Grade 8 (album)
Encyclopedia
Grade 8 is the self-titled debut album by American nu metal
/rap metal
music group Grade 8
. It was released on February 11, 2003 via Lava Records
. The album failed to gain commercial success and resulted in Grade 8 being dropped from Lava.
style with thunderous, staccato
riffing in B tuning
and harshly delivered rapping
. Songs contain chugging double bass as well as moody, atmospheric sections. Comparable to Machine Head
's Burning Red
, the album's style is largely characteristic of nu metal
which had faded from mainstream popularity by 2003. Frontman Dustin Tooker explained, "It’s just an honest expression of how we feel. We wrote a record we’re huge fans of, just being music fans."
Lyrically, Grade 8 contains aggressive prose of confrontation and perseverance. This is reflected in the liner notes photography which portrays various elements of a boxing ring
in a dark and gritty fashion.
A cover
of Rare Earth
's 1971 hit "I Just Want to Celebrate
" was also featured on Grade 8 as interpreted in their heavy, metallic fashion. It includes an additional rapped verse, similar to 3rd Strike
's rendition of "Paranoid
" released almost a year prior.
was produced for the opening track, "Brick by Brick." It was posted online in May 2003 and found minimal airplay on Fuse TV
. "Celebrate," a heavy cover
of the Rare Earth
hit, was released to radio on June 23 as a follow-up single. However, several tracks off the album garnered circulation on Muzak's satellite radio
station, Power Rock. The song "Let 'Em Know" was also featured in the video game True Crime: Streets of LA
.
The band joined Spineshank
for a club tour schedule in the spring before taking a Second Stage slot on Ozzfest
2003. Suspicion rose when, however, when Grade 8 and Depswa
abruptly left the tour in mid August. Early reports cited an apparent loss of tour support funds which was not commented on by the bands' publicists. It was also noted that neither Grade 8 nor Depswa had managed to sell 10,000 copies of the latest albums upon leaving Ozzfest, suggesting that their record labels, unsatisfied with their commercial success, had discontinued their tour support. Both bands joined Chimaira
for a few club shows in late August.
Shortly after this, Grade 8 was dropped from Lava after bassist Tim Tooker and drummer Michael Blankenship were fired frontman Dustin Tooker.
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
/rap metal
Rap metal
Rap metal is a subgenre of rap rock which fuses vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop music with heavy metal.-History:Rap metal originated from rap rock, a genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with rock...
music group Grade 8
Grade 8 (band)
-Background:Grade 8 formed in 1996 in the Los Angeles area. They signed with Lava Records in 2002, and released their self-titled debut album grade 8 on February 11, 2003...
. It was released on February 11, 2003 via Lava Records
Lava Records
Lava Records is an American based record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated through Universal Republic Records.-Company history:...
. The album failed to gain commercial success and resulted in Grade 8 being dropped from Lava.
Musical style
Grade 8 features a pummeling rap metalRap metal
Rap metal is a subgenre of rap rock which fuses vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop music with heavy metal.-History:Rap metal originated from rap rock, a genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with rock...
style with thunderous, staccato
Staccato
Staccato is a form of musical articulation. In modern notation it signifies a note of shortened duration and separated from the note that may follow by silence...
riffing in B tuning
B tuning
B Tuning or B Standard Tuning or Cb Tuning is the standard tuning for a seven string guitar, where the strings are tuned B-E-A-D-G-B-E. B tuning can also be achieved on a six string guitar, when the strings are tuned B-E-A-D-F♯-B, known then as Baritone Tuning...
and harshly delivered rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. Songs contain chugging double bass as well as moody, atmospheric sections. Comparable to Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
's Burning Red
The Burning Red
- Personnel :* Robert Flynn - vocals, guitars* Adam Duce - bass, backing vocals* Ahrue Luster - lead guitars* Dave McClain - drums-Chart positions:...
, the album's style is largely characteristic of nu metal
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
which had faded from mainstream popularity by 2003. Frontman Dustin Tooker explained, "It’s just an honest expression of how we feel. We wrote a record we’re huge fans of, just being music fans."
Lyrically, Grade 8 contains aggressive prose of confrontation and perseverance. This is reflected in the liner notes photography which portrays various elements of a boxing ring
Boxing ring
A boxing ring is the space in which a boxing match occurs. A modern ring, which is set on a raised platform, is square with a post at each corner to which four parallel rows of ropes are attached with a turnbuckle...
in a dark and gritty fashion.
A cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
's 1971 hit "I Just Want to Celebrate
I Just Want to Celebrate
"I Just Want to Celebrate" is a song recorded by American rock band Rare Earth. It served as the lead single from their 1971 album One World and the band's fifth single overall. "I Just Want to Celebrate" peaked at #7 on the pop charts and would be Rare Earth's final top 10 single. It would be the...
