Swan Songs is the debut studio album by American rap rock band Hollywood Undead . It was released through Octone Records and Polydor Records on September 2, 2008.[ 3] "Everywhere I Go" was the first single to be released, it was a web single and was available for download only on iTunes .[ 4] The band released four music videos for four songs on the album, "No. 5", "Undead ", "Young ", and "Everywhere I Go ".[ 4] When purchased through Amazon.com and at some other retailers, the album includes a bonus track and an option to unlock music videos.[ 3]
Swan Songs Released September 2, 2008 Recorded July 2005 – May 2008 Studio Hammer & Sickle Studios, Hollywood, California Castle Renholdër, Laurel Canyon, California Perfect Circle Studios, Hollywood, California NRG Studios, North Hollywood, California Genre
Length 49 :35 Label
Producer
"No. 5" Released: March 18, 2006
"Undead " Released: August 26, 2008
"Young " Released: April 13, 2009
"This Love, This Hate" Released: Late 2009
"Everywhere I Go " Released: July 29, 2009
"Black Dahlia" Released: September 13, 2010
Swan Songs was supposed to be released on the band's original label, MySpace Records in 2007, however it was postponed by the record label when they requested to have some of the songs removed and others censored. The band declined and switched labels to Octone which wouldn't require them to censor their songs.[ 5]
The song "Undead" is featured in the video games UFC Undisputed 2009 and Madden NFL 09.[ 4] The song "Young" is featured as downloadable content for Rock Band 2 .[ 6]
Swan Songs received mostly mixed reviews. Dave Donnelly of AllMusic gave the album a 2 out of 5 stars, saying that the lyrics were uninteresting and that the album was "given over to ironic frat-boy party rap" (using the singles "Everywhere I Go" and "No. 5" as examples).[ 7]
The album debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard 200 selling 21,000 copies in its first week.[ 9]
All tracks are written and performed by Hollywood Undead, with specific writers detailed for each track.
Standard Edition Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Undead "
Matthew Busek
Jorel Decker
George Ragan
Aron Erlichman
Jordon Terrell
4:25 2. "Sell Your Soul"
Erlichman
Decker
Ragan
Lohner
3:14 3. "Everywhere I Go " Don Gilmore 3:30 4. "No Other Place" Erlichman 3:16 5. "No. 5"
Erlichman
Alvarez
Matthew Busek
Ragan
Terrell
Erlichman 3:05 6. "Young " 3:16 7. "Black Dahlia" Erlichman 3:46 8. "This Love, This Hate" Erlichman 3:57 9. "Bottle and a Gun"
Alvarez
Erlichman
Terrell
Erlichman 3:22 10. "California" Gilmore 3:17 11. "City" 3:34 12. "The Diary" Erlichman 4:35 13. "Pimpin'"
Erlichman
Decker
Ragan
Terrell
Erlichman 3:07 14. "Paradise Lost" Gilmore 3:11 Total length: 49:35
Japanese and UK Bonus Tracks Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 15. "Pain" Erlichman 2:41 16. "Knife Called Lust"
Erlichman
Decker
Jeffrey Phillips
Terrell
Erlichman 2:59 Total length: 54:35
Indie Store Bonus Track Title Writer(s) 15. "The Loss" 3:15 Total length: 52:50
Smartpunk Bonus Track Title Writer(s) 15. "The Natives"
Alvarez
Busek
Decker
Ragan
Terrell
3:40 Total length: 53:15
iTunes Bonus Track Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 15. "Pain" Erlichman 2:41 Total length: 52:16
Collector's Edition Bonus Tracks Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 15. "Pain" (Swan Songs B-Sides ) Erlichman 2:41 16. "The Natives" (Swan Songs B-Sides )
Alvarez
Busek
Decker
Ragan
Terrell
3:40 17. "Knife Called Lust" (Swan Songs B-Sides )
Busek
Decker
Jeffrey Phillips
Terrell
Erlichman 2:59 18. "The Loss" (Swan Songs B-Sides ) 3:15 19. "Bitches" (Swan Songs Rarities )
Alvarez
Busek
Decker
Ragan
Terrell
3:30 20. "The Kids" (Swan Songs Rarities )
Decker
Erlichman
Phillips
3:01 21. "Circles" (Swan Songs Rarities ) 3:33 22. "Black Dahlia" (Buffalo Bill remix) 3:50 23. "Black Dahlia" (Lo Fidelity Allstars remix) 4:32 24. "Black Dahlia" (The Pharmacy remix) 3:46 Total length: 84:27
Credits for Swan Songs adapted from Allmusic .[ 7]
Hollywood Undead
Aron "Deuce " Erlichman – lead vocals, bass guitar , keyboards , executive production, engineering (tracks: 1–2, 4–9 and 11–13, bonus tracks 15–21) , programming (tracks: 1–2, 4–9 and 11–13, bonus tracks 15–21) , mixing (track: 13, bonus tracks 15–21), guitar (track 8)
