The All-American Rejects (album)
{{for|the album by Bikini Kill|Reject All American}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The All-American Rejects
| type = studio
| artist = The All-American Rejects
| cover = AAR-AAR.JPG
| alt =
| released = October 15, 2002
| recorded = 2001
| studio = Mission Sound, Headgear
| genre = {{hlist|Pop punk|alternative rock|pop rock{{cite web |title=The All-American Rejects The All-American Rejects |url=https://chorus.fm/reviews/the-all-american-rejects-the-all-american-rejects/}}|power pop|emo pop[https://m.ign.com/articles/2009/10/15/battle-of-the-bands-all-american-rejects-vs-dashboard-confessional IGN]}}
| length = 42:54
| label = Doghouse
| producer = Tim O'Heir
| prev_title = Same Girl, New Songs
| prev_year = 2001
| next_title = Move Along
| next_year = 2005
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The All-American Rejects
| type = studio
| single1 = Swing, Swing
| single1date = December 2, 2002
| single2 = The Last Song
| single2date = April 21, 2003
| single3 = Time Stands Still
| single3date = July 14, 2003
}}
}}
The All-American Rejects is the first studio album by American rock band The All-American Rejects, originally released October 15, 2002, by Doghouse Records{{cite web|url=http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?item=86551 |title=The Ultimate Punk Music Store! |publisher=Interpunk.com |date= |access-date=2011-07-26}} before being re-released on February 4, 2003,{{cite magazine|last=Williams |first=Adam |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/allamericanrejects-st2/ |title=The All-American Rejects: self-titled |magazine=PopMatters |date=2003-03-13 |access-date=2013-12-27}} by DreamWorks Records.
Production and promotion
The band duo of Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler recorded the album in 2001 after being signed by the independent label Doghouse Records. Sessions were held at Mission Sound and Headgear Studio, Brooklyn, New York City, with producer and engineer Tim O'Heir. He mixed the album at Mission Sound; it was mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge in New York City. The other two band members Mike Kennerty and Chris Gaylor joined the band only after Ritter and Wheeler's first single "Swing, Swing” had already been recorded.{{cite web|url= https://chorus.fm/reviews/the-all-american-rejects-the-all-american-rejects/|title=The All-American Rejects|publisher=Chorus FM|access-date=January 23, 2025}}
In October, the band went on tour with CKY.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4436/all-american-rejects-leave-cky-tour|title=All-American Rejects leave CKY tour|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=October 11, 2002|access-date=February 28, 2021}} They later released The All-American Rejects on October 15, 2002. It was promoted with two release shows, and two acoustic in-store performances. The following month, the band went on tour with Motion City Soundtrack and Northstar.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4670/northstar-e-card-and-tour-info|title=Northstar e-card and tour info|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=November 13, 2002|access-date=August 13, 2020}} The album attracted the attention of DreamWorks Records, who signed The All-American Rejects to them and re-released their LP in early 2003, when it gained commercial success; earning a Platinum Certification from Canada and a Platinum edition from the United States. On January 28, 2003, the band performed on The Late Late Show.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5181/bands-on-tv-week-of-1-27-03|title=Bands on TV - week of 1/27/03|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=January 27, 2003|access-date=March 4, 2021}} In April 2003, the band filmed a music video for "The Last Song" in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5848/all-american-rejects-go-gold-film-new-video|title=All-American Rejects go gold, film new video|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=April 18, 2003|access-date=March 5, 2021}} In May 2003, the band went on a tour of Canada, with Flashlight Brown.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6007/tours-flashlight-brown-touring-and-shooting-video|title=Flashlight Brown Touring & Shooting Video|publisher=Punknews.org|last=White|first=Adam|date=May 8, 2003|access-date=March 5, 2021}} On June 11, the band appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6266/bands-on-tv-week-of-6-9-03|title=Bands on TV - week of 6/9/03|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=June 9, 2003|access-date=March 9, 2021}} Between mid-July and early August, the group appeared on the Warped Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.warpedtour.com:80/news.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031003182600/http://www.warpedtour.com/news.html|title=Final Band List Announced|publisher=Warped Tour|date=February 6, 2003|archive-date=October 3, 2003|access-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=dead}} On July 21, the band performed on Total Request Live.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6620/bands-on-tv-week-of-7-21-03|title=Bands on TV - week of 7/21/03|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=July 21, 2003|access-date=March 10, 2021}} Following Warped Tour, the band appeared at the Terremoto Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6663/tours-european-dates-reconstruction-terremoto-and-more|title=European Dates: Reconstruction, Terremoto and more|publisher=Punknews.org|last=White|first=Adam|date=July 26, 2003|access-date=March 10, 2021}} On September 30, the band appeared on MuchOnDemand.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/7214/bands-on-tv-week-of-9-29-03|title=Bands on TV - week of 9/29/03|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=September 29, 2003|access-date=March 13, 2021}} In November, they went on tour of the UK with Motion City Soundtrack and Limbeck.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/7621/tours-motion-city-soundtrack-year-end-touring-plans|title=Motion City Soundtrack year-end touring plans|publisher=Punknews.org|last=Heisel|first=Scott|date=November 16, 2003|access-date=March 14, 2021}}
The All-American Rejects was released as a CD, a vinyl LP pressed in orange (also pressed in a limited amount of red and blue) and a cassette tape exclusively in Indonesia.
