The Fallout (Default album)

The Fallout is the debut studio album by Canadian hard rock band Default, released on October 2, 2001. Chad Kroeger, the frontman of Nickelback, contributed to the album's production and co-wrote six of its songs including its second single. With two hit singles, The Fallout is widely considered Default's best work and was their biggest commercial success, gaining platinum certification in the United States.

The Fallout
Studio album by Default
Released	October 2, 2001
Recorded	2001
Genre	Post-grunge
Length	37:17
Label	TVT
Producer	Rick Parashar Chad Kroeger
Default chronology
The Fallout (2001) Elocation (2003)
Singles from The Fallout
"Wasting My Time" Released: August 28, 2001 "Deny" Released: April 8, 2002 "Live a Lie" Released: 2002 "Sick and Tired" Released: 2002

The song "Wasting My Time" received much airplay throughout 2001 and 2002. The second single, "Deny", was featured on the soundtrack of the popular NHL 2003 game by EA Sports and also received a great deal of air time, helping launch Default into the mainstream of Canadian rock.

A special edition of this CD, alongside a DVD, included the bonus track "Blind" and acoustic versions of the lead singles "Deny" and "Wasting My Time". An acoustic version of the final track, "Let You Down", also served as the final track to Default's sophomore effort, Elocation.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	C[2]
PopMatters	(positive)[3]

The Fallout received mixed reviews from music critics who were skeptical of the band's musicianship being similar to other bands of its given genre. Stephanie Dickison of PopMatters gave praise to the album's professional yet naturally sounding production and Dallas Smith's performance for giving off the right amount of energy in his notes despite being a bit jovial at times, but felt the band would face problems being similar to 3 Doors Down, Lifehouse and Nickelback, saying that "For a debut, it is excellent. But up against the other heavy-guitar, heartily vocalized bands like the aforementioned, they have their work cut out for them."^[3] Andy Hinds of AllMusic highlighted the first three tracks as standouts but found the album overall to be devoid of originality in its borrowing of grunge music, saying it "provides a non-threatening option for those who seek the stylistic affectations of grunge rock, but wish to avoid all of the substance or excitement of its first generation."^[1] David Browne, writing for Entertainment Weekly, noticed a slight difference between this and Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean apart from taking elements of grunge into their respective albums: "Default’s debut, The Fallout, is more up-tempo and burly, yet they still manage to use the word never 32 times in one cut (”Slow Me Down”). The song titles – ”Sick and Tired,” ”Wasting My Time,” ”Live a Lie” – say it all."^[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Sick & Tired"	Dallas Smith Chad Kroeger		2:59
2.	"Deny"	Jeremy James Hora Kroeger	Default Kroeger	3:57
3.	"Wasting My Time"	Hora Smith		4:29
4.	"Slow Me Down"	Hora Kroeger	Default Kroeger	3:23
5.	"One Late Night"	Hora Kroeger		3:11
6.	"Seize the Day"	Hora Kroeger		2:44
7.	"Somewhere"	Smith		3:20
8.	"Live a Lie"	Smith	Default Rick Parashar	3:40
9.	"By Your Side"	Hora Smith		2:46
10.	"Faded"	Hora Kroeger		3:24
11.	"Let You Down"	Hora		3:29
Total length:				37:17

All music is composed by Default, except where noted.

Original pressing and limited edition bonus tracks

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
12.	"Blind"	Hora Kroeger		3:03
13.	"Deny" (acoustic)	Hora Kroeger	Default Kroeger	3:46
14.	"Wasting My Time" (acoustic)	Hora Smith		4:22
15.	"Circles" (original pressing)			3:27

Personnel

Default

• Dallas Smith – lead vocals
• Jeremy James Hora – guitar, backing vocals
• Dave Benedict – bass guitar
• Danny Craig – drums

Additional musicians

• Rick Parashar – piano (track 8)

Artwork

• Benjamin Wheelock – album design
• Blake Little – Photography

Production

• Rick Parashar – producer, engineer, and mixing (tracks 1, 3, 8)
• Kip Beelman – engineer and Pro-Tools engineer (tracks 1, 3, 8)
• Kelly Gray – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 8)
• Chad Kroeger – producer (tracks 2, 4-7, 9-12)
• Joey Moi – engineer and mixing (tracks 2, 4-7, 9-14)
• Jamie Stirr – 2nd engineer (tracks 2, 4-7, 9-12)
• Joe Spivak – 2nd engineer and digital engineer (tracks 2, 4-7, 9-12)
• George Marino – mastering
• Leonard B. Johnson - A&R

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2001) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[4] 85 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[5] 49 US Billboard 200[6] 51 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[7] 1 US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] 1 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for The Fallout by Default Chart (2001) Position Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[9] 170 Chart (2002) Position Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[10] 99 Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[11] 30 Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[12] 15 US Billboard 200[13] 97

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14]	Platinum	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Limited edition DVD

1. "Wasting My Time (Video)"
2. "Deny (Video)"
3. "Deny (Live)"
4. "Rockumentary"

References

1. Hinds, Andy. "The Fallout - Default". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
2. Browne, David (March 8, 2002). "Reviews for The Fallout, Hoobastank's Hoobastank, The Calling's Camino Palmero and Puddle of Mudd's Come Clean". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
3. Dickison, Stephanie (October 14, 2001). "Default: The Fallout". PopMatters. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
4. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 78.
5. "Charts.nz – Default – The Fallout". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
6. "Default Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
7. "Default | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
8. "Default Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
9. "Top 200 Albums of 2001 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
10. "Top 200 Albums of 2002 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
11. "Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
12. "Top 100 Metal Albums of 2002". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
13. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
14. "Canadian album certifications – Default – The Fallout". Music Canada.
15. "American album certifications – Default – The Fallout". Recording Industry Association of America.