Jordon "Charlie Scene" Terrell – vocals (tracks: 1, 3–5, 7, 9–11, and 13, bonus tracks 15–19) , guitars (on all tracks except on track 8)
Jorel "J-Dog" Decker – vocals (tracks: 1–2, 5–7, and 9–11, bonus tracks 16–20) , keyboards (tracks: 1, 6–7, and 11, bonus track 20)
George "Johnny 3 Tears " Ragan – vocals (tracks: 1–2, 5–7, and 9–14, bonus tracks 15–16, 18–19, and 21)
Dylan "Funny Man" Alvarez – vocals (tracks: 1, 4–5, 9, and 13, bonus tracks 16 and 19)
Matthew "Da Kurlzz" Busek – vocals (tracks: 1–3, 5–6, and 9–11, bonus tracks 16–17 and 19) , drums (tracks: 5, 7, 9, and 11, bonus tracks 16–19) , percussion (tracks: 5, 7, 9, and 11, bonus tracks 16–19)
Jeffrey "Shady Jeff" Phillips – vocals (bonus tracks 17 and 20)
Additional musicians
Josh Freese – drums (tracks: 1, 6 and 11)
Danny Lohner – guitars (tracks: 2, 8 and 14), engineering, production
Paul Pavao – guitar (track 6)
Dean Saenz – drums (track 2)
John Tempesta – drums (track 14)
Production
Chart (2009)
Position
US Billboard 200[ 18]
66
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard )[ 19]
21
Region
Date
Label
Format
Catalog
Ref
United States
September 2, 2008
A&M/Octone
CD , Digital download
001133102
[ 23]
CD with Bonus Tracks
001199002
[ 24]
Japan
May 6, 2009
CD, Digital download
B001133102
[ 25]
European Union
May 18, 2009
Polydor Group
B002436WEE
[ 26]
Germany
July 31, 2009
A&M/Octone
European Union
December 1, 2009
Polydor Group
Vinyl
B002M81UA2
[ 27]
United States
May 11, 2018
A&M/Octone
B0027938-01
[ 28]
^ Grierson, Tim. "Top 10 Essential Rap-Rock Songs" . About.com . Archived from the original on March 27, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2019 .
^ "10 Albums That Remind Us Why Nü Metal F*cking Sucked" . MetalSucks . April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023 .
^ a b "Swan Songs: Hollywood Undead" . Amazon . Retrieved August 5, 2008 .
^ a b c "Hollywood Undead Official Website" . Hollywoodundead.com. Retrieved August 9, 2008 .
^ "ARTISTdirect Interview: Hollywood Undead" . Artistdirect.com. Retrieved September 2, 2008 .
^ Official song listing Archived December 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine for the Rock Band series .
^ a b c Dave Donnelly. "Swan Songs — Hollywood Undead" . Allmusic .
^ Lewis, Faye (June 2009). "Hollywood Undead – Swan Songs ." Rock Sound (123): 83. ISSN 1465-0185 .
^ "Young Jeezy Nets Second Album Chart-Topper" . Billboard . Retrieved September 13, 2008 .
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Hollywood Undead – Swan Songs" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Hollywood Undead Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Hollywood Undead Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Hollywood Undead Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Hollywood Undead Chart History (Top Rock Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Hollywood Undead Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)" . Billboard .
Retrieved October 1, 2020.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020 .
^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2009" . Billboard . Retrieved October 1, 2020 .
^ "Canadian album certifications – Hollywood Undead – Swan Song" . Music Canada . Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^ "British album certifications – Hollywood Undead – Swan Song" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^ "American album certifications – Hollywood Undead – Swan Song" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved January 23, 2023 .
^ "Overview: Swan Songs - Hollywood Undead" . Allmusic . Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "Overview: Swan Songs (Bonus Tracks) - Hollywood Undead" . Allmusic . Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "Swan Songs (CD) - Hollywood Undead - HMV Online Shopping & Information Site" . HMV Online Japan. Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "Swan Songs: Hollywood Undead: Amazon.co.uk: Music" . Amazon (UK) . Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "American Tragedy (Deluxe Edition): Hollywood Undead: Amazon.co.uk: Music" . Amazon (UK). Retrieved May 15, 2011 .
^ "Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs 10th Anniversary 2LP - Limited Edition Blue Vinyl" . uDiscover. Retrieved August 14, 2018 .