About Time (Pennywise album)
Encyclopedia
About Time is the third studio album
by Pennywise
, released on June 13, 1995.
Although the album was not a commercial success, it is widely considered to be one of Pennywise's best releases, and it includes their concert staples, "Peaceful Day", "Perfect People", "Every Single Day", and "Same Old Story". About Time was also the first Pennywise album to chart in Billboard
; the release peaked at number 96. Most of the album follows the theme of problems with time: fear of it passing, controlling it and accepting it.
About Time is also the last Pennywise album to feature bass player Jason Thirsk
, who committed suicide on July 29, 1996. After debating whether to break up, or to move on with a new bass player, Pennywise decided to hire a new bassist, Randy Bradbury
, who would stay with the band permanently.
rejoined Pennywise in 1992, after a temporary hiatus, releasing the second album Unknown Road
in 1993. Although Unknown Road failed to chart in Billboard
, the band enjoyed moderate success and gained supporting slots on national and world tours with bands such as The Offspring
. Due to constant touring and appearances on snowboarding and surfing videos, the album sold around 200,000 copies. In the latter part of 1994, Pennywise began writing and recording their third album, entitled About Time. They entered Total Access Recording
in Redondo Beach
that December and recorded their new album over a three-month period. When they were in the midst of recording About Time, Pennywise was courted by several major labels, who approached the band following the unexpected multi-platinum breakthrough success of Green Day
and The Offspring
, but Pennywise rejected the idea of signing to a major label and decided to stay with Epitaph.
(North America) and the ARIA Charts
(Australia).
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Pennywise
Pennywise (band)
Pennywise is a Californian punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. The name is derived from the monster, It, from the Stephen King novel of the same title....
, released on June 13, 1995.
Although the album was not a commercial success, it is widely considered to be one of Pennywise's best releases, and it includes their concert staples, "Peaceful Day", "Perfect People", "Every Single Day", and "Same Old Story". About Time was also the first Pennywise album to chart in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
; the release peaked at number 96. Most of the album follows the theme of problems with time: fear of it passing, controlling it and accepting it.
About Time is also the last Pennywise album to feature bass player Jason Thirsk
Jason Thirsk
Jason Matthew Thirsk was the former bass player of the California punk rock band Pennywise who grew up in Hermosa Beach, California....
, who committed suicide on July 29, 1996. After debating whether to break up, or to move on with a new bass player, Pennywise decided to hire a new bassist, Randy Bradbury
Randy Bradbury
Randy Bradbury is the current bass guitar player for the Californian punk band Pennywise.He joined in October 1995 when founding bass player Jason Thirsk left the band. Randy was supposed to switch to rhythm guitar when Thirsk returned, but it never happened due to Thirsk's suicide in 1996...
, who would stay with the band permanently.
Background and recording
Frontman Jim LindbergJim Lindberg
James William Lindberg is an American singer and guitarist. Active since the 1980s, when he played in local bands in his early career, Lindberg is best known for being the frontman and songwriter of the influential punk rock band Pennywise, where he had remained as a member for 21 years...
rejoined Pennywise in 1992, after a temporary hiatus, releasing the second album Unknown Road
Unknown Road
Unknown Road is the second album by Pennywise, released on August 17, 1993 through Epitaph Records. After frontman Jim Lindberg briefly left the band during touring in support of its previous album, Pennywise , Pennywise began the recording sessions for their second album...
in 1993. Although Unknown Road failed to chart in Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, the band enjoyed moderate success and gained supporting slots on national and world tours with bands such as The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
. Due to constant touring and appearances on snowboarding and surfing videos, the album sold around 200,000 copies. In the latter part of 1994, Pennywise began writing and recording their third album, entitled About Time. They entered Total Access Recording
Total Access Recording
Total Access Recording is a Recording Studio located in Redondo Beach, California. Total Access opened for business in December of 1980 and has been delivering the finest professional audio services at affordable costs ever since...
in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach may refer to:*Redondo Beach, California, USA*Redondo Beach, Washington, USA, a small board-walk beach in Des Moines, Washington*Redondo Beach , by Patti Smith and covered by Morrissey*Redonda Beach, a similarly named place in Portugal...
that December and recorded their new album over a three-month period. When they were in the midst of recording About Time, Pennywise was courted by several major labels, who approached the band following the unexpected multi-platinum breakthrough success of Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
and The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
, but Pennywise rejected the idea of signing to a major label and decided to stay with Epitaph.
Reception
The Allmusic review by Paul Henderson awards the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and states: "The band's fourth release in as many years finds it functioning as a full-strength unit, cranking out searing hardcore laced with positive but leery messages and ideals. While the music and message remain essentially the same as their previous releases, increasing depth and maturity begin to take hold in both these areas."Track listing
- "Peaceful Day" – 2:52
- "Waste of Time" – 2:18
- "Perfect People" – 3:04
- "Every Single Day" – 2:39
- "Searching" – 2:55
- "Not Far Away" – 2:52
- "Freebase" – 2:41
- "It's What You Do with It" – 2:25
- "Try" – 2:32
- "Same Old Story" – 2:42
- "I Won't Have It" – 2:30
- "Killing Time" – 2:37
Personnel
- Jim Lindberg – lead vocals
- Fletcher Dragge – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jason Thirsk – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Byron Macmackin – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Eddie Ashworth – assistant engineer
- Jerry FinnJerry FinnJerry Finn was an American record producer. He was perhaps best known for his work with Blink-182, as well as Morrissey, AFI, Bad Religion, Alkaline Trio, MxPx, Rancid, Green Day, Sum 41 and The Offspring.-Death:...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including... - Brett GurewitzBrett GurewitzBrett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
– producer - Fred Hidalgo – creative director
Album
BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(North America) and the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
(Australia).
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Billboard 200 | 96 |
| Australian Albums Chart | 55 |