Commencement (album)
Commencement | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 14, 2002 | |||
Recorded | 1996–2001 | |||
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Length | 68:20 | |||
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Producer | ||||
Deadsy chronology | ||||
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Singles from Commencement | ||||
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Commencement is the major debut studio album by American rock band Deadsy, released on May 14, 2002. Initially suspended upon distribution changes at Sire, it was officially released through DreamWorks under the Elementree sublabel. It includes the single "The Key to Gramercy Park" which had a music video. Featuring guest musicians and industry figures such as Jonathan Davis, it was a commercial disappointment, selling 100,000 copies by 2006.[2]
Background
Intended as an improved edition of Deadsy's
Vocalist Elijah Blue described the situation regarding the delay of Commencement in 2002:
- "There were a lot of delicate situations going on politically when we were at Sire/Warner Brothers—basically, Deadsy was something so outside of what was going on in music, that they weren't about to take a chance. I think ultimately they just didn't believe in it and wouldn't release it. I mean they signed someone they didn't believe in and were just so busy trying to figure out what the next band that was going to last for two seconds was."[5]
Music
Blue has cited
Blue noted that the long delay "ultimately, for longevity's sake, worked in our favor" and allowed the songs to develop in re-recording.[5] The material on Commencement received praise from Wayne Static of Static-X who compared it to a combination of Type O Negative and Orgy and described the sound as "very melodic, lush, beautiful—yet brutally heavy at the same time."[7] Regarding its electronic-heavy nature, Blue would later describe the album as "more synthetic" compared to Deadsy's 2006 follow-up.[6]
Artwork
Commencement's album art was designed and directed by Josh Gabbard. Its cover is a simple illustration of the Hyde Mansion at Allman and Hawkey's alma mater, the Hyde School in Bath, Maine.[8] The mansion is shown behind a fountain of skulls, based on the school's Sunken Garden,[8] which is depicted in stark, relatively flat colors. The backside features all five band members standing over a world map, simply illustrated with blank white eyes and their signature color schemes. The disc itself and the liner notes feature a white chain link pattern used throughout the promotion of Commencement. Each member is represented in the liner notes by a signature color (red, blue, yellow, green, and gray), stage name, and graphic.
Variations
There are five known variations. The most popular depicts blue water and a grey podium with a blue bone symbol. The second is nearly identical to the first, except the symbol is white. The third, labeled "advance copy" under the title, features red water, a blue podium and a grey bone. The fourth (for digital copies) has white water, a grey podium and a white bone. The fifth (Japanese version) is like the first and second, but with brighter blue water.
Touring and promotion
Deadsy opened for
"The Key to Gramercy Park" was originally released alongside "Mansion World" as a
A cover of Sebadoh's "Brand New Love" would serve as a follow-up single in October 2002. It, too, had a music video released in November which contained concert footage with brief cameos of numerous tour mates. Like its predecessor, "Brand New Love" would not land on the charts. Deadsy had reportedly wanted to release "Winners" or "Mansion World" as a third single, but this did not occur.[12]
A live performance of "Tom Sawyer" was included on the Family Values Tour 2001 compilation released in May 2002. A
Reception
Critical response
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Alternative Press | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | D[16] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Commencement received mixed reviews. Metacritic gives it 56/100 based on five critics.[18] Rolling Stone offered a mediocre response and sarcastically compared the band to a "hilariously high-concept prank." Entertainment Weekly's Jim Farber lamented, "If only they didn't sound like a dying Flock of Seagulls. The fivesome's cheesy '80s new-wave music may explain why it took seven years for a label to release their debut. But at this point, Deadsy sound D.O.A."
