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The Bad & the Better

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The Bad & the Better is the fourth studio album by American electropop singer-songwriter The Ready Set. The album title was announced on March 18, 2014, along with the track listing.[2] It was released on May 27, 2014, by Razor & Tie Records.[3] The album was released as a 4 track-EP featuring the singles "Higher", "Freakin' Me Out" and "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" plus the song "Carry Me Home" digitally outside the United States.[4]

The Bad & the Better
Studio album by
The Ready Set
ReleasedMay 27, 2014 (2014-05-27)
Recorded2012–2014
Genre
Length47:23
LabelRazor & Tie
Producer
The Ready Set chronology
The Celebrity EP
(2014) 		The Bad & the Better
(2014) 		I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love
(2016)
Singles from The Bad & the Better
  1. "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
    Released: May 18, 2012
  2. "Higher"
    Released: April 8, 2014
  3. "Freakin' Me Out"
    Released: May 6, 2014
  4. "Fangz"
    Released: December 10, 2014

Background

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In December 2011, Jordan Witzigreuter confirmed that he would be working on a new album in January 2012 in Los Angeles.[5] In May 2012, he revealed to Alternative Press that he had finished a third of the album. He had finished writing 25 songs and planned to continue writing for the majority of the summer, flying out to California during his time off to work on the album.[6] According to Witzigreuter, he also worked on some tracks on the bus and in airports, rather than spending time in the studio to work on it. He hoped for a release date sometime in the fall of 2012.[6] However, he delayed the release and decided to release a preview for the album titled, Sorry, Sorry, featuring two tracks "Are We Happy Now?" and "Freakin' Me Out" which were expected to be on the album.[7] On June 6, 2013, Witzigreuter announced that he finished writing his fourth studio album on Twitter.[8] The album was mastered in August 2013 and was mainly produced by Ian Kirkpatrick.[9] After releasing several EPs, Witzigreuter felt that "it was time" and that "A full album just seems like something that's overdue."[9]

On March 18, 2014, the Ready Set signed to Razor & Tie Records announcing the release of his upcoming album, The Bad & the Better. Witzigreuter spoke about being signed to Razor & Tie stating, "I'm so excited to be signed to Razor & Tie. I feel like it's a great opportunity to get more of my music out there in really creative ways, and I've already seen a ton of passion. I think it's going to be a great partnership."[2] Co-owner of Razor & Tie Cliff Chenfeld added, "We are very excited that Jordan and The Ready Set have chosen to work with Razor & Tie. Jordan is an amazing talent and we will do everything we can do to get his music to the largest possible audience."[2]

In support of the album, the Ready Set performed at Warped Tour from June to August 2014.[10] He later co-headlined a tour with Metro Station called, The Outsiders Tour with supporting acts, the Downtown Fiction and Against the Current in October 2014.[11]

Composition

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Witzigreuter stated that he wanted the album to sound different from his previous works.[5] He wanted the album to "feel honest" and described the record as "guilt-free pop."[12][9] Witzigreuter described songs such as "Freakin' Me Out", "Carry Me Home", "Bitter & The Sweetness" and "Luxury" as "straight up pop songs" with "light-hearted-storytelling."[12] He wrote "Bleeding" from the perspective of "coming to that realization of the need to step back." He also stated that the song is about "wanting to help somebody out of a bad spot but realizing you can't."[12] He described "Higher" as an inspirational track and one of the more uplifting songs off the album.[12] He found writing "Freakin' Me Out" a lot easier than coming up with a concept for the music video.[13]

Singles

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The Ready Set released "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" as the first single from The Bad & the Better on May 18, 2012.[14] The song peaked at number 30 on the US Mainstream Top 40 and at number 33 in New Zealand.[15][16] The second official single, "Higher", was released on April 8, 2014.[17] The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on May 6, 2014.[18] That same day, the third single, "Freakin' Me Out" was released for digital download.[19] The music video was released on October 15, 2014, via VEVO.[20] A live music video for the track "Fangz" directed by Sergio Padilla was released on December 10, 2014.[21]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [22]
Alternative Press     [23]
idobi Radio          [24]
New Noise Magazine     [1]

