When Your Heart Stops Beating
Encyclopedia
When Your Heart Stops Beating is the debut studio album
by American alternative rock
band +44
. Produced by Jerry Finn
, the album was released November 13, 2006 through Interscope Records
. Three singles were released in promotion of the record: a demo of "No, It Isn't
", "Lycanthrope
", and the title track, "When Your Heart Stops Beating
".
Created in the aftermath of the dissolution of bassist and lead vocalist Mark Hoppus
and drummer Travis Barker
's previous project, Blink-182
, the album's lyrical content reflects the harsh feelings felt afterward. +44 initially began as an electronic outfit for Hoppus and Barker, which, after the purchase of a personal studio and the addition of lead guitarist Shane Gallagher
, and rhythm guitarist Craig Fairbaugh
, evolved into a more basic rock sound. Carol Heller, originally a member of the band, makes a guest appearance on the record.
The album was a mixed success, peaking at number ten on the Billboard 200
and the receiving mixed to positive critical reviews. The album artwork was made available in three different colors: blue (standard version), pink and green (out of print
). With the reunion of Blink-182
in February 2009, Hoppus announced that although +44 was not over, "right now all of our efforts are on Blink."
expressed his desire to cancel an upcoming tour and enter a half-year respite from touring. At a band meeting which coincided with the beginning of Blink-182's final European tour in December, DeLonge expressed his desire to spend more time with his family. He also declined recording a new album. During the band's six-month break, Hoppus expressed his desire for the band to perform at Music for Relief
's Concert for South Asia, a benefit show to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
. DeLonge agreed to perform, and the band subsequently began rehearsing for the event in February 2005. Further tensions, however, arose between the band members during rehearsals, and they began arguing about a variety of issues, such as the band's "forced" break. Manager Rick DeVoe phoned Hoppus and Barker, who were waiting in the rehearsal space for DeLonge, the following day to tell them that DeLonge had quit the band, stating: "As of today, Tom DeLonge is no longer a member of Blink-182." Jordan Schur, the former president of Geffen Records (distributor of Blink-182, the band's final album before their break-up), reportedly told Barker to "any press you do, make sure you say everything is cool," opting to instead issue a statement calling the band's break-up an 'indefinite hiatus'.
Immediately following DeVoe's phone call, Hoppus and Barker began laying down new ideas. Recording in Barker's basement and Hoppus' dining room, by necessity everything was electronic, with the two musicians experimenting with electronic drum
s, samples
, keyboards
and direct computer recordings
. While away on a trip in April 2005, Hoppus participated in an interview with MTV News in which he revealed the band's existence, saying "Right now, Travis and I are using the time off to start this project called Plus-44 […] It's very exciting, like a breath of fresh air." When the two regrouped, they decided to stop giving interviews about the new project. "It was strange to be talking about music that we were just in the very first steps of writing," recalled Hoppus. "It didn’t feel right to talk about yet." The band's name is a reference to the country code needed when placing a phone call to the United Kingdom
, where Hoppus and Barker first discussed making music alone. "When we first started talking about ever doing anything outside of blink was on the last European tour where Tom was telling us that he needed to take a year off from the band. […] We never did anything about it until Tom quit the band, but that's where it first started," said Hoppus.
to play guitar on a few tracks the band began working on, and he was soon drafted as a member. In October 2005, Hoppus and Barker purchased a studio, which he described as "the turning point for +44." After moving all band gear into the new recording center, the entire direction for the band evolved into a more organic sound. Heller became uneasy with the new direction and, with a desire to start a family, parted ways with the band by the end of the year. Shortly afterward, friend Craig Fairbaugh
came in to observe and listen and play to songs; by the end of the day, Hoppus and Barker asked him to become the fourth member of the group. In February 2006, the band began recording in earnest for the record.
