:Draft:Ornament & Crime

{{AfC submission|t||ts=20250419095101|u=KmartEmployeeTor|ns=118|demo=}}

{{Short description|2017 studio album by Self}} {{About|the studio album by Self|the compilation album by the same artist|Porno, Mint & Grime{{!}}Porno, Mint & Grime}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Ornament & Crime

| type = studio

| artist = Self

| cover = Self - Ornament and Crime album cover (vinyl re-issue)

| alt =

| released = August 25, 2017

| recorded = 2002 – January 8, 2004

| studio =

Royaltone (North Hollywood)
Crackertracks (Studio City)
Larrabee (Los Angeles)

| genre = *Alternative rock{{cite web |last=Dih|first=Gerald|url=https://audiophix.com/lost-self-album-finally-drops-13-year-delay-worth-wait|title=Lost Self album finally drops after 13-year delay: Is it worth the wait?|website=AudioPhix|language=en|date=April 26, 2025|accessdate=April 26, 2025}}

Parody

| length = 37:56

| label = El Camino Media

| producer =

| prev_title = Super Fake Nice

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Ornament & Crime

| type = studio

| single1 = Grow Up

| single1date = June 2003

}}

Ornament & Crime is the fifth studio album by American pop rock band Self. Originally completed in 2004, its release was delayed by the folding of DreamWorks Records into Geffen Records and the loss of a record deal. The album leaked multiple times after its cancellation, followed by a band hiatus in 2005. In December 2012, Self reunited for a run of limited time shows performing the album. El Camino Media later announced an official release of the album on vinyl and CD, which was released on August 25, 2017.

Upon release, Ornament & Crime was met with favorable to mixed reviews. It was praised for its instrumentation and compared to Self's Subliminal Plastic Motives (1995), but sometimes labeled as more commercialized than their recent efforts. The song "Out with a Bang" appeared in various films, including Evolution (2001), additionally receiving a Guinness World Record for its use in a Team Fortress 2 machinima.

Writing and production

{{multiple image

| align = left

| total_width = 250

| image1 = Geffen_Records_logo.svg

| image2 = Example.jpg

| footer = Geffen Records bought Dreamworks Records on November 11, 2003,{{cite web |author=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3262215.stm|title=Universal buys Dreamworks Records|website=BBC News|date=November 11, 2003|access-date=April 25, 2025}} and finalized the sale on January 9, 2004.{{Cite magazine |last=Newman|first=Melinda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQ8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=dreamworks+records+january+24+2004&pg=PA5|title=DreamWorks Keeps A&R Staff|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|volume=116|issue=4|pages=5|issn=0006-2510|date=January 24, 2004}}

}}

Following Self's fourth studio album, Gizmodgery (2000), lead member Matt Mahaffey began writing the band's next album, planning a rock approach harkening back to their debut album Subliminal Plastic Motives.{{cite web |last=Harkey|first=Scott|url=https://silentuproar.com/interviews/3/self/|title=Self / Interviews|website=Silent Uproar|language=en|date=September 11, 2000|accessdate=November 26, 2024}} The first song recorded was "Out with a Bang", appearing in the 2001 sci-fi comedy film Evolution. It was written for its ending after a meeting with director Ivan Reitman. Absent from any soundtrack album, the song could only be heard in the film.{{cite web |last=Murray|first=Noel|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/arts_culture/self-promotion/article_c1fa6b1e-f7e3-5756-adcf-305bda7e61c6.html|title=Self Promotion|website=Nashville Scene|language=en|date=June 7, 2001|accessdate=January 7, 2025}} The recording process for Self's fifth album began in 2002,{{cite web |author=A.S.|url=http://www.mcomet.com/celebrity/Matt_Mahaffey-1260642/biography.html|title=Matt Mahaffey - Biography|website=MComet|language=en|date=2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121143012/http://www.mcomet.com/celebrity/Matt_Mahaffey-1260642/biography.html|archive-date=November 21, 2014|accessdate=January 7, 2025}} prominently using Pro Tools with limited analog use for drums and some guitars.

