Silent Radar
Encyclopedia
Silent Radar is the fourth studio album by The Watchmen
. The album contained numerous hits including "Stereo
", "Any Day Now
", and "Say Something". Videos for "Stereo" and "Any Day Now" saw heavy play on MuchMusic
in 1998, but by the time the video for "Brighter Hell" was released in 1999, the momentum had slowed and this video was seen infrequently.
The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
on July 30, 1998.
, this was the first release from the band by EMI
Music Canada. In 1995, Seagram Company Ltd. acquired 80% of MCA and the following year the new owners dropped the MCA name; the company became Universal Studios, Inc.
and its music division, MCA Music Entertainment Group, was renamed Universal Music Group
.
The biggest change on the CD was the band's embrace of the internet. The CD included a CD-activated key to access multi-media material in a secret area of the band's website. The CD activated website was the first use of this technology for a major-label band.
This gave the band three websites: their old website done in a traditional fashion, a new site dedicated to their new record Silent Radar, and a main site which included WAG, the band's official "magazine."
At the time, their webzine WAG set the band apart from their contemporaries. The webzine was filled with writing from the various band members and included digital photos taken by the band, tour diaries, feature articles, and a summary of the band's reviews of concerts, books, records and gear.
The goal of the band in this internet endeavor was to allow them to give people a little taste of who they were when not on stage and what they think about.
The release of the album was also unique for its time. They unveiled the album one piece at a time over the internet. Starting Thursday March 5, 1998, a piece of the artwork from the new album was posted on a special website, along with a snippet of one song from the album. Between March 5, 1998 and March 27, 1998, a new piece and a new song was posted every other day until the puzzle was descrambled, and fans had seen and heard bits of the whole tracklisting.
The first song to be put up on the site was the first single "Stereo", and the snippets were only up for a two-day period before it was replaced by the next song.
Following the Canadian release on March 31, 1998, the official album release party came as a live show by the band which was broadcast over the Internet on Thursday April 2, 1998. The webcast was a live show from the Horseshoe Tavern
in Toronto
.
Included with the initial release of the CD was a white card which contained "CD Active" Instructions to the album's secret website. Attached to this card was a coupon which could be mailed back to the band and the sender would receive a free live EP
in the mail called Live Radar
. Only those who sent back the card received the bonus CD.
The album provided the band with their third and final Juno nomination as they were nominated for Best Rock Album at the 1999 Juno Awards
. As was the case with their previous two Juno nominations, the band lost the award to The Tragically Hip
. (The band's next studio record, Slomotion
, was not eligible for a Juno nomination as it contained a "greatest hits" bonus disc and thus did not meet the Juno requirement that a majority of the material on the album be previously unreleased.)
All songs written by The Watchmen, Lyrics by Joey Serlin
/Daniel Greaves.
The Watchmen
The Watchmen is a Canadian rock band. They were one of the most commercially successful Canadian alternative rock groups of the mid to late 1990s. During their peak years the band had three gold records and one platinum record...
. The album contained numerous hits including "Stereo
Stereo (The Watchmen song)
"Stereo" is the first single by Canadian band The Watchmen from their fourth studio album, Silent Radar. The song was very successful in Canada, peaking at #5 on Canada's Alternative rock chart. The song's music video received much airplay on MuchMusic....
", "Any Day Now
Any Day Now (The Watchmen song)
"Any Day Now" is the second single by Canadian band The Watchmen from their fourth studio album, Silent Radar.In 2011, the song was featured in the opening montage of Hockey Night in Canada in the first game in Winnipeg of the returning Winnipeg Jets....
", and "Say Something". Videos for "Stereo" and "Any Day Now" saw heavy play on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in 1998, but by the time the video for "Brighter Hell" was released in 1999, the momentum had slowed and this video was seen infrequently.
The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
on July 30, 1998.
Background
While their previous three albums were released by MCA RecordsMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, this was the first release from the band by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Music Canada. In 1995, Seagram Company Ltd. acquired 80% of MCA and the following year the new owners dropped the MCA name; the company became Universal Studios, Inc.
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
and its music division, MCA Music Entertainment Group, was renamed Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
.
The biggest change on the CD was the band's embrace of the internet. The CD included a CD-activated key to access multi-media material in a secret area of the band's website. The CD activated website was the first use of this technology for a major-label band.
This gave the band three websites: their old website done in a traditional fashion, a new site dedicated to their new record Silent Radar, and a main site which included WAG, the band's official "magazine."