The band considered many producers for the album, among those Danger Mouse
. Eventually, the record was produced by Hoppus and Barker, with longtime associate and friend Jerry Finn
in the role of executive producer. Finn came in late into production to oversee completion, but eventually provided ideas and wrote songs with Hoppus Producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura was called in to "tinker" with a track. Upon completion, the record's tentative title was Little Death. By August, the band decided on naming the album When Your Heart Stops Beating. "We always thought of the phrase 'when your heart stops beating' as capturing the good and the bad in the world in everything," said Hoppus of the title. "When you fall in love with a lady and your heart skips a beat or something great happens. And also, obviously, when your heart stops beating, the end of things."
The album artwork and photography were created by Estavan Oriol. The artwork of the jewel case pictures the words "When Your Heart Stops Beating" in black with the letters "ART" of "heart" standing out in blue.
, Missing Persons, and The Cure
. This Postal Service influence is noticeable in "Make You Smile", which makes frequent use of boy-girl exchange and lament. The album fuses many different song structures and temperaments, and the first six tracks of the album alternate between uptempo rock songs and ballads. Many critics noticed the similarity between the sound of the music of +44 and Blink-182's final album before their break-up, Blink-182 (2003). The Blink-182 similarity is featured by the soft verse, loud chorus explosion as heard on their single "Stay Together for the Kids
". Many tracks display a traditional punk sound (with a much more melodic touch), but also highlight electronica as a key influence. +44's original electronic influence is an undercurrent throughout the record, although it has "ultimately [taken] a backseat to guitar-driven rock".
The whole album is about everything that's happened, including Blink, and the ugly feelings that were left over afterwards," Hoppus said of the album's lyrical content. "Lyrically, it's some of the most positive stuff I've ever written, but it's also some of the darkest shit, too." The album is composed of both dark and introspective songs, but also upbeat and "positive" tracks. Hoppus also described the music as "the most lyrically personal music I've ever written." For Barker, the writing of the record's lyrics was inspired by the "roller coaster" of new opportunities while starting a new band, such as writing a new song or playing a first show. The feeling is echoed throughout When Your Heart Stops Beating, and Barker described the feeling of the album as being transported to different place. "To me, it brings up feelings of, like, driving too fast or skateboarding down the street in the middle of the night," Barker commented. The song most directly inspired by the end of Blink-182 is "No, It Isn't
", which was also inspired by feelings of betrayal afterward. "[The song] is about coming out a year later and telling the truth," Barker said. "For a year, people were saying that what Tom did was valid or called for. It eats at you. So maybe you have to talk about it, and maybe you have to write a song about it."
In June 2011, Mark Hoppus noted that "Baby, Come On" is "possibly my favorite song I’ve ever written."
Hoppus did not give any formal interviews before shortly prior to the release of the album, instead spending time updating his blog, producing tracks for Motion City Soundtrack
, and working on the album in relatively secrecy. "During that time, their former bandmate, Tom DeLonge, did the opposite, peppering blogs and magazines with quotes hyping his new band and putting the blame for the Blink situation squarely on their shoulders," reported James Montgomery of MTV News. While it "pained" them to do so, Hoppus and Barker refrained from speaking to media, instead burying themselves in the studio in the recording of the album. "We just bit our tongues and didn't say anything, and now that the record is done, we get the chance to tell the truth about everything," Hoppus said. "We were silent for a year, and we couldn't put into words what we were doing, so we just decided not to say anything and let the music speak for itself," Barker added. "Now it's time for people to hear that music and hear the truth."
, and #2 on the Rock Albums Chart. In the United States
, the album debuted at #10 on the Billboard 200
with approximately 66,000 copies sold in its first week. The album artwork was made available in three different colors: blue, pink, and green. Interestingly enough, many of the edited versions were pressed on the versions with blue covers; green contained the unedited.
As of September 2011, the album has sold over 274,000 copies in the US.
