Villains is the third studio album and first major label release by American rock band the Verve Pipe. It was released in March 1996. The band received its first hit in "Photograph", which peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. A year after the release of the album, a reformatted version of "The Freshmen" peaked at number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single was also the band's sole appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 5. The success of the song helped this album go platinum. To date, it is the Verve Pipe's best selling album. The album was originally pressed in a blue case to match the color of the artwork, which included the slower recording of "The Freshmen," before it was later re-recorded and added to subsequent pressings.
Villains | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 26, 1996 | |||
Recorded | 1995–1996 | |||
Studio | Studio D and The Plant, Sausalito, CA, Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA | |||
Genre | Alternative rock, post-grunge | |||
Length | 53:40, 54:23 (Original) | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer | Jerry Harrison | |||
the Verve Pipe chronology | ||||
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Singles from Villains | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | (C)[3] |
Artwork
editThe artwork includes a toy duck in a darkened background and inverted-like coloring.
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Brian Vander Ark, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Barely (If at All)" | 3:45 |
2. | "Drive You Mild" | 3:02 |
3. | "Villains" | 4:42 |
4. | "Reverend Girl" | 4:27 |
5. | "Cup of Tea" | 4:26 |
6. | "Myself" | 4:47 |
7. | "The Freshmen (Original pressings included the slower version which is 5:08)" | 4:29 |
8. | "Photograph" | 4:55 |
9. | "Ominous Man" | 4:20 |
10. | "Real" | 1:51 |
11. | "Penny Is Poison" (A.J. Dunning, Brian Vander Ark) | 3:30 |
12. | "Cattle" | 3:42 |
13. | "Veneer" | 5:32 |
Total length: | 53:40 |
Personnel
editAdapted from the Villains booklet and liner notes.[4]
The Verve Pipe
Artwork
Management
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Production
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Charts
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Weekly chartsedit
Year-end chartsedit
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Singlesedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[8] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ a b RCA's Verve Pipe Earns Freshman Standing – Billboard Magazine Google Books
- ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r233041
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Verve pipe".
- ^ Villains (booklet; inlay cover). The Verve Pipe. RCA. 1996. 07863 66809-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The Verve Pipe, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "The Verve Pipe, TLN". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – The Verve Pipe – Villains". Recording Industry Association of America.