Antenna (Cave In album)
Encyclopedia
Antenna is the third studio album
and first major label album by American rock
band Cave In
. Released in 2003, it marks Cave In's first and only album under RCA
before being dropped and resigning fully with Hydra Head
. Antenna marked a more commercial shift in Cave In's style which, while critically praised, was met with uneasiness from the band and distaste from longtime fans. In the midst of such polarization, the band would begin a return to their previous style resulting in 2005's Perfect Pitch Black
.
, who would release their major label debut on vinyl.
In contrast to Cave In's previous effort, Antenna would emphasize spacey
, progressive rock
tendencies with soaring anthems and clean, melodic vocals. Guitarist Adam McGrath noted the musical shift as due to both physical and creative limitations; physically, singer Steve Brodsky had alleged concerns over the long-term effects of performing harsh metal
vocals. Creatively, Cave In had also grown tired of being pigeonholed within the metalcore
genre and being force to consistently perform amongst such acts. On a much greater budget, Antenna was also given three months of fundamental recording time in contrast to the four days for Jupiter and took a total of six months.
Weeks after the album's release, McGrath described the recording process:
However, months later, he noted that in comparison to small labels, "RCA tried harder to get things done, but more people wanted to put their fingerprints on our record." McGrath elaborated that the label pressured the band to create radio-friendly singles and that the band overtook their lives. "All these new people came into the picture. We had a business manager, lawyer, A&R guy, marketing guy, people that are your quote/unquote friends. We were young and naive to the whole process and it affected how we wrote songs."
tour. Afterward, the band toured Europe in support of Foo Fighters
and Muse
. The shows brought a unique response from fans in regards to Cave In's new sound.
In summer 2003, guitarist Adam McGrath lamented, "We got major backlash for growing out of our metal phase. . . People were calling us faggots; they were using derogatory terms on us. I didn't want them around us, let alone liking our band. Fuck them. I'm glad we could weed them out." He later reflected, "It got to the point where they were throwing shit at us when we were playing. They were pissed. Some people said 'fuck this,' but others tried to figure out what were doing and grabbed it." The backlash apparently had an effect on Cave In who began revisiting their metal roots during concerts later in the year. They began a US tour alongside the decidedly heavy From Autumn to Ashes
, Every Time I Die
, and Funeral for a Friend
in September.
During this time, RCA had merged with BMG
and Sony and Cave In's status with RCA was put into question. The band was scheduled for a meet and greet where no one showed up. By the following year, after a dispute over musical direction, Cave In would be released from the label.
The track "Anchor" was released as the album's single which also had a music video
. McGrath described it as a very poor choice for a single but suitable simply because of its short length. Due to the song's lackluster reception in radio and TV, the label allegedly gave up on Antenna. "Looking back, the people at RCA were really into it. Two years after the fact, it was a mistake," noted McGrath.
The video for "Anchor" starred actor Richard Edson
as a disgruntled man staggering through a city with his feet imprisoned in concrete blocks. It gained considerable airplay on Fuse TV
during the spring and summer of 2003.
and the release of Perfect Pitch Black
in 2005.
Since their departure from RCA, members of Cave In have reflected largely negatively on their sole experience with a major label. In addition to its massive budget, the band felt pressured into a more commercialized style and intense schedule that they have since criticized. Lyrically, several songs on the band's follow-up album would vent their frustrations with RCA, including a song entitled "Trepanning."
Other personnel
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
and first major label album by American rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Cave In
Cave In
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995, in Methuen, Massachusetts. After several members changes in the late 90's, their lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records. Their early albums were prominent releases in the independent...
. Released in 2003, it marks Cave In's first and only album under RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
before being dropped and resigning fully with Hydra Head
Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
. Antenna marked a more commercial shift in Cave In's style which, while critically praised, was met with uneasiness from the band and distaste from longtime fans. In the midst of such polarization, the band would begin a return to their previous style resulting in 2005's Perfect Pitch Black
Perfect Pitch Black
Perfect Pitch Black is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cave In. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Hydra Head Records, and was the band's final release before going on hiatus in 2006...
.
Background and recording
Hot off the success of their 2000 album, Cave In became sought by numerous major labels. Hoping to exceed the limitations of a small label, they eventually settled with RCA for its thorough marketing and promotion plans. The band would, however, maintain a business relationship with Hydra HeadHydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
, who would release their major label debut on vinyl.
In contrast to Cave In's previous effort, Antenna would emphasize spacey
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
tendencies with soaring anthems and clean, melodic vocals. Guitarist Adam McGrath noted the musical shift as due to both physical and creative limitations; physically, singer Steve Brodsky had alleged concerns over the long-term effects of performing harsh metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
vocals. Creatively, Cave In had also grown tired of being pigeonholed within the metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
genre and being force to consistently perform amongst such acts. On a much greater budget, Antenna was also given three months of fundamental recording time in contrast to the four days for Jupiter and took a total of six months.
Weeks after the album's release, McGrath described the recording process:
- "Bruce Floor had opinions during the recording process, but he let us make our own decisions. He put us in a position to make our own decisions and he supported us when we made them. It is a different, exciting time in our lives right now."
