Back Round
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Back Round
| cover = WolfmotherBackRoundSingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Wolfmother
| album = Cosmic Egg
| released = {{Start date|2009|5|26|df=yes}}
| recorded = November–December 2008 in Byron Bay
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock, heavy metal, stoner rock
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=56}}
| label = Modular
| writer = Andrew Stockdale
| producer = Alan Moulder
| prev_title = Joker & the Thief
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = New Moon Rising
| next_year = 2009
| misc =
}}
"Back Round" is a song by Australian hard rock band Wolfmother. Written by vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale,{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1601931|pure_url=yes}} |title=Back Round - Overview |website=AllMusic |accessdate=15 June 2009 }} the song was the first material released since original band members Chris Ross and Myles Heskett left the band in August 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2529512.htm |title=Wolfmother unleash new song - for free! |publisher=Triple J |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=1 April 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090402135949/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2529512.htm| archivedate= 2 April 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269085/wolfmother-back-around-with-free-download |title=Wolfmother 'Back Around' With Free Download |magazine=Billboard |author=Lars Brandle |date=31 March 2009 |accessdate=1 April 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090403055041/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269085/wolfmother-back-around-with-free-download| archivedate= 3 April 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/Wolfmother-Track-Available-406/ |title=New Wolfmother Track Available for Free Download |publisher=Gibson Guitars |date=6 April 2009 |accessdate=11 April 2009 |author=Gabriel J. Hernandez }} "Back Round" was originally released as a free digital download on the band's official website on 30 March 2009,{{cite news |url=https://www.nme.com/news/wolfmother/43736 |title=Wolfmother return with new track, new line-up |work=NME |date=30 March 2009 |accessdate=26 April 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090402135106/http://www.nme.com/news/wolfmother/43736| archivedate= 2 April 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00393.htm |title=Nesian Mystik Take Out 'Best Kiwi' Award - MTV Aus |publisher=Scoop |date=28 March 2009 |accessdate=1 April 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090329184423/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0903/S00393.htm| archivedate= 29 March 2009 | url-status= live}} and was later released as a downloadable single on iTunes on 26 May 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfmother.com/discography/cosmic-egg/back-round/ |title=Back Round |work=Discography |publisher=Wolfmother |accessdate=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326144508/http://wolfmother.com/discography/cosmic-egg/back-round/ |archivedate=26 March 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=3 April 2012 }} In October 2009 the song was featured on the deluxe edition of the band's second album, Cosmic Egg.{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfmother.com/discography/cosmic-egg/cosmic-egg/ |title=Cosmic Egg |work=Discography |publisher=Wolfmother |accessdate=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413102956/http://www.wolfmother.com/discography/cosmic-egg/cosmic-egg/ |archivedate=13 April 2012}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/cosmic-egg-r2156355 |title=Cosmic Egg - Wolfmother |website=AllMusic |accessdate=21 April 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
History
"Back Round", originally entitled "Back Home",{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/11/19/wolfmother-hard-at-work-on-cinematic-epic-new-album/ |title=Wolfmother Hard at Work on "Cinematic, Epic" New Album |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=19 November 2007 |accessdate=26 May 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090423020423/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/11/19/wolfmother-hard-at-work-on-cinematic-epic-new-album/| archivedate= 23 April 2009 | url-status= dead}} was written in September 2007, during a period of doubt surrounding the original incarnation of Wolfmother.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=18035203&blogId=482622122 |title=Back Round |author=Andrew Stockdale |author-link=Andrew Stockdale |publisher=Wolfmother (MySpace) |date=11 April 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065936/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view |archivedate=7 February 2009}} Stockdale began recording some parts of the song and subsequently played it later in the year with drummer Dave Atkins, who joined the band as a full-time member in 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2489299.htm |title=Wolfmother unleash new lineup |publisher=Triple J |date=12 February 2009 |accessdate=11 April 2009 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090418233800/http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/s2489299.htm| archivedate= 18 April 2009 | url-status= live}} The song received its live debut, along with "The Violence of the Sun", "Monolith" and "Inside the Mountain", on 12 April 2008 when the band played their first gig in nine months at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.{{cite news |url=http://www.wolfmother.net/2008/04/24/the-warhol-gig-setlist/ |title=The Warhol gig setlist |publisher=The Original Wolfmother Site |date=24 April 2008 |author=chimaera |accessdate=29 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725080405/http://www.wolfmother.net/2008/04/24/the-warhol-gig-setlist/ |archive-date=25 July 2008 |url-status=dead }} The song was then recorded in Los Angeles, California in August 2008, after the original band split up, but was subsequently re-recorded in a studio built under Stockdale's house in Australia between November and December, including some guitar parts on 12 December.{{cite video |people=Andrew Stockdale (performer); Aidan Nemeth (performer); Ian Peres (performer); Dave Atkins (performer) |date=29 April 2009 |title=Wolfmother Album II - Magic in the making... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb9XHw72YxU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/Zb9XHw72YxU |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|publisher=Wolfmother (YouTube) |time=0:10 }}{{cbignore}}
Wolfmother performing "Back Round" at the [[MTV Australia Awards 2009 on 27 March 2009.|thumb|left]]
