Four Year Strong (album)

Four Year Strong
Studio album by
Four Year Strong
ReleasedJune 2, 2015 (2015-06-02)
RecordedGod City Studios
GenrePop punk, melodic hardcore
Length38:18
LabelPure Noise
ProducerKurt Ballou, Four Year Strong, Machine
Four Year Strong chronology
Go Down in History
(2014) 		Four Year Strong
(2015) 		Brain Pain
(2020)

Four Year Strong is the sixth studio album by American pop punk band Four Year Strong. It was their first full-length release since 2011's In Some Way, Shape, or Form.

Production

Described by vocalist/guitarist Dan O'Connor as being "one of the most raw records we've ever made, it's just us playing. No fancy computer shit. Made for singing along and head-banging."[1] "Go Down in History" was re-recorded for the album, with the original version appearing on the Go Down in History EP the previous year.

The album was produced by the band and Kurt Ballou at God City Studios.[2] Ballou also engineered and mixed the sessions with additional help from Robert Cheeseman and Phil Dubnick.[2] "Go Down in History" was produced and mixed by Machine.[2] Brad Boatright mastered the album at Audiosiege.[2]

Release

In March 2015, the group headlined the Pure Noise Records Tour, with support from Hit the Lights, Forever Came Calling and Light You Up.[3] On April 2, Four Year Strong was announced for release in June. Alongside this, the album's artwork and track listing were revealed.[4] The album's artwork and layout was produced by Ryan Eyestone.[2] On April 9, "We All Float Down Here" was made available for streaming.[5] On April 27, a lyric video was released for "I'm a Big, Bright, Shining Star".[6] On May 12, "Eating My Words" was made available for streaming.[7] In May and June, the band supported the Story So Far on their tour across the US; the stint included appearances at the Spring Fling and Skate & Surf festivals.[8]

Four Year Strong was made available for streaming through Fuse's website on May 27, before being released on June 2.[9] In September and October, they group embarked on a headlining US tour, with main support from Defeater. Other acts throughout the tour included: Expire, Speak Low If You Speak Love, My Iron Lung, Superheaven and Elder Brother.[10] A music video was released for "Stolen Credit Card!" on September 2, directed by Kyle Thrash.[11] A music video for "Who Cares?", directed by Marlon Brandope,[12] premiered on Warped Tour's website on May 23, 2016.[13] Following this, the group performed at the Slam Dunk Festival in the UK,[14] and on Warped Tour between June and August.[13] In November, the group supported Good Charlotte on their headlining US tour.[15]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[16]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicFavorable[17]
Dead Press![18]
DIY[19]
Ox-Fanzine[20]
Punknews.org[21]
Sputnikmusic3.9/5[22]

The album was included at number 36 on Rock Sound's top 50 releases of 2015 list.[23] The album charted at number 77 on the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S.,[24] number 100 in Australia[25] and number 126 in the UK.[26]

Track listing

No.TitleSong Title ReferenceLength
1."I Hold Myself in Contempt"Title was said in the movie Liar Liar4:16
2."We All Float Down Here"Title from the Stephen King novel It3:07
3."Eating My Words" 3:12
4."Wipe Yourself Off, Man. You Dead."Title was said in the movie Rush Hour3:31
5."Stolen Credit Card!"Title was said in the movie Home Alone 23:51
6."Gravity" 3:45
7."Who Cares?" 1:54
8."Here's to Swimming with Bow-Legged Women"Title was said in the movie Jaws3:25
9."I'm a Big, Bright, Shining Star"Title was said in the movie Boogie Nights3:33
10."The Sound of Your Heart" 3:59
11."Go Down in History" 3:39
Total length:38:18

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[2]

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 100
US Billboard 200[24] 77
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[27] 10
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[28] 6
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[29] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 126

References

Citations
  1. ^ "Four Year Strong Announce Self-Titled Album - Kerrang!". Archived from the original on 2015-05-06. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Four Year Strong (Booklet). Four Year Strong. Pure Noise. 2015. PNE169.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Bliss, Tony (December 10, 2014). "NEWS: Four Year Strong confirm March 2015 UK tour with Hit The Lights, Forever Came Calling & Light You Up!". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ AltPress (April 2, 2015). "Four Year Strong announce self-titled album". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  5. ^ AltPress (April 9, 2015). "Four Year Strong stream lead single from self-titled album". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  6. ^ AltPress (April 27, 2015). "Four Year Strong debut "I'm A Big, Bright, Shining Star" from self-titled album". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  7. ^ AltPress (May 12, 2015). "Four Year Strong stream "Eating My Words" from self-titled LP". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Sharp, Tyler (February 23, 2015). "The Story So Far announce headlining tour with Four Year Strong, Terror, Souvenirs". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on August 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  9. ^ Nassiff, Thomas (May 27, 2015). "Stream Four Year Strong's Blistering Self-Titled Album Right Now". Fuse. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  10. ^ AltPress (June 29, 2015). "Four Year Strong, Defeater, Expire, Superheaven, more announce tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  11. ^ AltPress (September 2, 2015). "Four Year Strong release emotionally-fueled video for "Stolen Credit Card"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Pure Noise Records (May 23, 2016). Four Year Strong "Who Cares" Official Music Video. Retrieved June 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ a b Ralph, Caitlyn (May 23, 2016). "Watch Four Year Strong's ice cream filled new music video for "Who Cares?"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Redrup, Zach (November 25, 2015). "NEWS: First wave of bands confirmed for Slam Dunk Festival 2016!". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Al-Sharif, Rabab (August 8, 2016). "Good Charlotte announce tour with the Story So Far, Four Year Strong, others". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2018.
  16. ^ "Reviews for Four Year Strong by Four Year Strong". Metacritic. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ^ Monger, Timothy. "Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  18. ^ Bliss, Tony (June 2, 2015). "ALBUM: Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Shutler, Ali (June 3, 2015). "Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong". DIY. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Meusel, Robert (August–September 2015). "Reviews: Four Year Strong s/t". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  21. ^ Jon (June 2, 2015). "Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong". Punknews.org. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  22. ^ DaveyBoy (May 29, 2015). "Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong (album review 3)". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  23. ^ Bird, ed. 2016, p. 24
  24. ^ a b "Four Year Strong - Chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Ryan, Gavin (June 13, 2015). "ARIA Albums: Muse Debuts At No 1". Noise11. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "CHART: CLUK Update 13.06.2015 (wk23)". zobbel.de. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  27. ^ "Four Year Strong Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  28. ^ "Four Year Strong Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  29. ^ "Four Year Strong Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
Sources
  • Bird, Ryan, ed. (January 2016). "Top 50 Releases of the Year". Rock Sound (208). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.