Alternative 4 (album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Alternative 4
| type = studio
| artist = Anathema
| cover = Anathema_Alternative_4.jpeg
| alt =
| released = 22 June 1998
| recorded = January–February 1998
| venue =
| studio = The Windings
| genre = {{flatlist|
| length = {{Duration|m=44|s=57}}
| label = Peaceville
| producer = Kit Woolven
| prev_title = Eternity
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Judgement
| next_year = 1999
}}
Alternative 4 is the fourth album by the British rock band Anathema. It was released on 22 June 1998 through Peaceville Records. Like the band's third album Eternity, Alternative 4 is sung with clean vocals.
Background
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} {{AllMusic | class=album | id=alternative-4-mw0000600513 | title=Alternative 4 - Anathema | accessdate=14 April 2020}}
| rev2 = Sputnikmusic
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web | url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/28621/Anathema-Alternative-4 | title=Anathema - Alternative 4 (album review) | last=Altmer | date=6 January 2009 | publisher=Sputnikmusic | accessdate=14 April 2020}}
| rev3 = Silencio Hungary
}}
The album's title is derived from Leslie Watkins' book Alternative 3. Bassist and co-principal songwriter Duncan Patterson had read it a few years before they wrote the album. The book is about conspiracy theories, and most songs on Alternative 4 are about trust. Patterson is now playing in a band with the same title, and the songs are based on similar themes. In keeping with the theme of conspiracies, the album cover is a modified photo of American astronaut Buzz Aldrin (depicted as an angel) on the Moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission - this is in reference to the conspiracy of the Moon landings.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
It is the last with Patterson and the only album released without John Douglas. He was replaced by Shaun Steels in 1997 but returned in 1998.
Track listing
{{tracklist
| total_length = 44:57
| title1 = Shroud of False
| length1 = 1:37
| writer1 = Duncan Patterson
| title2 = Fragile Dreams
| length2 = 5:32
| writer2 = Daniel Cavanagh
| title3 = Empty
| length3 = 3:00
| writer3 = Patterson
| title4 = Lost Control
| length4 = 5:50
| writer4 = Patterson
| title5 = Re-Connect
| length5 = 3:52
| writer5 = Vincent Cavanagh
| title6 = Inner Silence
| length6 = 3:08
| writer6 = D. Cavanagh
| title7 = Alternative 4
| length7 = 6:18
| writer7 = Patterson
| title8 = Regret
| length8 = 7:58
| writer8 = D. Cavanagh
| title9 = Feel
| length9 = 5:28
| writer9 = Patterson
| title10 = Destiny
| length10 = 2:14
| writer10 = Patterson
}}
{{tracklist
| total_length = 57:15
| headline = 2003 re-release bonus tracks
| title11 = Your Possible Pasts
| note11 = Pink Floyd cover
| writer11 = Roger Waters
| length11 = 4:28
| title12 = One of the Few
| note12 = Pink Floyd cover
| writer12 = Waters
| length12 = 1:50
| title13 = Better Off Dead
| note13 = Bad Religion cover
| writer13 = Brett Gurewitz
| length13 = 4:21
| title14 = Goodbye Cruel World
| note14 = Pink Floyd cover
| writer14 = Waters
| length14 = 1:39
}}
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
- Vincent Cavanagh - vocals, guitars
- Shaun Steels - drums
- Duncan Patterson - bass, keyboards, piano
- Danny Cavanagh - guitars, keyboards, piano
;Guest musicians
- Andy Duncan - drum loops on "Empty"
- George Rucci - violin
- Michelle Richfield (Dominion) - vocals on "Better Off Dead"{{Cite web|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=1-173|title=CoC : Anathema : Interview : 7/8/1998|website=www.chroniclesofchaos.com}}
{{col-break}}
;Production
- Duncan Patterson - cover concept
- Tim Spear - cover art
- Noel Summerville - mastering
- Doug Cook - mixing assistant
- Simon Dawson - engineering assistant
- Kit Woolven - producer, mixing
- Lili Wilde - photography (band)
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Anathema}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Anathema (band) albums
Category:Peaceville Records albums
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