The Living End (The Living End album)

Template:Use dmy 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: 12 October 1998 | 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=Roll On2000studioThe Living Endliving end.jpgthe Living End12 October 19981997–1998Sing Sing Studios, MelbournePunk rock, psychobilly47:05Modular, EMILindsay Gravinax|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} The Living End is the debut album of the Australian punk rock band the Living End, released on 12 October 1998. It was recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, with Lindsay Gravina producing for Modular Recordings. The cover art, as described by front man Chris Cheney, is based on a photograph of a World War I all-female bomb factory. The album reached No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and remained in the top 50 for 63 weeks.

The band had achieved mainstream success with their EP, Second Solution / Prisoner of Society, released in September 1997. It peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart. In early 1998, the related single "Prisoner of Society" was released in the United Kingdom and, the following year, in the United States. Other charting Australian singles were "Save the Day" and "All Torn Down". The sixth album track, "Monday", is the Living End's epitaph to the 1996 Dunblane massacre.

In December 1999 the album was certified 4× platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 280,000 units. In October 2010 it was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums. As of July 2012, it is the band's most successful album.

Background

The Living End is the first full-length album by the Australian punk/rockabilly band the Living End, which was issued on 12 October 1998. The group had formed in 1994 in Melbourne by Chris Cheney on guitar and lead vocals, and Scott Owen on double bass and backing vocals. In 1996 they were joined by Travis Demsey on drums. In September 1997 they released their third extended play, Second Solution / Prisoner of Society, which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Singles Chart.<ref name="AUSCharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Early in 1998 "Prisoner of Society" was issued as a separate single in the United Kingdom and, the following year, in the United States. It peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart.<ref name="BillboardSingles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Their next Australian single, "Save the Day" was issued in September 1998, a month ahead of the album. It made the top 30 on the ARIA Singles Chart.<ref name="AUSCharts"/> The album reached No. 1 on the related ARIA Albums Chart and remained in the top 50 for 63 weeks.<ref name="AUSCharts"/> Their third Australian single from the album, "All Torn Down" appeared in December 1998 and peaked at No. 12.<ref name="AUSCharts"/> In July 1999 a fourth single, "West End Riot" was issued, which did not reach the top 50 – although it was popular with listeners of national radio station, Triple J, appearing on their Hottest 100 poll for that year.<ref name="TripleJ99">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The sixth album track, "Monday", is the Living End's epitaph to the 1996 Dunblane massacre. The band supported The Offspring on the latter's Americana Tour during 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During 1999 they issued a US-only single, "Trapped", which did not chart.

In December 1999 The Living End was certified 4× Platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 280,000 units.<ref name="ARIAcred1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In October 2010 it was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.<ref name="ODonnell">Template:Cite book</ref> As of July 2012 it is the band's most commercially successful album.

Reception

Template:Music ratings Allmusic's reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, felt "they've cleverly appropriated certain rockabilly signatures – most ridiculously, the upright acoustic bass – that give their homage to the golden age of punk a bit of charm. That would be enough to elevate them above many of their contemporaries, but they happen to rock harder and write better songs than many late-'90s punkers".<ref name="Erlewine"/> The album peaked at No.33 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.<ref name="AMGCharts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> While Rolling StoneTemplate:'s Noah Tarnow found the group "revives the juvie mentality of several generations of guitar slingers, blending rockabilly's greasy-haired swagger with pissed-punk vitriol".<ref name="Tarnow"/> The authors of 100 Best Australian Albums remembered "[t]his was a record that boomed out of bedrooms across the country and turned the front of stage at summer festivals into pure bedlam... [the album] was made quickly, but with assuredness; the trio ... knew what they wanted".<ref name="ODonnell"/>

Track listing

All songs written by Chris Cheney, except for where noted. Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Note: "Sleep on It" was omitted and changed to "Strange" for all versions released outside Australia. "Strange" had already appeared on previous releases in Australia and it was deemed unnecessary to repeat the track again for Australian fans.

Singles

• "Save the Day" (1998)
• "Prisoner of Society" (1998) – (also featured in the video game Guitar Hero World Tour)
• "All Torn Down" (1999)
• "Trapped" (1999)
• "West End Riot" (1999)
• "Second Solution" (1998)
• "Tainted Love" (1998) – (Live; Gloria Jones cover)

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Chart (1998–2000)	Peak position

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Rank
Australian Albums Chart<ref name="AC1998">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	29
Australian Artist Albums Chart<ref name="AC1998"/>	6
Chart (1999)	Rank
Australian Albums Chart<ref name="AC1999">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	13
Australian Artist Albums Chart<ref name="AC1999"/>	3

Personnel

The Living End members

• Chris Cheney – vocals, guitar
• Travis Demsey – drums, backing vocals
• Scott Owen – double bass, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Alistair Shepherd (from Area-7) – saxophone on "Trapped"
• Toby Dargaville (from Area-7) – trumpet on "Trapped"

Recording process

• Producer – Lindsay Gravina
• Engineer – Lindsay Gravina
  • Assistant engineer – Matt Voight
• Mastering – Stephen Marcussen at Precision Mastering
• Mixing – Jerry Finn
  • Assistant mixer – Mark and Tony
• Editing (digital) – Don C. Tyler
• Studios – Sing Sing Studios, Melbourne
  • Mixing studios – Conway Studios, Los Angeles

Art works

• Cover art – Craig Preston
• Photography – Melanie Nissen, Rae Harvey, Craig Preston, Darren Hawthorne, Emma Hameister, Michelle Harrison, Sam Kensley