Sonic Jihad (Snake River Conspiracy album)

Although the album itself was relatively unsuccessful, three singles were released, two of which charted. The first single, "Vulcan", failed to reach any chart. The next single, however, "How Soon Is Now", performed well in the United States, where it reached No. 38 on the Alternative chart and #15 on the Dance Club Songs chart;Billboard website: {{Cite magazine |title=Snake River Conspiracy |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/snake-river-conspiracy/chart-history/dsi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102190220/https://www.billboard.com/artist/snake-river-conspiracy/chart-history/dsi/ |archive-date=January 2, 2023 |access-date=January 2, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}

As print: {{Cite magazine |date=July 29, 2000 |title=Billboard's Top Heatseekers Albums |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kxEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=snake+river+conspiracy+billboard&pg=PA21 |magazine=Billboard |page=21 |issn=0006-2510}} the song also entered the UK Singles Chart, at number 83.{{cite web |title=SNAKE RIVER CONSPIRACY (overview) |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/8113/snake%20river%20conspiracy/ |access-date=November 11, 2016 |website=Official Charts}} The third single, "Breed", reached No. 37 on the Dance Club Songs chart.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev2 = Drowned in Sound

| rev2score = 9/10{{cite web|last1=Price|first1=Kate|title=Snake River Conspiracy Sonic Jihad review|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2792/reviews/2633-|website=Drowned In Sound|access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216155912/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/2792/reviews/2633-|url-status=dead}}

| rev3 = The Independent

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite journal |last=Perry |first=Tim |date=November 18, 2000 |title=POP: ALBUM REVIEWS: [FOREIGN Edition] |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/311854868 |journal=The Independent |location=London |page=37 |id={{ProQuest|311854868}} |via=ProQuest}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite journal |last=Everly |first=Dave |date=November 11, 2000 |title=Pretty Hate Machine {{!}} Albums |journal=Kerrang! |publisher=EMAP |issue=827 |page=48}}

| rev5 = Metal Hammer

| rev5score = 10/10{{Cite journal |last=Cannelloni |first=Roberto |date=November 2000 |title=Under The Hammer {{!}} Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic Jihad|journal=Metal Hammer |issue=80 |pages=80}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 5/10{{Cite journal |last=Johns |first=Darren |date=November 25, 2000 |title=Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic Jihad {{!}} Albums |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-3538-334134 |url-status=live |journal=NME |location=UK |publisher=IPC |page=33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201172404/https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-nme-3538-334134 |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2023}}

(Album score is not found in online source)

| rev7 = Outburn

| rev7score = (positive){{Cite journal |last=Octavia |date=May 2000 |title=Octavia's Alcove |journal=Outburn |publisher=rodent EK & Octavia |issue=12 |page=77}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = (positive){{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Eden |title=Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic Jihad {{!}} PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/snakeriverconspiracy-sonic/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216103201/https://www.popmatters.com/review/snakeriverconspiracy-sonic/ |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=PopMatters}}

| rev9 = Q

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite journal |last=Scott |first=Danny |date=November 2000 |title=New Albums |journal=Q |location=UK |publisher=EMAP |issue=170 |page=114}}

| rev10 = Rock Sound

| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite journal |last=Long |first=Johnathan |date=November 2000 |title=Reviews: Rock |journal=Rock Sound |publisher=Freeway Press |issue=18 |page=89}}

}}

Sonic Jihad received generally positive reviews from music critics.

Eden Miller of PopMatters spoke positively of the album, stating that, "Anger has never been so much fun or so approachable," and praising the group's "strong personality".{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Eden |title=Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic Jihad {{!}} PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/snakeriverconspiracy-sonic/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216103201/https://www.popmatters.com/review/snakeriverconspiracy-sonic/ |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2022 |website=PopMatters}} Drowned in Sound{{'}}s review, written by Kate Price, was similarly positive, awarding the album 9 out of 10 and stating that the album, "Is a journey, lyrically and musically, through human emotions and represents... the triumph of passion over technology."

