Birth of a Cynic explained

Birth of a Cynic
Type:studio
Artist:8stops7
Cover:Birth of a Cynic.jpg
Released:1998
Genre:Alternative rock
Post-grunge
Hard rock
Next Title:In Moderation
Next Year:1999

Birth of a Cynic is the first independent release of post-grunge garage rock band 8stops7. It was produced by Paul Lani & Paul Yered and released on Elephant Ear Records.

Musicians

Album artwork

Album artwork was photographed by Scott Council, who went on to a successful career in entertainment photography. The images were photographed in Ventura, CA and Ojai, CA. Marty Johnston was the graphic designer.

The booklet from original release was printed as a blue and black duotone on white paper with hidden elements in a high gloss varnish, while the reissue was printed in full color and had slightly different artwork.

Four of its tracks were re-recorded for the band's major label release In Moderation on Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records. In 2007, three songs were featured in the short film He's Not My..., which was produced by Contempovision Films.

Track listing

  1. "Doubt" (3:50)
  2. "Fate" (4:34)
  3. "Esteem" (4:38)
  4. "Not Alive" (3:56)
  5. "Long Distance" (2:38)
  6. "Wider" (3:24)
  7. "Wait I Swear" (3:48)
  8. "What's the Big Idea" (4:15)
  9. "Weekend" (4:46)
  10. "Disappear" (3:51)
  11. "Forget" (3:31)*

* Asterisk indicates song was re-recorded and included on the band's following album: In Moderation.

Reception

A review in the Los Angeles Times gave Birth of a Cynic a grade of "B-", comparing the band to Soundgarden (except younger and with less money). The review called out the "growling vocals of Evan Sula-Goff, who somehow manages to prevent those veins in his neck from blowing up".[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: Locey . Bill . 4 June 1998 . MUSIC: Ventura County; LOCAL ANGLE; Making Music; Region's artists are leaving their mark on CDs and in clubs . 2024-06-29 . . ProQuest.