Madness (Sleeping with Sirens album) explained

Madness
Type:studio
Artist:Sleeping with Sirens
Cover:Madness Album Cover by Sleeping With Sirens.jpg
Released:March 17, 2015[1]
Recorded:June–September 2014
Length:40:49
Label:Epitaph
Producer:John Feldmann
Prev Title:Feel
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Live and Unplugged
Next Year:2016

Madness is the fourth studio album by American rock band Sleeping with Sirens. The album was released on March 17, 2015 through Epitaph Records. The album was self-produced by the band and John Feldmann. The album is the band's first release following their departure from Rise Records in 2014. It is their first album record to feature guitarist Nick Martin of D.R.U.G.S. and Underminded who replace former guitarist Jesse Lawson. Madness was preceded by lead single "Kick Me" as well as a string of digital singles. The album continues the band's progression to a more pop rock–style sound, but retains some post-hardcore influences on tracks.

Background and recording

Following the release of the band's third studio album, Feel (2013), they toured extensively worldwide in support of the album. In May 2014, the band posted that they were in the studio[2] in Nashville, Tennessee and recorded 13 tracks with Nick Raskulinecz, however later scrapped them and recorded new material for a fourth album in Los Angeles, California. In June, Quinn posted a clip of a new song online.[3] The band recorded a total of 15 new tracks with producer John Feldmann. Quinn explains, "We just planned on going to Feldmann to do 2 or 3 songs and after we got in there, I'm like, 'we're gonna re-do this whole thing."[4] The two bonus tracks, "Parasites" and "2 Chord" were produced by Raskulinecz.

Sound and influence

Madness is a pop rock album with punk and hardcore influences. According to a review by Radio.com, the album has "empowering lyrics and anthem-like sing-along choruses" and is "massive, emotional, and speaks directly to disaffected youth and others who’ve been told they’ll never amount to anything."[5] Due to the fact that the album's recording sessions took place throughout a time where Sleeping with Sirens were not signed to a record label and had little money, frontman Kellin Quinn said "it's always chaotic and madness and just being caught in the middle of it and figuring out who you are in the midst of all the craziness."[5]

Release

In late August, the group performed a new track, entitled "Kick Me", live at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. In addition, it was announced that the group had recently shot a music video for the track.[6] The music video for the song was released on November 10.[7] In November and December, the group went on a co-headlining US with Pierce the Veil with support from Beartooth and This Wild Life.[8] On January 1, 2015, "We Like It Loud" was made available for streaming and as a free download.[9] On January 22, Madness was announced for release in March. In addition, a music video was also released for "Go Go Go".[10] Between January and March, the group embarked on a second leg of their co-headlining US tour with Pierce the Veil. They were supported by PVRIS and Mallory Knox.[11] "Better Off Dead" was released on March 12, 2015.[12]

"Fly" was made available for streaming on March 10, followed by "Gold" on March 12, and "Save Me a Spark" on March 13.[13] [14] [15] Madness was released on March 17 through Epitaph Records.[10] On May 5, a music video was released for "The Strays".[16] In June, the group went on an acoustic tour, dubbed the We Like It Quiet Tour, with support from The Summer Set and Nick Santino.[17] On September 9, a music video was released for "Better Off Dead".[18] In October and November, the group supported All Time Low on their Back to the Future Hearts tour in the US.[19] In November and December 2016, the group went on headlining US tour with support from State Champs, Tonight Alive and Waterparks.[20]

Reception

Commercial reception

Madness debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 selling 34,941 copies in its first week.[21] As of August 2015, the album sold 79,200 copies.[22]

Critical reception

The album received generally positive reviews from professional music critics. According to review aggregate Metacritic, the album received a 74 out of 100 based on 6 reviews, citing "generally positive reviews".

Radio.com editor Jay Tilles talked about the album's third single, "The Strays" in his review stating: "Of the album’s 13 songs, sixth track “The Strays” stands out like a sore thumb. With its empowering lyrics and anthem-for-the-underdogs chorus, it’s massive, emotional, and speaks directly to disaffected youth and others who’ve been told they’ll never amount to anything. “Lost and thrown away/you know we’re better than that,” sings Kellin Quinn, the band’s frontman, his voice a deceptively delicate tenor that has become one of the band’s defining sounds."[5]

Branan Ranjanathan for Exclaim! was more negative, feeling the album lacked cohesiveness, writing: "With their latest album, Sleeping With Sirens have tried to appeal to every group that has ever taken an interest in their particular sound, creating a disorienting, cluttered set of songs that lacks any definitive direction. Over the years the band's sound has shifted from straightforward post-hardcore to something more accessible to a pop audience, but Madness is a muddled attempt at fusing both sounds within a single album."[23]

The album was included at number 25 on Rock Sounds top 50 releases of 2015 list.[24] Madness was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards.[25]

Track listing

All song titles and durations were taken from iTunes Store.[26]

Personnel

Sleeping With Sirens
Production

Chart performance

Peak positions

Chart (2015)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[28] 159

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
U.S. Billboard Hard Rock Albums[29] 18
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums[30] 26
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums[31] 62

