America, Location 12 is a 2017 album by United States indie/roots folk band Dispatch. It is their sixth full-length studio album, the first recorded in five years.[9]
| America, Location 12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 2, 2017 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Label | Bomber Records | |||
| Producer | John Dragonetti, Mike Sawitzke | |||
| Dispatch chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from America, Location 12 | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| classicrock.net | 7/10[6] |
| Musikexpress | [7] |
| PopMatters | 7/10[8] |
Production
editThe band began working on the album nearly two years before its release.[10] Before recording, Chad Urmston told the other two members of the band that he wanted to be the "captain" for the upcoming album, a proposal they readily accepted.[11] He had retreated to a cottage for a winter and wrote 25 to 30 songs,[12] which differed from their previous material so significantly that a manager asked Urmston whether he disliked their old songs.[13] The songs' material concerns "veterans coming home, childhood memories, [and] being a parent."[14]
The band recorded the album in Panoramic Studios at Stinson Beach, California, which was built in the 1960s and features vintage analogue gear.[15] The album was produced by John Dragonetti of The Submarines and Mike Sawitzke of The Eels, and was mastered by Dave Cooley.[16]
A short series of videos was recorded with OurVinyl to document the making of the album.[17] Much of the focus was on the improvement in the bandmates' interpersonal relations compared with their breakup in 2004.[18]
Release
editThe album was announced in February 2017 along with tour dates.[19] Between the announcement and the release, the album was made available for pre-order with various rewards, including merchandise, concert tickets,[20] and Skype interviews and pick-up basketball with band members.[21][22]
In March, three months before the album's release, Pete Heimbold announced on the band's public Facebook page that he was taking a leave of absence from the band, including from the tour dates, as he was battling chronic depression.[23] Guest musicians have been present at live performances and on tour.[24]
Five songs were released in advance on YouTube between the announcement and the release,[25] as well as live acoustic performances.[26] This resulted in other artists covering songs even before the album's release, something the band encouraged.[27] On the day of the album's release, the band uploaded the full album to be streamed for free.[10]
"Only the Wild Ones", the first single and the first pre-released track, reached No. 9 on Billboard's AAA chart,[28] marking the band's highest position to date on that chart and their first top 20 track on the radio.[16]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Be Gone" | 6:00 |
| 2. | "Only the Wild Ones" | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Curse + Crush" | 4:18 |
| 4. | "Painted Yellow Lines" | 5:20 |
| 5. | "Skin the Rabbit" | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Midnight Lorry" | 5:39 |
| 7. | "Begin Again" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Rice Water" | 4:35 |
| 9. | "WindyLike" | 4:59 |
| 10. | "Ghost Town" | 3:05 |
| 11. | "Atticus Cobain" | 3:48[9] |
Charts
edit| Chart (2017). | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[29] | 80 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[30] | 4
|
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[31] | 15 |
References
edit- ^ "Only the Wild Ones — Single by Dispatch on Apple Music". Apple iTunes. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Skin the Rabbit − Single by Dispatch on Apple Music". Apple iTunes. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Painted Yellow Lines - Single by Dispatch on Apple Music". Apple iTunes. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Midnight Lorry − Single by Dispatch on Apple Music". Apple iTunes. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ Monger, Timothy (2017-06-01). "AllMusic Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
- ^ Funk, Ewald (2017-06-02). "Review: Dispatch – AMERICA, LOCATION 12". classicrock.net. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ Frank, Arno (2017-06-01). "Dispatch - America, Location 12". musikexpress.de. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ Frahm, Jonathan (2017-06-05). "Dispatch - America, Location 12". PopMatters. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ a b Dispatch (2017-06-02). "America, Location 12 on Bandcamp". Bandcamp.
- ^ a b "Dispatch full album stream announcement". Dispatch. June 2, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #2]. Dispatch. May 31, 2017. Event occurs at 6:40.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #1] (Video). Dispatch. March 2, 2017. Event occurs at 3:50. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #2]. Dispatch. May 31, 2017. Event occurs at 6:24.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #2]. Dispatch. May 31, 2017. Event occurs at 7:03.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #2]. Dispatch. May 31, 2017. Event occurs at 0:34.
- ^ a b "Dispatch's 'America, Location 12' Out Today". Broadway World. June 2, 2017.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #1] (Video). Dispatch. March 2, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ America, Location 12 Recording Documentary [Chapter #2]. Dispatch. May 31, 2017. Event occurs at 5:45.
- ^ Music News Desk, ed. (February 10, 2017). "Dispatch Announces Summer 2017 Tour & Releases New Song 'Only The Wild Ones'". Broadway World. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Dispatch Season Pass announcement". Dispatch. May 22, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Dispatch Skype chat announcement". Dispatch. April 17, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Dispatch basketball announcement". Dispatch. May 16, 2017.
- ^ Heimbold, Pete Francis (March 8, 2017). "To our beloved DISPATCH fans". Dispatch.
- ^ "Only The Wild Ones" [Live Acoustic at Chad's House]. Dispatch. March 13, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Painted Yellow Lines release announcement". Dispatch. May 26, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Relix Magazine Curse and Crush live performance". Relix Magazine. April 10, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ Polizzi, Nino (May 19, 2017). "Only the Wild Ones cover announcement". Dispatch. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
- ^ "Dispatch – Chart History: Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ "Dispatch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Billboard Independent Albums". Billboard. June 24, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
- ^ "Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. June 24, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2019.