While producing it, the band titled the project Ornament & Crime after a Los Angeles boutique of the same name. The album was originally scheduled for completion in September 2003, but was delayed to March 3, 2004 to accommodate for newer material. Multiple videos detailing the recording process were uploaded to the band's website during this time. Ornament & Crime was finished on January 8, 2004,{{cite web |last=Heisel|first=Scott|url=https://www.altpress.com/we_never_broke_up_but_we_got_burned_outmatt_mahaffey_on_the_return_of_self/|title="We never broke up, but we got burned out"—Matt Mahaffey on the return of Self|website=Alternative Press|language=en|date=August 27, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830035853/https://www.altpress.com/features/entry/we_never_broke_up_but_we_got_burned_outmatt_mahaffey_on_the_return_of_self|archive-date=August 30, 2014|accessdate=November 18, 2024}} followed by the sale finalization of DreamWorks Records to Universal Music Group's Geffen Records the next day. Geffen's executives believed the album would commercially underperform, who canceled it and left Ornament & Crime indefinitely unreleased.{{cite web |last=Cross|first=Steve|url=https://digital.mtsu.edu/digital/collection/sidelines/id/4155|title=Former Murfreesboroian Matt Mahaffey talks about fame, 'Shrek' and Los Angeles|website=The Tennessean|language=en|page=4|date=December 2, 2004|accessdate=April 12, 2025}} After releasing the album's scrapped songs as the compilation Porno, Mint & Grime (2005), the band went on hiatus.{{cite web |last=Besecker|first=Gabe|url=https://woof-mag.com/2023/12/11/self-indulgent-a-retrospective-on-the-band-that-started-matt-mahaffeys-career/|title=sElf-Indulgent: A Retrospective on the Band That Started Matt Mahaffey's Career|website=Woof Magazine|language=en|date=December 11, 2023|accessdate=November 26, 2024}}

Release

File:Self - Ornament and Crime album cover (unreleased)

= Snippets and single =

Self released small snippets of the upcoming album on their website in mid–2002, after the release of their compilation album Selfafornia (2001).{{cite web |url=https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_fm2nSu7mla72T3mjTHgGzEHrAvMsTl9&si=DgsNoQ4hSCfzxvaY|title= Ornament & Crime Instrumental snippets (2002)|website=YouTube|language=en|date=June 21, 2023|accessdate=April 21, 2025}} In 2003, the song "Grow Up" was released as the sole single of Ornament & Crime by DreamWorks in partnership with Streetwise Concepts and Coke, packaged alongside other "forthcoming" albums. Of these albums, only Black Skies in Broad Daylight by the Living Things was released without delay.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hotpress.com/music/reviews/albums/Black-Skies-In-Broad-Daylight/2735411.html |title=Black Skies In Broad Daylight |last=Healion |first=Karla |date=2004-06-29 |website=Hot Press |language=en |access-date=2017-09-07}}

= Internet leak =

After the album's delay was announced to fans, a demo version of Ornament & Crime was leaked online on the blogging website LiveJournal in mid–2004. Unofficial track titles were applied by fans, leading the song "How Can I Make You Happy?" to be known as "Mermaid". Mahaffey initially hesitated to acknowledge the leaks, encouraging fans to wait for an official release. A second unmastered version of Ornament & Crime was later leaked on the peer-to-peer network LimeWire.{{cn|date=April 2025}} While it remained unreleased, the album was only legally available via streaming on Self's Myspace and YouTube channels.{{cite web |author=v404|url=http://selfies.com:80/board/index.php?topic=6280.0|title=WHOA!! LA Radio is on Matt's Myspace page!!!|website=Selfies|language=en|date=April 26, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528003850/http://selfies.com:80/board/index.php?topic=6280.0|archive-date=May 28, 2006|accessdate=April 4, 2025}}

= Official release =

On June 9, 2017, independent record label El Camino Media opened pre-orders of Ornament & Crime, announcing a summer release date.{{cite web |author=El Camino Media|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BVIJo-UhzT2/|title=13 years in the making, sElf's Ornament & Crime is finally coming this summer!|website=Instagram|language=en|date=June 9, 2017|accessdate=April 12, 2025}} The album was officially released on August 25 as a limited-edition vinyl, alongside a re-issue of Porno, Mint & Grime.{{cite web |last=Trageser|first=Stephen|url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/elliston-place-street-fest-celebrates-46-years-of-evolution-in-music-city/article_fa18d971-21b3-5b63-9fd8-5805b833b01d.html|title=Elliston Place Street Fest Celebrates 46 Years of Evolution in Music City|website=Nashville Scene|language=en|date=July 20, 2017|accessdate=April 12, 2025}} Since the album's release, Self has stagnated on music output and had little presence online.{{cite web |last=Cusson|first=Kate|url=https://movieweb.com/every-shrek-soundtrack-song-ranked/|title=Every Shrek Soundtrack Song, Ranked|website=MovieWeb|language=en|date=September 12, 2023|accessdate=April 12, 2025}}

Reception

Stephen Trageser of Nashville Scene praised the song "No One Knows You", describing the combination of rock styling and catchy hooks as a standout of the band's discography. Gerald Dih of AudioPhix highlighted "How Can I Make You Happy?" for its adaptation of Madonna's "Material Girl", comparing the album's style to the band's debut, Subliminal Plastic Motives (1995). He additionally complimented other songs' lyricism and vocal performances, but found it to lack the quirk previously used in Breakfast with Girls (1999).

