The Drug in Me Is You
Encyclopedia
The Drug in Me Is You is the debut studio album
by American post-hardcore
band Falling In Reverse
. Production for the album took place following lead singer Ronnie Radke's departure from Escape the Fate
in 2008. Recording took place in December 2010 and lasted until February 2011 at Paint it Black Studios in Orlando, Florida
. Michael Baskette, who worked with Radke on Escape the Fate's Dying is Your Latest Fashion
, returned as the executive producer for the album, alongside former bandmate Omar Espinosa and others as additional composers and production aids in the studio. The Drug in Me Is You was released on July 25, 2011, in Europe and Japan, and on July 26, 2011, in the United States.
The album charted at number 19 on the US Billboard 200
, selling 18,000 copies in its first week in the United States. It also charted internationally on the national album charts in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Upon release, The Drug in Me Is You received generally mixed reviews. Critics consistently noted the contrast between hardcore music and pop music on the tracks, but to mixed reception. Overall, the lyrics were viewed as being cliché while Radke's singing and return to making music were noted. In addition, critics focused on the bitter relationship between Radke and his former band, Escape the Fate, in which reviewers noticed the choice to attack the band in many of the album's tracks.
, Radke formed Falling In Reverse
with the help of longtime friend Nason Schoeffler, who found band members and visited Radke while he was in prison. However, Radke was unable to work with the band prior to his release on December 12, 2010. After going through a few bassists and drummers, the band prepared to record their full-length debut album. After the album finished production, bassist and founding member Nason Schoeffler and drummer Scott Gee left the band, making the album their only release with the band. Former Aiden
, I Am Ghost
, and The Bigger Lights
drummer Ryan Seamen replaced Scott Gee and former Cellador
member Mika Horiuchi took over bass for Schoeffler.
Originally conceived as a double album, the band's debut was originally going to contain one disc of post-hardcore
and another with pop rock
. This was eventually scrapped in favor for a single album, soon confirmed to be titled, The Drug in Me Is You. The band also confirmed that Radke's friend, Michael Baskette, who had previously worked on Blessthefall
's album Witness
and Escape the Fate
's debut Dying is Your Latest Fashion
(which was also with Radke), would produce the album. Radke announced that the album would be released in 2011 by Epitaph Records
, Radke's former label with Escape the Fate. The album was slated for a July 26, 2011 release date, with pre-orders scheduled for June 7.
and tracking for the album concluded on April 2, 2011. Speaking about working with Baskette as producer, Radke said, "The dude’s a genius, he really is. I don’t know if he’s under the radar or anything, but the guy knows what he’s doing. He’s a vocalist guy. That’s why me and him get along so well."
The Drug in Me Is You was composed of post-hardcore
songs, with a few tracks including influences of pop metal, screamo
, and alternative metal
. The songs also included synths, pop-choruses, and other sounds. Radke commented on the inclusion of different genres in songs, comparing different parts of the same song to the sounds of Norma Jean
, Underoath
, and Katy Perry
. Lyrically, according to Radke, some of the songs on the album had tones of being arrogant, comparing the attitude to that commonly found in rap music. This is because Radke has cited Eminem
as one of his major influences, so much so that he even included a beat made by Eminem and Dr. Dre
during a breakdown on the track "Sink or Swim". In an interview, Radke's experiences were compared to Eminem's, noting that, "[Eminem] is someone who has been knocked down and knocked down, and he’s gotten back up again. Time and time again. And he’s triumphed." While the album itself was written during Radke's time in prison, he does not consider it a "Jailhouse record", though some songs that did not make the album do address a prison theme.
The lyrics for the album were all written by Radke during his imprisonment. He has often called the album a breakup record, but with a band and not a girl. Radke said that, "I would think all day, for days and days, [about] what people would want to hear. I would dissect my old album and read all the fan letters and the reasons why they loved my band and why they listened to it. And I wrote about that, but in different ways. I don’t know why these kids love the tragedies that I write about. I guess they can relate to it." Also on the writing process, Radke said that his lyrics were much more evolved than his past works and that he felt this was a high-point for the post-hardcore genre, owing success to being incarcerated and writing lyrics for two years with no other musical influences. The title, The Drug in Me Is You, came from Radke's experiences concerning his previous self-destructive behavior, which Radke explained that, "We named it that because ... It's me, looking in the mirror, saying, 'I am my own worst [enemy]. I do the worst damage to myself — more than anybody else can to do me.'"
