Mama, I'm Swollen

In December 2008, the band had finished recording and mixing their next album.

In January 2009, the band went on a tour of the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31499/cursive-wrapping-up-album-plan-dates|title=Cursive wrapping up album, plan dates|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=December 4, 2008|access-date=June 20, 2022}} On February 2, 2009, Mama, I'm Swollen was announced for release the following month; alongside this, its artwork and track listing were posted online.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32176/cursive-set-release-date-for-mama-im-swollen|title=Cursive set release date for 'Mama, I'm Swollen'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=February 2, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2022}} "I Couldn't Love You" was posted online on February 23, 2009, followed by "From the Hips" two days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32454/media-cursive-i-couldnt-love-you|title=Cursive: 'I Couldn't Love You'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=February 23, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32493/media-cursive-from-the-hips|title=Cursive: 'From the Hips'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2022}} On March 1, 2009, the album was released digitally in 320 kbps MP3s with a PDF booklet and cover art at the cost of $1.00 USD, with a one dollar increase in price until its release day.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32536/cursive-selling-new-album-for-1|title=Cursive selling new album for $1|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 1, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2022}} Each CD digipak and 180 gram red vinyl/CD gatefold package order will come with a bonus download card with other songs, demos, and videos. It was supported with a handful of releases shows across the country, with support from Ladyfinger and Little Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31909/tours-cursive-march|title=Cursive (March)|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=January 13, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32673/tours-cursive-ladyfinger-man-man|title=Cursive / Ladyfinger / Man Man|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 12, 2009|access-date=October 3, 2022}} The trek also included an appearance at the South by Southwest music conference and a performance of "From the Hips" on Late Show with David Letterman.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31955/sxsw-with-the-queers-rival-schools-taas-this-bike-is-a-pipe-bomb-teenage-bottlerocket|title=SXSW with The Queers, Rival Schools, TAAS, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, Teenage Bottlerocket|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=January 15, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32704/videos-cursive-from-the-hips-live-on-letterman|title=Cursive: 'From The Hips' live on Letterman|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 15, 2009|access-date=October 4, 2022}} A music video was released for "From the Hips" on March 30, 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/32896/videos-cursive-from-the-hips|title=Cursive: 'From The Hips'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 30, 2009|access-date=October 4, 2022}}

For the 2009 Record Store Day event, the band released a split with Ladyfinger, which featured Cursive's "From the Hips" and "Universal Shrug", while Ladyfinger contributed "Little Things" and "Old News".{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/33149/cursive-to-release-split-with-ladyfinger-for-record-store-day|title=Cursive to release split with Ladyfinger for Record Store Day|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=April 17, 2009|access-date=October 6, 2022}} In April and May 2009, the band went on a US tour with Man Man. They went on a tour of the UK to close out May 2009, before embarking on a US tour until July 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/33360/tours-cursive|title=Cursive|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=May 1, 2009|access-date=October 8, 2022}} Further shows were added, extending the trek into August 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/34050/tours-cursive|title=Cursive|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=June 19, 2009|access-date=October 10, 2022}} During this, a music video was released for "I Couldn't Love You". Kasher said it was a "gross exaggeration of the 'trophy wife' concept -- grooms hunting down brides, hanging wedding pictures over the mantel next to a deer head".{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/33949/videos-cursive-i-couldnt-love-you|title=Cursive: 'I Couldn't Love You'|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=October 10, 2022}} They went on a short tour of Japan in October 2009; they closed the year with a US tour in November and December 2009.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/35612/tours-cursive|title=Cursive|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=October 15, 2009|access-date=October 12, 2022}} Between February and April 2010, the band went on a US tour with Alkaline Trio, with support from the Dear & Departed.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36439/tours-alkaline-trio-cursive|title=Alkaline Trio / Cursive|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=December 22, 2009|access-date=October 15, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36587/the-dear-and-departed-tapped-to-support-alkaline-trio-cursive-tour|title=The Dear and Departed tapped to support Alkaline Trio / Cursive tour|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Yancey, Bryne|date=January 7, 2010|access-date=October 16, 2022}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 65/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1490936/review}}

| rev2 = Drowned in Sound

| rev2Score = (9/10){{Cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13959/reviews/4136350 |title=Drowned in Sound review |access-date=2009-03-14 |archive-date=2009-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311041027/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13959/reviews/4136350 |url-status=dead }}

| rev3 = Blender

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5466 |title=Blender review |access-date=2009-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316191815/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=5466 |archive-date=2009-03-16 |url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4Score = (C+)[https://archive.today/20130122132157/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20264897,00.html Entertainment Weekly review]

| rev5 = Pitchfork Media

| rev5Score = (5.2/10)[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12818-mama-im-swollen/ Pitchfork review]

| rev6 = PopMatters

| rev6Score = (5/10)[http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71519-cursive-mama-im-swollen/ PopMatters review]

| rev7 = Rock Sound

| rev7Score = {{rating|8|10}}Kellehar, Rachel (June 2009). "Cursive – Mama, I'm Swollen." Rock Sound (123): 82. {{ISSN|1465-0185}}.

| rev8 = Rolling Stone

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3|5}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20090309063136/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/26360433/review/26415123/mama_im_swollen Rolling Stone review]

| rev9 = Slant Magazine

| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}[http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1675 Slant review]

| rev10 = Tiny Mix Tapes

| rev10Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}[http://www.tinymixtapes.com/Cursive,8356 Tiny Mix Tapes review]

}}

Initial critical response to Mama, I'm Swollen ranged from mixed to positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 65, based on 14 reviews.{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/cursive/mamaimswollen | title=Cursive:Mama, I'm Swollen (2009): Reviews | work=Metacritic | publisher=CNET Networks, Inc | accessdate=2009-03-19 }}

{{Track listing

| title1 = In the Now

| length1 = 2:34

| title2 = From the Hips

| length2 = 3:55

| title3 = I Couldn't Love You

| length3 = 3:21

| title4 = Donkeys

| length4 = 3:58

| title5 = Caveman

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = We're Going to Hell

| length6 = 4:53

| title7 = Mama, I'm Satan

| length7 = 4:28

| title8 = Let Me Up

| length8 = 4:47

| title9 = Mama, I'm Swollen

| length9 = 3:20

| title10 = What Have I Done?

| length10 = 6:11

}}

CD and LP versions of the album came with a Bonus Material Download Card to enable the customer to download five bonus tracks and 14 tour videos not included on the album by going to http://saddle-creek.com/mamaimswollen and entering the code found on the card. The code only works once.

Bonus Tracks

1. "All I Know"
2. "Mama's Baggage"
3. "I Couldn't Love You (demo, alternate lyrics)"
4. "What Have I Done (demo, extra verse, alternate lyrics)"
5. "In the Now (demo, alternate lyrics)"

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.cursivearmy.com Cursive official website]
• [http://www.saddle-creek.com Saddle Creek Records]

{{Cursive (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mama, I'm Swollen}}

Category:2009 albums

Category:Cursive (band) albums

Category:Saddle Creek Records albums

Category:2000s concept albums