Razorblade Suitcase
Encyclopedia
Razorblade Suitcase is the second album by the British
grunge
band Bush
, released in November 1996 by Trauma Records
. The album is widely believed to have signaled the demise of the "grunge" genre, as it was one of the last widely-known albums released bearing a grunge-sound.
, which led to comparisons between Razorblade Suitcase and Nirvana
's album In Utero, because some believed Bush sounded similar to Nirvana, and Steve Albini
recorded both albums. Albini had also recorded the Pixies' breakthrough LP Surfer Rosa
, and was co-art directed by Vaughan Oliver
and Adrian Philpott. Vaughan Oliver had also done the artwork for Surfer Rosa. Gavin Rossdale
made statements around the time of the release that he only hoped that Bush would be one day as successful as the Pixies were in England.
, while Sixteen Stone peaked at the number-four spot. Despite the album selling fewer copies than Sixteen Stone
in the US, it marked a commercial peak for the band in their native Britain - it reached number four on the UK Albums Chart
, whilst "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly" both peaked in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart
. Bush released the first single from the album, "Swallowed
," in late 1996, and it was a big hit in America, poising the band for a successful album. "Swallowed" was number one on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart for 7 weeks, the band's longest charting number 1 single. The second single, "Greedy Fly
", was released after the two week long number one stay for Razorblade Suitcase in America, and reached number three. "Bonedriven
" and "Cold Contagious
" followed and did not make an impact on the charts. "Mouth" was remixed and released on the album Deconstructed
and reached the Top 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks
chart. "Mouth" also appeared in the movie "An American Werewolf in Paris
" and had a video co-starring Julie Delpy
who also starred in the movie.
Other critics also dismissed the album because they felt that although the band attempted to distance themselves from bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam
in terms of their sound, they ultimataly failed at creating a sound of their own. Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne stated that some of the songs on the album could have easily been on the record Nirvana never made (due to Kurt Cobains
suicide). Andy Gill from The Independant also stated that portions of the album are very reminscent of Nirvana, citing songs such as "Swallowed" and "Bonedriven" as irrestistible reminders of Nirvana. Rolling Stone criticized the album in their 1996 review, giving the record only 2 out of a possible 5 stars and named it the worst record of the year. However, Sputnikmusic gave the album a more positive review, although they also cited too many filler songs as the albums weakness, they praised the songs "Swallowed", "Greedy Fly", "Synapse" and "Distant Voices".
Note: "A Tendency to Start Fires", "Straight No Chaser" and "Synapse" do not appear on the LP version due to time constraints.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
band Bush
Bush (band)
Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
, released in November 1996 by Trauma Records
Trauma Records
Trauma Records is a Los Angeles independent record label created in 1993 by Paul Palmer and Rob Kahane. Trauma Records had a Joint Venture Agreement with Interscope Records that included financing and distribution through Interscope Records....
. The album is widely believed to have signaled the demise of the "grunge" genre, as it was one of the last widely-known albums released bearing a grunge-sound.
Album title
The album's working title was Ghost Medicine, but was changed for unknown reasons. The title is a line from the lyrics of the song "Synapse" and is lead singer Gavin Rossdale's interpretation of 'emotional baggage'.Style
It has a slightly darker tone than Bush's previous album, Sixteen StoneSixteen Stone
Sixteen Stone is the debut album of British rock band Bush. Released in 1994 through Trauma Records, it boasted numerous successful singles and is widely regarded as the band's most popular album.-Title:...
, which led to comparisons between Razorblade Suitcase and Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
's album In Utero, because some believed Bush sounded similar to Nirvana, and Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
recorded both albums. Albini had also recorded the Pixies' breakthrough LP Surfer Rosa
Surfer Rosa
Like Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa displays a mix of musical styles; pop guitar songs such as "Broken Face", "Break My Body", and "Brick Is Red" are featured alongside slower, more melodic tracks exemplified by "Where Is My Mind?". The album includes heavier material, and prominently features the...
, and was co-art directed by Vaughan Oliver
Vaughan Oliver
Vaughan Oliver is a British graphic designer based in Epsom, South of London. Oliver is most noted for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23...
and Adrian Philpott. Vaughan Oliver had also done the artwork for Surfer Rosa. Gavin Rossdale
Gavin Rossdale
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush as well as an actor. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. He...
made statements around the time of the release that he only hoped that Bush would be one day as successful as the Pixies were in England.
Commercial performance
While Sixteen Stone was a radio-friendly grunge rock album that sold millions of copies. Razorblade Suitcase was more abrasive than the past album and as a result did not sell as well. However, Razorblade Suitcase reached the number-one spot on the Billboard 200Billboard 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...
, while Sixteen Stone peaked at the number-four spot. Despite the album selling fewer copies than Sixteen Stone
Sixteen Stone
Sixteen Stone is the debut album of British rock band Bush. Released in 1994 through Trauma Records, it boasted numerous successful singles and is widely regarded as the band's most popular album.-Title:...
in the US, it marked a commercial peak for the band in their native Britain - it reached number four on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, whilst "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly" both peaked in the Top 20 of the 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 ...