Sonic Jihad was widely praised in the British rock and heavy metal press.{{Cite journal |last=Jelbert |first=Steve |date=December 1, 2000 |title=Pop: When Will I Be Famous? the Independent's guide to tomorrow's bands |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/311789484 |journal=The Independent |page=15 |id={{ProQuest|311789484}} |via=ProQuest}} Roberto Cannelloni of Metal Hammer praised the album's inventiveness and Tobey Torres' vocal performances, which he labelled "works of genius full of twisted keyboards and buzzsaw guitars layered underneath probably the finest voice in rock today" and awarded the album a perfect score. Dave Everly of Kerrang! hailed the album as "A vitriolic blast of venomous post-techno noise rock". Johnathan Long of Rock Sound stated that while Snake River Conspiracy's initiative of using 1980s music as inspiration was not exactly original, citing the bands Orgy and VAST as other contemporary examples, the band retained a "visceral edge to their music" and called the album a "surprisingly delightful debut".

Other reviewers were less favourable. AllMusic{{'}}s William Ruhlmann likened Snake River Conspiracy to the rock group Garbage and Nine Inch Nails, but felt that, "Their sound may be too hard for pop fans and too soft for rock fans," which lead him to giving the album 3 out of 5 stars.{{Citation |title=Snake River Conspiracy - Sonic Jihad Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sonic-jihad-mw0000060758 |language=en |access-date=2023-01-02}} NME writer Darren Johns was critical of the album's gothic undertones and "Dark Mood Syndrome", which he felt undermined the album's "shiny, happy chorus hooks", but also praised the songs "Somebody Hates You" and "How Soon Is Now?", which he called "the oddest, and therefore best, moments" on the album.

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Breed

| length1 = 4:30

| writer1 = {{hlist|Jason Slater|Eric Valentine|Denny Porter|Tobey Torres{{ref|a|[a]}}|Jerry Goldsmith}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Jason Slater|Eric Valentine|David Kahne}}

| title2 = Casualty

| length2 = 4:54

| writer2 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Porter}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Kahne}}

| title3 = You and Your Friend

| note3 = T-Ride cover

| length3 = 3:35

| writer3 = Daniel Arlie

| extra3 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Kahne}}

| title4 = Lovesong

| note4 = The Cure cover

| length4 = 3:56{{efn|Although the 3:56 version of "Lovesong" is included on the album, a full-length version (4:08) also exists.}}

| writer4 = {{hlist|Robert Smith|Simon Gallup|Roger O'Donnell|Porl Thompson|Boris Williams|Lol Tolhurst|Slater{{ref|a|[a]}}|Valentine{{ref|a|[a]}}|Porter{{ref|a|[a]}}}} {{Cite web |title=ASCAP Repertory Search {{!}} "Love Song" |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/905279981 |access-date=December 12, 2022 |website=ascap.com}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine}}

| title5 = Act Your Age

| note5 = Running with Scissors cover

| length5 = 4:27

| writer5 = {{hlist|Slater|Porter}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Slater|Kahne}}

| title6 = More Than Love

| length6 = 3:50

| writer6 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Porter}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Kahne}}

| title7 = Strangled

| note7 = featuring Greg Camp{{ref|a|[a]}}

| length7 = 4:43

| writer7 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Porter|John Barry}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Kahne}}

| title8 = Oh Well

| note8 = Running with Scissors cover

| length8 = 3:46

| writer8 = {{hlist|Slater|Porter|Charlie Clouser}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Slater|Charlie Clouser}}

| title9 = Somebody Hates You

| length9 = 3:57

| writer9 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Porter|David Kahne}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine|Kahne}}

| title10 = Vulcan

| length10 = 3:59

| writer10 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Slater|Valentine}}

| title11 = How Soon Is Now?

| note11 = The Smiths cover

| length11 = 3:23

| writer11 = {{hlist|Morrissey|Johnny Marr}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Slater|Kahne}}

| total_length = 44:48

}}Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an uncredited songwriter/contributor

Sample credits

• "Breed" contains a sample from "New Identity", written by Jerry Goldsmith, and featured in the score for the 1968 film Planet of the Apes.
• "Strangled" contains a sample from "Goldfinger", written by John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley (credited only to Barry in liner notes), and performed by Shirley Bassey.