Tim Sendra of AllMusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars, remarking how the release is "all AM pop giddiness, spunky energy, and soft-pedaled, cuddly heartbreak", and how "It's machine-driven, it's juvenile, and it's not going to change the world, but it's a bunch of fun and that's plenty."[22] At Alternative Press, Evan Lucy rated the album two and a half stars, stating that the release is "ultimately disappointing."[23] Emillie Marvel of idobi Radio noted how the album strayed away from the electronic elements that his previous album, I'm Alive, I'm Dreaming possessed, instead focusing on a Top 40 radio sound.[24] Sky Fisher of New Noise Magazine praised the album's "catchy lyrics and electro-pop beats," as well as describing "Carry Me Home" and "Are We Happy Now?" as standout tracks.[1]

Track listing

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The Bad & the Better — CD version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Are We Happy Now?"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:48
4."Fangz"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:24
5."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
6."Luxury"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:05
7."Bitter and the Sweetness"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:31
8."Don't You Need Me"
Goldstein3:18
9."Bleeding"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:23
10."Castaway" (featuring Jake Miller)
Goldstein3:55
11."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
12."For the Better"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick1:45
13."More Than This"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Dan Book
  • Alexei Misoul
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Book
  • Misoul
3:45
14."Terrible Things"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick3:46
Total length:47:23
The Bad & the Better — EP version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
  • Camp
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
4."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
Total length:13:43

Personnel

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Credits for The Bad & the Better adapted from AllMusic.[25]

Charts

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Chart performance for The Bad & the Better
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[26] 75

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sky Fisher (August 27, 2014). "Album Review: The Ready Set – "The Bad & The Better"". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Matt Crane (March 18, 2014). "The Ready Set sign to Razor & Tie, announce new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Ready Set Signs To R&T; Announces 'The Bad & The Better' - PropertyOfZack". propertyofzack.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  4. ^ "The Bad & The Better by The Ready Set - EP". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Ready Set's Jordan Witzigreuter on his busy 2011 and plans for 2012". Alternative Press. December 8, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Bryne Yancey (May 21, 2012). "Interview/Song Premiere: The Ready Set on 'Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Jacob Tender (August 27, 2013). "The Ready Set Streams Two New Songs, Gives Them Away For Free". underthegunreview.net. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Brian Kraus (June 8, 2013). "The Ready Set finish writing new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Rachel Campbell (August 23, 2013). "'It's Guilt-free pop:' In The Studio with the Ready Set". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Ready Set At The 2014 Vans Warped Tour!". Buzznet. July 16, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Eddie Barella (September 2, 2014). "A signed record from The Ready Set or Metro Station". idobi Radio. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d "The Bad & the Better - Interview with The Ready Set". Rock Your Lyrics. May 20, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Ready Set talks with Kidsday". Newsday. December 26, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Bryne Yancey (May 15, 2012). "The Ready Set release Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever) teaser". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Ready Set Chart History: Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  16. ^ "The Ready Set – Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever) - New Zealand Top 40". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Ready Set Release New Single, Higher". Alternative Press. 8 April 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "Top 40 Mainstream Releases". All Access Mediabase. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "The Ready Set release new song, Freaking Me Out off upcoming album due out on May 27th!". Music Junkie Press. 6 May 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  20. ^ Tyler Sharp (October 16, 2014). "The Ready Set release 'Freakin' Me Out' music video". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Matt Crane (December 10, 2014). "The Ready Set releases 'Fangz' music video". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Sendra, Tim (May 25, 2014). "The Bad & the Better – The Ready Set | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  23. ^ a b Lucy, Evan (2014). "The Ready Set – The Bad & The Better". Alternative Press. June 2014 (311). Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.: 103. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  24. ^ a b Marvel, Emillie. "Album Review: The Ready Set - The Bad & the Better". Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "The Bad & the Better - The Ready Set Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "The Ready Set Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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