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
score of 60, based on 11 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". AbsolutePunk's Drew Beringer deemed the album "a very diverse and potent debut album", and suggesting it as "one of the most honest records of 2006". The Washington Post
described +44 as being in the same spirit as Blink-182 ("adorable, cuddly pop punk
,") and The Gauntlet
called the record the best post-Blink project. The Maneater
s Joey Vergara compared the album to Blink-182's previous self-titled album, believing it improved and a solidified version. Aidin Vaziri, writing an editorial review for Amazon
was in agreement and noted, "songs like "Baby Come On" and the spooky "Little Death" show the musicians finally delivering the substance that was promised on Blink 182's self-titled 2003 release." Deseret News named When Your Heart Stops Beating both better and "fuller" than former bandmate Tom DeLonge's new project, Angels & Airwaves
' We Don't Need to Whisper
, and The New York Times
described as it as "zippier and catchier" than Whisper. The latter newspaper, however, ended their review with the conclusion that neither band was as good as Blink-182.
In contrast to The Daily Princetonian
citing +44 for "lacking originality", The Avion Newspaper
declared the band as "undoubtedly original [...] and sure to please with every track". Channing Freeman of Sputnikmusic
called the album "standard pop punk
music", stating it was not a large departure from Blink-182
. While many punk
- and a few mainstream-oriented publications gave it a high grade, other namable sources such as Rolling Stone
and Alternative Press
were less impressed with the album.
.
Additional musicians
Production
Singles
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 alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band +44
+44 (band)
+44 was an alternative rock band formed by Blink-182 members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker...
. Produced by Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
, the album was released November 13, 2006 through Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. Three singles were released in promotion of the record: a demo of "No, It Isn't
No, It Isn't
"No, It Isn't" is a song written by Mark Hoppus for his side-project +44. It was originally released in late 2005 as a rough mix for free download from the band's site. Carol Heller originally sang backing vocals in this version of the song, but the backing vocals were re-recorded for the final...
", "Lycanthrope
Lycanthrope (song)
"Lycanthrope" is a single by the band +44, from their debut album When Your Heart Stops Beating. It was originally released on the band's official website in late 2006, giving fans their second taste of new music from the band, after the airing of the rough mix version of "No, It Isn't", also on...
", and the title track, "When Your Heart Stops Beating
When Your Heart Stops Beating (song)
"When Your Heart Stops Beating" is the first single released by American rock group +44. The single was first played by KROQ radio on September 17, 2006. A remix of the song was released soon after....
".
Created in the aftermath of the dissolution of bassist and lead vocalist Mark Hoppus
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
and drummer Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
's previous project, Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
, the album's lyrical content reflects the harsh feelings felt afterward. +44 initially began as an electronic outfit for Hoppus and Barker, which, after the purchase of a personal studio and the addition of lead guitarist Shane Gallagher
Shane Gallagher
Shane Gallagher is an musician who played guitar for rock/alternative band +44, goth-punk band Mercy Killers, and formerly The Nervous Return.-Early life:...
, and rhythm guitarist Craig Fairbaugh
Craig Fairbaugh
Craig Fairbaugh is a guitarist, who is best known for playing with the rock band +44 . The band was made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, who reunited with Tom Delonge to continue the pop punk band Blink-182 in 2009, and Shane Gallagher of The Nervous Return. Fairbaugh has joined Juliette and...
, evolved into a more basic rock sound. Carol Heller, originally a member of the band, makes a guest appearance on the record.
The album was a mixed success, peaking at number ten 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...
and the receiving mixed to positive critical reviews. The album artwork was made available in three different colors: blue (standard version), pink and green (out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
). With the reunion of Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
in February 2009, Hoppus announced that although +44 was not over, "right now all of our efforts are on Blink."
Background
The beginnings of +44 originate with the dissolution of Hoppus and Barker's previous band, Blink-182 in late 2004. Tensions begin to arise between the band members as guitarist Tom DeLongeTom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
expressed his desire to cancel an upcoming tour and enter a half-year respite from touring. At a band meeting which coincided with the beginning of Blink-182's final European tour in December, DeLonge expressed his desire to spend more time with his family. He also declined recording a new album. During the band's six-month break, Hoppus expressed his desire for the band to perform at Music for Relief
Music for Relief
Music For Relief is a charity founded by the band Linkin Park. The goal is to provide relief to victims of natural disasters and to bring awareness to global warming.-About:...
