Berkeley's on Fire

The band started recording the album in early 2018 with producer Rich Costey who has previously worked with artists such as Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Jane's Addiction, Frank Turner, Death Cab for Cutie, Biffy Clyro and At the Drive-In.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BebzOQ8g8R6|title=Instagram|via=Instagram}}{{cite web |last=Gelfand |first=Zac |title=SWMRS announce new album, Berkeley's On Fire, share 'April in Houston': Stream |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/11/swmrs-berkeleys-on-fire-april-in-houston-stream/ |website=Consequence of Sound |date=November 29, 2018 |accessdate=April 7, 2019}}

The first song to be released from the album was the title track "Berkeley's on Fire" which was released as a single on August 17, 2018. The song was inspired by an incident in early 2017 where "150 masked agitators" rioted at UC Berkeley over a planned appearance from British polemicist Milo Yiannopoulos.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/01/us/milo-yiannopoulos-berkeley |title=Berkeley cancels Milos Yiannopoulos talk after violent protests - CNN |last=Park |first=Madison |date=February 2, 2017 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=April 6, 2019}}{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |title=Swmrs: How Right-Wingers and Warped Tour Misogyny Turned Punks Political |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/swmrs-interview-berkeleys-on-fire-new-album-north-american-tour-811355/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 28, 2019 |accessdate=April 7, 2019}} The release of the track coincided with the band announcing the third of their "Uncool Halloween" festival performances.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BmlgKgiFIbU|title=Instagram}}{{cite web |last=Heinz |first=Natasha |title=SWMRS Drop Energetic New Song 'Berkeley's on Fire,' Announce One-Off Show |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/swmrs-drop-berkeleys-on-fire-uncool-halloween/ |website=Alternative Press |accessdate=April 7, 2019}} The album was announced on November 28, 2018 alongside the release of the second single "April in Houston" as well as a UK and Europe tour in February/March 2019. The album's third single "Trashbag Baby" was released on January 15, 2019 and debuted as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1. Fourth single "Lose Lose Lose" was released on June 14, 2019, with the music video being released on July 9. EA Sports added it to their 2019 edition of the "NHL" series of video games.{{cite web |title=SWMRS – Trashbag Baby |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06vlb6g |website=BBC |date=January 14, 2019 |accessdate=April 7, 2019 |quote=SWMRS - Trashbag Baby is Annie's Hottest Record in the World for Monday 14th January 2019}}

{{music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/berkeleys-on-fire-mw0003237263|title=Berkeley's on Fire - SWMRS |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=April 6, 2019 |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z.}}

| rev2 = Dork

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.readdork.com/reviews/swmrs-berkeleys-on-fire|title=SWMRS - Berkeley's On Fire |work=Dork |accessdate=April 6, 2019 |last=Ackroyd |first=Stephen|date=February 14, 2019 }}

| rev3 = Gigwise

| rev3score = {{Rating|7|10}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-swmrs-berkeleys-on-fire|title=Album Review: SWMRS - Berkeley's On Fire - Kerrang! |work=Kerrang! |accessdate=April 6, 2019 |last=Richardson |first=Jake|date=February 13, 2019 }}

| rev5 = The Post

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2019/02/swmrs-berkeleys-on-fire-review|title=Album Review: SWMRS does punk justice on 'Berkeley's On Fire' |work=The Post |accessdate=April 6, 2019 |last=Schramm |first=Molly}}

}}

Berkeley's on Fire received almost unanimous praise upon release with critics praising the band's maturity and improvement since their previous record. Neil Z. Yeung with AllMusic compared the albums use of "cool grooves and jangly bounce" to English musician Rat Boy. Yeung also described the album as sounding "like a band that's hitting their stride with a catchy blend of punk-indebted styles delivered with the conviction of a more seasoned act."

Stephen Ackroyd from Dork described the song "Lose, Lose Lose" as being "Mentos in Diet Coke levels of explosive." Jake Richardson from Kerrang! praised the album's diversity from "the riffy, Hives-esque rock of Hellboy, Bad Allergies' acoustic tenderness" to "the all-out mania of Lose Lose Lose."

Loudwire named it one of the 50 best rock albums of 2019.{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Rock Albums of 2019 |url=https://loudwire.com/best-rock-albums-of-2019/ |website=Loudwire |publisher=Townsquare Media |access-date=March 7, 2021 |date=December 5, 2019}}

{{track listing

| total_length = 33:15

| title1= Berkeley's on Fire

| length1= 3:48

| title2= Too Much Coffee

| length2= 3:25

| title3= Trashbag Baby

| length3= 3:17

| title4= Lose Lose Lose

| length4= 3:35

| title5= April in Houston

| length5= 3:05

| title6= Lonely Ghosts

| length6= 3:12

| title7= IKEA Date

| length7= 3:43

| title8= Hellboy

| length8= 3:03

| title9= Bad Allergies

| length9= 3:33

| title10= Steve Got Robbed

| length10= 2:38

}}

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes | title=Berkeley's On Fire| year=2019 | others=SWMRS | type=liner notes | publisher=Warner Music Group | location=US | id= 7567-86540-3}}

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SWMRS

• Cole Becker – vocals, rhythm guitar, art direction, design
• Max Becker – vocals, lead guitar
• Seb Mueller – bass guitar
• Joey Armstrong – drums

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Additional personnel

• Rich Costey – producer, mixing
• Howie Weinberg – mastering engineer
• Will Borza – mastering assistant
• Martin Cooke – recording engineer
• Derrick Stockwell – mix assistant
• Billy Centenaro – mix assistant
• Mark Obriski – art direction, design

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{{reflist}}

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Category:2019 albums

Category:SWMRS albums

Category:Fueled by Ramen albums

Category:Albums produced by Rich Costey