Beyond Good and Evil (The Cult album)
Encyclopedia
Beyond Good and Evil is the seventh studio album
by English rock
band The Cult
. Released in 2001, it marked their first new recording in six and a half years. The record debuted at #37 on the charts in the United States, #22 in Canada, #25 in Spain.
Only one single
, "Rise," was officially released and had a music video
. The songs "Breathe" and "True Believers" were released as promotional singles but not as official singles.
This album also marked the return of Matt Sorum as The Cult's drummer. Although Sorum had previously toured with the band on the Sonic Temple tour in 1989 and 1990, this was the first time that he had recorded a studio album with the band.
's 1886 book
of the same title, and it briefly had the mock working title of Bring Me the Head of Dave Grohl
, referencing the frontman of Foo Fighters
, Probot
and Them Crooked Vultures
, and also the former drummer of Nirvana
. In 2006, singer Ian Astbury
claimed via the band's website that his preferred choice for the record's title was Demon Process.
"My Bridges Burn" was originally titled "Save Me"; "Breathe" originally had the slightly longer title "Breathe (You Bastard)" along with an overdub of keyboards after the guitar solo which was later removed; and "Speed of Light" went through several different titles: originally titled "Black California," then "Who Plays the Devil" before the band decided on its final title.
There are several CD acetates of early recordings of the songs later featured on Beyond Good and Evil. A CD-R
of demo versions of the songs leaked out, unofficially referred to as Unmixed, Unmastered, Unsequenced, and a bootleg CD-R of later, but still unfinished versions of the songs is also in circulation.
and Billy Duffy
, except where noted.
Different bonus tracks were added in certain regions:
with:
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 English rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
. Released in 2001, it marked their first new recording in six and a half years. The record debuted at #37 on the charts in the United States, #22 in Canada, #25 in Spain.
Only one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Rise," was officially released and had a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
. The songs "Breathe" and "True Believers" were released as promotional singles but not as official singles.
This album also marked the return of Matt Sorum as The Cult's drummer. Although Sorum had previously toured with the band on the Sonic Temple tour in 1989 and 1990, this was the first time that he had recorded a studio album with the band.
Background and writing
The title of the record is a reference to Friedrich NietzscheFriedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
's 1886 book
Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil is a book by the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, first published in 1886.It takes up and expands on the ideas of his previous work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, but approached from a more critical, polemical direction....
of the same title, and it briefly had the mock working title of Bring Me the Head of Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
, referencing the frontman of Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, Probot
Probot
Probot was a heavy metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters rhythm guitarist and lead-singer Dave Grohl. An album was recorded out of the material and released in February 2004...
and Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2009 by John Paul Jones , Dave Grohl , and Josh Homme . The group also includes guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances...
, and also the former drummer of Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
. In 2006, singer Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
claimed via the band's website that his preferred choice for the record's title was Demon Process.
"My Bridges Burn" was originally titled "Save Me"; "Breathe" originally had the slightly longer title "Breathe (You Bastard)" along with an overdub of keyboards after the guitar solo which was later removed; and "Speed of Light" went through several different titles: originally titled "Black California," then "Who Plays the Devil" before the band decided on its final title.
There are several CD acetates of early recordings of the songs later featured on Beyond Good and Evil. A CD-R
CD-R
A CD-R is a variation of the Compact Disc invented by Philips and Sony. CD-R is a Write Once Read Many optical medium, though the whole disk does not have to be entirely written in the same session....
of demo versions of the songs leaked out, unofficially referred to as Unmixed, Unmastered, Unsequenced, and a bootleg CD-R of later, but still unfinished versions of the songs is also in circulation.
Track listing
All songs written by Ian AstburyIan Astbury
Ian Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
and Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy
Billy Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
, except where noted.
- "War (The Process)" - 4:12
- "The Saint" - 3:36
- "Rise" - 3:39
- "Take the Power" - 3:55
- "Breathe" (Astbury, Duffy, Mick JonesMick Jones (Foreigner)Michael Leslie "Mick" Jones is an English guitarist, songwriter, and record producer best known as the founding member of the rock band Foreigner.-Life and career:...
, Marti FrederiksenMarti FrederiksenMartin Harold Frederiksen is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician. He writes and produces music primarily in rock, country, and pop...
) - 4:59 - "Nico" - 4:49
- "American Gothic" - 3:56
- "Ashes and Ghosts" (Astbury, Duffy, Bob RockBob RockRobert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
) - 5:00 - "Shape the Sky" - 3:29
- "Speed of Light" (Astbury, Duffy, Rock) - 4:22
- "True Believers" - 5:07
- "My Bridges Burn" - 3:51
Different bonus tracks were added in certain regions:
- "Libertine" (Bonus track - in Australia and Japan)
- "Wild Child" (Bonus track - in Russia and Eastern Europe)
- "In the Clouds" (Bonus track - in Russia and Eastern Europe)
Other versions
- In mainland ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, this record was issued in a cardboard foldout sleeve. - In TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, it was released with an obi stripObi stripAn is a strip of paper looped around a book or other product. This extends the term obi used for Japanese clothing; it is written with the same kanji. It is also referred to as a , or more narrowly as .-For books:...
. - "Nico" was incorrectly listed as "Niko" on some German CD pressings.
- In AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, a six song demo disc was given to record company executives. - A promotional disc was released in a slimline plastic CD case in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, with a completely different front cover.
Personnel
- Ian AstburyIan AstburyIan Astbury is an English rock musician and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist for the rock band, The Cult.-Pre-Cult:...
- vocals - Billy DuffyBilly DuffyBilly Duffy is an English guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist in The Cult.-Early days:He grew up in Manchester, where he began playing guitar at the age of fourteen...
- all guitars - Matt SorumMatt SorumMatthew William Sorum is an American rock drummer and percussionist. Sorum is most famous for his 7-year stint in Guns N' Roses and supergroup Velvet Revolver , which is comprised in part of former Guns N' Roses members Duff McKagan and Slash .-Early career :Matt Sorum was born Matthew William...
- drums and percussion
with:
- Martyn LeNobleMartyn LeNobleMartyn LeNoble is a Dutch bassist and founding member of Porno for Pyros.LeNoble started his musical career by playing bass in a Dutch punk rock band when he was 14. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles and played with the likes of Thelonious Monster and The Too Free Stooges...
: bass on tracks 5, 10, 11, 12 - Chris WyseChris WyseChris Wyse is the current bass guitarist for the influential hard rock band The Cult. He is also the vocalist and bassist of his own band, Owl.Wyse tried out for Metallica to replace Jason Newsted in 2003, and can be seen on the DVD Some Kind of Monster...
: bass on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12