Desensitized (Drowning Pool album)

Desensitized is the second studio album by American rock band Drowning Pool. It was their first album since the death of vocalist Dave Williams as well as the only album to feature replacement vocalist Jason Jones. The album debuted at number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Desensitized
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 20, 2004
RecordedDecember 2003 – March 2004
Genre
Length38:38
LabelWind-up
ProducerJohnny K
Drowning Pool chronology
Sinner
(2001)
Desensitized
(2004)
Full Circle
(2007)
Singles from Desensitized
  1. "Step Up"
    Released: June 22, 2004
  2. "Love and War"
    Released: 2004
  3. "Killin' Me"
    Released: 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[6]

The album cover features porn star Jesse Jane. Desensitized shows less nu metal elements than Drowning Pool's previous album, Sinner.

Jones left the band soon after the album's release because of personal and musical differences. "Step Up” is the only song from Desensitized that is played live during today's performances. "Step Up" was featured in the 2004 film The Punisher and was the theme song for WWE's WrestleMania XX. It was also featured in the compilation album MTV2 Headbangers Ball, Vol. 2.

Writing and recording edit

Writing for the album began in 2003. Recording began towards the end of the year and was finished in March 2004.[citation needed]

Jason Jones said most of his songs are about the struggle when he was living as a homeless man "People were like, 'Look at this fucking homeless guy,'" "It's a struggle, man, and a lot of my songs are about the struggle."[7]

Of "Cast Me Aside", Jason Jones remarked: "You get a rash of calls from people you haven't heard from in 10-12 years who are suddenly wanting to kick it again. I was like "Where the fuck were you?" You know... that whole shit of everyone loves you when you're on top kinda thing."[8]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by S. Benton, J. Jones, M. Luce, and C. J. Pierce

No.TitleLength
1."Think"3:32
2."Step Up"3:17
3."Numb"3:31
4."This Life"3:44
5."Nothingness"3:25
6."Bringing Me Down"3:08
7."Love and War"3:39
8."Forget"3:23
9."Cast Me Aside"4:13
10."Killin' Me"3:08
11."Hate"3:42
Total length:38:38

Personnel edit

Drowning Pool

  • Stevie Benton – bass
  • Jason Jones – vocals
  • Mike Luce – drums
  • C. J. Pierce – guitar

Production

  • Produced and recorded by Johnny K
  • Mixed by Randy Staub
  • Additional engineering by Tadpole and James Murray
  • Assistant engineer at Groovemaster Recording: James Winans
  • Assistant engineers at Ocean Studios: Jason Cupp and Alex Pavlides
  • Assistant engineer at Armoury Studios: Misha Rajaratnam
  • Guitar tech: Tony McQuaid
  • Recorded at Groovemaster Recording in Chicago, Illinois, and Ocean Studios in Burbank, California
  • Mixed at Armoury Studios in Vancouver, Canada
  • Mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering in Hollywood, California
  • Demos / Pre-production by Ben Schigel at Last Beat Studios in Dallas, Texas
  • Band photos: Clay Patrick McBride
  • Cover star: Jesse Jane
  • Art direction: Ed Sherman

Charts edit

Album edit

Chart performance for Desensitized
Chart (2004) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] 62
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 66
US Billboard 200[11] 17

References edit

  1. ^ Bulleid, Joshua (September 15, 2016). "10 Nu Metal Albums Worth Your Time - Moshcam". Moshcam. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Dalakos, Michael (June 5, 2005). "Drowning Pool - Desensitized (CD) review". Metal Temple.
  3. ^ "Drowning Pool - Desensitized -". May 20, 2004.
  4. ^ a b "Desensitized - Drowning Pool". AllMusic.
  5. ^ "Drowning Pool Biography and Profile". About.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009.
  6. ^ Richardson, Sean (April 23, 2004). "Desensitized Review". Entertainment Weekly. p. 82. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  7. ^ "New Drowning Pool Singer Says He Had A Vision Before Tryout". MTV.
  8. ^ "Back In The Saddle Again: Jason 'Gong' Jones". Metal Underground.
  9. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 87.
  10. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Drowning Pool Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2021.