Wikipedia

Try This On for Size

Try This On for Size is the debut studio album by American hardcore punk band Spark Is a Diamond, released on May 6, 2008, through Pluto Records. It was produced by Paul Leavitt and mixed by Matt Bayles. The album was named “Best Punk Album of 2008” by About.com, defeating established acts such as The Briggs, Bob Mould, Rise Against, Street Dogs and more.

Try This On for Size
Studio album by
Spark Is a Diamond
ReleasedMay 6, 2008
StudioValencia Studios (Brookville, Maryland)
Genre
Length24:12
LabelPluto
ProducerPaul Leavitt
Spark Is a Diamond chronology
Keep Your Eyes Off the Prize
(2006) 		Try This On for Size
(2008)

Background and recording

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After signing with Pluto Records,[1][2][3][4] the group quickly worked on their debut album. It was worked alongside Paul Leavitt, Matt Bayles, Dann Miler of The JonBenét, and Michael Fossenkemper at Turtle Tone Studios, Valencia studios, and Red Room Studios. On March 25, 2008, the band showcased some of their songs on MySpace and announced that Chad Middleton from VCR will feature in the effort on Blabbermouth.[5][6] They also got Ben Hirschhorn of Morning for the Masses to feature as well. The album features both Hall and Crawford as Drums and also features a cover for Push It from Salt 'N Pepa.

On September 18, 2009, lead vocalist Alison Bellavance announced on a MySpace blog that the band was disbanding due to "personal issues."[7][8]

Release and promotion

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Before the release, the band held a CD release party on May 3, 2008, only in physical form with My America, Girlfight, HeyHey, and Innerpartysystem.[9] The band finally released their debut studio album Try This On For Size on May 6, 2008.[10]

The band announced a music video shoot on May 10 in 10 S. Main ST. Quakertown PA, where fans can attend and appear on the band's next music video. The music video was released on May 31, 2008, it was for the track “President of The Wrong Crowd” and it was directed by Adam Kobylarz.[9]

The track "Check Your Lease, You're In F**k City" appeared in Hardcore, Punk, Etc. 2008 on RevHQ.[11]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com     
All Music     [12]
Lambgoat6/10[13]
Theprp     [14]
Teeth of the DivinePositive[15]
V13Positive[16]
Decibel MagazinePositive[17]
Allschools8/10[18]
Revolver MagazinePositive[19]
AbsolutePunkPositive[20]

The album was met with positive reviews from many major outlets. Ryan Cooper from About.com said that the album have "an amalgam that is aggressive and fun, making a sound perfect for fans both on the dance floor in back or the pit down in front." Revolver Magazine adds 'So ridiculous, it's kinda awesome." Theprp adds "brash, oddly catchy and often abrasive, yet thanks to a variety of elements, ultimately charming as well."

Eduardo Rivadavia from All Music was more critical of the album, stating "Try This on for Size's prevailing electronic beats are bound to shoo away most metal and hardcore purists on principle alone, while the tuneless screeching that must be endured throughout will clear the average dancefloor faster than a three alarm fire." Lambgoat thought the same to an extent, explaining "the electronic influence is at its worst gimmicky and at its best an unnecessary supplement."

Teeth of the Divine was generous to the effort, adding "a pretty decent party album for dance, screamo and pop fans all mashed together in one catchy, quirky little album that’s certainly not for ‘real’ metal heads, but will have some odd appeal to the more curious metal fan." Chee Kam from V13 was very impressed, describing to the album "a certain theme throughout all the art." The group appeared in issue #46 of Decibel Magazine where they review the band's album.

On January 5, 2009, Try This On For Size was named “Best Punk Album of 2008” by About.com, defeating established acts such as The Briggs, Bob Mould, Rise Against, Street Dogs and more.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Spark Is a Diamond (tracks: 1 to 8, 10), Salt 'N Pepa (track 9), Tyler Lefebvre (track 11)

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Diamonds Are Forever" 0:28
2."Try This On For Size" 2:40
3."____ ____ Has A Deathwish" 2:47
4."Look What You've Done To This Rock & Roll Town" 2:29
5."Check Your Lease, You're In F**k City" 2:29
6."President Of The Wrong Crowd" 2:20
7."Destination: Awesome" 2:42
8."Interlude" 0:54
9."Push It (Real Good)"Salt 'N Pepa2:28
10."Oh Captain!" 2:16
11."Re-Wish // Death-Mix"Tyler Lefebvre2:31
Total length:24:12

Personnel

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Spark Is a Diamond

  • Alison Bellavance – lead vocals
  • Matt Boylan – vocals and guitars
  • Joseph Crawford – drums
  • Matt Hall – drums (tracks: 3, 5, 10)

Technical personnel

  • Dann Miller of The JonBenét – artwork and layout
  • Tyler Lefebvre – writer (track 11) and computer (tracks: 1, 8, 11)
  • Brian Pollack – electronics (tracks: 5, 10)
  • Chad Middleton of VCR – additional vocals (track 2)
  • Ben Hirschhorn of Morning for the Masses – additional vocals (track 3)
  • Michael Fossenkemper – mastering at Turtle Tone Studios
  • Matt Bayles – mixing at Red Room Studios
  • Matt Boylan – photography
  • Paul Leavitt – producer, engineer and recording
  • Salt 'N Pepa – writers (track 9)

References

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  1. ^ Raub, Jesse (January 31, 2008). "Pluto signs Spark Is A Diamond". Punknews. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  2. ^ "Pluto Records signs Spark Is A Diamond". Lambgoat. January 31, 2008. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "SPARK IS A DIAMOND Signs With PLUTO RECORDS". Blabbermouth. February 1, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  4. ^ "Pluto welcomes Spark Is A Diamond!". Pluto Records. January 31, 2008. Archived from the original on April 2, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "SPARK IS A DIAMOND: New Music Posted Online". Blabbermouth. March 25, 2008. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
  6. ^ "New SPARK IS A DIAMOND tracks posted!". Pluto Records. March 24, 2008. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
  7. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond breaks up". Lambgoat. September 25, 2009. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  8. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond Officially Breaks Up". Metal Underground. September 18, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  9. ^ a b "NEWS UPDATE: APRIL 10, 2008". Spark is a Diamond. April 10, 2008. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  10. ^ Geist, Brandon (May 6, 2008). "NEW MUSIC OUT TODAY: 5/06/2008". Revolver Magazine. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  11. ^ "DOWNLOAD OUR 2008 COMPILATION OF TRACKS FROM FEATURED NEW RELEASES". RevHQ. 2008. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008.
  12. ^ "Try This On For Size - All Music". All Music. May 6, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  13. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond Try This On For Size". Lambgoat. May 29, 2008. Retrieved May 29, 2008.
  14. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond - Try This On For Size". Theprp. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved May 23, 2008.
  15. ^ "Review: SPARK IS A DIAMOND - TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE". Teeth of the Divine. June 30, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  16. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond – Try This On For Size". V13. May 3, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
  17. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond - Try This on for Size". Decibel Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  18. ^ "SPARK IS A DIAMOND - TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE". All School. May 15, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  19. ^ "NEW MUSIC OUT TODAY: 5/06/2008". Revolver Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  20. ^ "Spark Is A Diamond - Try This On For Size - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. 2008. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
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