Singles
The band's debut single "Swing, Swing" was released on December 2, 2002, when they were joined by two new members; Mike Kennerty on rhythm guitar and Chris Gaylor on drums - months after recording the album. "Swing, Swing" peaked at #8 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in the United States and #13 on the UK Singles Chart respectively, gaining the band media attention on both sides of the Atlantic, a music video followed its release on January 7, 2003.{{cite web|date=2003-01-07 |url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-all-american-rejects/21232/swing-swing.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104141714/http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-all-american-rejects/21232/swing-swing.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2009 |title=Swing, Swing | The All-American Rejects | Music Video |publisher=MTV |access-date=2011-07-26}} The second single "The Last Song" was released on April 21, 2003{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771|title=FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock|publisher=Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated|access-date=October 30, 2016}} and charted on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks at #29 and the UK Singles Chart at #69, a music video followed its release a month later.
The band's third and final single from the album "Time Stands Still" was released on July 14, 2003,{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1477004/20030820/all_american_rejects.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030823200334/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1477004/20030820/all_american_rejects.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 23, 2003 |title=All-American Rejects Make 'Time Stand Still' With New Single - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=2003-08-20 |access-date=2011-07-26}} but gained no commercial success. A music video directed by Meiert Avis followed its release in August. The album's opening track "My Paper Heart" was later released in late 2003 as a promotional single - a music video made up of footage from the band's Live from Oklahoma... The Too Bad for Hell DVD! as well as their "Lost in Stillwater" documentary was released to help promote it.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r606163/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=The All-American Rejects - The All-American Rejects |last=Semioli |first=Tom |website=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = Blender
| rev2Score = {{Rating|1|5}}[http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50361/all-american-rejects.html] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814122109/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50361/all-american-rejects.html |date=August 14, 2009 }}
| rev3 = Common Sense Media
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-reviews/the-all-american-rejects |title=The All-American Rejects - Music Review |last=Goldmark |first=Kathi Kamen |publisher=Common Sense Media |date=2003-02-04 |access-date=2013-12-27}}
| rev4 = IGN
| rev5 = LAS Magazine
| rev6 = Melodic
| rev7 = Now
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev9 = Rolling Stone
| rev9Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://rollingstone.com/artists/theallamericanrejects/albums/album/237293/review/5946178/the_allamerican_rejects |title=The All-American Rejects: The All-American Rejects : Music Reviews |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 28, 2003 |access-date=2013-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016182225/http://rollingstone.com/artists/theallamericanrejects/albums/album/237293/review/5946178/the_allamerican_rejects |archive-date=2007-10-16 |url-status=dead}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10Score = A−{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5595960&style=music |title=All-American Rejects CD Album |publisher=CD Universe |access-date=2013-12-27}}
}}
The All-American Rejects received mixed reviews from music critics. Spin magazine gave it a grade of A−.