. Bush released the first single from the album, "Swallowed
Swallowed (song)
Swallowed is a song by British post-grunge band Bush. It was included on the 1996 album Razorblade Suitcase, which topped the Billboard 200 chart...
," in late 1996, and it was a big hit in America, poising the band for a successful album. "Swallowed" was number one on the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart for 7 weeks, the band's longest charting number 1 single. The second single, "Greedy Fly
Greedy Fly
"Greedy Fly" is a song by alternative rock band Bush from their 1996 album Razorblade Suitcase.-Music video:Bush were one of the early pioneers of the enhanced CD single, with the full video being available as a file on CD 2. The video was directed by Mark Nispel in December of 1996 in Los Angelas...
", was released after the two week long number one stay for Razorblade Suitcase in America, and reached number three. "Bonedriven
Bonedriven
"Bonedriven" is the third single by post grunge band Bush from their 1996 second album Razorblade Suitcase. As a Bush single, it followed the hit singles "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly." "Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" are the only Bush singles from 1994–1999 not to be included on the band's 2005...
" and "Cold Contagious
Cold Contagious
"Cold Contagious" was the fourth and final single from post-grunge band Bush's second studio album, Razorblade Suitcase. "Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" are the only Bush singles from 1994-1999 not to be included on the band's 2005 greatest hits compilation, The Best of: 1994-1999, apparently...
" followed and did not make an impact on the charts. "Mouth" was remixed and released on the album Deconstructed
Deconstructed (Bush album)
Deconstructed is a remix album by British post-grunge band Bush. It did not feature any truly new material more so than it was a collaborative effort between the band and various producers working in the electronic genre of music which showcased complete remixes of the band's previous songs,...
and reached the Top 5 on the Modern Rock Tracks
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
chart. "Mouth" also appeared in the movie "An American Werewolf in Paris
An American Werewolf in Paris
An American Werewolf in Paris is a 1997 horror/comedy film about werewolves. It was directed by Anthony Waller and stars Tom Everett Scott and Julie Delpy...
" and had a video co-starring Julie Delpy
Julie Delpy
Julie Delpy is a French-American actress, director, screenwriter, and singer-songwriter. She studied filmmaking at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and has directed, written, and acted in more than 30 films, including Europa Europa , The Voyager , Three Colors: White , Before Sunrise...
who also starred in the movie.
Critical reception
Critics gave the album negative to mixed reviews citing too many filler songs and a lack of memorable tracks as the albums downfall. Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated
"The problem is that Gavin Rossdale has not come up with any hooks, which means that while Razorblade Suitcase is more pleasing and visceral on the surface, it offers no hooks to make it memorable, unlike the hit singles from Sixteen Stone."
Other critics also dismissed the album because they felt that although the band attempted to distance themselves from bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
in terms of their sound, they ultimataly failed at creating a sound of their own. Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne stated that some of the songs on the album could have easily been on the record Nirvana never made (due to Kurt Cobains
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
suicide). Andy Gill from The Independant also stated that portions of the album are very reminscent of Nirvana, citing songs such as "Swallowed" and "Bonedriven" as irrestistible reminders of Nirvana. Rolling Stone criticized the album in their 1996 review, giving the record only 2 out of a possible 5 stars and named it the worst record of the year. However, Sputnikmusic gave the album a more positive review, although they also cited too many filler songs as the albums weakness, they praised the songs "Swallowed", "Greedy Fly", "Synapse" and "Distant Voices".
Track listing
All songs by Gavin Rossdale.- "Personal Holloway" – 3:23
- "Greedy FlyGreedy Fly"Greedy Fly" is a song by alternative rock band Bush from their 1996 album Razorblade Suitcase.-Music video:Bush were one of the early pioneers of the enhanced CD single, with the full video being available as a file on CD 2. The video was directed by Mark Nispel in December of 1996 in Los Angelas...
" – 4:29 - "SwallowedSwallowed (song)Swallowed is a song by British post-grunge band Bush. It was included on the 1996 album Razorblade Suitcase, which topped the Billboard 200 chart...
" – 4:53 - "Insect Kin" – 4:27
- "Cold ContagiousCold Contagious"Cold Contagious" was the fourth and final single from post-grunge band Bush's second studio album, Razorblade Suitcase. "Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" are the only Bush singles from 1994-1999 not to be included on the band's 2005 greatest hits compilation, The Best of: 1994-1999, apparently...
" – 6:01 - "A Tendency to Start Fires" – 4:04
- "Mouth" – 5:46
- "Straight No Chaser" – 4:02
- "History" – 4:17
- "Synapse" – 4:52
- "Communicator" – 4:25
- "BonedrivenBonedriven"Bonedriven" is the third single by post grunge band Bush from their 1996 second album Razorblade Suitcase. As a Bush single, it followed the hit singles "Swallowed" and "Greedy Fly." "Bonedriven" and "Cold Contagious" are the only Bush singles from 1994–1999 not to be included on the band's 2005...
" – 4:32 - "Distant Voices" – 6:20
Note: "A Tendency to Start Fires", "Straight No Chaser" and "Synapse" do not appear on the LP version due to time constraints.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Billboard 200 | 1 |
| 1997 | UK Album Chart | 4 |