Pushing Buttons

Pushing Buttons
EP by Grinspoon
Released	21 September 1998
Recorded	July 1998
Genre	Alternative metal, post-grunge
Length	16:52
Label	Universal
Producer	Phil McKellar, Ulrich Wild
Grinspoon chronology
Guide to Better Living (1998) Pushing Buttons (1998) Easy (1999)

Pushing Buttons is the third extended play by Australian alternative rock band Grinspoon, and was released on 21 September 1998 via Universal Records.^[1] It peaked at No. 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

History

In March 1998 Grinspoon moved to Los Angeles^[2] and spent much of the year touring the US and Canada, including opening for Creed, Lit, Godsmack and Anthrax.^[3] Whilst in the US Grinspoon recorded two songs, "Black Friday" and "More Than You Are" with Ulrich Wild (White Zombie, Pantera, Strung Out), which formed the basis of Pushing Buttons.^[4] The band returned to Australia in September to release Pushing Buttons,^[5] which peaked at No. 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.^[6] It also reached No. 80 on the ARIA End of Year Charts for 1998^[7] and was certified 'Gold'.^[8]

Content

Pushing Buttons features a heavier sound than their earlier work, with a metal-inspired re-recording of "More Than You Are" (previously recorded for the Green Album), and the songs "Black Friday" and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck". "Snap Your Fingers, Break Your Neck" is a cover of a song by American heavy metal band Prong (which was included on that band's 1994 album, Cleansing). The other songs are a lot lighter. "Black Friday" received significant airplay and was voted in at No. 22 on the Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1998.^[9]

Release

Pushing Buttons was not released in the United States but "Black Friday" and "More Than You Are" were included on the US version of Guide to Better Living and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" is on an ECW compilation released by Earache Records.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Sputnik Music

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Phil Jamieson and Pat Davern,^[10] except as shown. 

Pushing Buttons
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Black Friday"	2:28
2.	"More Than You Are"	3:11
3.	"Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" (Ted Parsons, Tommy Victor)	4:26
4.	"Busy"	2:27
5.	"Explain" (Phil Jamieson)	1:45
6.	"Black Friday" (Live)	2:34

Charts

Year	Chart	Peak position
1998	ARIA Singles Charts[6]	13
	ARIA End of Year Charts[7]	80
	Triple J Hottest 100[9]	22

References

1. "Pushing Buttons – Grinspoon". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
2. "Grinspoon". Australian Music Online. Australian Council for the Arts. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
3. "Another Interview with Grinspoon". TNT Publishing Pty Ltd. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
4. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Grinspoon". Howlspace. Archived from the original on 29 January 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
5. "Pushing Buttons - Grinspoon". Australian Music Online. Australian Council for the Arts. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
6. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Grinspoon". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
7. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1988". ARIA. 1998. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
8. "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1998 Singles". ARIA. 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
9. "Hottest 100 1998". Triple J. 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
10. "'Black Friday' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 April 2015. Note: User may have to click on 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:', e.g. Black Friday; or at 'Performer:' Grinspoon.