Frogstomp

According to drummer Ben Gillies and vocalist and guitarist Daniel Johns in 1996, Frogstomp was recorded in nine days.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chairpage.com/q&a/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970102180925/http://www.chairpage.com/q&a/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1997-01-02|title = silverch@ir questions & answers}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chairpage.com/press_releases/item/128/|title=Silverchair - Press - Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Interview with Daniel Johns|website=chairpage.com|access-date=30 October 2018|archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030205835/https://www.chairpage.com/press_releases/item/128/|url-status=dead}} Gillies stated the album took "even less days to mix." Prior to recording Frogstomp, Silverchair were previously named Innocent Criminals and consisted of drummer Ben Gillies and vocalist and guitarist Daniel Johns, with bassist Chris Joannou joining shortly after the band formed in 1992. Second guitarist Tobin Finnane was also in the band, though he later left.McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419064908/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=371 'silverchair'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=371 the original] on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 1 August 2024. Demo versions of the songs "Acid Rain", "Cicada", "Pure Massacre", and "Tomorrow" were recorded by the band at Platinum Sound Studios in early 1994.McFarlane, [https://web.archive.org/web/20040419064908/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=371 'silverchair'] entry. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=371 the original] on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2024. In December 1995, Johns said about the recording of the demo songs, "It cost about $75. We weren't in there for more than an hour."{{cite news | url = http://www.chairpage.com/press_releases/item/6/ | title = Silverchair Enjoys Success Despite Adult Criticism | last = Blum | first = Kim | work = The Daily Egyptian | date = 8 December 1995 | location = Carbondale, Il | access-date = 21 June 2024}} "Tomorrow" and "Acid Rain" were re-recorded at Triple J Studios in Sydney, Australia, for the release of Silverchair's four-track EP Tomorrow in September 1994, which also included the songs "Blind" and "Stoned". Three months after the release of the EP, the band began recording their debut album, Frogstomp, during which "Cicada", "Pure Massacre", and "Tomorrow" were re-recorded. The recording sessions for the album began in late December 1994 and ended in mid-January 1995 at Festival Studios in Pyrmont, New South Wales.

In July 2007, when asked about the grunge sound of Frogstomp and the band's musical influences, Gillies stated: "We were definitely influenced by the whole Seattle sound."{{Cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403023914/http://seattlest.com/2007/07/18/seattlest_inter_4.php |url=http://seattlest.com/2007/07/18/seattlest_inter_4.php |title=Seattlest Interview: Silverchair Drummer Ben Gillies |work=Seattlest |first1=Clint |last1=Brownlee |publisher=Gothamist LLC |date=18 July 2007 |archive-date=3 April 2012 |access-date=1 August 2024 |url-status=dead}}

In May 2015, when asked if the record was made live in the studio, Johns said:

Yeah, that's the thing that I do really like about that album – it sounds exactly like we sounded. There was no big American producer calling the shots behind the desk and telling us to do this, this and this. It was literally this guy, Kevin Shirley, who was a great producer, just saying, "I want it to sound like you guys, but I want it to sound really f—ing loud and I want the guitars really f—ing loud." So to me, I was like, f—ing yeah! The songwriting might not be genius, but I think sonically, the performances are really good. It's really honest; it's just three Australian kids thrashing it out in the studio and that's exactly how it sounds.{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/silverchair-daniel-johns-frogstomp-interview-2015|title=Daniel Johns Reflects on Silverchair's Debut, 'Frogstomp'|website=Diffuser.fm}}

In August 2020, Gillies said the following about the album:

We were always searching to keep that spark alive when Frogstomp came out because it was just so unrefined, it was just so raw. There was something magical about that we continued to try and capture. I think we did pretty well.{{cite web|last=Gorra|first=Jeff|url=https://artistwaves.com/ben-gillies-reflects-upon-silverchairs-frogstomp-25-years-later-2/|title=Ben Gillies Reflects Upon Silverchair's "Frogstomp" 25 Years Later|website=artistwaves.com|year=2020}}

In January 1996, when asked why the album was named Frogstomp, Johns said:

I was at a guy from our record company's house one night and I was looking through his CDs because he's got a really good collection. I found this '60s pop collection record and I was just going (laughs), "Why do you have this?" I looked at the back and there was this song that some guy [Floyd Newman] did called Frogstomp and I said, "That's a pretty good name." (laughs) I just rang up Ben and Chris and we just thought it was really funny so we used it for the album.