Some things explored in the album were Radke's personal experiences, which include his mother, the corruption of Las Vegas, and his incarceration in prison due to multiple run-ins with the law involving narcotics and battery charges
related to the death of Michael Cook. Radke stated that he chose not to write any songs about love because, "...I'm not going to lie ... and try to write songs on how much I love somebody. I do have love, but there will be a lot of songs about just what I’ve been through." Several songs focused on his departure from Escape the Fate after they kicked him out and replaced him with former Blessthefall
singer Craig Mabbitt, with songs on the album that directly attacked both Mabbitt and Escape the Fate bassist Max Green. Prior to the album's release, Radke discussed what he intended to say about Escape the Fate on certain tracks, stating in an interview that he believed that the band's first album without Radke, This War Is Ours
, was named after the conflict over Mabbitt taking over Rakde's position in Escape the Fate. The band has since claimed it was not written about Radke, but he did not believe them.
throughout the western United States. However, the band played a few secret shows under the name "Goodbye Graceful" on August eighth and ninth in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Following the release of the album and some Warped Tour 2011 appearances, the band announced their first headlining tour across the United States, with locations beginning in New Mexico, looping around the east coast, and concluding in Colorado. The tour will begin on September 18 and end on October 11, 2011, with support acts Eyes Set to Kill
and For All Those Sleeping
. The band's first supporting tour was to be a ten-show tour in November 2011 with headliners Black Veil Brides
and supporting acts Aiden
and Drive-A, but was canceled after Black Veil Brides dropped out when their lead vocalist Andy Biersack broke his nose. Emmure
replaced Falling in Reverse on the second half of the Take A Picture, It Lasts Longer Tour with We Came As Romans
and the band played an exclusive show at KROQ on November 8 to make up for the canceled shows.
The first single for the album, as well the band's first single overall, "Raised by Wolves", was released on June 10, 2011 to iTunes, though it had leaked a few weeks earlier on May 29. The track was featured on the iTunes Music Store as the "single of the week", and was available as a free download for that week. On June 21, the band released a 33-second preview of their second single, the eponymous track "The Drug in Me Is You". The full single was released three days later. The band's first music video was released for the track on June 28, and was advertised by The New York Post the week before the album's release. The album was streamed in its entirety by the band on their official website on July 15. The Drug in Me Is You was released commercially in the United States on July 26, 2011, and was promoted alongside other albums released that week including: Wu Tang Clan's Legendary Weapons
, Katherine Jenkin's From the Heart
, All Shall Perish
's This is Where It Ends
, and others. The album's third single, "I'm Not a Vampire", was released on October 24 with an accompanying music video which features a satirical Celebrity Rehab theme, featuring Jeffree Star
. The video reached one million views in three days.
(Chief
), Kelly Rowland
(Here I Am), and Joss Stone
(LP1
). The album ended up selling 18,120 copies in its first week in the United States, charting at number 19 on the Billboard 200
. This almost exactly matched the first week sales of Escape the Fate
(2010), the third and latest album by Radke's former band, though Escape the Fate only charted at number 25, seven spots lower than The Drug in Me Is You, despite equal sales. In its second week on sales, The Drug in Me is You dropped about 70% in the United States, selling 5,870 copies. This dropped the album 60 spots to number 79 on the Billboard 200, and brought total US sales for the album to around 24,000 copies.
On the Billboard charts, The Drug in Me Is You charted at number two on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, number three on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, number four on the Top Independent Albums chart, and number 12 on the Top Digital Albums chart, for a total of six appearances on the US Billboard charts, including the Billboard 200. Internationally, the album charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 125 on the national chart
, as well as number four and number 17 on the UK Top 40 Rock Albums
and Top Indie Albums charts, respectively. The album also peaked at number 21 on the Australian National Charts
, and number 60 on the national Canadian Albums Chart
.
