Stabbing Westward (album)

Stabbing Westward is the fourth studio album by the American industrial rock band Stabbing Westward. It is their first album to be produced by Ed Buller and released on Koch Records. The album was released on May 22, 2001. The album shows a change in direction for the band. The album's songs are much less heavy and aggressive, while the industrial focus has given way to a more melodic sound. Before the album was released, lead singer Christopher Hall said in an interview that Stabbing Westward wrote great pop-rock songs, but the band had always ended up making them ugly by adding effects and screaming, etc. On this album, he claimed, they decided to write what they wanted, regardless of fan expectation.^[3] "The Only Thing" is a love song for Christopher Hall's wife.^[4]

Stabbing Westward
Studio album by Stabbing Westward
Released	May 22, 2001
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	44:40
Label	Koch
Producer	Ed Buller, Stabbing Westward
Stabbing Westward chronology
Darkest Days (1998) Stabbing Westward (2001) The Essential Stabbing Westward (2003)
Singles from Stabbing Westward
"So Far Away" Released: 2001

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Kerrang!	[2]
Sputnikmusic	3.4/5[3]

The album did well in Australia, but ultimately failed to sell worldwide.^[5]

Track listing

Stabbing Westward track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"So Far Away"	4:10
2.	"Perfect"	3:46
3.	"I Remember"	5:43
4.	"Wasted"	4:45
5.	"Happy"	4:03
6.	"The Only Thing"	5:38
7.	"Angel"	4:22
8.	"Breathe You In"	4:00
9.	"High"	3:21
10.	"Television"	4:52
Total length:		44:40

All tracks are written by Stabbing Westward

Japanese/Australian edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
11.	"Last Time"	3:35
Total length:		48:15

Best Buy bonus disc

No.	Title	Length
1.	"So Far Away" (acoustic)	3:48
2.	"Wasted" (acoustic)	4:37
Total length:		53:05

There is a US release that was a Best Buy exclusive. This package contains a bonus disk featuring previously unreleased acoustic versions of "So Far Away" and "Wasted". On the second disk, there is a misprint: it says "Perfect" instead of "Wasted". This two-disc set was only available at Best Buy stores in 2001 and only during the first week of its release.

Personnel

Stabbing Westward

• Christopher Hall – vocals
• Derrek Hawkins – guitar, acoustic guitar
• Jim Sellers – bass, baritone guitar
• Walter Flakus – keyboards, synthesizer, programming
• Andy Kubiszewski – drums, vibraphone, marimba, synthesizer, acoustic guitar

Additional

• Ed Buller – production, engineer
• Kent Matcke – editing, engineer
• Enrique Gonzales – editing, assistant engineer
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Tom Lord-Alge – mixing
• Matthew Welch – photography
• Paul McMenamin – art direction, design, artwork (CD package)
• Scott Rivera – artwork (design assistance)

Charts

Chart performance for Stabbing Westward

Chart (2001)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[6]	97
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7]	40
US Billboard 200[8]	47
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[9]	2

References

1. "Stabbing Westward – Stabbing Westward". AllMusic.
2. Beebee, Steve (June 16, 2001). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 857. UK: EMAP. p. 33.
3. "Review: Stabbing Westward – Stabbing Westward". Sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
4. Jonathan Peletis. "Christopher Hall Interviewed about Stabbing Westward & The Dreaming". YouTube. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
5. "Christopher Hall Interviewed about Stabbing Westward & The Dreaming". YouTube. November 9, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 265.
7. "Charts.nz – Stabbing Westward – Stabbing Westward". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
8. "Billboard 200: Week of June 9, 2001". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
9. "Independent Albums: Week of June 9, 2001". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.