's Concert for South Asia, a benefit show to aid victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea megathrust earthquake that occurred at 00:58:53 UTC on Sunday, December 26, 2004, with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake itself is known by the scientific community as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake...
. DeLonge agreed to perform, and the band subsequently began rehearsing for the event in February 2005. Further tensions, however, arose between the band members during rehearsals, and they began arguing about a variety of issues, such as the band's "forced" break. Manager Rick DeVoe phoned Hoppus and Barker, who were waiting in the rehearsal space for DeLonge, the following day to tell them that DeLonge had quit the band, stating: "As of today, Tom DeLonge is no longer a member of Blink-182." Jordan Schur, the former president of Geffen Records (distributor of Blink-182, the band's final album before their break-up), reportedly told Barker to "any press you do, make sure you say everything is cool," opting to instead issue a statement calling the band's break-up an 'indefinite hiatus'.
Immediately following DeVoe's phone call, Hoppus and Barker began laying down new ideas. Recording in Barker's basement and Hoppus' dining room, by necessity everything was electronic, with the two musicians experimenting with electronic drum
Electronic drum
An electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
s, samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and direct computer recordings
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
. While away on a trip in April 2005, Hoppus participated in an interview with MTV News in which he revealed the band's existence, saying "Right now, Travis and I are using the time off to start this project called Plus-44 […] It's very exciting, like a breath of fresh air." When the two regrouped, they decided to stop giving interviews about the new project. "It was strange to be talking about music that we were just in the very first steps of writing," recalled Hoppus. "It didn’t feel right to talk about yet." The band's name is a reference to the country code needed when placing a phone call to the United Kingdom
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...
, where Hoppus and Barker first discussed making music alone. "When we first started talking about ever doing anything outside of blink was on the last European tour where Tom was telling us that he needed to take a year off from the band. […] We never did anything about it until Tom quit the band, but that's where it first started," said Hoppus.
Recording and production
The addition of other members to +44 came gradually. In April 2005, Barker invited his friend Carol Heller to provide vocals on a track. Formerly of the all-girl punk quartet Get the Girl, Heller traded and shared vocals with Hoppus on most of the band's early demos. Meanwhile, Hoppus invited friend Shane GallagherShane Gallagher
Shane Gallagher is an musician who played guitar for rock/alternative band +44, goth-punk band Mercy Killers, and formerly The Nervous Return.-Early life:...
to play guitar on a few tracks the band began working on, and he was soon drafted as a member. In October 2005, Hoppus and Barker purchased a studio, which he described as "the turning point for +44." After moving all band gear into the new recording center, the entire direction for the band evolved into a more organic sound. Heller became uneasy with the new direction and, with a desire to start a family, parted ways with the band by the end of the year. Shortly afterward, friend Craig Fairbaugh
Craig Fairbaugh
Craig Fairbaugh is a guitarist, who is best known for playing with the rock band +44 . The band was made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, who reunited with Tom Delonge to continue the pop punk band Blink-182 in 2009, and Shane Gallagher of The Nervous Return. Fairbaugh has joined Juliette and...
came in to observe and listen and play to songs; by the end of the day, Hoppus and Barker asked him to become the fourth member of the group. In February 2006, the band began recording in earnest for the record.
The band considered many producers for the album, among those Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
. Eventually, the record was produced by Hoppus and Barker, with longtime associate and friend Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn
Jerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
in the role of executive producer. Finn came in late into production to oversee completion, but eventually provided ideas and wrote songs with Hoppus Producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura was called in to "tinker" with a track. Upon completion, the record's tentative title was Little Death. By August, the band decided on naming the album When Your Heart Stops Beating. "We always thought of the phrase 'when your heart stops beating' as capturing the good and the bad in the world in everything," said Hoppus of the title. "When you fall in love with a lady and your heart skips a beat or something great happens. And also, obviously, when your heart stops beating, the end of things."