However, months later, he noted that in comparison to small labels, "RCA tried harder to get things done, but more people wanted to put their fingerprints on our record." McGrath elaborated that the label pressured the band to create radio-friendly singles and that the band overtook their lives. "All these new people came into the picture. We had a business manager, lawyer, A&R guy, marketing guy, people that are your quote/unquote friends. We were young and naive to the whole process and it affected how we wrote songs."
Touring and promotion
Cave In was chosen for the second stage on the 2003 LollapaloozaLollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour. Afterward, the band toured Europe in support of Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
. The shows brought a unique response from fans in regards to Cave In's new sound.
In summer 2003, guitarist Adam McGrath lamented, "We got major backlash for growing out of our metal phase. . . People were calling us faggots; they were using derogatory terms on us. I didn't want them around us, let alone liking our band. Fuck them. I'm glad we could weed them out." He later reflected, "It got to the point where they were throwing shit at us when we were playing. They were pissed. Some people said 'fuck this,' but others tried to figure out what were doing and grabbed it." The backlash apparently had an effect on Cave In who began revisiting their metal roots during concerts later in the year. They began a US tour alongside the decidedly heavy From Autumn to Ashes
From Autumn to Ashes
From Autumn to Ashes was a NY melodic hardcore band that formed in Long Island in 2000. While the band had gone through many line-up changes, the members include Francis Mark , Scott Gross , Benjamin Perri , Brian Deneeve , Mike Pilato , Rob Lauritsen , and Jeff Gretz From Autumn to Ashes was a NY...
, Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die
Every Time I Die is a metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1998. Their musical style is rooted in technical hardcore with strong southern metal and mathcore elements, and is also characterised by their cryptic, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. The band announced on July 14, 2008 that they had...
, and Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
in September.
During this time, RCA had merged with BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
and Sony and Cave In's status with RCA was put into question. The band was scheduled for a meet and greet where no one showed up. By the following year, after a dispute over musical direction, Cave In would be released from the label.
The track "Anchor" was released as the album's single which also had a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
. McGrath described it as a very poor choice for a single but suitable simply because of its short length. Due to the song's lackluster reception in radio and TV, the label allegedly gave up on Antenna. "Looking back, the people at RCA were really into it. Two years after the fact, it was a mistake," noted McGrath.
The video for "Anchor" starred actor Richard Edson
Richard Edson
Richard Edson is an American actor and musician.-Biography:Edson was born in New Rochelle, New York. He has one brother, Steven, who resides in the Boston area, and two sisters: Andrea, who resides in Newton, Massachusetts and Jennifer, who resides in New York City. His father Arnold was one of...
as a disgruntled man staggering through a city with his feet imprisoned in concrete blocks. It gained considerable airplay on Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
during the spring and summer of 2003.
Post-Antenna
During the later touring schedule for Antenna, Cave In acknowledged the poor reception from longtime fans and began a return to their previous, heavier sound. The group started recording new material in the vein of their earlier style with no label interference, but the less commercial material gained a negative response from RCA. The label eventually agreed to release Cave In in 2004 and allow them full ownership to their new demos. This would lead to Cave In's full resigning with Hydra HeadHydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
and the release of Perfect Pitch Black
Perfect Pitch Black
Perfect Pitch Black is the fourth studio album by American rock band Cave In. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Hydra Head Records, and was the band's final release before going on hiatus in 2006...
in 2005.
Since their departure from RCA, members of Cave In have reflected largely negatively on their sole experience with a major label. In addition to its massive budget, the band felt pressured into a more commercialized style and intense schedule that they have since criticized. Lyrically, several songs on the band's follow-up album would vent their frustrations with RCA, including a song entitled "Trepanning."
Track listing
- "Stained Silver" - 4:08
- "Inspire" - 4:20
- "Joy Opposites" - 4:48
- "Anchor" - 3:14
- "Beautiful Son" - 3:57
- "Seafrost" - 8:58
- "Rubber and Glue" - 3:44
- "Youth Overrided" - 5:17
- "Breath of Water" - 5:36
- "Lost in the Air" - 3:41
- "Penny Racer" - 3:11
- "Woodwork" - 5:17
B-sides
- "Lift Off"
- "Day Trader"
- "Devil's Head Pinata"
- "Harmless, Armless," also known as "Minus World"
Album
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Chart | 67 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
169 |
Singles
| Year | Chart | Single | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
"Anchor" | 53 |
| 2003 | US Mainstream Rock Mainstream rock Mainstream rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations in the United States and Canada.-Format background:... |
"Anchor" | 37 |
| 2003 | US Modern Rock Modern rock Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre... |
"Anchor" | 34 |
Personnel
Band members- Stephen Brodsky – guitar and vocals
- J.R. Conners – drums and Vocals
- Adam McGrath – guitar and vocals
- Caleb ScofieldCaleb ScofieldCaleb Scofield is a bassist and singer mostly known for playing bass & contributing vocals in the alternative metal band Cave In, and is now most active with his own sludge metal band Zozobra. Caleb is also a part of the sludge band Old Man Gloom. He currently lives in Boston with his wife and...
– bass and vocals
Other personnel
- Rich Costey – producer, engineer and mixing
- Wally Gagle – engineer
- Michael Lavine – photography
- Dan Leffler – second engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Gersh – drum technician