As Good as Dead (album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: April 16, 1996 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Ham Fisted1995Pack Up the Cats1998studioAs Good as DeadAs_Good_as_Dead_Album_cover.jpgLocal HApril 16, 19961996*Grunge<ref name="sput"/>

• hard rock
• punk rock<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="sput"/>49:14Island*Local H
• Steven Haiglerx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

As Good as Dead is the second studio album by American rock band Local H. Following lackluster sales of their debut, Ham Fisted, and under pressure from their label Island Records, the band quickly returned to the studio to record their follow-up. Released on April 16, 1996,<ref name="Billboard 0921" /> As Good as Dead is a concept album about dead-end, small-town life based on the band's origins in Zion, Illinois.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The album was positively received by critics and became an unexpected success behind its second single, "Bound for the Floor", and it ultimately sold over 320,000 copies. As Good as Dead produced three other singles: "High-Fiving MF", "Eddie Vedder", and "Fritz's Corner". It remains Local H's best-selling album to date.

Background

In 1994, with record labels trying to capitalize on the popularity of grunge and alternative rock bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, Local H caught the attention of Polydor Records, which was then in the process of merging with Island Records.<ref name=Vulture>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Island released the band's debut studio album, Ham Fisted, the following year, but it sold below expectations and Island pressured the band's A&R rep, Joe Bosso, to drop them. Instead, Bosso pushed them into quickly recording a follow-up before Island could cancel their contract. Ahead of the release of As Good as Dead, frontman Scott Lucas was informed by Island that the album needed to sell at least 100,000 copies for the band to remain with the label.<ref name=Vulture/>

Release

As Good as Dead was released on April 16, 1996, following the lead single "High-Fiving MF", which failed to chart. The band, however, found greater success with the album's second single, "Bound for the Floor", which rose to No. 5 on the US Alternative Billboard Chart and No. 10 on the US Hot Mainstream Rock Billboard Chart, and propelled the album into selling over 320,000 copies<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and a peak of No. 147 on the Billboard 200. The songs "Eddie Vedder" and "Fritz's Corner" additionally made the Top 40 on the Alternative and Mainstream Rock Billboard Charts. Encouraged by the unexpected success of As Good as Dead, Island Records greenlit a third album, Pack Up the Cats.<ref name=Vulture/>

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Critics greeted As Good as Dead with generally positive reviews. In a four-star review, AllMusic stated that with As Good as Dead Local H stood apart from other rock bands signed in the wake of Nirvana, noting that in exploring the album's "litany of bitterness over a life that's being wasted before your very eyes," frontman Scott Lucas was one of only a few artists who could approach the "emotional resonance" of Kurt Cobain.<ref name="allmusic"/> Similarly, New Noise Magazine stated in a five-star review that it was a mistake to lump Local H in with other bands signed in the wake of grunge, writing, "As Good As Dead matches the sentiment of the era, but comes from a much more sincere place."<ref name="Murry"/> Robert Christgau of The Village Voice awarded the album an A− rating and complimented the band for their "isometric power—that sense of tremendous force bravely exerted against implacable reality."<ref name="Christgau"/> Sputnikmusic deemed the album a "wonderful slice of apathy and cynicism that's just as punk-oriented as it is grunge-oriented."<ref name="sput"/>

Personnel

Local H

• Scott Lucas – vocals, guitar, bass
• Joe Daniels – drums

Production

• Steven Haigler – producer, engineer
• Local H – producer
• Andy Katz – engineer

Charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
US Billboard 200<ref name=":03">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	147
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)<ref name=":03"/>	6

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Template:Abbr
United States	April 16, 1996	Template:Flatlist	Island	<ref name="vinylreissue">Template:Cite news</ref>
	April 15, 2016	LP	srcvinyl	<ref name="vinylreissue"/>