Frogstomp was first released in Australia by record label Murmur on 27 March 1995. It reached number 1 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart. The album was later released by Epic Records in the United States on 20 June 1995 and on 11 September 1995 in the United Kingdom and Europe.{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/11458-3464-2|title=BPI}}

Frogstomp is the only Silverchair album to receive platinum certification in the United States by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), selling 1,000,000 copies on 19 September 1995, making it the band's best-selling album in the U.S., and it was later certified double platinum on 14 February 1996.{{cite web|url= https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Frogstomp#search_section|title=Recording Industry Association of America |publisher=RIAA |access-date=21 June 2024}}

The LP version of the album was sold on a green vinyl with "Blind", from the Tomorrow EP, as a bonus track and limited to 3,000 copies worldwide. A limited cassette edition of the album was also released.

On 27 March 2015, a remastered edition of Frogstomp was released as a two-CD/DVD set to mark the twentieth anniversary of its release.{{cite web |url=http://www.chairpage.com/news/item/377/ |title=Silverchair – News Archive – Silverchair Frogstomp Turns 20 Today |website=chairpage.com |access-date=2 April 2015}} The standard edition of the 20th Anniversary remaster includes a second CD titled "Rarities" with Silverchair's Tomorrow EP, a vocal version of the song "Madman" (from the single "Shade"), and audio of a concert from June 1995 at the Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle, Australia. The Deluxe Edition of the 20th Anniversary remaster includes the "Rarities" CD as well as a DVD with video footage of the band's Cambridge Hotel concert, a video recording of "Israel's Son" at the 1995 Sydney Royal Easter Show, and the "Tomorrow", "Pure Massacre", and "Israel's Son" music videos.

{{music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/frogstomp-mw0000173614 |title=Frogstomp – Silverchair |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic|access-date=2 April 2015}}

| rev2 = Bucket List

| rev2score = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=https://www.bucketlistmusicreviews.com/rearviewmirror-remembering-the-90s-silverchair-frogstomp/|title=Rearviewmirror: Remembering the 90s – Silverchair – Frogstomp

|last=Brunette |first=Richard |website=bucketlistmusicreviews.com|access-date=16 February 2019}}

| rev3 = Classic Rock

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/silverchair-frogstomp |title=Silverchair: Frogstomp |last=Hasted |first=Nick |website=loudersound.com |date=12 June 2015 | access-date=1 August 2024}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B−{{cite journal |last=Eddy |first=Chuck |date=14 July 1995 |title=Frogstomp |journal=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/article/1995/07/14/frogstomp/?amp=true|access-date=14 April 2021}}

| rev5 = Kill Your Stereo

| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://killyourstereo.com/reviews/1053845/silverchair-frogstomp-20th-anniversary-deluxe-edition/|title=Silverchair – Frogstomp (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) |last=Sievers |first=Alex |website=Kill Your Stereo|access-date=3 December 2018}}

| rev6 = Mystic Sons

| rev6score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mysticsons.com/article/silverchair-frogstomp-20th-anniversary-edition#.XAUmARZwGaM|title=Silverchair: Frogstomp |last=Bound |first=Chris |website=Mystic Sons|date=11 June 2015 |access-date=3 December 2018}}

| rev7 = Renowned for Sound

| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/album-review-silverchair-frogstomp-20th-anniversary-remastered-edition/|title=Silverchair – Frogstomp (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition) |last=Morris |first=Meggie |website=Renowned for Sound|access-date=3 December 2018}}

| rev8 = Soundscape Magazine

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.soundscapemagazine.com/silverchairfrogstomp/|title=Silverchair – 20th Anniversary of Frogstomp Review |last=Browne |first=Colm |website=Soundscape Magazine|date=22 June 2015|access-date=3 December 2018}}

| rev9 = Soundsphere

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.soundspheremag.com/reviews/album-review-silverchair-frogstomp-re-release|title=Frogstomp [Rerelease] |last=Fortunato |first=Francesca |website=Soundspheremag|date=13 June 2015 |access-date=3 December 2018}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = C{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=28 November 1995 |title=Turkey Shoot |newspaper=The Village Voice |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ts95-95.php |location=New York |access-date=11 September 2014}}