Conversely, Allmusic contributor Gregory Heaney gave the album an overall score of three out of a possible five, noting that the lyrics "feel more genuinely personal than his earlier work", and that "there's a real sense of urgent catharsis at work". He concludes, "[The] combination of a tight, talented band and a tortured frontman doesn't necessarily make Falling in Reverse a revelatory band, but is does make The Drug in Me Is You a very solid album." Molly Walter of The University Leader
felt the album was an attempt to recreate Escape the Fate prior to Radke's departure and noted that "he fell short big time", calling the album's music "out of date and overdone". Walter did comment on Radke's singing but felt the lyrical content was conceited, concluding the review saying, "Face it, Ronnie, you did not magically turn tragedy into melody. You’re just not king of the music scene."
Additional musicians
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...
by American post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band Falling In Reverse
Falling in Reverse
Falling in Reverse is an American post-hardcore band signed to Epitaph Records. They released their debut album, The Drug in Me Is You, on July 26, 2011, which peaked at number 19 one the Billboard 200, selling 18,000 copies in its first week of sales. "Raised by Wolves", "The Drug in Me Is You",...
. Production for the album took place following lead singer Ronnie Radke's departure from Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke...
in 2008. Recording took place in December 2010 and lasted until February 2011 at Paint it Black Studios in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Michael Baskette, who worked with Radke on Escape the Fate's Dying is Your Latest Fashion
Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
-Personnel:Dying Is Your Latest Fashion album personnel as listed on Allmusic.Escape the Fate* Ronnie Radke – lead vocals* Max Green – bass, vocals* Bryan "Monte" Money – lead guitar, vocals* Robert Ortiz – drums, percussion, vocals...
, returned as the executive producer for the album, alongside former bandmate Omar Espinosa and others as additional composers and production aids in the studio. The Drug in Me Is You was released on July 25, 2011, in Europe and Japan, and on July 26, 2011, in the United States.
The album charted at number 19 on the 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...
, selling 18,000 copies in its first week in the United States. It also charted internationally on the national album charts in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Upon release, The Drug in Me Is You received generally mixed reviews. Critics consistently noted the contrast between hardcore music and pop music on the tracks, but to mixed reception. Overall, the lyrics were viewed as being cliché while Radke's singing and return to making music were noted. In addition, critics focused on the bitter relationship between Radke and his former band, Escape the Fate, in which reviewers noticed the choice to attack the band in many of the album's tracks.
Background
In 2006, Ronnie Radke was involved in an altercation in Las Vegas that resulted in the fatal shooting of 18 year-old Michael Cook, eventually leading to Radke's two-year imprisonment for parole violation. Following his incarceration and forced departure from his old band, Escape the FateEscape the Fate
Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke...
, Radke formed Falling In Reverse
Falling in Reverse
Falling in Reverse is an American post-hardcore band signed to Epitaph Records. They released their debut album, The Drug in Me Is You, on July 26, 2011, which peaked at number 19 one the Billboard 200, selling 18,000 copies in its first week of sales. "Raised by Wolves", "The Drug in Me Is You",...
with the help of longtime friend Nason Schoeffler, who found band members and visited Radke while he was in prison. However, Radke was unable to work with the band prior to his release on December 12, 2010. After going through a few bassists and drummers, the band prepared to record their full-length debut album. After the album finished production, bassist and founding member Nason Schoeffler and drummer Scott Gee left the band, making the album their only release with the band. Former Aiden
Aiden
Aiden is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in the spring of 2003. The members are WiL Francis , Nick Wiggins , and Angel Ibarra . wiL originally played bass but took over lead vocals when the original singer left...
, I Am Ghost
I Am Ghost
I Am Ghost was an American band from Long Beach, California, conceived of and founded by Steven Juliano in 2004. They were signed to Epitaph Records from 2005 to 2010, before splitting up in July 2010.- History :...
, and The Bigger Lights
The Bigger Lights
The Bigger Lights are a five-piece rock band based in Vienna, Virginia. The band signed with Doghouse Records less than one year after forming. Fiction Fever was released on October 7, 2008. Their self-titled debut album was released on March 30, 2010...
drummer Ryan Seamen replaced Scott Gee and former Cellador
Cellador
Cellador is a power metal band from Omaha, Nebraska, formed by guitarist Chris Petersen in 2004. After a rotation of a few member try-outs in the band's earliest days, Cellador's album line-up was cemented in 2004. The band eventually signed to Metal Blade after playing a show with The Black Dahlia...
member Mika Horiuchi took over bass for Schoeffler.