= Use in media =

{{Quote box

| quote = "Hi Kitty0706 fans! Very sorry to hear about his passing. My name is Matt, I wrote, produced, and sang this song. I'm glad you stopped by to listen to it."

| author = Matt Mahaffey (@mamorymoog)

{{cite web |author=Self Music|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udDX1rhvgMI|title=Self - Out with a Bang - Ornament and Crime|website=YouTube|language=en|date=February 6, 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124035227/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udDX1rhvgMI|archive-date=January 24, 2024|accessdate=April 13, 2025}}
{{cite web |url=https://static.wikitide.net/selfemeriswiki/a/a4/Mahaffey_kitty0706.PNG|title=Mahaffey_kitty0706.PNG|website=Selfemeris|language=en|accessdate=April 13, 2025}}

| align = right

| width = 30%

}} The song "The Pounding Truth" was used in commercials promoting the Chrysler Sebring, while "Out with a Bang" is featured in the intro of the Team Fortress 2 machinima Team Fabulous 2 by Kitty0706. It garnered over 17 million views by February 2016, receiving an award from Guinness World Records for being the "Most watched Team Fortress machinima on YouTube". Kitty0706, whose real name was Colin Wyckoff, passed away on January 25, 2015.{{cite web |last=|first=|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/424441-most-watched-team-fortress-machinima-on-youtube|title=Most watched Team Fortress machinima on YouTube|website=Guinness World Records|language=en|date=February 21, 2016|accessdate=April 13, 2025}} Mahaffey shared his condolences on a reupload of the track on YouTube in 2021, thanking viewers for listening to it.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Matt Mahaffey, except where noted

| title1 = Hellbent

| length1 = 3:09

| title2 = Emotional

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Insecure Sober

| writer3 = {{hlist|Matt Mahaffey|Mac Burrus}}

| length3 = 2:23

| title4 = Pathetic Song

| length4 = 3:21

| title5 = How Can I Make You Happy?

| length5 = 3:13

| title6 = Can't Go On

| length6 = 4:05

| title7 = Coming Over

| length7 = 4:03

| title8 = No One Knows You

| length8 = 2:43

| title9 = Grow Up

| length9 = 3:22

| title10 = The Pounding Truth

| length10 = 3:18

| title11 = Out with a Bang

| length11 = 3:32

| title12 = L.A. Radio

| writer12 = {{hlist|Mahaffey|Burrus|Mike Mahaffey|Gary Welsh}}

| length12 = 2:27

| total_length = 37:56

}}

Notes

"Emotional" was originally stylized as "(Emo)tional".
"Out with a Bang" was titled "Bang!" on Mini CD singles handed to Dreamworks executives and associates.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album’s liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ornament & Crime|others=Self|year=2017|publisher=El Camino Media}}

Musicians

Matt Mahaffey – vocals, guitar, drums, piano, various instruments
Jason Rawlings – drums
Mac Burrus – performer (12), bass
Mike Mahaffey – guitar, vocals
Chris James – piano
Geoff Gallegos – strings, horns
Gary Welsh – performer (12)

Technical

Robert Carranza – engineer
Rich Costey – mixing engineer
Mario Caldato Jr. – production (1–3, 8, 9, 11), assistant engineer
Mickey Petralia – production (4–7, 10), assistant engineer
Matt Mahaffey – production (12), assistant engineer
Chris James – assistant engineer
Dan Leffler – assistant mixing engineer
Andy Suriano – artwork

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Release dates and formats for Ornament & Crime ! scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format(s) ! scope="col"\| Label ! scope="col"\| Ref.
scope="row"\| Various \| August 25, 2017 \| {{hlist\|CD\|vinyl LP}} \| El Camino \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for Ornament & Crime

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| Ref.

scope="row"| Various

| August 25, 2017

| {{hlist|CD|vinyl LP}}

| El Camino