Citizen King
Encyclopedia
Citizen King was an American music group from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, whose style was a mix of hip-hop
, soul
and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)
", which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1999.
Count the Days.
They toured with Fishbone
, and executives at 510 signed them after attending their show at the South by Southwest convention. The band's 1999 release Mobile Estates
received moderate commercial success. Many songs from that album were used for the pilot episode and the series finale of Malcolm in the Middle
.
Their first single and biggest hit was "Better Days (And The Bottom Drops Out)." It became a Top 40 hit and went gold in the summer of 1999. It was also ranked on other Billboard charts, including peaks of #3 on Modern Rock
, #33 on Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, and #1 on Top 40 Recurrents. A remix of "Better Days (And The Bottom Drops Out)" was used in the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds, and the original version was used in the video game, Street Skater 2, along with "Under the Influence." "Salt Bag Spill" was featured on The Animal
soundtrack in 2001. The band was managed by Jeff Castelaz
, who later founded Dangerbird Records
, and continues to manage keyboardist Dave Cooley in his work as a producer and mixer.
Keyboardist Dave Cooley continued his career as a producer and has produced records for such artists as Silversun Pickups
, Local Natives
, Eulogies
, Darker My Love
and The Polyphonic Spree
.
Citizen King disbanded in 2002.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, whose style was a mix of hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and punk. They are best known for their top 40 hit "Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)
Better Days (And the Bottom Drops Out)
"Better Days " is a 1999 single by the American music group Citizen King, and featured on their album Mobile Estates...
", which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in 1999.
History
The band formed in 1993 after the breakup of their previous band, Wild Kingdom. Both bands received a lot of local recognition for their live shows. While Citizen King's first LP and EP were only commercial successes around Wisconsin, they were well received by critics. They were discovered by Speech from Arrested Development, who produced several tracks on their debut album Brown Bag. They followed up with the EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Count the Days.
They toured with Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
, and executives at 510 signed them after attending their show at the South by Southwest convention. The band's 1999 release Mobile Estates
Mobile Estates
Mobile Estates is Citizen King's first major record release. Many songs off this album were used in pilot episodes and the series finale of Malcolm in the Middle. A remix of "Better Days " was used in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds...
received moderate commercial success. Many songs from that album were used for the pilot episode and the series finale of Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle
Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for the Fox Network. The series was first broadcast on January 9, 2000, and ended its six-and-a-half-year run on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes...
.
Their first single and biggest hit was "Better Days (And The Bottom Drops Out)." It became a Top 40 hit and went gold in the summer of 1999. It was also ranked on other Billboard charts, including peaks of #3 on Modern Rock
Modern Rock Tracks
Alternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
, #33 on Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, and #1 on Top 40 Recurrents. A remix of "Better Days (And The Bottom Drops Out)" was used in the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds, and the original version was used in the video game, Street Skater 2, along with "Under the Influence." "Salt Bag Spill" was featured on The Animal
The Animal
The Animal is a 2001 comedy film, directed by Luke Greenfield. It stars Rob Schneider, Colleen Haskell, Edward Asner, and John C. McGinley....
soundtrack in 2001. The band was managed by Jeff Castelaz
Jeff Castelaz
Jeff Castelaz is Co-Founder and CEO of two closely intertwined companies: Los Angeles-based Dangerbird Records and The Pablove Foundation.- Early career :...
, who later founded Dangerbird Records
Dangerbird Records
Dangerbird Records is an independent record label located in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Jeff Castelaz and Peter Walker in 2004, the label is home to artists across the globe, as well as part of the burgeoning Silver Lake music scene. Their small roster of artists has enjoyed international...
, and continues to manage keyboardist Dave Cooley in his work as a producer and mixer.
Keyboardist Dave Cooley continued his career as a producer and has produced records for such artists as Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band comprises Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester....
, Local Natives
Local Natives
Local Natives are an indie rock band based in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, USA. Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, was first released in the UK in November 2009, and later released in the US on February 16, 2010...
, Eulogies
Eulogies (band)
Eulogies is an American rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The current line-up consists of Peter Walker on guitar and vocals, Garrett Deloian on bass, Chris Reynolds on drums, and Drew Phillips on guitar....
, Darker My Love
Darker My Love
Darker My Love is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of 5 members. Tim Presley, a former member of the band The Nerve Agents and also a visual artist responsible for much of the band's imagery, formed the band in 2004 and contributes vocals and guitar...
and The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...
.
Citizen King disbanded in 2002.
Albums
- Brown Bag LPBrown Bag LPCitizen King released their debut album Brown Bag LP on Don't Records on August 8, 1995 . They supported this recording with shows in and around their home city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The album has several tracks produced by Speech of Arrested Development fame . The songs are a hybrid brew of...
(August 8, 1995) - Mobile EstatesMobile EstatesMobile Estates is Citizen King's first major record release. Many songs off this album were used in pilot episodes and the series finale of Malcolm in the Middle. A remix of "Better Days " was used in the movie Gone in 60 Seconds...
(March 9, 1999), peaked on Billboard's HeatseekersTop HeatseekersTop Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart at #27