Originally conceived as a double album, the band's debut was originally going to contain one disc of post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
and another with pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. This was eventually scrapped in favor for a single album, soon confirmed to be titled, The Drug in Me Is You. The band also confirmed that Radke's friend, Michael Baskette, who had previously worked on Blessthefall
Blessthefall
Blessthefall is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, currently signed to Fearless Records. The band was founded in 2003 by guitarist Mike Frisby, drummer Matt Traynor, and bassist Jared Warth. Their debut album, His Last Walk, with original vocalist Craig Mabbitt, was released April...
's album Witness
Witness (blessthefall album)
Witness is the second full-length studio album by American metalcore band Blessthefall. It was released on October 6, 2009, through Fearless Records. It is the band's first album with singer Beau Bokan and last album with guitarist Mike Frisby...
and Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke...
's debut Dying is Your Latest Fashion
Dying Is Your Latest Fashion
-Personnel:Dying Is Your Latest Fashion album personnel as listed on Allmusic.Escape the Fate* Ronnie Radke – lead vocals* Max Green – bass, vocals* Bryan "Monte" Money – lead guitar, vocals* Robert Ortiz – drums, percussion, vocals...
(which was also with Radke), would produce the album. Radke announced that the album would be released in 2011 by Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
, Radke's former label with Escape the Fate. The album was slated for a July 26, 2011 release date, with pre-orders scheduled for June 7.
Recording and production
In December 2010, the band began composing songs together for the first time. They announced on December 20 that they would go to Orlando, Florida to record a full-length debut album over a period of two months with a tentative release date of the first quarter of 2011. The eleven song tracklist was released soon after. With the help of Executive Producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and tracking for the album concluded on April 2, 2011. Speaking about working with Baskette as producer, Radke said, "The dude’s a genius, he really is. I don’t know if he’s under the radar or anything, but the guy knows what he’s doing. He’s a vocalist guy. That’s why me and him get along so well."
The Drug in Me Is You was composed of post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
songs, with a few tracks including influences of pop metal, screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
, and alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
. The songs also included synths, pop-choruses, and other sounds. Radke commented on the inclusion of different genres in songs, comparing different parts of the same song to the sounds of Norma Jean
Norma Jean
Norma Jean may refer to:*Norma Jeane Mortenson, the given name of actress Marilyn Monroe*Norma Jean , a metalcore band from Douglasville, GA*Norma Jean , country music singer, nicknamed "Pretty Miss Norma Jean"...
, Underoath
Underoath
Underoath is an American Christian metalcore band from Tampa, Florida. Founded by Dallas Taylor and Luke Morton on November 30, 1997 in Ocala, Florida, subsequently its additional members were from Tampa, Florida...
, and Katy Perry
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born in Santa Barbara, California, and raised by Christian pastor parents, Perry grew up listening to only gospel music and sang in her local church as a child. After earning a GED during her first year of high school, she began to pursue a...
. Lyrically, according to Radke, some of the songs on the album had tones of being arrogant, comparing the attitude to that commonly found in rap music. This is because Radke has cited Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
as one of his major influences, so much so that he even included a beat made by Eminem and Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
during a breakdown on the track "Sink or Swim". In an interview, Radke's experiences were compared to Eminem's, noting that, "[Eminem] is someone who has been knocked down and knocked down, and he’s gotten back up again. Time and time again. And he’s triumphed." While the album itself was written during Radke's time in prison, he does not consider it a "Jailhouse record", though some songs that did not make the album do address a prison theme.
The lyrics for the album were all written by Radke during his imprisonment. He has often called the album a breakup record, but with a band and not a girl. Radke said that, "I would think all day, for days and days, [about] what people would want to hear. I would dissect my old album and read all the fan letters and the reasons why they loved my band and why they listened to it. And I wrote about that, but in different ways. I don’t know why these kids love the tragedies that I write about. I guess they can relate to it." Also on the writing process, Radke said that his lyrics were much more evolved than his past works and that he felt this was a high-point for the post-hardcore genre, owing success to being incarcerated and writing lyrics for two years with no other musical influences. The title, The Drug in Me Is You, came from Radke's experiences concerning his previous self-destructive behavior, which Radke explained that, "We named it that because ... It's me, looking in the mirror, saying, 'I am my own worst [enemy]. I do the worst damage to myself — more than anybody else can to do me.'"
