An American Paradox is the fourth album by punk band Strung Out, released by Fat Wreck Chords. The album was the band's first to debut on the Billboard 200. This is their first album with current bassist, Chris Aiken.

An American Paradox
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 23, 2002
StudioWestbeach Recorders, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length43:50
LabelFat Wreck Chords
ProducerStrung Out
Strung Out chronology
The Element of Sonic Defiance
(2000)
An American Paradox
(2002)
Exile in Oblivion
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Drowned in Sound[2]

Background and production

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In August 2000, the band were shopping around different labels for their next album.[3] Around this time, the band were writing a lot of material while on tour, with the aim of releasing an album in early 2001, which was reportedly titled American Paradox. Shortly afterwards, they toured the US and Canada with No Motiv in September 2000,[4] and the US with Papa Roach in November 2000.[5]

An American Paradox was recorded at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, California, with the band acting as producers. Donnell Cameron handled recording, with assistance from Chris Gresham and Mike Trujillo. Cameron mixed the album at Westbeach, before it was mastered by Eddie Schreyer at Oasis Mastering in Studio City, California.[6]

Release

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In May 2001, it was reported that An American Paradox would be released through Fat Wreck.[7] "Cult of the Subterranean" was made available for download on October 10, 2001.[8] On March 24, 2002, "Alien Amplifier" was posted online.[9] An American Paradox was released on April 23, 2002, and promoted with a tour of the same name the following month; they were accompanied by the Line, Rufio, and Glasseater.[10][11] On May 4, 2002, the music video for "Cemetery" was posted online.[12] They embarked on a US tour with Poison the Well, Rise Against, and Rufio in June 2002.[13][14] In August, the band played a handful of US shows, before touring across Canada; the Canadian shows were support by Snapcase, Rise Against, and the Line.[15] The band played four shows at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California, all of which were recorded and released as part of the Live in a Dive series.[16] In July 2003, the band went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. They returned to the US, where they toured in August and September with Eighteen Visions, A Static Lullaby,[17] and the Getaway.[18] In November, the band toured across Japan as part of the Fat Tour, with Wizo and Nerf Herder.[19]

Track listing

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Track listing per booklet.[6]

  1. "Velvet Alley" – 3:02
  2. "Kill Your Scene" – 2:09
  3. "Alien Amplifier" – 2:36
  4. "Cult of the Subterranean" – 2:59
  5. "Lubricating the Revolution" – 1:49
  6. "The Kids"– 3:01
  7. "Unkoil" – 4:54
  8. "Contender" – 2:13
  9. "Satellite" – 3:56
  10. "An American Paradox" – 2:36
  11. "Dig" – 2:54
  12. "Razor Sex" – 2:56
  13. "Cemetery" – 6:05
  14. "Don't Look Back" (Bonus track only found on first pressing of CD and all Australian copies) – 2:40

Personnel

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Personnel per booklet.[6]

Charts

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Chart performance for An American Paradox
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 52
US Billboard 200[21] 185

References

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  1. ^ a b c Greene, Jo-Ann. "An American Paradox - Strung Out | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hocking, Mat (May 10, 2002). "Album Review: Strung Out - An American Paradox / Releases". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 4, 2000). "Strung Out on a Major". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 8, 2000). "More Strung Out News". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Paul, Aubin (November 4, 2000). "Strung Out's Last Resort". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c An American Paradox (booklet). Strung Out. Fat Wreck Chords. 2002. FAT633-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 18, 2001). "Strung Out Still on Fat". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Paul, Aubin (October 10, 2001). "New Strung Out MP3…". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  9. ^ White, Adam (March 24, 2002). "Hear Strung Out's Alien Amplifier". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 11, 2002). "Strung Out and The Line / see SO for free". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 24, 2002). "The Kids Are Strung Out On Eating Glass…". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Heisel, Scott (May 2, 2002). "Get Strung Out on Video". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Heisel, Scott (April 2, 2002). "Strung Out To Tour with Poison The Well in June". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  14. ^ White, Adam (April 6, 2002). "Strung Out / Poison The Well / Rise Against / Rufio US Tour". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  15. ^ Heisel, Scott (July 24, 2002). "Strung Out, Rise Against, Snapcase, and The Line to tour Canada". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  16. ^ White, Adam (September 11, 2002). "Strung Out's 'Live In A Dive' shows". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  17. ^ White, Adam (June 28, 2003). "Strung Out Globetrotting This Summer". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  18. ^ Heisel, Scott (August 27, 2003). "The Getaway". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  19. ^ White, Adam (October 31, 2003). "Strung Out Head To Japan with Wizo & Nerf Herder". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  20. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 270.
  21. ^ "Strung Out Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2017.