Dysfunction (album)

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Dysfunction
Studio album by
Staind
ReleasedApril 13, 1999
RecordedAugust 1998[1]
StudioStudio Litho (Seattle)
Genre
Length56:08
Label
Producer
Staind chronology
Tormented
(1996) 		Dysfunction
(1999) 		Break the Cycle
(2001)
Singles from Dysfunction
  1. "Just Go"
    Released: May 1999
  2. "Mudshovel"
    Released: October 26, 1999
  3. "Home"
    Released: November 30, 1999
  4. "Suffocate"
    Released: 2000

Dysfunction is the second studio album by American rock band Staind, released on April 13, 1999, by Flip Records and Elektra Records. It is the band's first studio album released on a record label.

Staind self-released Tormented in 1996. On October 23, 1997, the band met Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst. Durst was initially appalled by Tormented's graphic artwork, and refused to sign Staind, but changed his mind after being impressed with the band's performance. Durst signed the band to Flip/Elektra and helped the band record Dysfunction. Staind promoted Dysfunction through touring and sampler cassettes.

Continuing the dark

lo-fi production, and, despite having occasional screaming, features more clean singing than Tormented. Critics compared Dysfunction to various bands, including Korn, Coal Chamber, Spineshank, Nothingface, Deftones, Tool, and Alice in Chains
.

Dysfunction received mostly mixed reviews; some critics praising the vocals and the

guitar riffs, while some criticized the album for being repetitive in terms of song structure. Despite little success upon release, the album grew into mainstream popularity at the end of 1999 with the success of the singles "Just Go", "Mudshovel" and "Home", eventually peaking at number 74 on the Billboard 200 chart in November of that year. After the release of Staind's next album Break the Cycle (2001), Dysfunction experienced a resurgence in popularity and reached number 1 on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums chart. In February 2004, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA), signifying the shipment of two million copies in the United States.

Background and recording

Staind self-released its debut album

Theistic Satanists.[2]

Despite initially trying to remove Staind from opening for Limp Bizkit due to the album cover of Tormented, Fred Durst was impressed with Staind's performance and changed his mind. After hearing their four-song demo, Durst signed Staind to Flip/Elektra to record the band's album Dysfunction. Durst and Staind then traveled to

Los Angeles, California. By February 1998, they acquired a record contract and, after performing on the summer Warped Tour, began recording Dysfunction in August 1998.[4] Dysfunction was recorded at Studio Litho and mixed at Studio X in Seattle, Washington.[5] Durst introduced Staind to Terry Date. Date said that after hearing the singing voice of Staind lead singer Aaron Lewis, he instantly thought Lewis's "voice was pretty undeniable."[3] While Durst did most of Dysfunction's preproduction work, "Date said his only challenge was to capture the explosive live feel of the band and help bring out both their melodic and hard sensibilities."[3] After working with Durst in Jacksonville, Staind moved back to their hometown Springfield, Massachusetts, to write songs like "Me", "Just Go", "Home", and some other songs from Dysfunction.[6]

Music and lyrics

"My life, up to a point was shit. But I've come a long way. I grew up in a trailer park in Vermont. That was the shit I got out of me in Tormented and Dysfunction, and tailing into Break the Cycle. But the title, Break the Cycle, says it all."

Lewis on his early life and the inspiration for Dysfunction's lyrics.[7]

Staind's vocalist, Aaron Lewis, has stated he feels that, "Dysfunction was a huge step away from Tormented."[8] Guitarist Mike Mushok expressed frustration in how label personnel were in no way intrusive on the production of Dysfunction, but after it sold over a million copies, the band would be relentlessly hassled during the production of future albums.[9] Considered nu metal[10][11] and alternative metal,[12] Dysfunction is known for featuring both singing and screaming.[12][13] The album is also known for featuring songs with slow parts that then turn into aggressive parts with screaming.[13] The album's lyrics are noted for being either angry or depressing.[12][13] Gil Kaufman of MTV wrote that the album "doesn't share the heavy hip-hop influence of the band's new pals. Staind's aggressive sound mixes the industrial crunch of Tool with the morose, heavy rock of Seattle grunge-rockers Alice in Chains."[3] CMJ New Music Report compared Dysfunction to Deftones' Adrenaline, Spineshank, Nothingface's Pacifier, Coal Chamber, and "Korn's non-hip-hop moments".[10] Lewis said of Dysfunction's lyrics: "All the lyrics are about me," Lewis said. "That's why it's called Dysfunction. It's just a list of all the fucked-up shit I've gone through in life."[3] Although Dysfunction features some screaming in some songs, the album features less screaming than Tormented, and is a lot more melodic than Tormented. Durst encouraged Lewis to use more melody in his voice after being impressed by Lewis' singing voice.[6] After describing Tormented as "one long rush of hardcore brat-rage, a 900mph scream of a man smashing his head against a wall in frustration", Tommy Udo wrote in his book Brave Nu World: "1999's Dysfunction is the sound of a band trying to get to grips wuth all the anger and shape something else that will reach beyond the hard core of devotees; not 'selling out' or 'going commercial', just making it bearable."[14]

Promotion and touring

Staind released three singles for the album: "Just Go/Suffocate", "

Alternative Songs chart and remained on the chart for 25 weeks.[19]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Christgau's Consumer Guide
(dud)[20]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[21]
NME2/10[22]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[23]

Critical reception

Dysfunction received mostly mixed reviews.