Some things explored in the album were Radke's personal experiences, which include his mother, the corruption of Las Vegas, and his incarceration in prison due to multiple run-ins with the law involving narcotics and battery charges
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
related to the death of Michael Cook. Radke stated that he chose not to write any songs about love because, "...I'm not going to lie ... and try to write songs on how much I love somebody. I do have love, but there will be a lot of songs about just what I’ve been through." Several songs focused on his departure from Escape the Fate after they kicked him out and replaced him with former Blessthefall
Blessthefall
Blessthefall is an American metalcore band from Phoenix, Arizona, currently signed to Fearless Records. The band was founded in 2003 by guitarist Mike Frisby, drummer Matt Traynor, and bassist Jared Warth. Their debut album, His Last Walk, with original vocalist Craig Mabbitt, was released April...
singer Craig Mabbitt, with songs on the album that directly attacked both Mabbitt and Escape the Fate bassist Max Green. Prior to the album's release, Radke discussed what he intended to say about Escape the Fate on certain tracks, stating in an interview that he believed that the band's first album without Radke, This War Is Ours
This War Is Ours
-CD:-Deluxe special edition:-Chart positions:-Personnel:This War Is Ours album personnel as listed on Allmusic.Band* Craig Mabbitt – lead vocals* Bryan Money – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustics guitars, keyboards, vocals...
, was named after the conflict over Mabbitt taking over Rakde's position in Escape the Fate. The band has since claimed it was not written about Radke, but he did not believe them.
Singles and promotion
To promote the album, the band announced the dates for their first live performances, which would take place at the end of July following their debut album's release at certain locations in California, with one date scheduled in Texas on September 24, 2011. These shows were planned to be with supporting act Vampires Everywhere. However, the July dates were postponed due to issues with guitarist Jacky Vincent's immigration visa, though the band voiced intentions to make these dates up. This meant that the band's first live performances would be at the Vans Warped Tour 2011 from August 10 to August 14 for five shows on the Kia Kevin Says StageKia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
throughout the western United States. However, the band played a few secret shows under the name "Goodbye Graceful" on August eighth and ninth in Anaheim and Los Angeles. Following the release of the album and some Warped Tour 2011 appearances, the band announced their first headlining tour across the United States, with locations beginning in New Mexico, looping around the east coast, and concluding in Colorado. The tour will begin on September 18 and end on October 11, 2011, with support acts Eyes Set to Kill
Eyes Set to Kill
Eyes Set to Kill is an American metalcore band from Tempe, Arizona. Sisters Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez, along with former vocalist Lindsey Vogt started the band in 2003. Lindsey Vogt departed the band in mid-2007 due to issues with management...
and For All Those Sleeping
For All Those Sleeping
For All Those Sleeping is an American post-hardcore band from Saint Cloud, Minnesota that was formed in 2007, and signed with Fearless Records in 2010...
. The band's first supporting tour was to be a ten-show tour in November 2011 with headliners Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band based out of Hollywood, California. The group is composed of Andrew Biersack , Ashley Purdy , Jake Pitts , Jinxx , and Christian "CC" Coma...
and supporting acts Aiden
Aiden
Aiden is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington that formed in the spring of 2003. The members are WiL Francis , Nick Wiggins , and Angel Ibarra . wiL originally played bass but took over lead vocals when the original singer left...
and Drive-A, but was canceled after Black Veil Brides dropped out when their lead vocalist Andy Biersack broke his nose. Emmure
Emmure
Emmure is an American band formed in 2003, originally based in Connecticut, but now residing in Queens, New York. The group has a total of seven releases...
replaced Falling in Reverse on the second half of the Take A Picture, It Lasts Longer Tour with We Came As Romans
We Came as Romans
We Came as Romans is an American rock band from Troy, Michigan. Formed in 2005, the band signed to Equal Vision Records in April 2009 and have released two EPs, Demonstrations and Dreams , and two full-length albums, To Plant a Seed and Understanding What We've Grown to Be...
and the band played an exclusive show at KROQ on November 8 to make up for the canceled shows.
