Point No. 1

After recording a demo, Chevelle played small concerts for three years until being signed to Steve Taylor's independent Christian label Squint Entertainment.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/chevelle-mn0000091549|title=Chevelle Biography|last=Frey|first=Tracy|website=AllMusic|access-date=January 12, 2024}} The band recorded for 17 days at Electrical Audio with producer Steve Albini, famous for his work with the likes of Nirvana, Cheap Trick, and PJ Harvey. According to Chevelle frontman Pete Loeffler, Albini gave their album an unrefined "indie feel" in which the recording process was essentially "plug in, he hits record, and you play." Loeffler added, "At the time I was shocked talking to someone who had worked closely to Kurt Cobain. It was a trip. It was really cool." Point #1 was recorded in standard D with an alternative metal approach. However, the band was left unsatisfied and feeling that he didn't achieve the tones and overall sound they were looking for. They called Albini and, much to his surprise, expressed disappointment with the final product. Although they enjoyed working with him, Chevelle wanted to find a different producer to resolve the issue; however, their label gave them no choice but to work with Albini once again. The second phase of recording was, according to Loeffler, much more laid back and relaxed in which Albini "really opened up."{{cite web|url=http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/chevelle_interview_wpete_703200307/index.php?page=1|title=Chevelle - Interview w/Pete 7/03|last=Van Pelt|first=Doug|website=HM|date=July 2003|access-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126002603/http://www.hmmagazine.com/exclusive/chevelle_interview_wpete_703200307/index.php?page=1|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=dead}}

Largely thanks to Albini's influence, Point #1 is notably less intense than future Chevelle material; however, the album's title track has remained a common part of the band's concert set list. Nevertheless, the band's major label debut, Wonder What's Next, has since been regarded by the band as their "first" album.{{cite web|url=http://www.soakmag.com/articles/chevelle.asp|title=Chevelle: Helping Bring Hard-Rock to Chicago, A Million Units at a Time|last=Klodz|first=Randy J.|website=SOAK Magazine|date=2004|access-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201162709/http://www.soakmag.com/articles/chevelle.asp|archive-date=December 1, 2005|url-status=dead}}

Chevelle toured with various alternative metal bands to promote their debut album. This would influence their shift to a heavier sound on future albums.

Albini and an aspiring comedian named Fred Armisen starred in the band's Point #1 EPK (electronic press kit)—several years before Armisen became famous on Saturday Night Live. A year after the album's debut, a single was released in the title track which landed a marginal spot on the Mainstream Rock chart and had an accompanying music video. "Mia" had also been released as a single the year prior. It also had a video.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/point-1-mw0000239327|title=Point #1 – Chevelle|last=Phares|first=Heather|website=AllMusic|access-date=October 13, 2013}}

| rev2 = Cross Rhythms

| rev2score = {{Rating|10|10}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Chevelle/Point_1/716/|title=Review: Point #1 - Chevelle|last=Figgis|first=Alex|magazine=Cross Rhythms|location=Stoke-on-Trent, UK|publisher=Cornerstone House|issue=53|issn=0967-540X|date=October 1, 1999|access-date=January 12, 2024}}

| rev3 = Jesus Freak Hideout

| rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/PointNo1.asp|title=Chevelle, "Point #1" Review|last=DiBiase|first=John|website=Jesus Freak Hideout|date=September 11, 1999|access-date=April 26, 2007}}

}}

Critical reception for Point #1 varied. Heather Phares of AllMusic gave a positive review, noting how Albini helped the band "create forceful, mercurial indie rock" and added "In line with Chicago's ambitious music scene, Chevelle's challenging take on rock is also a rewarding one."

Chevelle received GMA Dove Awards for the more popular song "Mia" in 2000 and "Point #1" in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=32|title=Dove Award Winners for Hard Music Recorded Song|publisher=Gospel Music Association|access-date=November 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020106001828/http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?cid=32|archive-date=January 6, 2002|url-status=dead}} The album also received an award for "Hard Music Album" in 2000 by the Dove Awards.{{cite web|url=http://doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2000|title=Dove Award Recipients for Hard Music Album|publisher=Gospel Music Association|access-date=November 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020406020434/http://doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2000|archive-date=April 6, 2002|url-status=dead}}

Point #1 has earned Chevelle many comparisons to the successful rock band Tool. The music video for "Mia" was, like some of Tool's videos, completely stop motion animated. Additionally, Pete Loeffler's vocals, like those of Maynard James Keenan, range from soft and melodic to brutal and gut-wrenching. "Long", for instance, is notable for Loeffler's climactic twelve-second-long scream.

{{Track listing

| all_lyrics = Pete Loeffler

| all_music = Chevelle

| title1 = Open

| length1 = 2:01

| title2 = Point #1

| length2 = 4:21

| title3 = Prove to You

| length3 = 3:05

| title4 = Mia

| length4 = 2:21

| title5 = Skeptic

| length5 = 4:06

| title6 = Anticipation

| length6 = 3:08

| title7 = Dos

| length7 = 6:29

| title8 = Long

| length8 = 4:36

| title9 = Blank Earth

| length9 = 5:26

| title10 = SMA

| length10 = 2:55

| title11 = Peer

| length11 = 4:08

| total_length = 42:36

}}

Chevelle

• Pete Loeffler – guitar, vocals
• Joe Loeffler – bass
• Sam Loeffler – drums

Production

• Steve Albini – production, engineering, mixing
• Hank Williams – mastering
• Buddy Jackson – art direction
• Mark Smalling – photography
• Sally Carns – back cover, design

{{Reflist}}

{{Chevelle}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1999 debut albums

Category:Chevelle (band) albums

Category:Albums produced by Steve Albini

Category:Albums recorded at Electrical Audio

Category:Indie rock albums by American artists