The album artwork and photography were created by Estavan Oriol. The artwork of the jewel case pictures the words "When Your Heart Stops Beating" in black with the letters "ART" of "heart" standing out in blue.
Music
The tone of the album has been described as "consistently upbeat," showcasing a variety of influences. The music of the album is influenced by artists such as The Postal ServiceThe Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
, Missing Persons, and The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. This Postal Service influence is noticeable in "Make You Smile", which makes frequent use of boy-girl exchange and lament. The album fuses many different song structures and temperaments, and the first six tracks of the album alternate between uptempo rock songs and ballads. Many critics noticed the similarity between the sound of the music of +44 and Blink-182's final album before their break-up, Blink-182 (2003). The Blink-182 similarity is featured by the soft verse, loud chorus explosion as heard on their single "Stay Together for the Kids
Stay Together for the Kids
-Chart positions:...
". Many tracks display a traditional punk sound (with a much more melodic touch), but also highlight electronica as a key influence. +44's original electronic influence is an undercurrent throughout the record, although it has "ultimately [taken] a backseat to guitar-driven rock".
The whole album is about everything that's happened, including Blink, and the ugly feelings that were left over afterwards," Hoppus said of the album's lyrical content. "Lyrically, it's some of the most positive stuff I've ever written, but it's also some of the darkest shit, too." The album is composed of both dark and introspective songs, but also upbeat and "positive" tracks. Hoppus also described the music as "the most lyrically personal music I've ever written." For Barker, the writing of the record's lyrics was inspired by the "roller coaster" of new opportunities while starting a new band, such as writing a new song or playing a first show. The feeling is echoed throughout When Your Heart Stops Beating, and Barker described the feeling of the album as being transported to different place. "To me, it brings up feelings of, like, driving too fast or skateboarding down the street in the middle of the night," Barker commented. The song most directly inspired by the end of Blink-182 is "No, It Isn't
No, It Isn't
"No, It Isn't" is a song written by Mark Hoppus for his side-project +44. It was originally released in late 2005 as a rough mix for free download from the band's site. Carol Heller originally sang backing vocals in this version of the song, but the backing vocals were re-recorded for the final...
", which was also inspired by feelings of betrayal afterward. "[The song] is about coming out a year later and telling the truth," Barker said. "For a year, people were saying that what Tom did was valid or called for. It eats at you. So maybe you have to talk about it, and maybe you have to write a song about it."
In June 2011, Mark Hoppus noted that "Baby, Come On" is "possibly my favorite song I’ve ever written."
Promotion
The release date for When Your Heart Stops Beating was heavily anticipated and publicized by the music press. As early as August 2005, Internet rumors began to circulate that the album would be released in January 2006 although the band's management denied the claims. Thanks to Hoppus and Barker's silence on press interviews, misinformation flooded the Internet in the months prior to the record's release, such as countless impostors posting fake songs online. "It's kind of flattering that some kids would go out there and post songs under our name," Barker added. "I mean, at least it means that people are excited to hear our stuff." "No It Isn't" leaked in December 2005 and caused speculation as it addressed the break-up of Blink-182 head-on.Hoppus did not give any formal interviews before shortly prior to the release of the album, instead spending time updating his blog, producing tracks for Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack
Motion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
, and working on the album in relatively secrecy. "During that time, their former bandmate, Tom DeLonge, did the opposite, peppering blogs and magazines with quotes hyping his new band and putting the blame for the Blink situation squarely on their shoulders," reported James Montgomery of MTV News. While it "pained" them to do so, Hoppus and Barker refrained from speaking to media, instead burying themselves in the studio in the recording of the album. "We just bit our tongues and didn't say anything, and now that the record is done, we get the chance to tell the truth about everything," Hoppus said. "We were silent for a year, and we couldn't put into words what we were doing, so we just decided not to say anything and let the music speak for itself," Barker added. "Now it's time for people to hear that music and hear the truth."