At the time, their webzine WAG set the band apart from their contemporaries. The webzine was filled with writing from the various band members and included digital photos taken by the band, tour diaries, feature articles, and a summary of the band's reviews of concerts, books, records and gear.
The goal of the band in this internet endeavor was to allow them to give people a little taste of who they were when not on stage and what they think about.
The release of the album was also unique for its time. They unveiled the album one piece at a time over the internet. Starting Thursday March 5, 1998, a piece of the artwork from the new album was posted on a special website, along with a snippet of one song from the album. Between March 5, 1998 and March 27, 1998, a new piece and a new song was posted every other day until the puzzle was descrambled, and fans had seen and heard bits of the whole tracklisting.
The first song to be put up on the site was the first single "Stereo", and the snippets were only up for a two-day period before it was replaced by the next song.
Following the Canadian release on March 31, 1998, the official album release party came as a live show by the band which was broadcast over the Internet on Thursday April 2, 1998. The webcast was a live show from the Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Included with the initial release of the CD was a white card which contained "CD Active" Instructions to the album's secret website. Attached to this card was a coupon which could be mailed back to the band and the sender would receive a free live EP
Extended 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...
in the mail called Live Radar
Live Radar
Live Radar is a live EP by The Watchmen.Following the Canadian release of their fourth studio album, Silent Radar on March 31, 1998, the official album release party came as a live show by the band which was broadcast over the Internet on Thursday April 2, 1998...
. Only those who sent back the card received the bonus CD.
The album provided the band with their third and final Juno nomination as they were nominated for Best Rock Album at the 1999 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1999
The Juno Awards of 1999 honouring Canadian music industry achievements were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The primary ceremonies at Copps Coliseum on 7 March 1999 were broadcast by CBC Television and hosted by Mike Bullard....
. As was the case with their previous two Juno nominations, the band lost the award to The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
. (The band's next studio record, Slomotion
Slomotion
Slomotion is the fifth studio album by The Watchmen. The album was released as 2 CD set where the second CD was a greatest hits package. This was the band’s last studio album.-Background:...
, was not eligible for a Juno nomination as it contained a "greatest hits" bonus disc and thus did not meet the Juno requirement that a majority of the material on the album be previously unreleased.)
Track listing
- "StereoStereo (The Watchmen song)"Stereo" is the first single by Canadian band The Watchmen from their fourth studio album, Silent Radar. The song was very successful in Canada, peaking at #5 on Canada's Alternative rock chart. The song's music video received much airplay on MuchMusic....
" - 4:05 - "Any Day NowAny Day Now (The Watchmen song)"Any Day Now" is the second single by Canadian band The Watchmen from their fourth studio album, Silent Radar.In 2011, the song was featured in the opening montage of Hockey Night in Canada in the first game in Winnipeg of the returning Winnipeg Jets....
" - 4:41 - "I'm Waiting" - 4:18
- "Rooster" - 5:30
- "Silent Radar" - 4:23
- "Do It" - 5:38
- "He's Gone" - 4:47
- "Say Something" - 5:10
- "On My Way" - 5:00
- "Top of the World" - 4:10
- "Come Around" - 3:58
- "Brighter Hell" - 6:06
All songs written by The Watchmen, Lyrics by Joey Serlin
Joey Serlin
Joey Serlin is a Canadian rock guitarist and songwriter.He was a member of The Watchmen, a Canadian alternative rock bands active in the 1990s...
/Daniel Greaves.
Personnel
- Sammy Kohn - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
- Ken TizzardKen TizzardKen Tizzard is a Canadian rock bassist.He was a member of The Watchmen, one of Canada's most successful alternative rock bands of the 1990s. Following that band's breakup in late 2003, he spent time with Thornley, who released their debut album in 2004...
- Bass, Vocals - Daniel Greaves - Lead Vocals, Piano, Harmonica
- Joey SerlinJoey SerlinJoey Serlin is a Canadian rock guitarist and songwriter.He was a member of The Watchmen, a Canadian alternative rock bands active in the 1990s...
- Guitars, Vocals
Additional personnel
- Benmont Tench - Hammond B3 and Piano on "Rooster", "Any Day Now", and "On My Way"
Production
- Adam Kasper - Producer, Recorder, and Mixer
- Mayy Bayles & Sam Hofstedt - Additional Engineers
- Recorded at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA
- Mixed at Studio X, Seattle, WA
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland, ME