Swan Songs (Hollywood Undead album)

Swan Songs
Studio album by Hollywood Undead
Released September 2, 2008
(see release history)
Recorded January - May 2008
Hammer & Sickle Studios
Hollywood, California
Castle Renholdër
Laurel Canyon, California
Perfect Circle Studios
Hollywood, California
NRG Studios
North Hollywood, California
Genre
Length 49:35
Label Octone, Polydor
Producer Deuce (executive producer)
Hollywood Undead studio album chronology
Swan Songs
(2008)		 American Tragedy
(2011)
Singles from Swan Songs
  1. "Undead"
    Released: August 26, 2008
  2. "Young"
    Released: April 13, 2009
  3. "This Love, This Hate"
    Released: Late 2009
  4. "Everywhere I Go"
    Released: January 12, 2010
  5. "Black Dahlia"
    Released: September 13, 2010

Swan Songs is the debut album by Hollywood Undead, released through Octone Records and Polydor Records. The album was released on September 2, 2008.[1] "Everywhere I Go" was the first single to be released, it was a web single and was available for download only on iTunes.[2] The band released four music videos for four songs on the album, "No.5", "Undead", "Young", and "Everywhere I Go"[2] When purchased through Amazon.com and at some other retailers, the album includes a bonus track and an option to unlock music videos.[1] Swan Songs is the only studio album to feature vocalist Deuce, excluding the half-studio album Desperate Measures.

Overview

Swan Songs was supposed to be released on the band's original label, MySpace Records in 2007, however it was postponed by the record label when they requested to have some of the songs removed and others censored. The band declined and switched labels to Octone which wouldn't require them to censor their songs.[3] The album peaked at #22 on the Billboard 200 and sold 21,000 copies on its debut week.[4] Swan Songs was released by Polydor Records on May 18, 2009 in the United Kingdom with two bonus tracks.[5] After 64 weeks, the album fell off of the Billboard Top 200, but returned four weeks later at #154. Swan Songs ended up spending 82 weeks in total on the Billboard 200. In 2009, it was certified gold by the RIAA. On January 18, 2013, it reached the Platinum sales mark.[6]

The song "Undead" is featured in the video games UFC Undisputed 2009 and Madden NFL 09.[2] The song "Young" is featured as downloadable content for Rock Band 2.[7] According to an e-mail sent out to fans from the official website April 4, 2011, the album has been re-released on iTunes as a Collector's Edition. This features all the tracks available on the original Swan Songs plus Swan Songs B-Sides EP, Swan Songs Rarities EP, and the Black Dahlia Remixes EP.

Censored version

There are two versions of the albums, including the explicit version and the clean/censored version.

The explicit leaves profanity and other content uncensored after the release of the album. The clean/censored version removes some profanity and content, leaving the words "bitch", "ass", and "shit" uncensored.

Reception

Swan Songs received mostly mixed reviews. Dave Donnelly of Allmusic gave the album a 2 out of 5 stars, saying that the lyrics were uninteresting and that the album was "given over to ironic frat-boy party rap" (using the singles Everywhere I Go and No. 5 as examples).[8]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]
Rock Sound[9]
Ultimate Guitar

Track listing

All tracks are written and performed by Hollywood Undead, with specific writers detailed for each track.

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Undead"  
  • Matthew Busek
  • Jorel Decker
  • Aron Erlichman
  • George Ragan
  • Jordon Terrell
 4:25
2. "Sell Your Soul"  
  • Decker
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
  • Erlichman
  • Lohner
 3:14
3. "Everywhere I Go"  
  • Busek
  • Erlichman
  • Terrell
Don Gilmore 3:30
4. "No Other Place"  
  • Dylan Alvarez
  • Erlichman
Erlichman 3:16
5. "No. 5"  
  • Alvarez
  • Matthew Busek
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
  • Terrell
Erlichman 3:05
6. "Young"  
  • Erlichman
  • Lohner
  • Ragan
  • Erlichman
  • Lohner
 3:16
7. "Black Dahlia"  
  • Decker
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
Erlichman 3:46
8. "This Love, This Hate"  
  • Erlichman
  • Jimmy Yuma
Erlichman 3:57
9. "Bottle and a Gun"  
  • Alvarez
  • Busek
  • Erlichman
  • Terrell
Erlichman 3:22
10. "California"  
  • Decker
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
  • Terrel
Gilmore 3:17
11. "City"  
  • Busek
  • Decker
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
  • Terrell
  • Erlichman
  • Lohner
 3:34
12. "The Diary"  
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
Erlichman 4:35
13. "Pimpin'"  
  • Alvarez
  • Decker
  • Erlichman
  • Ragan
  • Terrell
Erlichman 3:07
14. "Paradise Lost"  
  • Erlichman
  • Gilmore
  • Ragan
Gilmore 3:11
Total length:
 49:35

Personnel

Credits for Swan Songs adapted from Allmusic.[8]

Hollywood Undead
Production

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[10] 85
US Billboard 200[11] 22
US Top Alternative Albums[11] 5
US Top Digital Albums[11] 22
US Top Hard Rock Albums[11] 3
US Top Rock Albums[11] 3
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Top Catalog Albums[11] 13

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog Ref
United States September 2, 2008 A&M/Octone CD, Digital download 001133102 [12]
CD with Bonus Tracks 001199002 [13]
Japan May 6, 2009 CD, Digital download B001133102 [14]
European Union May 18, 2009 Polydor Group B002436WEE [15]
Germany July 31, 2009 A&M/Octone
European Union December 1, 2009 Polydor Group Vinyl B002M81UA2 [16]

References

  1. 1 2 "Swan Songs: Hollywood Undead". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hollywood Undead Official Website". Hollywoodundead.com. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
  3. ↑ "ARTISTdirect Interview: Hollywood Undead". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  4. ↑ "Young Jeezy Nets Second Album Chart-Topper.". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  5. ↑ "Buy Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs online at Play.com and read reviews. Free delivery to UK and Europe!". Play.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  6. ↑ "Photo by mattykurlzzhu • Instagram". Instagram.com. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  7. ↑ Official song listing for the Rock Band series.
  8. 1 2 3 Dave Donnelly. "Swan Songs — Hollywood Undead". Allmusic.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Faye (June 2009). "Hollywood Undead – Swan Songs." Rock Sound (123): 83. ISSN 1465-0185.
  10. ↑ "Chart Stats - - Swan Songs". Chart Stats. May 30, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Swan Songs - Hollywood Undead". Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Overview: Swan Songs - Hollywood Undead". Allmusic. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Overview: Swan Songs (Bonus Tracks) - Hollywood Undead". Allmusic. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Swan Songs (CD) - Hollywood Undead - HMV Online Shopping & Information Site". HMV Online Japan. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Swan Songs: Hollywood Undead: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon (UK). Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  16. ↑ "American Tragedy (Deluxe Edition): Hollywood Undead: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon (UK). Retrieved May 15, 2011.

External links

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