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Blue October: Approaching Normal

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Universal Records
Released: 2009.03.24
Time:
 48:10
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Steve Lillywhite
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.blueoctober.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2012
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Weight of the World (Justin Furstenfeld) - 4:05
[2] Say It (Justin Furstenfeld) - 3:38
[3] Dirt Room (Justin Furstenfeld/C.B. Hudson III/Jeremy Furstenfeld0/Ryan Delahoussaye/Matt Noveskey) - 3:25
[4] Been Down (Justin Furstenfeld) - 4:19
[5] My Never (Justin Furstenfeld) - 3:47
[6] Should Be Loved (Justin Furstenfeld) - 4:02
[7] Kangaroo Cry (Justin Furstenfeld/Jeremy Furstenfeld) - 4:53
[8] Picking Up Pieces (Justin Furstenfeld) - 4:22
[9] Jump Rope (Justin Furstenfeld) - 3:22
[10] Blue Skies (Justin Furstenfeld) - 3:44
[11] Blue Does (Justin Furstenfeld) - 3:27

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Justin Furstenfeld - Vocals, Guitar, Art Direction
Jeremy Furstenfeld - Drums, Percussion
Ryan Delahoussaye - Violin, Mandolin, Keyboard, Vocals
C.B. Hudson - Guitar, Vocals
Matt Noveskey - Bass & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals

Steve Lillywhite - Producer, Mixing
CJ Eiriksson - Engineer, Mixing
Gavin Lurssen - Mastering
Paul Nugent - A&R
Sylvia Rhone - Executive Producer
Elizabeth Vago - A&R Coordination
Michele Goldberg - A&R Administration
Joe Spix - Art Direction, Design
Chapman Baehler - Photography
Kathryn Olsen - Photo Model
Paul Nugent - Management
Mike Swinford - Management
Randy Miller - Management
Kevin Daly - Booking Agent


 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Approaching Normal is the fifth studio album by alternative rock band Blue October. The album was released on March 24, 2009. and debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard charts. It was distributed via—as its predecessors—Universal; however, the band opted to use a different production style, by using digital audio workstations like FL Studio instead of recording it with live instruments. Also, rather than Justin Furstenfeld producing the album, Approaching Normal was produced by Steve Lillywhite (U2, Peter Gabriel, Dave Matthews Band). The album debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band released two versions of the album, each with a different bonus track: an "explicit" version, with "The End" as the bonus track, and a "clean" version, with "Graceful Dancing" as the bonus track. "Graceful Dancing" was also released in late 2008 as a "special gift" to fans signed under the band's email list. "Dirt Room" was the first single from the album, released on December 23, 2008. "Say It" was released as the second single on April 24, 2009. The song was first performed at Edgefest 17 on April 27, 2008 in Dallas, TX. In May 2009, Blue October's show in Pittsburgh was cancelled by the Fire Marshal and the Pittsburgh Police Department due to overcrowding and unsafe conditions. Not wanting to disappoint fans, the band setup their gear on the corner outside the venue and played a mini-set to the delight of fans. On October 22, 2009, Blue October announced that the rest of the tour had been canceled due to Justin Furstenfield suffering a severe mental anxiety attack. He returned to perform at Stubb's Theater in Texas a month or two after his attack. The tour was re-scheduled in 2010.



Despite its title, Approaching Normal is Blue October's most bizarre release to date, a collection of post-grunge missteps and ill-advised detours into genres far beyond the band's grasp. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld jumps overboard during the bulk of these tracks, from the snarling melodrama of "Weight of the World" (where he sounds like Adam Pascal, the hyperbolic rocker from Broadway's Rent) to the odd, Smash Mouth-styled bounce of "Jump Rope." He has an unchecked affinity for theatricality, for the sort of first-pumping grandeur that very few bands can execute well, and his angsty self-loathing -- which, following the platinum success of the band's previous album, seems a bit forced -- turns up some priceless nuggets of post-grunge poetry. "I gained 40 pounds because of you!" Furstenfeld howls during "Say It," before announcing his intention to "cover you in ants, bees, and honey, then take your picture for the cover of our album" during the follow-up tune. He even adopts a British accent for "Kangaroo Cry," which is hands down the silliest song title of 2009. Ironically, Furstenfeld's vocal resemblance to Jack Black is more apparent on these tracks than ever before, and Approaching Normal would be more palatable if it were executed with the same tongue-in-cheek outlandishness as Tenacious D. Blue October remain totally unaware of their own absurdity, however, which makes Approaching Normal the sort of cringe-worthy drama fest that inspires a ton of laughs but few repeated listens.

Andrew Leahey - All Music Guide



Blue October abandons the downbeat themes that colored its platinum Universal Motown debut, "Foiled," and readjusts its perspective to appreciate an existence that's "Approaching Normal." But dark thoughts still cloud lead singer/songwriter Justin Furstenfeld's mind, and he fearlessly airs them as he dishes revenge on an enemy on "Dirt Room" and confesses to the havoc his former bad habits wreaked on the discordant "Weight of the World." Producer Steve Lillywhite hones Blue October's penchant for emotive playing and tight rock chops. From note one, the hook, melody and tempo of the upcoming single "Say It" screams "hit"—one that will surpass the significant crossover impact of the band's breakthrough song, "Hate Me." Mighty is the act that mixes lullabies to children ("Blue Does") and plucky life affirmations ("Jump Rope"), follows them with the tale of a jealous ex-husband's murderous rage ("The End") and walks away with credibility intact. "Approaching Normal" could be called "Nearing Excellence."

Christa L. Titus - Billboard



Blue October are one of Stephenie Meyer's favorite bands, and it is easy to see why the Twilight writer would feel kinship with the Texas rockers. Approaching Normal is an often gloomy yet commercial-sounding collection, thanks to such big-chorused tracks as single ''Dirt Room'' and the rather jaunty ''Picking Up the Pieces.'' There is also a heartfelt muscularity to the lyrics that should appeal to Twilight fans, if not to admirers of deathless poetry.

B–

Clark Collis | Mar 25, 2009
 Entertainment Weekly
 

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