Mono (album)
Encyclopedia
Mono was the first album from The Icarus Line
. It was originally released May 8, 2001 in the U.S. by Crank! Records
on CD, and Buddyhead on LP.
The album was recorded throughout two separate sessions in 2000. The first of these were conducted at the studio "Rotund Rascal" on Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. This initial attempt at recording the entire album with Mark Trombino
as engineer, ultimately resulted in only the completion of drums, bass, Alvin's guitars, and about half of Aaron's guitar tracks. In a bold move, the band fired Trombino, and resumed work over a month later with Alex Newport
at Messenger's Studio in North Hollywood, also on Lankershim Blvd. Having recorded albums such as At The Drive-In
's before at this same studio, Newport was comfortable in moving very quickly there with the band. The album, being recorded onto tape, as opposed to Pro Tools
(as was customary for most bands of the time) resulted in the majority of the album being "first takes". The album was also mixed quickly by the band with Newport at Messenger's Studio. It was then mastered by Mark Chalecki in the Capitol Records
building.
Upon its eventual release, the album gave the band a significant push in popularity worldwide. It was included on many "Best Albums of 2001" lists in various publications. In support of the album, the band toured with The Dillinger Escape Plan
, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
, and Cave In
, among many others.
Alternative versions of the album were licensed and released by Sweet Nothing in Europe, Ugly Boy Records in Australia, and Victor in Japan. The Japanese CD release included "Kill Cupid With A Nail File" as a bonus track. Sweet Nothing issued two singles for the album in the UK. "Feed A Cat To Your Cobra" came first, and included tracks recorded at the band's first BBC John Peel
radio session. Among these was a cover of The Stooges
song, "1970". The second single, for "Love Is Happiness", included a re-recorded version of the song, as well as tracks recorded during the band's second BBC John Peel
radio session. These recordings, along with a cover of the Spacemen 3
tune, "Losing Touch With My Mind", marked the appearance of the band's new drummer, Troy Petrey.
Vinyl Pressing Info: (Excluding Test Presses)
1 on clear red and dark purple mixed vinyl
2 on white vinyl
3 on dark purple vinyl
4 on marble vinyl
100 on clear vinyl (some of these sold as “tour editions” with different jackets)
100 on light purple vinyl
100 on clear red vinyl
400 on solid red vinyl
400 on red and black mixed vinyl
The Icarus Line
The Icarus Line is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California.The Icarus Line was formed out of the ashes of high school punk group Kanker Sores...
. It was originally released May 8, 2001 in the U.S. by Crank! Records
Crank! Records
crank! A Record Company is an independent record label which was started by Jeff Matlow in September 1994. The label's first release was a 7" by Vitreous Humor.-Artists:* Acrobat Down* Boy's Life* Cursive* Errortype:11* Fireside* The Get Set...
on CD, and Buddyhead on LP.
The album was recorded throughout two separate sessions in 2000. The first of these were conducted at the studio "Rotund Rascal" on Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. This initial attempt at recording the entire album with Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino
Mark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...
as engineer, ultimately resulted in only the completion of drums, bass, Alvin's guitars, and about half of Aaron's guitar tracks. In a bold move, the band fired Trombino, and resumed work over a month later with Alex Newport
Alex Newport
Alex Newport is a Grammy-nominated record producer, mixer and engineer, based in New York City.Newport was born in Wolverhampton, UK, in 1970 and grew up in the Midlands area....
at Messenger's Studio in North Hollywood, also on Lankershim Blvd. Having recorded albums such as At The Drive-In
At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American rock band from El Paso, Texas, considered part of the post-hardcore genre and active from 1993 to 2001. They were known for their extremely energetic stage shows which hearkened back to the 1980s hardcore scene...
's before at this same studio, Newport was comfortable in moving very quickly there with the band. The album, being recorded onto tape, as opposed to Pro Tools
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation platform for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, developed and manufactured by Avid Technology. It is widely used by professionals throughout the audio industries for recording and editing in music production, film scoring, film, and television...
(as was customary for most bands of the time) resulted in the majority of the album being "first takes". The album was also mixed quickly by the band with Newport at Messenger's Studio. It was then mastered by Mark Chalecki in the Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
building.
