Guide to Better Living

Guide to Better Living is the debut studio album by Australian alternative metal and post-grunge band Grinspoon. In 1995 the group formed in Lismore, New South Wales and are fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums. The group's second extended play, Licker Bottle Cozy, was recorded in June 1996 with Phil McKellar as producer.

In February 1997 the band recorded their debut album, with McKellar again, at Rockinghorse Studios in Byron Bay and mixed at Studios 301 in Sydney in April. The band considered the title, Sell Your Parents, but eventually decided on Guide to Better Living, after a 1960s catalogue of Sunbeam white goods.{{cite web | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en4/grinspoon/grinspoon.htm | url = http://www.howlspace.com.au/en4/grinspoon/grinspoon.htm|title=Grinspoon | last = Nimmervoll | first = Ed | author-link = Ed Nimmervoll | publisher = Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll) | archivedate = 26 July 2012 | accessdate = 23 January 2014 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web | url = http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/g/grinspoon.html | title = Grinspoon | publisher = Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) | first = Magnus | last = Holmgren | accessdate = 22 March 2012 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120220031537/http://hem2.passagen.se/honga/database/g/grinspoon.html | archivedate = 20 February 2012}} It had a slightly heavier sound than their earlier work. On 16 September 1997 they released the work on Grudge Records – an imprint of Universal Music Australia.{{Cite magazine | title = Universal Australia restructures in response to changing face of retail | magazine = Billboard | first = Christie | last = Eliezer | page = 103 | date = 6 March 1999 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8g0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Guide+to+Better+Living%22+grinspoon&pg=PA103 | accessdate=22 March 2012 | publisher = Prometheus Global Media }} It peaked at number 11 on the ARIA Albums Charts and by year's end it was certified platinum with shipment of over 70,000 units in Australia.{{cite web | url = http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Grinspoon&titel=Guide+To+Better+Living&cat=a | title = Grinspoon – Guide to Better Living | last = Hung | first = Steffen | publisher = Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) | accessdate = 22 March 2012 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-1997.htm |title=ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 1997 Albums |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |accessdate=22 March 2012}} At the ARIA Music Awards of 1998, Grinspoon received a nomination in the category 'Breakthrough Artist – Album' for Guide to Better Living.{{cite web | url = http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history/year/1998 | title = Winners By Year - 25th ARIA Awards 2011 – Winners by Year – 1998 | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | accessdate = 22 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110927121049/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-year.php?year=1998 | archive-date = 27 September 2011 | url-status = dead }} It represents the sound and variety of their early career with heavier songs like "Pressure Tested 1984" open the album, whilst in the middle are more classic rock songs like "Repeat" and "Don't Go Away" and then towards the end the ballad "Bad Funk Stripe."

In Australia a limited edition was issued with a bonus CD featuring the single version of "Just Ace", five live songs—illustrating the band's sense of humour and ability to play live—and a hidden track, the acoustic "Protest". The live tracks were recorded at Grudgefest in Sydney on Saturday 27 September 1997. The United States branch of Universal Records signed the band by late 1998 and released an altered version of Guide to Better Living on 9 March 1999. The cover was also modified with the band's name and album title written in a different style. The album sold over 12,000 copies in the US on the back of extensive touring by the band in North America{{Cite news | title = Australia: Southern Exposure | work = Billbosrd | first1 = Thom | last1 = Duffy |first2 = Christie | last2 = Eliezer | page = 67 | date = 16 October 1999 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8g0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Guide+to+Better+Living%22+grinspoon&pg=PA103 | publisher = Prometheus Global Media | accessdate = 22 March 2012 }} with bands such as Creed, Lit, Godsmack and Anthrax. The group's second album, Easy followed in November 1999.{{cite web | url = http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Grinspoon/1868/ | title = Grinspoon reviews, music, news | publisher = Sputnikmusic (Jeremy Ferwerda) | accessdate = 23 March 2012 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.thebulletreviews.com/features/lesson2.html | title = Feature: Katey's Aussie Bands 101 - Lesson 2 – Classic Aussie Rock: Grinspoon | last = Katey | work = The Bullet Reviews | publisher = Imre | accessdate = 23 March 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070706034500/http://www.thebulletreviews.com/features/lesson2.html | archivedate = 6 July 2007}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | url = {{AllMusic | pure_url = yes | class=album |id=r398669}} | title = Guide to Better Living – Grinspoon | publisher = AllMusic. Rovi Corporation | accessdate = 22 March 2012 }}

| rev2 = WHAMMO

| rev2score = (positive){{cite web | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20040729115212/http://www.whammo.com.au/showProduct.asp?barcode=174144 | url = http://www.whammo.com.au/showProduct.asp?barcode=174144 | title = Grinspoon – Guide to Better Living | publisher = Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO) | accessdate = 23 March 2012 | archivedate = 29 July 2004 }}

