Diet For A New America
Encyclopedia
Diet for a New America is the debut record of American band 58
, the group featuring Nikki Sixx
. It was released on Sixx's Americoma Records on May 16, 2000.
: "One day we were sitting around; he had this hip-hop loop up, and I was playing this glamrock rift; and he goes, 'Wow, that's really fucked up. You hear how that sounds together?' I said, 'Yeah, it's horrible, huh?' So we started to roll tape."
He and Darling continued the casual approach—or what Sixx described as "complete reckless abandon"—to making the album, for example flipping a coin to see who would play instruments on which track or who would write lyrics. "Then we got to the point where we didn't even write lyrics—we just made them up on the spot. To this day I don't know any of them." Sixx expected the casual approach might be part of the album's appeal: "If people like it, they can like it for the music, not because it's being shoved down their throats by a record company."
Various musicians contributed, in a haphazard way. Said Sixx, "A bunch of musicians just came by and played. I don't even know who half of them are." A friend of Darling played upright bass on the track "Queer".
Sixx wanted a 1970s song to cover, and his first choice, "One
" by Three Dog Night, had recently been covered by Aimee Mann
for the movie Magnolia
. Sixx searched the Internet for #1 songs of the 1970s and came up with "Alone Again (Naturally)
". Darling said of the selection, "The tune was so bizarre to begin with that the idea of making that fit onto our record was a bit of a challenge."
wrote, "It's catchy, memorable, sleazy and worth checking out." In contrast, Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
wrote, "58 attempts too many styles and proves a master at none, and features Sixx's typically addlebrained lyrics."
58 (band)
58 is an American rock band, a side project involving Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and producer Dave Darling, Sixx's former father-in-law. The band name originates from the fact that both Sixx and Darling were born in 1958...
, the group featuring Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx
Nikki Sixx is an American musician, songwriter, author, fashion designer, radio host, and photographer, best known as the co-founder and bassist of the band Mötley Crüe. Prior to forming Mötley Crüe, Sixx was a member of Sister before going on to form London with his Sister band mate Lizzie Grey...
. It was released on Sixx's Americoma Records on May 16, 2000.
Conception and production
Nikki Sixx described in an interview the origins of the album, beginning with a jam session with guitarist Dave Darling of the band Boxing GandhisBoxing Gandhis
The Boxing Gandhis are an American alternative funk/soul band from Los Angeles founded by music producer David Darling The Boxing Gandhis are an American alternative funk/soul band from Los Angeles founded by music producer David Darling The Boxing Gandhis are an American alternative funk/soul band...
: "One day we were sitting around; he had this hip-hop loop up, and I was playing this glamrock rift; and he goes, 'Wow, that's really fucked up. You hear how that sounds together?' I said, 'Yeah, it's horrible, huh?' So we started to roll tape."
He and Darling continued the casual approach—or what Sixx described as "complete reckless abandon"—to making the album, for example flipping a coin to see who would play instruments on which track or who would write lyrics. "Then we got to the point where we didn't even write lyrics—we just made them up on the spot. To this day I don't know any of them." Sixx expected the casual approach might be part of the album's appeal: "If people like it, they can like it for the music, not because it's being shoved down their throats by a record company."
Various musicians contributed, in a haphazard way. Said Sixx, "A bunch of musicians just came by and played. I don't even know who half of them are." A friend of Darling played upright bass on the track "Queer".
Sixx wanted a 1970s song to cover, and his first choice, "One
One (Harry Nilsson song)
"One" is a song written by Harry Nilsson and made famous by Three Dog Night whose cover in 1969 reached number 5 on the Billboard chart. The song is known for its opening line "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do." It appeared initially on Aerial Ballet, Nilsson's third album.Nilsson...
" by Three Dog Night, had recently been covered by Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.-Early life:Aimee Mann grew up in Bon Air, Virginia, graduated from Open High School in 1978 and attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out to sing with her first punk rock band, the Young Snakes...
for the movie Magnolia
Magnolia (film)
Magnolia is a 1999 American drama film written, produced, and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, narrated by Ricky Jay, and starring Tom Cruise, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Jason Robards in his last feature film appearance...
. Sixx searched the Internet for #1 songs of the 1970s and came up with "Alone Again (Naturally)
Alone Again (Naturally)
"Alone Again " is a song by Irish singer–songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. It was released in 1972, and in total spent six weeks, non-consecutively, at #1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In Casey Kasem's American 'Top 40 of the 1970s', "Alone Again " ranked as the fifth...
". Darling said of the selection, "The tune was so bizarre to begin with that the idea of making that fit onto our record was a bit of a challenge."
Critical reception
Reviews were mixed. David Glessner of the San Antonio Express-NewsSan Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
wrote, "It's catchy, memorable, sleazy and worth checking out." In contrast, Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
wrote, "58 attempts too many styles and proves a master at none, and features Sixx's typically addlebrained lyrics."
Track listing
- "Don't Laugh (You Might Be Next)" – 3:30
- "El Paso" – 4:44
- "Piece of Candy" – 5:23
- "Shopping Cart Jesus" – 4:12
- "Queer" – 4:39
- "Song to Slit Your Wrists By" – 3:07
- "Stormy" – 3:38
- "Killing Joke" – 4:04
- "All My Heroes Are Dead" – 5:03
- "Alone Again (Naturally)Alone Again (Naturally)"Alone Again " is a song by Irish singer–songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. It was released in 1972, and in total spent six weeks, non-consecutively, at #1 on the United States Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In Casey Kasem's American 'Top 40 of the 1970s', "Alone Again " ranked as the fifth...
" – 4:09 - "Who We Are" – 1:52