}}

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote:

For their age [15 years old], their instrumental capabilities are quite impressive, as the guitars and vocals growl with the force of rockers in their early twenties. At the same time, their songwriting abilities aren't as strong, and they are never able to break away from the standard grunge formula. Nevertheless, the record does deliver a collection of songs replicating the thunder of ‘Tomorrow‘.

Chuck Eddy of Entertainment Weekly wrote in July 1995:

the songs on Frogstomp almost all start out like dreary Metallica ballads and build toward gloomy, by-the-numbers grunge". David Fricke of Rolling Stone, on the other hand, wrote: "Truly shameless wanna-be's {{sic}} like Bush should be so lucky to have the hard smarts that Silverchair – particularly the band's main writers, singer-guitarist Daniel Johns and drummer Ben Gillies – show on such Frogstomp-ers as ‘Pure Massacre‘ and ‘Israel's Son‘. When these guys turn 18, they'll really be dangerous.{{cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |date=2 February 1998 |title=[Frogstomp review] |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/frogstomp-19980202 |access-date=2 April 2015}}

In 1995, ABC Australia wrote that Silverchair provided:

a thrilling synthesis of rage, confusion and pain, and as a distillation of teen angst, you couldn't get a purer generational timestamp than Frogstomp.{{Cite web|url= https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/music-reads/features/silverchair-frogstomp/13549562 |title= Silverchair delivered a thrilling synthesis of rage, confusion and pain on their debut |first=Caz|last=Tran|date=20 September 2021|website=abc}}

In June 2015, Colm Browne of Soundscape Magazine said the lyrics on Frogstomp "show intelligence" and "a want to question the world, express feelings, get rid of negatives and be positive", saying the album "was and still is mightily impressive." British publication Classic Rock said about the 20th Anniversary remaster, "Frogstomp is as grunge as it gets. So was the world in ’95, which bought 3.5 million copies of the album."

In October 2015, James Rose of the Daily Review wrote of the album

As an album in its own right, it's pretty good. As a debut by three 15-year-olds, it's about as good as it gets. There are still kids out there today listening to Frogstomp and shitting themselves. And so they should.{{cite web|url=https://dailyreview.com.au/20-years-since-silverchairs-frogstomp/32195|title=20 years since: Silverchair's Frogstomp|website=Dailyreview.com.au|date=29 October 2015|access-date=6 November 2018}}

In November 2017, The Amity Affliction member Ahren Stringer said of the album: "I was obsessed with Frogstomp as a 12-year-old boy. I wanted to be Daniel Johns."{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/the-amity-affliction-cover-silverchairs-tomorrow/9143382|title=First Spin: The Amity Affliction cover Silverchair's 'Tomorrow'|first=Al|last=Newstead|date=13 November 2017|website=triple j}}

In September 2018, the album was ranked #25 on Double J's list of "Top 50 Australian Albums of the '90s".{{Cite web|url=https://junkee.com/best-australian-albums-90s/175157|title=Double J Have Ranked The 50 Best Australian Albums of The '90s, And It's A Smidge Controversial|date=14 September 2018|website=Junkee}}

In July 2020, NME said about the album:

25 years later, Frogstomp is too vital to be dismissed as meat-and-potatoes hard rock. There’s a lot to love, and much of it is heavy: the furious double-time onslaughts of “Israel’s Son“ and “Faultline“, the pop-punk “Findaway“ and the thrash-y instrumental "Madman".{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/features/silverchair-daniel-johns-release-ranked-2713344|title=Every Silverchair and Daniel Johns release ranked in order of greatness |last=Hé |first=Kristen |website=NME|date=23 July 2020|access-date=1 August 2024}}

