Relationship of Command

Relationship of Command was recorded over a seven-week period starting on January 17, 2000,{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/249/at-the-drive-in-record-news|title=At the Drive-In Record News|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=December 28, 1999|accessdate=February 6, 2021}} following a tour supporting Rage Against the Machine. The album was recorded at the Indigo Ranch Studios, in Malibu, California, and was produced by Ross Robinson and mixed by Andy Wallace. Known for his unorthodox production methods, Robinson at one point took bass player Paul Hinojos for a drive in his SUV through the hills of Malibu to get his adrenaline going prior to recording. He also brought Iggy Pop to the studio for a guest appearance; Omar Rodriguez commented: "[Ross] had been talking to Iggy because they were gonna work together. I don't know if they ever did, but they'd sort of been chatting, so Ross had passed him our previous records and he liked them. So, of course I brought up the idea, "Why not [have Iggy] come and do something on the album?" Ross mentioned it to Iggy, and he was completely open to it. He came down to the studio for a whole day in which he sang [on "Rolodex Propaganda"] and did the ransom note [on "Enfilade"]."{{cite web|title=The Class of 2000: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez on At The Drive-In's "Relationship Of Command"|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_class_of_2000_omar_rodriguez-lopez_on_at_the_drive-ins_relationshi/|publisher=Alternative Press|accessdate=May 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530231448/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/the_class_of_2000_omar_rodriguez-lopez_on_at_the_drive-ins_relationshi|archive-date=May 30, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In 2010, Rodriguez stated that he felt the album was “ruined by the mix”, calling it “plastic” and said he did not feel it captured the band’s true energy.

The album's cover artwork (including the covers for the singles "One Armed Scissor," "Invalid Litter Dept." and "Rolodex Propaganda"), illustrated by Damon Locks, all revolve around imagery of the Trojan War, and the Trojan Horse in particular.

In March 2000, the band embarked on a five-week tour of Europe, two of which were spent with Sunshine. Following this, the band played a few shows in Japan in May, with Eastern Youth. They returned to the US, in time for a July tour. "One Armed Scissor" was released as a single in August 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/691/relationship-of-command|title=Relationship of Command|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=August 10, 2000|accessdate=February 8, 2021}} Relationship of Command was released on September 12, 2000. In March 2001, the band went on indefinite hiatus.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/1277/breakups-at-the-drive-in-1994-2001|title=At The Drive-In (1994-2001)|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=March 29, 2001|accessdate=February 9, 2021}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 77/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/relationship-of-command/at-the-drive-in |title=Reviews for Relationship Of Command by At The Drive-In |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=October 17, 2011}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/relationship-of-command-mw0000099225 |title=Relationship of Command – At the Drive-In |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last=Butler |first=Blake}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = A{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2000/09/15/music-review-relationship-command |title=Relationship of Command |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=September 15, 2000 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last=Raftery |first=Brian M.}}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,,374450,00.html |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command (Grand Royal) |work=The Guardian |date=September 29, 2000 |accessdate=June 7, 2019 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}}

| rev4 = Melody Maker

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command |journal=Melody Maker |date=September 19, 2000 |page=50}}

| rev5 = Metal Hammer

| rev5Score = 10/10{{Cite journal |last=Kulkarni |first=Neil |date=November 2000 |title=Under The Hammer {{!}} At The Drive-In: Relationship of Command|journal=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |issue=80 |pages=80}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = 9/10{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000919133555.html |title=At The Drive-In – Relationship Of Command |journal=NME |date=September 23, 2000 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001017212553/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/20000919133555.html |archive-date=October 17, 2000 |last=Capper |first=Andy |page=34 |url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 6.1/10 {{small|(2004)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/329-relationship-of-command/ |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command |work=Pitchfork |date=November 9, 2004 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last1=Richard-San |first1=Mark |last2=Schreiber |first2=Ryan}}
8.3/10 {{small|(2013)}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17973-at-the-drive-in-acrobatic-tenement-relationship-of-command/ |title=At the Drive-In: Acrobatic Tenement / Relationship of Command |work=Pitchfork |date=April 29, 2013 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command |journal=Q |issue=171 |date=December 2000 |page=118}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/atthedrivein/albums/album/132089/review/5940453/relationship_of_command |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship Of Command |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=850 |date=September 28, 2000 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last=Chonin |first=Neva |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620143257/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/atthedrivein/albums/album/132089/review/5940453/relationship_of_command |archive-date=June 20, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = Uncut

