Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow explained

Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow
Type:studio
Artist:Down
Cover:Down-Down II A Bustle in Your Hedgerow.jpg
Released:March 26, 2002
Recorded:September 28, 2001 – November 26, 2001
Studio:Nodferatu's Lair, Louisiana
Genre:
Length:65:58
Label:Elektra
Producer:Down
Warren Riker
Prev Title:NOLA
Prev Year:1995
Next Year:2007

Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow is the second studio album by American band Down, released on March 26, 2002. The subtitle "A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" is borrowed from the lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin.

Background

Down II was the band's first album in seven years since the release of NOLA, the longest gap between their three studio albums to date. Being a supergroup, the band went on hiatus in 1996 so that members could focus on their main bands (namely Eyehategod, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, and Pantera). Down reformed in 1999 with Pantera bassist Rex Brown replacing Todd Strange. The band wanted the album to have a "bluesy" feel, so they moved into Phil Anselmo's barn for the recording.[2]

Critical reception

Down II was not received as well as the band's debut release, NOLA. Blabbermouth reviewer Borivoj Krgin stated, "Down II appears to have been thrown together more haphazardly, with much of the material falling short of the standard set by Down's classic debut offering."[3] However, UK critics were more enthusiastic, with Metal Hammer awarding the album 8/10 and Rock Sound declaring it "a storming experience from the depths" and rating it at 4/5. Despite its poor US reviews, the album debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200.

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Metal HammerUnited Kingdom"Albums of the Year"[4] 20024
Kerrang!United Kingdom"Albums of the Year"[5] 200214
TerrorizerUnited Kingdom"Albums of the Year"[6] 200220
Rock HardGermany"The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time"[7] 2005319

Personnel

Down
Additional musicians

Charts

YearChartPosition
2002Billboard 20044
2002German Album Charts[8] 67

Tour

To support the album, Down toured on the second stage of Ozzfest in 2002. They also scheduled an 18-date tour that began May 1 in New York and ended on May 25 in Dallas.[9] Afterward, the band once again entered an indefinite hiatus to focus on their respective bands.

DateCityCountryVenue
BirminghamUnited StatesFive Points Music Hall
AtlantaThe Roxy
New York CityRoseland Ballroom
PhiladelphiaTrocadero
WorcesterThe Palladium
ClevelandThe Odeon
CincinnatiBogart's
ColumbusNewport Music Hall
Grand RapidsThe Orbit Room
DetroitHarpo's
ChicagoHouse of Blues
MinneapolisQuest Club
DenverOgden Theater
Las VegasHouse of Blues
West HollywoodHouse of Blues
San FranciscoThe Fillmore
ScottsdaleCajun House
San AntonioSunset Station
HoustonSunset Station
DallasDeep Ellum Live

Notes and References

  1. Web site: April 13, 2002. Southern Rock mit metallischem Einschlag und der Schwermut des Südens.. laut.de. de.
  2. Web site: 2011-12-22. DOWN's PHILIP ANSELMO Checks In From 'Nodferatu's Lair' (Video). 2021-01-02. Blabbermouth.net.
  3. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2002-02-16 . Down II . 2024-02-20 . BLABBERMOUTH.NET . en.
  4. Web site: Metal Hammer - Albums of the Year . April 8, 2008. Rocksound.
  5. Web site: Kerrang! - Albums of the Year . April 8, 2008 . Kerrang! . January 16, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170116163103/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/kerrang.html#2002 . dead .
  6. Web site: Terrorizer - Albums of the Year . April 8, 2008. Rocksound.
  7. Book: Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. 2005. Rock Hard. 3-89880-517-4. 83.
  8. Web site: charts.de. May 31, 2013.
  9. Web site: Pantera's Phil Anselmo Gets Down and Dirty. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145119/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1453044/pantera-frontman-gets-down-dirty.jhtml. dead. June 29, 2011. .