Number[s] is the debut album by American metalcore band Woe, Is Me, released on August 30, 2010 through Rise Records and its imprint division Velocity.[1][2] A re-release of the record was released on July 16, 2012[3] with Andrew Paiano and Hance Alligood due to the departure of Tim Sherrill and Tyler Carter. Number[s] was produced by Cameron Mizell in his Orlando, Florida hometown. The sole guest vocalist on the album is Jonny Craig.
| Number[s] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 30, 2010 July 16, 2012 (reissue) | |||
| Length | 28:57 | |||
| Label | Rise, Velocity | |||
| Producer | Cameron Mizell | |||
| Woe, Is Me chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Number[s] | ||||
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| Deluxe reissue | ||||
Release edit
Upon the release of Number[s], it charted at number 16 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, selling 1,700 copies in its first week.[4][5] Two songs were released before the album itself: "[&] Delinquents" on July 29, 2010,[6] and "Mannequin Religion" on August 20, 2010.[7] The demo versions of three songs, "Hell, or High Water", "If Not, for Ourselves", and "I." had also been previously released.
Deluxe Edition edit
A re-issue of the album released July 17, 2012 featured songs with new vocalist Hance Alligood, who replaced Tyler Carter, and new guitarist Andrew Paiano. New vocalist Doriano Magliano, who replaced Michael Bohn, and new bassist Brian Medley were in the band at the time of the Deluxe Edition's release but do not appear on any of the recordings. Doriano and Brian would make their recording debut with the band on the follow-up Genesis (Woe, Is Me album).
All tracks that saw prior releases, both from the original album and the two newer singles from 2011, have been slightly changed on this release. This is made most evident by many differences heard in the beginning and ending of songs - largely re-arranging how the tracks bleed into each other.
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | (66%)[8] |
| Lexington Music Press | (7.5/10)[9] |
| Corezine | (8.5/10)[10] |
The album gained mixed to positive reception from critics, with Lexington Music Press saying that it "certainly gets better and better as it plays through and tries more out with its formula." However, they said that the during the first half of the album, "several songs share the same basic formula, keeping them from reaching the potential heights they could." The apparent stand out song was "Hell, or High Water", as they said it included "stand out and memorable moments, such as the hauntingly beautiful bridge (though the breakdown that follows is definitely noteworthy as well)." The review closed positively, saying that Number[s] was "quite an explosive debut that will surely help Woe, Is Me rise the ranks quickly."[9]
Max Grundström of Corezine also gave the album a highly praising review, saying that he was "expecting Woe, Is Me to be another run-of-the-mill, whiny post-hardcore band", but that his "mind was blown when [he] started listening to the intro." He said that they "mix catchy verses and bridges with bone crushing breakdowns, and even though it’s often encountered in modern metalcore/post-hardcore, Woe, Is Me succeed in keeping it fresh." He essentially closes the review with: "In a sea with similar acts Woe, Is Me somewhat drift with the other debris, but still manages to stay afloat."[10]
Ryan Gardner, a writer at AbsolutePunk, gave the album a mostly positive review, saying that "Number[s] effectively combines elements found in bands such as labelmates In Fear and Faith and even Emarosa in the clean singing department; the clean vocals are spot on, the screams well placed (for the most part), and the musicianship is definitely there." He used tracks "[&] Delinquents" and "Keep Your Enemies Close" to state that "Michael Bohn can surely scream", and said that he believed "I" "switches back and forth from Woe, Is Me's heaviest material to their most melodic, featuring some of the best lyrics on Number[s]." He closed the review with
While Woe, Is Me are in no way a unique band, they do take all they have learned about their genre and successfully accumulate the sound into this disc. If they can continue to experiment and perhaps find ways to stand out above similar acts in the genre, Woe, Is Me could easily headline stages alongside heavy bands.[8]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "On Veiled Men" | 0:50 |
| 2. | "(&) Delinquents" | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Mannequin Religion" | 2:54 |
| 4. | "Keep Your Enemies Close" | 2:28 |
| 5. | "Hell, or High Water" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "For the Likes of You" | 3:42 |
| 7. | "I" | 3:03 |
| 8. | "Our Number[s]" (featuring Jonny Craig) | 2:55 |
| 9. | "If Not, for Ourselves" | 4:30 |
| 10. | "Desolate (The Conductor)" (featuring Jonny Craig) | 1:54 |
| Total length: | 28:52 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vengeance" | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Fame > Demise" (Caleb Shomo Remix) | 4:20 |
| 3. | "We R Who We R" (Kesha cover) | 3:37 |
| 4. | "(&) Delinquents" (Caleb Shomo Remix) | 4:04 |
| 5. | "Fame > Demise" | 3:28 |
| 6. | "Fame > Demise" (Acoustic) | 2:48 |
| 7. | "On Veiled Men" | 0:50 |
| 8. | "(&) Delinquents" | 2:58 |
| 9. | "Mannequin Religion" | 2:54 |
| 10. | "Keep Your Enemies Close" | 2:26 |
| 11. | "Hell, or High Water" | 3:36 |
| 12. | "For the Likes of You" | 3:39 |
| 13. | "I." | 3:12 |
| 14. | "Our Number[s]" (featuring Jonny Craig) | 2:52 |
| 15. | "If Not, for Ourselves" | 4:34 |
| 16. | "Desolate (The Conductor)" (featuring Jonny Craig) | 1:55 |
| Total length: | 51:22 | |
Personnel edit
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References edit
- ^ "Number(S) by Woe, is Me". iTunes. 30 August 2010.
- ^ "Number(s) - Woe, is Me | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Number[s] (Deluxe Version) by Woe, is Me". iTunes. 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Number[s] - Woe Is Me | Billboard.com". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ "Atlanta's WOE, IS ME sells 1,700 of their debut Number[s]". indiestar.tv. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "WOE, IS ME post new song and "Number[s]" pre-order". indiestar.tv. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Woe, Is Me posts new song "Mannequin Religion" + Live Video". indiestar.tv. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Gardner, Ryan (4 September 2010). "Woe, Is Me - Number[s] - Album review - AbsolutePunk.net". AbsolutePunk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
- ^ a b Lay, Nathaniel (20 August 2010). "WOE, IS ME - Number[s] Review". Lexington Music Press. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ a b Grundström, Max (1 September 2010). "Woe, Is Me - Number[s] | www.corezine.net". Corezine. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.