The first single for the album, as well the band's first single overall, "Raised by Wolves", was released on June 10, 2011 to iTunes, though it had leaked a few weeks earlier on May 29. The track was featured on the iTunes Music Store as the "single of the week", and was available as a free download for that week. On June 21, the band released a 33-second preview of their second single, the eponymous track "The Drug in Me Is You". The full single was released three days later. The band's first music video was released for the track on June 28, and was advertised by The New York Post the week before the album's release. The album was streamed in its entirety by the band on their official website on July 15. The Drug in Me Is You was released commercially in the United States on July 26, 2011, and was promoted alongside other albums released that week including: Wu Tang Clan's Legendary Weapons
Legendary Weapons
Legendary Weapons is a compilation album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which was released July 26, 2011 on E1 Music. It follows 2009's Wu-Tang Chamber Music. Legendary Weapons features performances by several Wu-Tang members , and affiliates Trife Diesel, Killa Sin and Bronze Nazareth...
, Katherine Jenkin's From the Heart
From the Heart (Katherine Jenkins album)
From the Heart is an album by Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, released in China in 2007. It is a compilation of tracks from Jenkins' previous UK albums.- Track listing:# "Nella Fantasia"...
, All Shall Perish
All Shall Perish
All Shall Perish is an American deathcore band from Oakland, California, formed in 2002. Currently, the band is signed to Nuclear Blast and have released four full-length albums through the label. Their latest record, This Is Where It Ends was released on July 26, 2011...
's This is Where It Ends
This Is Where It Ends
This Is Where It Ends is the fourth studio album by American deathcore band All Shall Perish. It was released on July 26, 2011, through Nuclear Blast. The majority of the follow-up to previous album's "Awaken the Dreamers" was recorded and mixed once again at Castle Ultimate Studios in Oakland with...
, and others. The album's third single, "I'm Not a Vampire", was released on October 24 with an accompanying music video which features a satirical Celebrity Rehab theme, featuring Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star is an American model, fashion designer, make-up artist, DJ, and singer-songwriter residing in the Beverly Hills area...
. The video reached one million views in three days.
Commercial performance
The Drug in Me Is You was speculated by news source Perez Hilton to sell anywhere from 17,000 to 20,000 copies in the United States during its first week of sales, placing it close behind predicted debuting chart toppers Eric ChurchEric Church
Kenneth Eric Church is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Capitol Records in 2006, Church released his debut album Sinners Like Me that year...
(Chief
Chief (album)
Chief is the third studio album by American country music recording artist Eric Church. It was released on July 26, 2011, via EMI Nashville. The album includes the singles "Homeboy", which peaked at number 13 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and "Drink in My Hand"...
), Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
(Here I Am), and Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
(LP1
LP1 (Joss Stone album)
LP1 received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59, based on 18 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews"...
). The album ended up selling 18,120 copies in its first week in the United States, charting at number 19 on the 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...
. This almost exactly matched the first week sales of Escape the Fate
Escape the Fate (album)
Escape the Fate is the third studio album and major label debut by American post-hardcore band Escape the Fate, the second with vocalist Craig Mabbitt. It is the band's first album released on Interscope Records following their departure from Epitaph. It was released worldwide on November 2, 2010...
(2010), the third and latest album by Radke's former band, though Escape the Fate only charted at number 25, seven spots lower than The Drug in Me Is You, despite equal sales. In its second week on sales, The Drug in Me is You dropped about 70% in the United States, selling 5,870 copies. This dropped the album 60 spots to number 79 on the Billboard 200, and brought total US sales for the album to around 24,000 copies.
On the Billboard charts, The Drug in Me Is You charted at number two on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, number three on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, number four on the Top Independent Albums chart, and number 12 on the Top Digital Albums chart, for a total of six appearances on the US Billboard charts, including the Billboard 200. Internationally, the album charted in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 125 on the national 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...
, as well as number four and number 17 on the UK Top 40 Rock Albums
and Top Indie Albums charts, respectively. The album also peaked at number 21 on the Australian National Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, and number 60 on the national Canadian Albums Chart
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS...
.