In July 2020, Mixdown listed the album as among the seven best Australian grunge albums.{{Cite web|url=https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/fuzzed-out-seven-essential-records-from-australian-grunge-glory-days/|title = Fuzzed Out: Seven essential records from Australia's grunge glory days|date = 9 July 2020}} In September 2020, the publication said the album had a "hard-edged sound with angsty (yet all too relatable) lyricism" and described Frogstomp as "one of the most definitive grunge records of its era."{{Cite web|url=https://mixdownmag.com.au/features/columns/frogstomp-celebrating-25-years-of-silverchairs-uncanny-debut-album/|title = Frogstomp: Celebrating 25 years of Silverchair's uncanny debut album|date = 14 September 2020}}

In June 2021, American music magazine Spin wrote about the album in a retrospective piece, saying: "Frogstomp was ours, music written by kids our own age speaking to us in a language only we understood."{{cite web | url = https://www.spin.com/2021/06/in-defense-of-silverchair/ | title = In Defense of Silverchair, Australia's '90s Teen Rock Trio | last = Stratis | first = Niko | publisher = Spin | date = 14 June 2021 | access-date = 1 August 2024}}

In December 2021, Frogstomp was listed at no. 6 in Rolling Stone Australia's "200 Greatest Albums of All Time" countdown.[https://au.rollingstone.com/rolling-stones-200-greatest-australian-albums-of-all-time Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Australian Albums of All Time]. Rolling Stone Australia, Rolling Stone Australia, 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

In April 2022, British newspaper publication The Guardian included four Frogstomp songs on their list of "The 25 Best Silverchair Songs - Sorted" list. "Findaway", "Faultline", "Israel's Son", and "Tomorrow" ranked at #18, #14, #8, and #1, respectively.{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/18/the-25-best-silverchair-songs-sorted | title = The 25 best Silverchair songs - sorted | last = Jolly | first = Nathan | publisher = The Guardian | date = 18 April 2022 | access-date = 1 August 2024}}

In July 2024, Ultimate Guitar ranked Frogstomp at number 7 on their "Top 10 Classic Grunge Albums That Didn't Come From Seattle" list, saying that Silverchair "managed to write such catchy, dark tunes that perfectly encapsulate the grunge spirit while still sounding fresh and memorable."{{cite web | url = https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/top_10_classic_grunge_albums_that_didnt_come_from_seattle-167319 | title = Top 10 Grunge Classic Grunge Albums That Didn't Come From Seattle | last = | first = | author-link = Jorge | publisher = Ultimate Guitar | date = 15 July 2024 | access-date = 1 August 2024}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Frogstomp

| all_writing = Ben Gillies and Daniel Johns, except as noted.

| title1 = Israel's Son

| note1 = Johns

| length1 = 5:18

| title2 = Tomorrow{{Ref label|Tomorrow US|a}}

| length2 = 4:26

| title3 = Faultline

| length3 = 4:18

| title4 = Pure Massacre

| length4 = 4:58

| title5 = Shade

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = Leave Me Out

| length6 = 3:03

| title7 = Suicidal Dream

| note7 = Johns

| length7 = 3:12

| title8 = Madman

| note8 = Johns

| length8 = 2:43

| title9 = Undecided

| length9 = 4:36

| title10 = Cicada

| length10 = 5:10

| title11 = Findaway

| note11 = Johns

| length11 = 2:58

| total_length = 44:47

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Vinyl (Bonus Track)

| title12 = Blind

| note12 = from Tomorrow EP

| length12 = 4:50

| total_length = 49:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition "Rarities" (Bonus CD) - 2015