" was also featured on Grade 8 as interpreted in their heavy, metallic fashion. It includes an additional rapped verse, similar to 3rd Strike
3rd Strike
3rd Strike was a nu metal group, started by Jim Korthe , Todd Deguchi , Erik Carlsson , PJ McMullan and Gabe Hammersmith . Their lyrics were primarily based upon the former lives of the group's members...
's rendition of "Paranoid
Paranoid (song)
"Paranoid" is a song by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, featured on their second album Paranoid . It is the first single from the album, while the B-side is the song "The Wizard". It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" released almost a year prior.
Touring and promotion
A music videoMusic 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...
was produced for the opening track, "Brick by Brick." It was posted online in May 2003 and found minimal airplay on Fuse TV
Fuse TV
Fuse is an American national television network dedicated exclusively to music. It features original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks....
. "Celebrate," a heavy cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
hit, was released to radio on June 23 as a follow-up single. However, several tracks off the album garnered circulation on Muzak's satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
station, Power Rock. The song "Let 'Em Know" was also featured in the video game True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA
True Crime: Streets of LA is an action-adventure video game developed by Luxoflux and published by Activision for the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube in November 2003 and the first game in the True Crime series...
.
The band joined Spineshank
Spineshank
Spineshank is an American Grammy-nominated alternative metal band. The band has sold over 540,000 records, and has released 3 studio albums.-Formation, Roadrunner Records years :...
for a club tour schedule in the spring before taking a Second Stage slot on Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
2003. Suspicion rose when, however, when Grade 8 and Depswa
Depswa
Depswa are a four-piece alternative metal music group originating from Modesto, California.-History:The beginnings of Depswa came together in the mid-90's with vocalist Jeremy Penick and bassist Ryan Burchfield, under their original band name "Carcinogen". By the late 90's, Penick and Burchfield...
abruptly left the tour in mid August. Early reports cited an apparent loss of tour support funds which was not commented on by the bands' publicists. It was also noted that neither Grade 8 nor Depswa had managed to sell 10,000 copies of the latest albums upon leaving Ozzfest, suggesting that their record labels, unsatisfied with their commercial success, had discontinued their tour support. Both bands joined Chimaira
Chimaira
Chimaira is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1998, the group is a notable member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal scene. The band's name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology...
for a few club shows in late August.
Shortly after this, Grade 8 was dropped from Lava after bassist Tim Tooker and drummer Michael Blankenship were fired frontman Dustin Tooker.
Critical response
The album was not received with particular enthusiasm. Robert L. Doerschuk of Allmusic noted "Get it Out" an AMG Track Pick and stated, "There's no doubt that grade 8 can pummel through a set of neo-metal material and, most likely, tear it up on-stage; the only question is why that may be all it takes to make it in a style whose rules are as rigid and unforgiving as those of even the most conservative genres."Commercial success
Grade 8 did not manage to chart nor did its singles. When the band abruptly ended its Ozzfest schedule in mid August, Grade 8 had sold just under 10,000 copies which allegedly prompted Lava to pull tour funding.Track listing
All songs written by Ryan Tooker and Dustin Tooker except where noted.- "Brick by Brick" – 3:14
- "Headcase" – 3:50
- "One Wish" – 4:11
- "Adrenachrome" – 3:36
- "Get It Out" – 3:21
- "Empire Falls" – 4:40
- "Let 'Em Know" – 3:35
- "Chances" – 3:59
- "Deal With It" – 2:44
- "Frozen" – 3:18
- "Smoke N' Mirrors" – 2:47
- "CelebrateI Just Want to Celebrate"I Just Want to Celebrate" is a song recorded by American rock band Rare Earth. It served as the lead single from their 1971 album One World and the band's fifth single overall. "I Just Want to Celebrate" peaked at #7 on the pop charts and would be Rare Earth's final top 10 single. It would be the...
" (Dino Fekaris, Nick Zesses) – 3:27
Grade 8
- Ryan Tooker – Vocals
- Dustin Tooker – Guitar
- Guy Couturier – Bass
- Scott Carneghi – Drums
Production
- Produced and engineered by Ross Hogarth
- Programming by Justin Walden
- Mixed by Toby WrightToby WrightToby Wright is a record producer and mixing engineer who has worked with artists such as Alice in Chains, Metallica, Sevendust and Korn. He is currently in Nashville, Tennessee working on Kara Clark's latest Ep.-Producer:...
at Record Plant StudiosRecord Plant StudiosThe Record Plant was a series of three famous recording studios which were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, beginning in New York City in 1968. The next year, Kellgren and Stone opened a second studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the company expanded again with a third location in Sausalito,...
, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CACaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...