John D. (August 25, 2003). "Bouncing Souls: Anchors Aweigh : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 12, 2006. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  52. ^ Swiatecki 2003, p. 47
  53. ^ Gadbow, Grady (February 2, 2004). "The Bouncing Souls – Anchors Aweigh – Review". Lollipop Magazine. Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  54. ^ a b "The Bouncing Souls Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  55. ^ a b "The Bouncing Souls Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

Sources

External links

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