Box Set (Wool album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Box Set
| type = studio
| artist = Wool
| cover = Box Set (Wool album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1994
| recorded = December 1993, January 1994
| venue =
| studio = Philos Ranch, Mendocino, CA, Stagg Street Studios, Van Nuys, CA
| genre = Rock
| length = 47:52
| label = London{{cite news |last1=Gubbins |first1=Teresa |title=Four-Letter Words |work=The Gazette |date=2 Oct 1994 |page=F6}}
| producer = Rob Schnapf, Tom Rothrock
| prev_title = Budspawn EP
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
Box Set is an album by the American band Wool, released in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wool-mn0000677294/biography|title=Wool Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic}}{{cite news |last1=Sadilek |first1=Bernie |title=Loose, curly, fuzzy sounds make Wool |work=The Record |date=18 Jan 1995 |page=D6}} Despite its title, Box Set is a studio album. The band supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Kendle |first1=John |title=Wool Speed Ahead |work=Winnipeg Sun |date=15 Mar 1995 |page=22}}
Production
The album was produced by Rob Schnapf and Tom Rothrock.{{cite web |title=Wool Warming to Life in L.A. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1994/12/16/wool-warming-to-life-in-la/a50d4f7b-5cb2-4976-abdc-0584d9420d0f/ |work=The Washington Post |access-date=30 August 2021}} Chris Bratton replaced Peter Moffett on drums prior to the recording of Box Set. Wool included a fake history of the band in the liner notes to the album, alleging encounters with famous musicians over the course of three decades; they successfully fooled several journalists.{{cite news |last1=Gillespie |first1=Ian |title=Almanac |work=The London Free Press |date=January 19, 1995 |page=C1}} "God Rest His Soul" is a cover of the Gregg Allman song.{{cite news |last1=Cubarrubia |first1=Eydie |title=Wool Goes with Vinyl on Recording |work=The Bradenton Herald |date=October 21, 1994 |page=W8}}
Critical reception
{{music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/box-set-mw0000118515|title=Box Set|website=AllMusic}}
|rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev2score = B{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/08/26/box-set-2/|title=Box Set|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
|rev3 = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
|rev3score = {{rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Norman |first1=Tony |title=Wool, Box Set |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=7 Oct 1994 |department=Arts & Entertainment |page=20}}
|rev4 = The San Diego Union-Tribune
|rev4score = {{rating|2|4}}{{cite news |last1=Hantman |first1=C. G. |title=Album Reviews – Rock 'n' Roll |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=October 20, 1994 |department=Entertainment |page=18}}
}}
Trouser Press thought that "weird production (the second Van Halen album would seem to be a significant model) and an ungainly stab at MTV presentability makes the de-punked Box Set a dreadfully uneven—and occasionally dreadful—album."{{cite web |title=Wool |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/wool/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=30 August 2021}} Entertainment Weekly called "Take a Look" "a 12-minute opus that bridges the gap between trippy Fillmore-era jam sessions and '90s grungefests."
The Telegram & Gazette stated that "the pop hooks are big, the electric guitar lines are shoved through wah-wahs and fuzz boxes for some irresistible confection and a sloppy, good-time feel permeates many of the 11 tracks."{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Scott |title=Wool is much more than just dumb fun |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=2 Oct 1994 |department=Datebook |page=9}} The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called the album "a nearly auspicious debut by a genre-bending band that knows enough about crafting thoughtful, raucous songs to remind listeners of the early Replacements." The Chicago Sun-Times deemed it "a strong debut album of stripped-down, hooky garage rock."{{cite news |last1=DeRogatis |first1=Jim |title=L7 Brutal, Brilliant at Vic – Breakout Set Makes Anger Fun |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=October 2, 1994 |department=Sunday News |page=49}}
AllMusic wrote that "this was an unfairly overlooked album, lost amid the overwhelming glut of alternative rock in the early '90s (which saw far lesser bands like Bush receiving undue amounts of attention)."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| title1 = Eden
| length1 = 3:09
| title2 = Kill the Crow
| length2 = 3:10
| title3 = Eat Some Ziti
| length3 = 0:33
| title4 = Superman is Dead
| length4 = 2:03
| title5 = B-350
| length5 = 6:46
| title6 = Chances Are
| length6 = 4:37
| title7 = Coalinga
| length7 = 3:16
| title8 = Speak
| length8 = 3:56
| title9 = God Rest His Soul
| length9 = 4:47
| title10 = Blackeye
| length10 = 3:48
| title11 = Take a Look
| length11 = 11:47
| total_length =
}}
Personnel
- Al Bloch - bass
- Chris Bratton - drums
- Franz Stahl - guitar
- Pete Stahl - vocals