| rev10Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal |title=At the Drive-In: Relationship of Command |journal=Uncut |issue=41 |date=October 2000 |page=80}}

| rev11 = The Village Voice

| rev11Score = A−{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv101-01.php |title=Consumer Guide: Dub for Dummies |work=The Village Voice |date=January 23, 2001 |accessdate=November 1, 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

The album initially received generally positive reviews, with Metacritic giving the album an aggregate score of 77. The album is now seen as one of the most influential rock albums of the decade,{{citation needed|date=June 2015}} with it being ranked 47th in the 50 Greatest Albums of the 21st century in Kerrang!, number 83 on Spin magazine's 100 Greatest Albums 1985–2005,{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/covers/2005/06/0507_cover_greatest_albums/ |title=100 Greatest Albums, 1985–2005 |publisher=SPIN.com |date=June 20, 2005 |accessdate=October 17, 2011}} 6th in State magazine's 100 albums of the decade,{{cite web|url=http://www.state.ie/2009/12/albums-decade/states-albums-of-the-decade-the-top-ten/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218010818/http://www.state.ie/2009/12/albums-decade/states-albums-of-the-decade-the-top-ten/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 18, 2009 |title=State's albums of the decade – The Top Ten - State Magazine | Music | News | Reviews | Live |accessdate=December 14, 2016}} 3rd in JustPressPlay's Top 100 Albums of the 2000s,{{cite web|url=http://www.justpressplay.net/music/music-news/6289-fifty-years-of-great-music-the-top-100-albums-of-the-2000s.html |title=Fifty Years of Great Music: The Top 100 Albums of the 2000s |publisher=Justpressplay.net |accessdate=October 17, 2011}} 52nd in Decibel magazine's Greatest 100 albums of the decade,[http://www.terrorizer.com/main-forum/music/decibel-mags-greatest-100-albums-decade]{{dead link|date=December 2016}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 117th in Uncut magazine's 150 Albums of the decade,{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/uncut/uncuts-150-albums-of-the-decade-interview|title=Uncut's 150 Albums of the Decade! – Uncut.co.uk |publisher=Google |accessdate=October 17, 2011}} as well as being ranked at number 90 on MTV2's greatest albums ever list.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channels/mtv-two/chart/greatest-albums-ever |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310113027/http://www.mtv.co.uk/channels/mtv-two/chart/greatest-albums-ever |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |title=MTV TWO Greatest Albums Ever |publisher=Mtv.co.uk |date=March 27, 2011 |accessdate=October 17, 2011}} A retrospective BBC music review hailed the significance of Relationship of Command's uniqueness, calling the album "mesmerising" and a "statement of grand intent that could never be followed."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/jjpn |title=Music – Review of At the Drive-In – Relationship of Command |publisher=BBC |accessdate=October 17, 2011}}

In 2005, the album was ranked number 423 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.{{cite book|title=Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten|year=2005|publisher=Rock Hard|language=de|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=41}} The album is also seen as an influential guitar album, being ranked number 94 in a Guitar World reader's poll of the 100 greatest guitar albums of all time. This list appeared in the October 2006 issue of Guitar World.{{cite web|url=http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93854 |title=BROADCAST NEWS Discussion |publisher=Chud.com |accessdate=October 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823050531/http://chud.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93854 |archive-date=August 23, 2007 }}

Following the release of the album, At the Drive-In gained brief mainstream critical and commercial success, with Relationship of Command appearing in end-of-year lists of the best albums of 2000 by publications such as the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone, as well as becoming their first album to reach the Billboard 200. The band also made appearances on shows such as Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the Late Show with David Letterman. However, despite this success, the band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, with the members splitting to form The Mars Volta and Sparta.