Upon its eventual release, the album gave the band a significant push in popularity worldwide. It was included on many "Best Albums of 2001" lists in various publications. In support of the album, the band toured with The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan
The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American mathcore band from Morris Plains, New Jersey. The group originated in 1997 after the disbanding of Arcane, a hardcore punk trio consisting of Ben Weinman, Dimitri Minakakis, and Chris Pennie. The band's current line-up consists of guitarist Ben Weinman,...
, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
, and Cave In
Cave In
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995, in Methuen, Massachusetts. After several members changes in the late 90's, their lineup solidified with the 1998 release of Until Your Heart Stops through Hydra Head Records. Their early albums were prominent releases in the independent...
, among many others.
Alternative versions of the album were licensed and released by Sweet Nothing in Europe, Ugly Boy Records in Australia, and Victor in Japan. The Japanese CD release included "Kill Cupid With A Nail File" as a bonus track. Sweet Nothing issued two singles for the album in the UK. "Feed A Cat To Your Cobra" came first, and included tracks recorded at the band's first BBC John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
radio session. Among these was a cover of The Stooges
The Stooges
The Stooges are an American rock band from Ann Arbor, Michigan first active from 1967 to 1974, and later reformed in 2003...
song, "1970". The second single, for "Love Is Happiness", included a re-recorded version of the song, as well as tracks recorded during the band's second BBC John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
radio session. These recordings, along with a cover of the Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. Their music was "colorfully mind-altering, but not in the sense of the acid rock of the '60s; instead, the band developed its own minimalistic psychedelia"...
tune, "Losing Touch With My Mind", marked the appearance of the band's new drummer, Troy Petrey.
Track listing
- "Love Is Happiness"
- "You Make Me Nervous"
- "L.O.S.T."
- "Enemies In High Places"
- "In Lieu"
- "Feed A Cat To Your Cobra"
- "Oh Faithless"
- "Please Fire Me"
- "Keep Your Eyes Peeled"
- "Best Two Out Of Three"
- "Rape Of The Holy Mother"
- "SPMC"
Personnel
- Joe Cardamone - Vocals
- Jeff "The Captain" Watson - Drums
- Aaron NorthAaron NorthAaron Wright North, born March 22, 1979 is the co-founder and former guitarist of punk band The Icarus Line, the former lead guitarist of the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails and currently the vocalist and guitarist of the band Jubilee...
- Guitar - Alvin DeGuzman - Guitar
- Lance Arnao - Bass
Production
- Mark TrombinoMark TrombinoMark Trombino is a rock music producer. He started his career as the drummer of Night Soil Man, before playing for Drive Like Jehu. He also played in a Long Beach-based punk rock band called First Offense which released a seven inch on Mystic Records entitled "Broken Home."-Bands:*Alive in Wild...
, Alex NewportAlex NewportAlex Newport is a Grammy-nominated record producer, mixer and engineer, based in New York City.Newport was born in Wolverhampton, UK, in 1970 and grew up in the Midlands area....
- Engineering/Recording - Alex NewportAlex NewportAlex Newport is a Grammy-nominated record producer, mixer and engineer, based in New York City.Newport was born in Wolverhampton, UK, in 1970 and grew up in the Midlands area....
– Mixing - Mark Chalecki - Mastering
- Shelby CincaShelby CincaShelby Serban-Alex Cinca is a Romania-born musician, one of the founding members of the DC post-punk band Frodus and the vaudevillian steampunk band, The Cassettes. He has also been a part of such bands as Frantic Mantis and Decahedron...
– Layout Assembly
Vinyl Pressing Information
- The 12-inch vinyl version of “Mono” was pressed just once, in 2001. Only 1,110 copies were pressed and released by Buddyhead. The CD version was originally released by Crank! Records in the U.S., after which the album was quickly bought back by the band, and then re-pressed and re-released on Buddyhead. These second, and further CD pressings, had slightly altered artwork, including an alternate font on the cover. Seeing as how the LP was pressed at the time of the original CD release, this explains why the covers for Buddyhead’s 5th release on both CD and LP don’t match.
Vinyl Pressing Info: (Excluding Test Presses)
1 on clear red and dark purple mixed vinyl
2 on white vinyl
3 on dark purple vinyl
4 on marble vinyl
100 on clear vinyl (some of these sold as “tour editions” with different jackets)
100 on light purple vinyl
100 on clear red vinyl
400 on solid red vinyl
400 on red and black mixed vinyl