AllMusic stated that The All-American Rejects are "A talented band destined for great things" and that "[The band] are capable songwriters, accomplished vocalists, and skilled instrumentalists. Guitar-driven and underpinned with a humane-sounding drum machine cranking out frenetic backbeats, each cut on this self-titled debut brims with harmonies that recall the early Who and classic Beach Boys. Kaj Roth of Melodic stated that the pop rock duo had "plenty of good vibes and catchy uptempo powerpop that will force the rain to take a hike and let the sun shine through", and favoured the song "Your Star"; saying it has "A superb groove that will make you ride a horse on the rodeo" and that "'Time Stands Still' will make the flowers bloom in the middle of winter."{{cite magazine |url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=1114 |title=The All-American Rejects - s/t |last=Roth |first=Kaj |magazine=Melodic |date=February 26, 2003 |access-date=2012-02-01 |archive-date=2012-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315043841/http://melodic.net/?page=review&id=1114 |url-status=dead }}
Elizabeth Bromstein of Now magazine was more negative towards the sound of the album and gave it a rating of 1 out of 5 stars, quoting "As if their horrifyingly overdone pop-punk thing weren't bad enough, The All-American Rejects seem intent on embodying their name. Every last song on this record deals with lost love and loneliness. Incorporating the odd classic rock or 80s pop element doesn't improve things. In fact, it makes it worse, since it feels like they've crammed everything they know in here."{{cite news |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=135809&archive=22,28,2003 |title=The All-American Rejects |last=Bromstein |first=Elizabeth |newspaper=Now |date=March 13–20, 2003 |access-date=2013-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229062134/http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=135809&archive=22,28,2003 |archive-date=2013-12-29 |url-status=dead }}
The album was included at number 49 on Rock Sound{{'}}s "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.Bird, ed. 2014, p. 69 BuzzFeed included the album at number 35 on their "36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F——ing Die" list.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/mariasherm/36-pop-punk-albums-you-need-to-hear-before-you-f-ing-die|title=36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F——ing Die|last1=Sherman |first1=Maria |last2=Broderick |first2=Ryan |work=BuzzFeed|date=July 2, 2013|access-date=July 29, 2015}} Alternative Press ranked "Swing, Swing" at number 19 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|last=Paul|first=Aubin|date=November 20, 2009|access-date=October 13, 2022}}
Track listing
All songs written by the All-American Rejects.
{{Track listing
|total_length = 42:47
| title1 = My Paper Heart
| length1 = 3:49
| title2 = Your Star
| length2 = 4:21
| title3 = Swing, Swing
| length3 = 3:53
| title4 = Time Stands Still
| length4 = 3:31
| title5 = One More Sad Song
| length5 = 3:04
| title6 = Why Worry
| length6 = 4:16
| title7 = Don't Leave Me
| length7 = 3:28
| title8 = Too Far Gone
| length8 = 4:05
| title9 = Drive Away
| length9 = 3:00
| title10 = Happy Endings
| length10 = 4:25
| title11 = The Last Song
| length11 = 5:00
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese / UK bonus track/ Amazon USA CD
| title12 = The Cigarette Song
| length12 = 3:36
|total_length = 46:23
}}
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=The All-American Rejects|others=The All-American Rejects|year=2003|type=booklet|publisher=DreamWorks/Doghouse Records|id=4504606}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
The All-American Rejects
- Tyson Ritter – vocals, bass
- Nick Wheeler – guitars, drums, keyboards, programming
{{col-2}}
Production and design
- Tim O'Heir – producer, engineer, mixing
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- The All-American Rejects – art direction
- Asterik Studio – illustrations, layout
- Erin Thompson – object photography
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:left;" border="1" |
| scope="col" style="width:19em;"|Chart (2003)
!scope="col"|Peak |
|---|
| US Billboard 200
| align="centre"|77 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=The All-American Rejects|title=The All-American Rejects|award=Gold|relyear=2003|certyear=2005}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=All-American Rejects|title=The All-American Rejects|award=Silver|relyear=2003|certyear=2013|id=12077-3714-2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=The All-American Rejects|title=The All-American Rejects|award=Platinum|relyear=2003|certyear=2006}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable"
!Country !Date !Format !Label |
| United States
|October 15, 2002 {{small|(original)}} |rowspan="4"|CD, digital download |
| Australia
|January 17, 2003 |rowspan="2"|DreamWorks |
| United States
|February 4, 2003 {{small|(re-release)}} |
| United Kingdom
|March 3, 2003 |
| United States
|December 9, 2008 |DreamWorks |
References
; Citations
{{reflist|2}}
;Sources
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal|editor1-last=Bird|editor1-first=Ryan|title=The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time|journal=Rock Sound|date=September 2014|issue=191|publisher=Freeway Press Inc.|location=London|issn=1465-0185}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8XXvQHPisgA_gotBmIKl1BI9v7QO7VUi The All-American Rejects] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
{{The All-American Rejects}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:All-American Rejects, The}}