Karma and Effect explained

Karma and Effect
Type:studio
Artist:Seether
Cover:Seetherkarmaandeffect.jpg
Released:24 May 2005
Recorded:5 October 2004 – 9 January 2005
Studio:
  • Avatar, New York City, New York
  • Henson, Los Angeles, California
Genre:Post-grunge, alternative metal, nu metal
Length:60:49
Label:Wind-up
Producer:Bob Marlette
Prev Title:Disclaimer II
Prev Year:2004
Next Title:Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces
Next Year:2007

Karma and Effect is the third studio album by South African rock band Seether. It was released on 24 May 2005 by Wind-up Records. It is the band's second and final album with guitarist Pat Callahan prior to his departure from the band in 2006.

Upon release, the album debuted in the top 10 of numerous national music charts. The album's lead single "Remedy" held the top spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for a total of eight weeks.[1] The second and third singles "Truth" and "The Gift", though not to the same extent, also found success on rock radio. Since its release, the album has sold upwards of 1 million units in the United States. It is certified platinum in the US and certified gold in Canada.

Recording and writing

After the success of their 2002 debut album Disclaimer, lead singer Shaun Morgan began writing new material for a new studio album. Most of the songs that would feature on Karma and Effect were written over the course of 2004 prior to entering the studio.

During the writing and recording process, the band experienced multiple setbacks. Morgan initially wanted to title the album Catering to Cowards, but this was vetoed by Wind-up Records. In addition, Wind-up asked that the cover art be changed and Morgan was asked not to swear on any of the recordings. Morgan stated that the album was "the culmination of a lot of anger and fear of the music industry and the people that happen to have power over our careers."[2]

"Remedy" was one of the first songs to be written in the studio. In a 2022 interview with American Songwriter, Morgan explained the song's origin:

"I was in Los Angeles, and I would go to the producer’s house every day, and he had a studio in his garage. So he just handed me a guitar one day, and there was something about the guitar I just really loved playing, so I just started riffing and making stuff up. Then he said, 'Oh, that’s great, let’s run with that.' So we recorded the riff and he programmed drums to it, and then I came up with a verse, and we sort of built the song that way. I went back and we did the lyrics and vocals and that was the first single. [...] Wind-up was very adamant that we just go with the softer songs. [...] [W]hen 'Remedy' was chosen, there was a big fight, because the label didn't want us representing the heavier side of the band, so I was really happy we won that victory."[3]
In a 2013 Reddit AMA thread, Morgan stated that the lyrics to "Truth" were inspired by a "brutal dysfunctional relationship." He further commented that, for the song's music video, director Dean Karr was the first to propose casting mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz in the role of Uncle Sam.[4]

"The Gift" was vaguely described by Morgan as "a pretty personal song."[5] It was allegedly nearly shelved after Callahan repeatedly objected to the song each time Morgan showed it to the band prior to recording for the album.[6]

The title for the track "Burrito" was inspired by watching The Osbournes. "We didn't have a name for the song," Morgan recalled. "Ozzy was running around mumbling about spicy burritos. And it was one of those moments where it was like, this is a legendary man, but it's a different side of him. It seemed real vulnerable and real personal. So we just picked it because it was a tongue-in-cheek homage to Ozzy Osbourne."[7] The track was one of three songs written for the soundtrack to the 2003 film Daredevil,[8] but was scrapped in favor of their song "Hang On" from Disclaimer II.

Personnel

Seether

Other personnel

Unreleased songs

Before the release of Karma and Effect, a blog post from the band on their website stated that there would be three B-side tracks for the album: "Let Me Go", "Innocence" and "Blister". "Let Me Go" was included on the B-side of the "Remedy" single. "Innocence" and "Blister" were never mixed or mastered but both songs, likely obtained off the album's demo tapes, were made available on a fan site for a short time. All of these songs were eventually included on the second disc of their greatest hits album, .

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Seether Chart History - Mainstream Rock Airplay . 20 July 2022 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Wiederhorn . Jon . 11 May 2005 . Seether Frontman Shaun Morgan Is Very Angry . https://web.archive.org/web/20220721000111/https://www.mtv.com/news/ud8wxx/seether-frontman-shaun-morgan-is-very-angry . dead . 21 July 2022 . 20 July 2022 . MTV . en.
  3. Web site: Benitez-Eves . Tina . 3 January 2022 . Seether Talk 20th Anniversary, Go 'Behind the Song' with Five Hits . 20 July 2022 . . en-US.
  4. Web site: 10 December 2013 . r/Music - I'm Shaun Morgan, lead singer of Seether. AMA. . 22 July 2022 . . en-US.
  5. Web site: 22 October 2013 . Seether Track by Track - "The Gift" . 20 July 2022 . YouTube.
  6. Web site: Rosen . Steven . 14 August 2006 . Seether's Shaun Morgan: Going Acoustic Is More Than Comfortable . 21 July 2022 . . en.
  7. Web site: MacIntosh . Dan . 6 May 2013 . Shaun Morgan of Seether . 20 July 2022 . SongFacts.
  8. Web site: 20 May 2005 . Interview with Shaun Morgan and Pat Callahan of Seether . 20 July 2022 . Metal Underground.
  9. Web site: https://archive.today/20050710023146/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html. July 10, 2005. Top 100 Albums. Jam!. usurped. November 21, 2023.
  10. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2005. Billboard. 12 January 2021.