References

Citations
Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.sanity.com.au/products/2294253/Madness Madness
  2. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens recording new music. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. May 29, 2014. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703083401/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_recording_new_music. July 3, 2017.
  3. Web site: Hear a clip of a new Sleeping With Sirens song. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. June 12, 2014. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226103043/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/hear_a_clip_of_a_new_sleeping_with_sirens_song. December 26, 2015.
    1. SkinnyJeanProblems, re-recording, tour hangouts and more with Sleeping With Sirens
    . 11 December 2014. YouTube. August 12, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160310010203/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL0iaisYy6c. 10 March 2016.
  5. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens 'Madness' Album Review « Radio.com. radio.com. August 12, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150918170830/http://radio.com/2015/03/03/sleeping-with-sirens-madness-album-review/. September 18, 2015.
  6. Web site: Watch Sleeping With Sirens perform a new song, "Kick Me". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. August 25, 2014. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224836/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/watch_sleeping_with_sirens_perform_a_new_song_kick_me. March 4, 2016.
  7. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens release new song, "Kick Me". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. November 10, 2014. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703085155/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_release_new_song_kick_me. July 3, 2017.
  8. Web site: Pierce The Veil, Sleeping With Sirens announce US co-headlining tour with Beartooth, This Wild Life. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. July 21, 2014. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170808154104/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/pierce_the_veil_sleeping_with_sirens_announce_us_co_headlining_tour_with_be. August 8, 2017.
  9. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens stream new song, "We Like It Loud". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. January 1, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170323095407/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_stream_new_song_we_like_it_loud. March 23, 2017.
  10. Web site: Listen to Sleeping With Sirens' latest single from their new album, 'Madness'. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. January 22, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703085516/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/listen_to_sleeping_with_sirens_latest_single_from_their_new_album_madness. July 3, 2017.
  11. Web site: PVRIS, Mallory Knox added to Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil tour. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. November 10, 2014. December 19, 2017.
  12. Web site: Better Off Dead - Single by Sleeping with Sirens. Spotify. August 24, 2022.
  13. Web site: Stream Sleeping With Sirens' latest single, "Fly". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 10, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150312142713/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/stream_sleeping_with_sirens_latest_single_fly. March 12, 2015.
  14. Web site: Stream Sleeping With Sirens' latest single, "Gold". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. March 12, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150314212247/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/stream_sleeping_with_sirens_latest_single_gold. March 14, 2015.
  15. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens stream new song, "Save Me A Spark". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. March 12, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150316233749/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_stream_new_song_save_me_a_spark. March 16, 2015.
  16. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens release "The Strays" video. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. May 5, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160401010252/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_release_the_strays_video. April 1, 2016.
  17. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens announce acoustic tour with the Summer Set, Nick Santino. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. April 10, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142828/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_announce_acoustic_tour_with_the_summer_set_nick. March 4, 2016.
  18. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens unleash "Better Off Dead" music video. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. September 9, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151025174847/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_unleash_better_off_dead_music_video. October 25, 2015.
  19. Web site: All Time Low announce fall tour with Sleeping With Sirens. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Chatterjee, Kika. July 7, 2015. December 19, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170703084309/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/all_time_low_announces_fall_tour_with_sleeping_with_sirens. July 3, 2017.
  20. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens announce tour with State Champs, Tonight Alive, Waterparks. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. August 15, 2016. December 17, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170504060550/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/sleeping_with_sirens_announce_tour_with_state_champs_tonight_alive_waterpar. May 4, 2017.
  21. Sleeping With Sirens' Madness debuts at No. 13 on Billboard Top 200 chart. Alternative Press. March 27, 2015. November 25, 2022.
  22. Web site: Metal by Numbers appendix: 2015's biggest selling metal so far. Metal Insider. 12 August 2015. August 12, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150812200608/http://www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-appendix-2015s-biggest-selling-metal-so-far. August 12, 2015.
  23. Web site: Sleeping With Sirens. exclaim.ca. August 12, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150709083833/http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/sleeping_with_sirens-madness. July 9, 2015.
  24. Bird, ed. 2016, p. 25
  25. Web site: Here are the nominees for the 2016 AP Music Awards!. Alternative Press. Whitt, Cassie. March 18, 2016. May 1, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423063602/http://www.altpress.com/aptv/video/and_the_nominees_for_the_2016_apmas_are. April 23, 2016.
  26. Web site: iTunes - Music - Madness (Deluxe Edition) by Sleeping With Sirens. iTunes. August 12, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150320002220/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/madness-deluxe-edition/id958326777. March 20, 2015.
  27. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 23, 2015. March 21, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104250/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/singles/78126. April 2, 2015.
  28. Web site: Sleeping With Sirensのアルバム作品. 2021-04-26. Oricon. ja.
  29. Hard Rock Albums : Dec 31, 2015 Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. January 3, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160802205055/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hard-rock-albums. August 2, 2016.
  30. Digital Albums : Dec 31, 2015 Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. January 3, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161129005137/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/digital-albums. November 29, 2016.
  31. Top Rock Albums : Dec 31, 2015 Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard. January 3, 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160803061550/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-rock-albums. August 3, 2016.

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