Perfect Self

{{Infobox album

| name = Perfect Self

| type = studio

| artist = Stereomud

| cover = Perfect_Self.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|2001|5|22}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

Nu metal{{cite web|first=Vince|last=Neilstein|title=The Top 11 Obscure Nu-Metal Albums Ever Made|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2014/11/07/top-ten-obscure-nu-metal-albums/|website=MetalSucks|date=November 7, 2014|accessdate=April 9, 2025}}
alternative metal
hard rock{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Nicolette |date=2002-01-11 |title=STEREOMUD: PERFECT SELF |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/01/11/stereomud-perfect-self/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}

| length = 44:55

| label =

| producer =

Rick Parashar
Howie Beno
Don Gilmore
John B. Davis
Corey Lowery {{small|({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Every Given Moment

| next_year = 2003

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Perfect Self

| type = studio

| single1 = Pain

| single1date = 2001

| single2 = Steppin Away

| single2date = 2001

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r533063|pure_url=yes}}|title=Perfect Self - Stereomud|publisher=AllMusic}}

}}

Perfect Self is the debut album by the American rock band Stereomud. It was released on May 22, 2001 through Loud Records and was manufactured via Columbia Records. The album met with moderate commercial success, with its two singles, "Pain" and "Steppin Away", both featuring their own music videos. The album sold more than 100,000 units in the US.{{Cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/archive-news-nov-21-2001/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064802/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/archive-news-nov-21-2001/ |url-status=dead }}

Musically, the album has been described as hard rock with metal influences, similar in style to that of Sevendust (bassist Corey Lowery is younger brother to Clint Lowery of Sevendust and Dark New Day). The album's sound varies from rock and metal-based songs, as vocalist Erik Rogers also varies between clean tone singing and the traditional screaming found in metal music.

The album is listed as having a total of 23 tracks (which was a "lucky" number for Lowery); however, 10 of these tracks are listed as "[untitled track]". These tracks are small electronica-based interludes that are variations of the final track, "Perfect Self", which is a blend of acoustic and electronica.

"Don't Be Afraid" was featured in the soundtrack for the video game ATV Offroad Fury 2.

Track listing

{{Tracklist

| all_writing = Corey Lowery, Erik Rogers, Dan Richardson, Joey Zampella, and John Fattoruso; additional writers listed below

| title1 = Intro

| length1 = 0:32

| title2 = Leave (Back Up)

| writer2 = Don Gilmore

| length2 = 3:33

| title3 = Don't Be Afraid

| writer3 = Gilmore

| length3 = 3:18

| title4 = Interlude #1

| length4 = 0:12

| title5 = Old Man

| length5 = 3:19

| title6 = Pain

| writer6 = Donny Hamby

| length6 = 3:37

| title7 = Steppin Away

| length7 = 3:22

| title8 = How We Stand

| length8 = 2:45

| title9 = Interlude #2

| length9 = 0:15

| title10 = Down from Here

| length10 = 3:10

| title11 = Sunlight

| length11 = 4:05

| title12 = Lost Your Faith

| length12 = 2:31

| title13 = Get Me Out

| writer13 = Gilmore

| length13 = 3:01

| title14 = What

| length14 = 3:06

| title15 = Interlude #3

| length15 = 0:26

| title16 = Closer Now

| length16 = 3:05

| title17 = Interlude #4

| length17 = 0:04

| title18 = Interlude #5

| length18 = 0:04

| title19 = Interlude #6

| length19 = 0:04

| title20 = Interlude #7

| length20 = 0:04

| title21 = Interlude #8

| length21 = 0:04

| title22 = Interlude #9

| length22 = 0:04

| title23 = Perfect Self

| writer23 = Clint Lowery

| length23 = 3:56

}}

Credits

Stereomud

Erik Rogers – vocals
Corey Lowery – bass, vocals
Joey Zampella – guitar
John Fattoruso – guitar
Dan Richardson – drums

Production and design

Don Gilmore – producer and engineer {{small|(2, 3, 13)}}
Rick Parashar – producer {{small|(5-8, 10-12, 14)}}, co-producer {{small|(16)}}, engineer {{small|(5-8, 10-12, 14, 16)}}
Howie Beno – producer and engineer {{small|(1, 4, 9, 15, 17-23)}}; mixing {{small|(1, 4, 9, 15, 17-22)}}; Pro Tools engineer, programming, and string arranger {{small|(23)}}
John B. Davis – producer {{small|(16)}}, executive producer
Corey Lowery – co-producer {{small|(23)}}
Kip Beeleman – engineer {{small|(5-8, 10-12, 14, 16)}}
Mark Rains – engineer {{small|(16)}}, assistant engineer {{small|(11)}}
John Ewing Jr. – Pro Tools engineer {{small|(2, 3, 13)}}
Dan Certa – assistant engineer {{small|(2, 3, 13)}}
Zach Odom – assistant engineer {{small|(16)}}
Hoover Le – assistant engineer {{small|(23)}}
Jay Baumgardner – mixing {{small|(2, 3, 5-8, 10-14, 16, 23)}}
Tom Baker – mastering
Dave Bett – art direction
Joey Zampella – art direction
Daniel Hastings – photography
Sanches Stanfield – digital imaging