Release
When Your Heart Stops Beating was officially released November 13, 2006. On October 19, 2006, When Your Heart Stops Beating debuted at #22 on the ARIA Albums ChartARIA 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 #2 on the Rock Albums Chart. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the album debuted at #10 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...
with approximately 66,000 copies sold in its first week. The album artwork was made available in three different colors: blue, pink, and green. Interestingly enough, many of the edited versions were pressed on the versions with blue covers; green contained the unedited.
As of September 2011, the album has sold over 274,000 copies in the US.
Reception
The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 60, based on 11 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". AbsolutePunk's Drew Beringer deemed the album "a very diverse and potent debut album", and suggesting it as "one of the most honest records of 2006". The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described +44 as being in the same spirit as Blink-182 ("adorable, cuddly pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
,") and The Gauntlet
Gauntlet (newspaper)
The Gauntlet is a campus newspaper published by the Gauntlet Publications Society in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It has a circulation of 8,000 and is the official student newspaper of the University of Calgary...
called the record the best post-Blink project. The Maneater
The Maneater
The Maneater student newspaper is the official, but independent, student-run newspaper of the University of Missouri. The Maneater editorial and advertising staffs are composed entirely of students with the exception of a professional business adviser and a receptionist. The newspaper has no...
s Joey Vergara compared the album to Blink-182's previous self-titled album, believing it improved and a solidified version. Aidin Vaziri, writing an editorial review for Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
was in agreement and noted, "songs like "Baby Come On" and the spooky "Little Death" show the musicians finally delivering the substance that was promised on Blink 182's self-titled 2003 release." Deseret News named When Your Heart Stops Beating both better and "fuller" than former bandmate Tom DeLonge's new project, Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves
Angels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
' We Don't Need to Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut album by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 20, 2006 in Australia, on May 22 in the UK, and on May 23 in North America....
, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described as it as "zippier and catchier" than Whisper. The latter newspaper, however, ended their review with the conclusion that neither band was as good as Blink-182.
In contrast to The Daily Princetonian
The Daily Princetonian
The Daily Princetonian is the daily independent student newspaper of Princeton University. It is published five days a week from September to May and three days a week during the University's Reading Period in January and May.- Finances :...
citing +44 for "lacking originality", The Avion Newspaper
The Avion Newspaper
The Avion Newspaper is the college newspaper of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. The newspaper publishes weekly, and has a print circulation of approximately 4,000...
declared the band as "undoubtedly original [...] and sure to please with every track". Channing Freeman of Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
called the album "standard pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
music", stating it was not a large departure from Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
. While many punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
- and a few mainstream-oriented publications gave it a high grade, other namable sources such as Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
and Alternative Press
Alternative Press (music magazine)
Alternative Press is an American music magazine based in Cleveland, Ohio. It generally provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on upcoming releases, and music charts. It was founded in 1985 by Mike Shea, who is the current president....
were less impressed with the album.
Legacy
In May 2011, When Your Heart Stops Beating was released on blue/white swirl vinyl. The LP, limited to 2000 copies, was available exclusively through the retail chain Hot TopicHot Topic
Hot Topic is an American retail chain specializing in music and pop culture-related clothing and accessories, as well as licensed music on CD. The majority of the stores are located in regional shopping malls. The first Hot Topic store was opened in 1988 by Orv Madden, who retired as CEO in 2000...
.
Track listing
Bonus tracks
- "Baby Come On" (acousticAcoustic musicAcoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
) — 2:54 - "Weatherman" (acoustic) — 4:17
- "145" (acoustic of "155") — 3:36
- "155" (acoustic from the album The 97X Green Room: Volume 3) - 3:31
Personnel
Plus 44- Mark HoppusMark HoppusMark Allan Hoppus is an American musician, record producer, and television host. He is the bass guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists of the pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the bass guitarist and lead vocalist of the alternative rock band +44. He is a co-founder of both bands...
— lead vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Travis BarkerTravis BarkerTravis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
— 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 ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, electronics - Shane GallagherShane GallagherShane Gallagher is an musician who played guitar for rock/alternative band +44, goth-punk band Mercy Killers, and formerly The Nervous Return.-Early life:...