Critical response
Upon its release, The Drug in Me Is You received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Alison Kopki of The Aquarian Weekly called the album, a "fun listen and decent starting-off point", and it "lets Radke get some things off his chest". The track-by-track breakdown noted the songs having "fast guitars, heavy drums and shred guitar solos". Kenneth E. Oquist of Arts and Entertainment Playground gave the album a four out of a possible five score overall. Oquist noted the mix of pop and hardcore, stating, "Hardcore and Pop crashed together to become Hardcore Pop. ... Much like Nine Inch Nails created the genre Industrial Rock, Falling In Reverse has created a unique sound..." He gave a track-by-track review of the album, particularly emphasizing "Raised by Wolves", "I'm Not a Vampire", and "Caught Like a Fly". Another review came from Ultimate Guitar, who called The Drug in Me Is You "a pretty solid effort". Things pointed out included: Michael Baskette's production, the band's instrumentation, and Radke's melodies. The writer noted the repeated attacks at Escape the Fate but disliked the album's lyrical quality. The resulting score was an 8.9 out of 10 possible, with the tracks "I'm Not A Vampire", "Good Girls Bad Guys", "Pick Up The Phone", all pop tracks, being pointed out as particularly good. A Weekender correspondent noted that the album includes: "Aggressive rock,... metal and electronica into this collective mix of mayhem and definitely keeps listeners wondering what will come next." Different parts of songs were complimented, such as the "immense hooks... catchy choruses... [and] vicious breakdowns", as well as Radke's lyrics being called "witty and poetic". The correspondent's review further states, "Radke has managed to imprint his dramatic personality into every aspect of 'The Drug In Me Is You.'"Conversely, Allmusic contributor Gregory Heaney gave the album an overall score of three out of a possible five, noting that the lyrics "feel more genuinely personal than his earlier work", and that "there's a real sense of urgent catharsis at work". He concludes, "[The] combination of a tight, talented band and a tortured frontman doesn't necessarily make Falling in Reverse a revelatory band, but is does make The Drug in Me Is You a very solid album." Molly Walter of The University Leader
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University is a public, co-educational university located in Hays, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-largest of the six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents, with an enrollment of approximately 11,200 students .- History :FHSU was founded in 1902 as the...
felt the album was an attempt to recreate Escape the Fate prior to Radke's departure and noted that "he fell short big time", calling the album's music "out of date and overdone". Walter did comment on Radke's singing but felt the lyrical content was conceited, concluding the review saying, "Face it, Ronnie, you did not magically turn tragedy into melody. You’re just not king of the music scene."
Track listing
All tracks are written and composed by Ronnie Radke, and performed by Falling In Reverse.Musicians
Falling In Reverse- Ronnie Radke – lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
- Mika Horiuchi – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Jacky Vincent – lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Derek Jones - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Ryan Seaman – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Michael 'Elvis' Baskette - composer, keyboards, strings, additional vocals
- David Holdredge - composer, keyboards, strings, additional vocals
- Jeff Moll - additional vocals
- Bryan Ross - composer, drums, guitar
- Kevin Thomas - assistant engineer
- Omar EspinosaOmar EspinosaOmar Espinosa is a guitarist and producer, perhaps best known for being a part of the first lineup of Escape The Fate, from mid 2004 to late 2007.-Musical Career:Omar Espinosa was born in Las Vegas, Nevada....
- additional composer on "Don't Mess With Ouija Boards" and "Goodbye Graceful"
Production
- Michael 'Elvis' Baskette - executive producer, recording, mixing, mastering, programming
- David Holdredge - mixing, programming, engineering
- Jeff Moll - digital editing
- Nick Pritchard - artwork, design
- Devin Taylor - photography
- Matt Grayson - photography
- Dr. DreDr. DreAndre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
- composer of a beat sampled in "Sink or Swim" - EminemEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
- composer of a beat sampled in "Sink or Swim"
Charts
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Top 50 Albums ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
21 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
60 |
| 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... |
125 |
| UK Top 40 Rock Albums | 4 |
| UK Top 40 Indie Albums | 17 |
| 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... |
19 |
| US Top Alternative Albums | 3 |
| US Top Digital Albums | 12 |
| US Top Hard Rock Albums | 2 |
| US Top Independent Albums | 4 |
| US Top Rock Albums | 3 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union European Union The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958... |
July 25, 2011 | Epitaph Records Epitaph Records Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record... |
CD, Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
B00564WML0 | |
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
271472 | ||||
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
July 26, 2011 | 87147 | |||