Happy Pills (album)
Encyclopedia
Happy Pills is the third studio album
by Seattle
post-grunge
band, Candlebox
. It features former Pearl Jam
drummer Dave Krusen
who replaced Scott Mercado in 1997. Happy Pills did not gain the success of its predecessors and would be the last Candlebox album before their hiatus in 2000. It would also be the final Candlebox album recorded for Maverick
.
Four of the album's tracks would be included on The Best of Candlebox in 2006.
Three songs were left unfinished from the Happy Pills recording sessions. These were intended to be completed for B-side release in 1999.
The band's concert schedule would face numerous defects. In mid 1998, Martin suffered a burst blood vessel
in his throat, forcing the band to cancel some shows. Months later, they were asked to join Aerosmith
on the 9th leg of their Nine Lives Tour
in December. Krusen departed from Candlebox in January 1999 and was replaced by Shannon Larkin
of Ugly Kid Joe
. Bardi Martin also left for college and was replaced by Rob Redick, formerly of Dig
.
"It's Alright" would be the album's lead single
and chart well. A music video
was filmed but after a negative response from the band, a second version was quickly shot in California on July 7.
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 Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
post-grunge
Post-grunge
Post-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
band, Candlebox
Candlebox
Candlebox is an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since their debut, the group has released four studio albums, which have achieved multi-platinum and gold certification, as well as numerous charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD....
. It features former Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
drummer Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
who replaced Scott Mercado in 1997. Happy Pills did not gain the success of its predecessors and would be the last Candlebox album before their hiatus in 2000. It would also be the final Candlebox album recorded for Maverick
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
.
Four of the album's tracks would be included on The Best of Candlebox in 2006.
Background and recording
The band had asked their fans to submit concept cover art for their upcoming album. They originally promised the gold press CD for the 1st place winner but after having trouble obtaining it, awarded a personalized platinum plaque.Three songs were left unfinished from the Happy Pills recording sessions. These were intended to be completed for B-side release in 1999.
Touring and promotion
Touring for Happy Pills began only after the album's recording and release. In a 2007 interview, frontman Kevin Martin expressed regret in this process, stating that the songs have been able to mature through the following years of live performances.The band's concert schedule would face numerous defects. In mid 1998, Martin suffered a burst blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
in his throat, forcing the band to cancel some shows. Months later, they were asked to join Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
on the 9th leg of their Nine Lives Tour
Nine lives tour
The Nine Lives Tour was a tour headlined by Aerosmith which ran for over 2 years and saw the band playing shows in North America, Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal. The tour...
in December. Krusen departed from Candlebox in January 1999 and was replaced by Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin, born James Shannon Larkin on April 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, is a musician best known for being the drummer of the heavy metal band Godsmack. He replaced the previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002...
of Ugly Kid Joe
Ugly Kid Joe
Ugly Kid Joe is an American hard rock band from Isla Vista, California. The band's name spoofs that of another band, Pretty Boy Floyd. Ugly Kid Joe's sound includes a range of styles, including rock, glam metal, hard rock and heavy metal....
. Bardi Martin also left for college and was replaced by Rob Redick, formerly of Dig
Dig (band)
-History:Dig formed in 1991 in Los Angeles; vocalist Scott Hackwith had previously produced for The Ramones, and guitarist Dix Denney had played with The Weirdos and Thelonious Monster. After releasing an EP in 1992, they signed with Radioactive Records and issued their first full-length in 1993,...
.
"It's Alright" would be the album's lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
and chart well. 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...
was filmed but after a negative response from the band, a second version was quickly shot in California on July 7.
Track listing
- "10,000 Horses" — 5:10
- "Happy Pills" — 3:26
- "Blinders" — 5:49
- "It's Alright" — 5:23
- "A Stone's Throw Away" — 5:41
- "So Real" — 3:54
- "Offerings" — 4:17
- "Sometimes" — 5:08
- "Step Back" — 4:30
- "Belmore Place" — 4:02
- "Breakaway" — 4:15
- "Look What You've Done" — 4:33
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 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... |
US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | ||
| 1998 | "It's Alright" | - | 32 | 2 |
| "10,000 Horses" | - | - | 13 | |
| 1999 | "Happy Pills" | - | - | 17 |
Candlebox
- Kevin Martin – vocals
- Peter Klett – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Bardi Martin – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Dave KrusenDave KrusenDave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....