}}

According to the Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO), "[a]fter being discovered by Triple J and then signed by Grudge records, this was the album that hammered it home - Grinspoon were destined to be the most rock and roll party down aviator-shades-wearing Oz rock band of the late '90s".

{{Track listing

| headline = Australian version

| all_writing = Phil Jamieson and Joe Hansen,{{cite web | publisher = Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | title = 'Pressure Tested 1984' at APRA search engine | url = http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Pressure%20Tested%201984 | accessdate = 23 March 2012 }} Note: To search for other titles click on Search again and enter track name. except where noted

| total_length = 46:12

| title1 = Pressure Tested 1984

| length1 = 2:46

| title2 = Boundary

| length2 = 2:33

| title3 = DC X 3

| writer3 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Pat Davern

}}

| length3 = 2:55

| title4 = Sickfest

| writer4 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length4 = 3:12

| title5 = Railrider

| length5 = 4:08

| title6 = Scalped

| writer6 = Jamieson

| length6 = 2:36

| title7 = Pedestrian

| length7 = 2:16

| title8 = Just Ace

| writer8 = Jamieson

| length8 = 1:48

| title9 = Post Enebriated Anxiety

| writer9 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length9 = 2:38

| title10 = Repeat

| writer10 = Jamieson

| length10 = 3:18

| title11 = NBT

| length11 = 2:25

| title12 = Don't Go Away

| writer12 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Hansen
• Davern

}}

| length12 = 2:56

| title13 = Balding Matters

| length13 = 2:34

| title14 = Bad Funk Stripe

| writer14 = Jamieson

| length14 = 4:43

| title15 = Champion

| length15 = 2:42

| title16 = Truk

| writer16 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length16 = 2:42

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Original release bonus tracks

| total_length =

| title17 = More Than You Are

| writer17 = Jamieson

| note17 = live

| length17 = 2:55

| title18 = Freezer

| writer18 = Jamieson

| note18 = live

| length18 = 2:04

| title19 = Post Enebriated Anxiety

| note19 = live

| writer19 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length19 = 3:09

| title20 = NBT

| note20 = live

| length20 = 2:50

| title21 = Just Ace

| writer21 = Jamieson

| note21 = live

| length21 = 2:01

| title22 = Protest

| note22 = hidden track

| length22 = 1:22

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Live at CBGB's New York 1997 – 20th anniversary deluxe edition{{cite web|title =Guide To Better Living (Deluxe Edition)|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/guide-to-better-living-deluxe-edition/id1218746252|work=iTunes Store|accessdate=4 April 2017}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| total_length =

| title17 = American Party Bomb

| length17 = 2:12

| title18 = Black Friday

| writer18 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length18 = 2:50

| title19 = Pedestrian

| length19 = 2:25

| title20 = More Than You Are

| writer20 = Jamieson

| length20 = 2:58

| title21 = Butcher

| length21 = 3:35

| title22 = Post Enebriated Anxiety

| writer22 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length22 = 3:22

| title23 = Just Ace

| writer23 = Jamieson

| length23 = 1:58

| title24 = All the Time

| length24 = 2:31

| title25 = Champion

| length25 = 3:00

| title26 = Freezer

| writer26 = Jamieson

| length26 = 2:23

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Re-release bonus EP

| total_length = 16:43

| title1 = Just Ace

| writer1 = Jamieson

| note1 = single version

| length1 = 1:48

| title2 = Grudgefest Intro

| note2 = live

| length2 = 0:34

| title3 = More Than You Are

| writer3 = Jamieson

| note3 = live

| length3 = 2:55

| title4 = Freezer

| writer4 = Jamieson

| note4 = live

| length4 = 2:04

| title5 = Post Enebriated Anxiety

| writer5 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| note5 = live

| length5 = 3:09

| title6 = NBT

| note6 = live

| length6 = 2:50

| title7 = Just Ace

| writer7 = Jamieson

| note7 = live

| length7 = 2:01

| title8 = Protest

| note8 = hidden track

| length8 = 1:22

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = B-Sides / Rarities – 20th anniversary deluxe edition bonus disc