— 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... - Craig FairbaughCraig FairbaughCraig Fairbaugh is a guitarist, who is best known for playing with the rock band +44 . The band was made up of Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker, who reunited with Tom Delonge to continue the pop punk band Blink-182 in 2009, and Shane Gallagher of The Nervous Return. Fairbaugh has joined Juliette and...
— 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...
, vocals
Additional musicians
- Carol Heller – vocals on "Make You Smile", background vocals on "Weatherman" and "No It Isn't"
Production
- Mark Hoppus — producer
- Travis Barker — producer
- Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
— producer - Chris HolmesChris HolmesChris Holmes may refer to:* Chris Holmes , US musician and member of the band W.A.S.P.* Chris Holmes , British Paralympian* Chris Holmes, American musician and producer who toured with The Smashing Pumpkins...
— engineer - James IngramJames IngramJames Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
— assistant engineer
Charts
Album| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart 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... |
1 |
| 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... |
3 |
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
13 |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 7 |
| UK Album Charts | 0 |
| U.S. 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... |
1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | When Your Heart Stops Beating When Your Heart Stops Beating (song) "When Your Heart Stops Beating" is the first single released by American rock group +44. The single was first played by KROQ radio on September 17, 2006. A remix of the song was released soon after.... |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
1 |
| U.S. 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... |
1 | ||
| U.S. Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
1 | ||
| 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 ... |
1 | ||
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
2 | ||
| German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
2 | ||
| Australian Singles Chart 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... |
4 | ||
| Austrian Singles Chart Ö3 Austria Top 40 Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann... |
4 |
Songs and history
- "Lycanthrope" was the second song released by the band. It was available for download on their official site on September 1, 2006.
- "When Your Heart Stops Beating" was first released over KROQ-FMKROQ-FMKROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
radio. The song is also played as a bumper song on The Jim Rome ShowThe Jim Rome ShowThe Jim Rome Show is a sports radio talk show hosted by Jim Rome. It airs live for three hours each weekday from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. The show is produced in Los Angeles, California, syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks, and can be heard on more than 200 affiliate radio stations in the U.S...
. - On October 25, 2006, the song "Cliffdiving" was leaked on the Internet from the album sampler. Even though it was the fourth song given to the public, it was the first leak not initiated by the band.
- On October 28, 2006, the full album was leaked onto the internet.
- On October 31, the acoustic version of "Baby Come On" was released on iTunes and the acoustic version of "155", titled "145" due to the song's slower tempo, was released on Yahoo! MusicLAUNCHcastYahoo! Music Radio is an Internet radio service offered by CBS Radio through Yahoo! Music. The service, formerly offered by LAUNCH Media, and originally developed by Todd Beaupré and Jeff Boulter, debuted on November 11, 1999, and was purchased by Yahoo! in October, 2001...
. - In late October, an electronic mix of "When Your Heart Stops Beating" was added to the band's official website and MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. - The full album was available for streaming on their MySpace during November until the album's US release on November 14.
- On November 8, the album was available for streaming on MuchMusicMuchMusicMuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
, almost a week before its American release. - The acoustic version of "Weatherman" was leaked on November 10.
- On May 29, 2007, the German band Wir sind HeldenWir sind HeldenWir sind Helden is a German Alternative Rock band from Berlin, established in 2001 in Hamburg. The quartet is composed of lead singer Judith Holofernes and musicians Pola Roy, Mark Tavassol, and Jean-Michel Tourette. The group's style has often been considered similar to that of the Neue Deutsche...
and +44+44 (band)+44 was an alternative rock band formed by Blink-182 members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker...
participated in the iTunes Foreign ExchangeITunes Foreign ExchangeiTunes Foreign Exchange features two bands from two different countries covering one of the other's songs in their native tongue. The first two bands to participate in Foreign Exchange are +44 from the US and Wir Sind Helden from Germany....
, where the German band covered "When Your Heart Stops Beating." - On August 28, 2007 the song "155 (Acoustic)" was released on the album The 97X Green Room: Volume 3