One stand-out review of acclamation came from
In 2018, Commencement was ranked number 21 on Business Insider's list of "37 albums that music critics really hate, but normal people love".[19]
Commercial performance
Deadsy's association with Korn and Fred Durst and critical tour slots gained them mainstream exposure and significant press attention. Supported by the
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Key to Gramercy Park" (featuring Jonathan Davis) | 3:12 |
2. | "Winners" | 4:22 |
3. | "Brand New Love" (featuring Richie Birkenhead) | 4:34 |
4. | "Mansion World" (featuring Troy Van Leeuwen) | 5:02 |
5. | "Lake Waramaug" | 4:23 |
6. | "The Elements" | 5:21 |
7. | "Flowing Glower" (featuring Jay Gordon) | 4:58 |
8. | "Future Years" (featuring Jay Gordon) | 5:26 |
9. | "She Likes Big Words" (featuring John Taylor and Troy Van Leeuwen) | 3:59 |
10. | "Cruella" (featuring Jay Gordon) | 5:54 |
11. | "Seagulls (The Macroprosopus)" | 5:56 |
12. | "Le Cirque En Rose (Obsolescence)" | 4:55 |
13. | "Tom Sawyer" | 4:52 |
14. | "Commencement" | 5:16 |
Personnel
Deadsy
- Phillips Exeter Blue I – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, programming, synthesizers
- Dr. Nner – synthesizers, programming
- Alec Püre – drums and percussion
- Creature – bass guitar
- Carlton Megalodon – Ztar (on "The Key To Gramercy Park", "Winners", "Brand New Love", "Mansion World", "She Likes Big Words")
Additional personnel
- Craig Riker – additional bass guitar
- Jonathan Davis – additional vocals on "The Key to Gramercy Park"
- Jay Gordon – additional vocals on "Seagulls" and bass on "Flowing Glower", "Future Years", and "Cruella"
- John Taylor – additional bass on "She Likes Big Words"
- Troy Van Leeuwen – additional lead guitar on "She Likes Big Words" and "Mansion World"
- Ritchie Birkenhead – additional vocals on "Brand New Love"
- Sunny Levine – additional break beats on "The Key to Gramercy Park"
- Jed Whedon – additional piano on "Winners"
- Chris Vrenna - additional programming
- Jay Baumgardner – producer, mixing
- Josh Gabbard – design/art direction
Charts
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[21] | 100 |
References
- ^ "10 Albums That Remind Us Why Nü Metal F*cking Sucked". April 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Deadsy To Release 'Phantasmagore' In August". Blabbermouth.net. July 21, 2006. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Deadsy: She Likes Big Words (Music), DreamWorks Records, retrieved August 4, 2023
- ^ D'Angelo, Joe Korn's Jonathan Davis Sings On Deadsy Track MTV.com (July 31, 2001). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ a b Brink, Robert Elijah Blue Allman Deadsy Interview Uncensored! Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine RobBrink.com (August 2002). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ a b Matlock, Kelly Deadsy interview - Lollapalooza '06 Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Lumino Magazine (August 8, 2006). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ ConcertLivewire's exclusive interview with Wayne Static of Static-X ConcertLiveWire.com (November 14, 2003). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ a b Gauld, Malcolm (January 31, 2011). "Songs by Siblings & Off-Spring". hyde.edu. Hyde School. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
"Gramercy Park" by Deadsy. Elijah Blue Allman (Hyde '94), son of Cher and Greg Allman, leads his band on this one. (Note: The album cover features a painting of the back of the Hyde Mansion w/ Sunken Garden.)
- ^ vanHorn, Teri Static-X Join Family Values Tour As Itinerary Shapes Up MTV.com (September 10, 2001). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ "Deadsy - The Key to Gramercy Park / Mansion World". Discogs. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ D'Angelo, Joe Deadsy Hold Their Breath For Durst-Directed Video MTV.com (April 3, 2002). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ News DeadTV (September 2002). Retrieved on 7-02-11.
- ^ Doerschuk, Robert L. (September 28, 1999). "Commencement - Deadsy". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Commencement at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ Mitchell, Ben (June 2002). "Deadsy: Commencement". Blender. p. 104. Archived from the original on November 3, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ Jim Farber (May 17, 2002). "Commencement Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rolling Stone Music | Album Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved February 10, 2012.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Commencement by Deadsy", Metacritic, retrieved March 20, 2023
- ^ Lynch, John. "37 albums that music critics really hate, but normal people love". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard". November 9, 2002.
- ^ "Deadsy". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.