| title1 = Tomorrow{{Ref label|Tomorrow AU|b}}

| note1 = from Tomorrow EP

| length1 = 4:26

| title2 = Acid Rain{{Ref label|Stoned|c}}

| note2 = from Tomorrow EP

| length2 = 2:48

| title3 = Blind (live){{Ref label|Acid Rain|d}}

| note3 = from Tomorrow EP

| length3 = 3:31

| title4 = Stoned{{Ref label|Blind|e}}

| note4 = from Tomorrow EP

| length4 = 4:55

| title5 = Madman

| note5 = vocal version

| length5 = 2:44

| title6 = Madman

| note6 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| length6 = 3:46

| title7 = Blind

| note7 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| length7 = 5:32

| title8 = Tomorrow

| note8 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| length8 = 4:44

| title9 = Faultline

| note9 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| length9 = 4:16

| title10 = Pure Massacre

| note10 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| length10 = 7:24

| total_length = 44:10

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 20th Anniversary Remastered Deluxe Edition (Bonus CD+DVD) - 2015

| title1 = Madman

| note1 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| title2 = Blind

| note2 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| title3 = Tomorrow

| note3 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| title4 = Faultline

| note4 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| title5 = Fat Donuts/Pure Massacre{{Ref label|Fat Donuts/Pure Massacre|f}}

| note5 = live at the Cambridge Hotel, 1995

| title6 = Israel's Son

| note6 = live at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 1995

| title7 = Tomorrow

| note7 = music video, US version

| title8 = Pure Massacre

| note8 = music video, Australian version

| title9 = Israel's Son

| note9 = music video, Australian version

}}

•  Daniel Johns – guitar, vocals
•  Chris Joannou – bass guitar
•  Ben Gillies – drums

•  Kevin "Caveman" Shirley – producer, recording, mixing
•  Toby Learmont, Jon Russell – engineering assistant
•  Phil "Astroboy" Munro, Mark Thomas, Matt Witton – recording assistant
•  mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley at Eclipse Studios (Sydney, Australia)
•  original mastering by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York) (original 1995 release)
•  remastering by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios (Portland, Maine) (2015 remaster)

•  Tony Stone Images/The Photo Library – original frog image artwork
•  Greg Bennett – design, illustration
•  John O'Donnell, Kevin Wilkins – art direction
•  David Anderson, Adrienne Overall, Susan Robertson, John Watson – photography
•  John O'Donnell, John Watson – A&R

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{certification Table Top}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Silverchair|title=Frogstomp|award=Platinum|number= 6|relyear=1995|certyear=2017}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Silverchair|title=Frogstomp|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1995|certyear=1997}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Silverchair|title=Frogstomp|id=1995-10-20|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|award=Platinum}}

{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Silverchair|title= Frogstomp|type=album|award=Silver|relyear=1995|certyear=2013|id=11458-3464-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Silverchair|title=Frogstomp|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1995|certyear=1996}}

{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

• The song "Israel's Son" was featured in the film Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.

{{Ref label|Tomorrow US|a}} Listed as "Tomorrow (US Explicit) (Remastered)" in the 2015 remaster album booklet.{{cite book|title=Frogstomp: 20th Anniversary liner notes|date=2015|publisher=Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia}}

{{Ref label|Tomorrow AU|b}} Listed as "Tomorrow (Single Version) (Remastered)" in the 2015 remaster album booklet.

{{Ref label|Stoned|c}} The song "Stoned" is incorrectly listed as "Acid Rain" on the album's track listing.

{{Ref label|Acid Rain|d}} The song "Acid Rain" is incorrectly listed as "Blind (live)" on the album's track listing and a portion of the guitar solo near the end of the song is omitted on the 2015 remaster.

{{Ref label|Blind|e}} The song "Blind" is incorrectly listed as "Stoned" on the album's track listing.

{{Ref label|Fat Donuts/Pure Massacre|f}} The song "Fat Donuts" is played as an introduction to "Pure Massacre" on the DVD, but is not named on the album's track listing nor is the song included on the "Rarities" disc.

{{Reflist}}

{{Silverchair}}

{{ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1995 debut albums

Category:ARIA Award–winning albums

Category:Silverchair albums

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Kevin Shirley

Category:Murmur (record label) albums