| total_length =

| title1 = Pig Pen

| writer1 = Jamieson

| length1 = 2:21

| title2 = Butcher

| writer2 = Jamieson

| length2 = 3:58

| title3 = Freezer

| writer3 = Jamieson

| length3 = 1:59

| title4 = Green Grass Meadow

| writer4 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| note4 = previously unreleased

| length4 = 2:50

| title5 = Fuck Truk

| length5 = 2:52

| title6 = Fire Engine Man

| writer6 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Hansen
• Davern
• Kristian Hopes

}}

| length6 = 3:01

| title7 = Pedestrian

| note7 = Roadkill Mix

| length7 = 3:23

| title8 = Ambulance

| writer8 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length8 = 2:42

| title9 = Champion

| note9 = Groove Terminator Remix

| length9 = 3:14

| title10 = Railrider

| note10 = The Hypnotic Mix

| length10 = 4:59

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Live at Falls Festival 1997 – 20th anniversary deluxe edition bonus disc

| total_length =

| title11 = Champion

| length11 = 3:19

| title12 = Don't Go Away

| writer12 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Hansen
• Davern

}}

| length12 = 2:59

| title13 = Pedestrian

| length13 = 2:42

| title14 = More Than You Are

| writer14 = Jamieson

| length14 = 2:49

| title15 = Repeat

| writer15 = Jamieson

| length15 = 3:18

| title16 = Boundary

| length16 = 2:50

| title17 = American Party Bomb

| length17 = 2:36

| title18 = Just Ace

| writer18 = Jamieson

| length18 = 1:46

| title19 = Post Enebriated Anxiety

| writer19 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length19 = 3:30

| title20 = Untitled

| length20 = 2:21

| title21 = Freezer

| writer21 = Jamieson

| length21 = 2:56

| title22 = DCx3

| writer22 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length22 = 3:21

| title23 = Dr Grinspoon

| writer23 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length23 = 3:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = American version

| total_length = 44:17

| title1 = PostEnebriatedAnxiety

| writer1 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length1 = 2:37

| title2 = Black Friday

| writer2 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length2 = 2:29

| title3 = Dead Cat X 3

| writer3 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length3 = 2:54

| title4 = More Than You Are

| writer4 = Jamieson

| length4 = 3:10

| title5 = Railrider

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = Pressure Tested

| length6 = 2:46

| title7 = Repeat

| writer7 = Jamieson

| length7 = 3:16

| title8 = Champion

| length8 = 2:41

| title9 = Pedestrian

| length9 = 2:14

| title10 = NBT

| length10 = 2:25

| title11 = Bad Funk Stripe

| writer11 = Jamieson

| length11 = 4:41

| title12 = Scalped

| writer12 = Jamieson

| length12 = 2:35

| title13 = Boundary

| length13 = 2:31

| title14 = Truk

| writer14 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length14 = 2:43

| title15 = Sickfest

| writer15 = {{flatlist|

• Jamieson
• Davern

}}

| length15 = 3:12

}}

;Grinspoon members

• Phil Jamieson – vocals, guitar
• Pat Davern – guitar
• Joe Hansen – bass guitar
• Kristian Hopes – drums

;Additional musicians

• Ted Reiger – keyboards

;Production details

• Producer – Phillip McKellar, Grinspoon, Ulrich Wild
• Engineer – Phillip McKellar, Ulrich Wild
• Assistant engineer – Greg Courtney, Flip Osman, Chris Riband
• Mastering – Ron Baker, Tom Baker
• Mixing – Phillip McKellar, Ulrich Wild
• Mixing assistant – Flip Osman, Chris Riband
• Studio – Rocking Horse Studios

;Art works

• Photography – Paul Blackmore, Sophie Howarth, Stephen Stickler

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|title=Guide to Better Living|artist=Grinspoon|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1997|certyear=2017|accessdate=6 October 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Grinspoon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1997 debut albums

Category:Grinspoon albums