Pushing Buttons is the third extended play by Australian alternative rock band Grinspoon, and was released on 21 September 1998 via Universal Records.[1] It peaked at number 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Pushing Buttons
EP by
Released21 September 1998 (1998-09-21)
RecordedJuly 1998
GenreAlternative metal, post-grunge
Length16:52
LabelUniversal
ProducerPhil McKellar, Ulrich Wild
Grinspoon chronology
Guide to Better Living
(1998)
Pushing Buttons
(1998)
Easy
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Sputnikmusic

History and release edit

In March 1998, Grinspoon moved to Los Angeles[2] and spent much of the year touring the US and Canada, including opening for Creed, Lit, Godsmack and Anthrax.[3] While in the US, Grinspoon recorded two songs, "Black Friday" and "More Than You Are" with Ulrich Wild (White Zombie, Pantera, Strung Out), which formed the basis of Pushing Buttons.[4] The band returned to Australia in September to release Pushing Buttons,[5] which peaked at No. 13 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[6] It also reached No. 80 on the ARIA End of Year Charts for 1998 and was certified gold.[7][8]

Pushing Buttons was not released in the United States, but "Black Friday" and "More Than You Are" were included on the US version of Guide to Better Living and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" is on an ECW compilation released by Earache Records. "More Than You Are" was serviced to US mainstream and active rock radio on 29 June 1999.[9]

Content edit

Pushing Buttons features a heavier sound than their earlier work,[citation needed] with a metal-inspired re-recording of "More Than You Are" (previously recorded for the Green Album), and the songs "Black Friday" and "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck". "Snap Your Fingers, Break Your Neck" is a cover of a song by American heavy metal band Prong (which was included on that band's 1994 album, Cleansing). The other songs are a lot lighter. "Black Friday" received significant airplay and was voted in at No. 22 on the Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1998.[10]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Phil Jamieson and Pat Davern,[11] except as shown

Pushing Buttons
No.TitleLength
1."Black Friday"2:28
2."More Than You Are"3:11
3."Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" (Ted Parsons, Tommy Victor)4:26
4."Busy"2:27
5."Explain" (Phil Jamieson)1:45
6."Black Friday" (Live)2:34

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Pushing Buttons – Grinspoon". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Grinspoon". Australian Music Online. Australian Council for the Arts. Archived from the original on 21 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Another Interview with Grinspoon". TNT Publishing Pty Ltd. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  4. ^ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Grinspoon". Howlspace. Archived from the original on 28 January 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Pushing Buttons - Grinspoon". Australian Music Online. Australian Council for the Arts. Archived from the original on 19 December 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Discography Grinspoon". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  7. ^ a b "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1988". ARIA. 1998. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  8. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1998 Singles". ARIA. 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1305. 25 June 1999. pp. 103, 108.
  10. ^ "Hottest 100 1998". Triple J. 1998. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  11. ^ "'Black Friday' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 17 April 2015. Note: User may have to click on 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:', e.g. Black Friday; or at 'Performer:' Grinspoon.
  12. ^ "Grinspoon – Pushing Buttons". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  13. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 October 2019.