The album was included in Rock Sound{{'}}s 101 Modern Classics list at number 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/rock-sounds-101-modern-classics-the-final-instalment|title=Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics: The Final Instalment!|work=Rock Sound Magazine|date=July 11, 2012 |accessdate=July 6, 2015}} The album was ranked at number 177 on Spin{{'}}s "The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985–2014)" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/05/the-300-best-albums-of-the-past-30-years-1985-2014/3/|title=The 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014)|work=Spin|author=Martins, Chris|date=May 11, 2015|page=3|accessdate=August 6, 2015}} In 2019, the album was ranked 42nd on The Guardian's 100 Best Albums of the 21st Century list.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/13/100-best-albums-of-the-21st-century |title=The 100 best albums of the 21st century |work=The Guardian |date=September 13, 2019 |accessdate=September 18, 2019 }} In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 2000 by Metal Hammer magazine.{{cite web |title=The Top 20 best metal albums of 2000 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-top-20-best-metal-albums-of-2000 |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=September 29, 2020}} Journalists Leslie Simon and Trevor Kelley included the album in their list of the most essential emo releases in their book Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture (2007).Simon; Kelley 2007, p. 171 Alternative Press ranked "One Armed Scissor" at number one on their list of the best 100 singles from the 2000s.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/36083/at-the-drive-ins-one-armed-scissor-tops-aps-haircut-100-singles-countdown|title=At The Drive-In's 'One Armed Scissor' tops AP's 'Haircut 100' singles countdown|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=November 20, 2009|access-date=October 13, 2022}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| all_music = At the Drive-In

| all_lyrics = Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López

| title1 = Arcarsenal

| length1 = 2:55

| title2 = Pattern Against User

| length2 = 3:17

| title3 = One Armed Scissor

| length3 = 4:19

| title4 = Sleepwalk Capsules

| length4 = 3:27

| title5 = Invalid Litter Dept.

| length5 = 6:05

| title6 = Mannequin Republic

| length6 = 3:02

| title7 = Enfilade

| length7 = 5:01

| title8 = Rolodex Propaganda

| length8 = 2:55

| title9 = Quarantined

| length9 = 5:24

| title10 = Cosmonaut

| length10 = 3:23

| title11 = Non-Zero Possibility

| length11 = 5:36

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese and re-release bonus tracks

| title12 = Extracurricular

| length12 = 3:59

| title13 = Catacombs

| length13 = 4:14

| note13 = Re-Recording. Original version appeared on a Thick Records split 7-inch with Burning Airlines' The Deluxe War Baby, and Plea For Peace/Take Action Vol 1.

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 2012 Australian reissue bonus disc. These tracks were recorded live in 2001 by Triple J for Live at the Wireless.

| title1 = Arcarsenal

| length1 = 3:49

| title2 = Quarantined

| length2 = 9:51

| title3 = One-Armed Scissor

| length3 = 3:59

}}

At the Drive-In

• Cedric Bixler-Zavala – lead vocals, guitar on "Rolodex Propaganda", melodica on "Enfilade", percussion
• Jim Ward – guitar, vocals, keyboards
• Omar Rodríguez-López – guitar, backing vocals
• Paul Hinojos – bass
• Tony Hajjar – drums, percussion

Other musicians

• Iggy Pop – guest vocals on "Rolodex Propaganda" and "Enfilade"

Technical personnel

• Ross Robinson – producer
• Chuck Johnson – engineer
• Zak Girdis – assistant engineer
• Kevin Bosley – assistant engineer
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Eddy Schreyer – mastering
• Damon Locks – illustrations
• Jason Farrell – layout design

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Gold|title=Relationship Of Command|certyear=2012|relyear=2000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Gold|title=Relationship Of Command|id=9324-2699-2|relyear=2000|certyear=2013}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Citations

{{Reflist}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|last1=Simon|first1=Leslie|last2=Kelley|first2=Trevor|title=Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture|year=2007|publisher=HarperEntertainment|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-06-119539-6}}

{{refend}}

{{At the Drive-In}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Relationship Of Command}}

Category:At the Drive-In albums

Category:2000 albums

Category:Albums produced by Ross Robinson

Category:Fearless Records albums

Category:Grand Royal albums