Personnel per liner notes.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Sonic Jihad |others=Snake River Conspiracy |year=2000 |type=booklet |publisher=Morpheus Records |id=Morph 008 |location=UK}}{{col-start}}{{col-2}}Snake River Conspiracy

• Jason Slater – bass, guitar, instruments, production, songwriting (all tracks),
  mixing (1-7, 9, 11)
• Tobey Torres – vocals, lyrical contributions (uncredited){{cite magazine |last=Young |first=Simon |date=2000-12-23 |title=My Year: Tobey Torres {{!}} Snake River Conspiracy |magazine=Kerrang! |location=UK |publisher=EMAP |issue=833 |page= |pages=26–27}}

Additional personnel

• Geoff Tyson – additional production (uncredited), remixes{{Cite web |date=January 20, 2003 |title=Heavy Metal Resource Interviews-Geoff Tyson |url=http://www.heavymetalresource.com/interviews23.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030203232145/http://www.heavymetalresource.com/interviews23.html |archive-date=February 3, 2003 |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=www.heavymetalresource.com}}
• Michael Urbano – drums (uncredited){{cite web |last1=Slater |first1=Jason |title=The SRC Story |url=http://www.jason-slater.com/?p=116#more-116 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903095202/http://www.jason-slater.com/?p=116#more-116 |archive-date=2014-09-03}}
• Greg Camp – guitar solo on "Strangled" (uncredited){{Cite web |last=Heller |first=Greg |date=2000-07-09 |title=Conspiracy Theorist / On his new CD, Snake River's Jason Slater hasn't exactly turned a blind eye to his past |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Conspiracy-Theorist-On-his-new-CD-Snake-2714081.php |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}

Artwork

• Michael Kahne – art direction, design, illustrations
• Stephen Lee – photography
• Melaine Nissen – photography

{{col-2}}Production

• Eric Valentine – production, engineering, songwriting (1-4, 6–7, 9–10), mixing (4, 10)
• David Kahne – production, mixing, engineering, overdubs, orchestral arrangements, songwriting{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sg4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=snake+river+conspiracy+scream+studios&pg=PA50 |title=Audio Track|magazine=Billboard |date=2000-03-25 |language=en}} (1-3, 5–7, 9, 11)
• Charlie Clouser – production, mixing (8)
• Rob Brill – engineering (uncredited)
• Krish Sharma – mixing (1, 2, 7, 9)
• Doug Trantow – mixing (5)
• Brian Gardener – mastering (at Bernie Grundman Mastering)

Management

• Eric Gotland – management (at EGM Management)
• Dusty Sorenson – management (at EGM Management)
• David Kahne – A&R{{col-end}}

"Breed" is used in the 2001 film Valentine during the end credits. The "Prince Quick Mix's Cracker Beat Pass Mix" of "How Soon Is Now" was included on the American Eagle Outfitters compilation Summer 9ine.{{cite web |title=Summer 9ine: American Eagle Outfitters Sampler CD, Compilation, Limited Edition |url=https://www.amazon.com/Summer-9ine-American-Outfitters-Sampler/dp/B000OU3ORW/ref=sr_1_7?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1474471602&sr=1-7&keywords=american+eagle+outfitters |access-date=September 21, 2016 |website=Amazon}} “Lovesong” features in an episode of HBO's The Sopranos.

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}{{Snake River Conspiracy}}{{Authority control}}

Category:2000 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by David Kahne

Category:Albums produced by Jason Slater

Category:Albums produced by Eric Valentine

Category:Albums produced by Charlie Clouser

Category:Snake River Conspiracy albums