CMJ New Music Report gave the album a positive review and wrote: "Generally, Lewis's plaintive, melodic and often beautiful crooning is pierced by spine-weakening guitar licks, making Staind a stand-out in the 'new metal' domain."[10] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: "Other listeners, however, will likely find Dysfunction a little tedious, since there isn't a wide variety of songs on the record, nor is there anything catchy. That, of course, is a signature trait of alt-metal and helps make the record a sign of the times -- but that doesn't mean it's an easy record to enjoy for anyone outside of the cognoscenti."[12] NME panned the album and wrote "It wouldn't be so bad if his voice didn't bring to mind Eddie Vedder being fisted in jail."[22] Attrition.org gave the album a positive review, writing: "Dysfunction is definitely an album I would suggest to anyone who really gets into music. I suggest sitting down and listening to Aaron's amazing vocals along with the guitars of Dysfunction from beginning to the end."[24] Orlando Weekly described the album as "an impressive start" and acclaimed the album but criticized the song "Crawl" for the song's "annoying guitar riff", calling "Crawl" "the only short stick on the disc."[25]

Commercial performance

Dysfunction achieved a limited amount of success at first, selling only 29,000 copies and debuting at number 173 on the

Billboard's 2000 year-end chart for Billboard 200 albums.[34]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Aaron Lewis; all music is composed by Staind.[5]

No.TitleLength
1."Suffocate"3:16
2."Just Go"4:50
3."Me"4:36
4."Raw"4:09
5."Mudshovel"4:42
6."Home"4:06
7."A Flat"4:59
8."Crawl"4:29
9."Spleen"
  • "Excess Baggage"
21:01
Total length:56:08
  • "Spleen" ends at 4:38. Following 11:45 of silence is a hidden track titled "Excess Baggage".
  • On digital editions of the album, the hidden track “Excess Baggage” is separated from “Spleen” as its own track.
    • Limited Edition bonus track
    No.TitleLength
    8."
    Public Enemy cover; featuring Fred Durst and DJ Lethal
    )    		3:51
    Total length:59:59
    • On the limited edition of the album, “Crawl” is moved to track 9, and “Spleen” is moved to track 10.

    Personnel

    Adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

    Staind

    • Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, acoustic guitar on "Excess Baggage"
    • Mike Mushok – guitars, backing vocals
    • Johnny "Old School" April – bass, backing vocals
    • Jon Wysocki – drums, backing vocals

    Production

    • Jordan Schur – executive production
    • Staind – production
    • Fred Durst – co-production
    • Terry Date – production, engineering, mixing
    • Ulrich Wild – engineering
    • Tom Smurdon - assistant engineering
    • John Burton – assistant mixing
    • Roger Lian – mastering
    • Howie Weinberg – mastering

    Artwork

    • Mike Mushok - concept
    • Gregory Burke - art director, art design, concept
    • EXUM - photography
    • Jane Choi, Joe Macchio - special effects make-up

    Charts

    Certifications

    Region Certification Certified units/sales
    United States (RIAA)[36] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

    ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

    Other appearances

    • A demo of the song "Spleen", recorded in October 1997, had earlier appeared on the compilation Up The Dosage by Wonderdrug Records.[37]
    • An original version of "Mudshovel" appears on Staind's debut album Tormented as "Mudshuvel". This version features a heavier sound with less melody and also features screaming, whereas the Dysfunction version has an absence of screaming.[38]

    References

    Citations

    1. ^ "Staind - "Homegrown" Documentary, 2003". YouTube.com.
    2. ^ a b Brode, Rob (April 9, 2001). "Inside the "Outside" with Staind"s Aaron Lewis: Devil not included". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
    3. ^ a b c d e f g Kaufman, Gil (July 21, 1999). "Staind Get Helping Hand From Limp Bizkit Singer". MTV. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
    4. ^ "Staind Tour Dates". Eventful.com. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
    5. ^ a b c Dysfunction (booklet). Staind. Elektra. 1999.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
    6. ^ a b Kitts & Tolinski 2002, p. 14.
    7. ^ "Staind". Starland Ballroom. Archived from the original on October 2, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
    8. ^ Florino, Rick (August 25, 2008). "Interview - Staind (Aaron Lewis)". ArtistDirect.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
    9. About.com. Archived from the original
      on September 21, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
    10. ^
      ISSN 0890-0795
      .
    11. ^ "Heavy Metal Classifications: A History of Nu Metal". Metal Descent.
    12. ^
      AllMusic
      . Retrieved July 17, 2011.
    13. ^
      Attrition.org
      .
    14. ^ Udo 2002, pp. 89–90.
    15. ^
      ISSN 0006-2510
      . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    16. ^ Udo 2002, p. 83.
    17. ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (The Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    18. ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    19. ^ "Aaron Lewis Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    20. ISBN 9780312245603
      .
    21. ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4 – via Internet Archive
      .
    22. ^ a b "Dysfunction". NME. September 12, 2005.
    23. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8
      .
    24. ^ "Music Review: Staind - Dysfunction". Attrition.org. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
    25. ^ "Review - Dysfunction". Orlando Weekly. August 18, 1999. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
    26. Billboard
      . May 30, 2001. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    27. ^ a b "Staind Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    28. ^ a b "Staind Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    29. ^ a b c "American album certifications – Staind – Dysfunction". Recording Industry Association of America.
    30. ^ McDonald, Sam (January 14, 2000). "Expect Rowdy Rock at Staind Show". Daily Press. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    31. Billboard
      . June 21, 2001. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    32. ^
      Billboard
      . Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    33. ^ "Staind Chart History (Mainstream Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    34. ^ "Year-End Charts (Billboard 200 Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
    35. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    36. ^ "American album certifications – Staind – Dysfunction". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
    37. ^ Booklet for Up the Dosage. Wonderdrug Records.
    38. ^ Tognazzini, Anthony. "Tormented – Staind". AllMusic. Retrieved January 26, 2021.

    Bibliography

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