Played at the two low-key comeback performances in Australia on 6 and 8 February, the song made its 'official' international live debut at the MTV Australia Awards 2009 on 27 March 2009, and was released for free on the band's official website shortly after. The song was also performed on 1 May at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the new lineup's first performance outside of Australia, where new songs "Cosmic Egg" and "California Queen" were premièred.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/wolfmother-introduce-u-s-to-new-songs-lineup-at-l-a-museum-20090504 |title=Wolfmother Introduce U.S. to New Songs, Lineup at L.A. Museum |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=4 May 2009 |author=Laura Ferreiro |accessdate=29 May 2009 }} "Back Round" was featured on the music video game Guitar Hero 5 as a playable track in September 2009, and was made available for free download from the game's official website.{{cite news |url=http://www.stageselect.com/N4032-press-release-new-wolfmother-single-available-for-.aspx |title=Press Release: New Wolfmother Single Available for Free Download |publisher=Stage Select |date=28 May 2009 |accessdate=29 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716233613/http://www.stageselect.com/N4032-press-release-new-wolfmother-single-available-for-.aspx |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Outside of Australia, "Back Round" was also released as a downloadable single in Belgium,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/be/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Belgium) |access-date=4 April 2012 }} Denmark,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/dk/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Denmark) |access-date=4 April 2012 }} Finland,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/fi/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Finland) |access-date=4 April 2012 }} France,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/fr/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single par Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (France) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=French }} Germany,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single von Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Germany) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=German }} Italy,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/it/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single di Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Italy) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Italian }} Japan,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Japan) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Japanese }} the Netherlands,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/nl/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single van Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Netherlands) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Dutch }} New Zealand,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (New Zealand) |access-date=4 April 2012 }} Norway,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/no/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Norway) |access-date=4 April 2012 }} Portugal,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/pt/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Portugal) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Portuguese }} Spain,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/es/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single de Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Spain) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Spanish }} Sweden,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/se/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single av Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Sweden) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=Swedish }} Switzerland,{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/ch/album/back-round-single/317424956 |title=Back Round - Single von Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (Switzerland) |access-date=4 April 2012 |language=German }} and the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/back-round-single/1445140940 |title=Back Round - Single by Wolfmother |date=January 2009 |publisher=iTunes (United Kingdom) |access-date=4 April 2012 }}
Style and reception
With regards to the style of the song, music magazine Billboard described "Back Round" as "swimming in chunky guitar licks and drum fills". Rinjo Njori of music blog Earvolution.com likened the song to the band's older material, claiming it holds up well next to "Woman", and compared it to the work of Cream, Black Sabbath and Soundgarden.{{cite news |url=http://www.earvolution.com/2009/04/wolfmother-wants-your-phone-number.asp |title=Wolfmother Wants Your Phone Number |publisher=Earvolution.com |author=Rinjo Njori |date=2 April 2009 |accessdate=11 April 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408092403/http://www.earvolution.com/2009/04/wolfmother-wants-your-phone-number.asp |archivedate=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead }} Independent website Altsounds.com introduced the song as a "rollicking behemoth of timeless rock n roll", going on to praise it as "A liberating avalanche of skull-crushing drums and primal riffing [...] a joyous evolution for the Australian band";{{cite news |url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/106675-download-the-new-wolfmother-song-for-free.html |title=Download The New Wolfmother Song For Free! |date=8 April 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2009 |publisher=Altsounds.com | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090411074442/http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/106675-download-the-new-wolfmother-song-for-free.html| archivedate= 11 April 2009 | url-status= live}} while American newspaper The Herald was equally optimistic, suggesting that "The new lineup sounds ready to deliver the goods based on 'Back Round'".{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090331/BLOG21/903319997 |title=Free music: New Marilyn Manson and Wolfmother tracks |publisher=The Herald |date=31 March 2009 |accessdate=12 April 2009 }} Though already released for free, the track was a minor commercial success, charting at number 100 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=28094 |title=Oz Chartifacts 8-June-2009 |publisher=australian-charts.com |date=7 June 2009 |accessdate=1 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019180105/http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=28094 |archivedate=19 October 2012}}
Music video
A music video for "Back Round" was recorded on 24 July 2009.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/positron76/status/2857489344 |title=twitpic.com/bqewm - ... |author=Andrew Stockdale |author-link=Andrew Stockdale |publisher=Twitter |date=26 July 2009 |accessdate=26 July 2009 }} Stockdale uploaded two stills from the videoshoot on his Twitter profile, claiming that the "Clip [would] be out soon". As of the release of Cosmic Egg, however, a music video has still not been released; the release of videos for subsequent singles "New Moon Rising", "White Feather" and "Far Away" suggests that the idea has since been set aside.
Personnel
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Musical personnel
- Andrew Stockdale – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
- Dave Atkins – drums
- Ben Tolliday – additional bass, engineering assistance
{{col-2}}
Production personnel
- Alan Moulder – mixing
- Justin Tresidder – engineering
- Joe Malone – technical assistance
{{col-end}}
Charts
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Back Round" ! scope="col"| Chart (2009) ! scope="col"| Peak |
scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=304}}
| 100 |
---|
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Wolfmother}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Andrew Stockdale