Title of Record#Personnel

The album was created over an exhaustive four-year period. After the release of Filter's 1995 debut Short Bus, which was created entirely by frontman Richard Patrick, Brian Liesegang, and a drum machine, the band toured in support of the album throughout 1996. In order to do this, a live band was recruited, consisting of Geno Lenardo on guitar, Frank Cavanaugh on bass, and Matt Walker on drums.{{cite web|author=John Bush |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/filter-mn0000178122/biography |title=Filter | Biography & History |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 20, 2015}}

Reports of working on a second album started to arise in early 1997. Initial plans involved Patrick and Liesegang working together on a second album in a similar manner as their first album. Liesegang initially spoke of traveling across North America and recording on a PowerBook whenever inspiration hit them.{{cite web|url=http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/b.txt |format=TXT |title=Interview |publisher=Filterpage.tripod.com |access-date=November 15, 2015}} He referred to a tentative title as Longbutter, a tentative release date of September 1997, and hinted of moving in a more electronic direction now that the band had established themselves as different from Nine Inch Nails, of which they had both been a part prior to Filter.{{cite web|url=http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/addict1.txt |format=TXT |title=Interview |author=Gil Kaufman |publisher=Filterpage.tripod.com |access-date=November 15, 2015}} Prior to formal recording sessions for a new album, the two wrote and released a few songs on movie soundtracks, most notably the electronic rock track "(Can't You) Trip Like I Do" with the Crystal Method, which proved to be a turning-point for the two. The sessions strengthened Liesegang's conviction to move into more of an electronic, Radiohead-type musical direction, whereas it had the opposite effect on Patrick, inspiring him to keep the music heavy and guitar oriented.{{cite web |last=Man |first=The |url=http://mancave.cbslocal.com/2013/06/04/interview-with-richard-patrick-and-jonny-radke-of-filter/ |title=An Un-Filtered Interview with Filter « Man Cave Daily |publisher=Mancave.cbslocal.com |date=June 4, 2013 |access-date=November 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121022249/http://mancave.cbslocal.com/2013/06/04/interview-with-richard-patrick-and-jonny-radke-of-filter/ |archive-date=November 21, 2015 }}

With the two both unable to agree on how to proceed, constant arguing and power struggles ensued.[http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/guitarmag.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040518220558/http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/guitarmag.html|date=May 18, 2004}} Patrick's collaboration with The Crystal Method had also opened his mind to collaborating with different musicians,{{cite web|url=http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/liese.txt |format=TXT |title=Liesegang Unfiltered Interview |publisher=Filterpage.tripod.com |access-date=November 15, 2015}} leading him to start attempting to push Liesegang out of the band. The resulting tensions and fighting led Lenardo, Cavanaugh, and Walker all to leave first. Relations between Patrick and Liesegang continued to deteriorate, and by mid-1997, due to Patrick's "creative dominance", Liesegang quit the band as well, leaving Patrick as the sole member.{{cite web|url=http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/philtre.txt |format=TXT |title=Interview |author=Chris Nelson |date=September 24, 1997 |publisher=Filterpage.tripod.com |access-date=November 15, 2015}}

Patrick, now on his own, attempted to restart the sessions for the album, but experienced further roadblocks:

"I kind of had to hit rock bottom. I didn't have a band. I didn't have a studio. I had this platinum record that showed up in the mail, and I had nothing except for my own talents. So at some point, I forced myself to play the guitar. I would force myself to write lyrics. I was playing people's demos. I was still into the band. It's just that I didn't have anything.

Patrick opted to start over by building his own studio, called "Abyssinian Son"; however, this ended up being far more complicated and time-consuming than he expected, with over two years going into dealing with realtors, property leases, and contractors to get the studio in functioning shape. Once preparations were complete, Patrick met up with, and started early sessions with music producer and sound engineer Rae DiLeo. However, after a month of sessions with just himself and DiLeo's guidance, Patrick decided not to do the entire album himself, and decided to seek out musicians, specifically, the Short Bus touring band.

As several years had passed since members had left, this led to difficulties as well. Walker was unable to return, as he had become the replacement touring drummer for the Smashing Pumpkins to replace drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Lenardo initially was unable to return, as he had gotten married and had children and was living a life that was contrary to Patrick's requirements for him in the studio. However, after working through it, Patrick became more accommodating to his lifestyle, and Lenardo returned in a desire to provide for his family. Cavanaugh had been touring with Prong, but was able to return, and the band recruited new drummer Steven Gillis to replace Walker.

With a working band back together, the album's final sessions began. Some tracks, such as "Take a Picture" and "Welcome to the Fold", would still be written entirely by Patrick, while others would entail Lenardo coming up with a rough idea, and Patrick polishing it into its final form.{{cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Brett |url=http://www.alternativenation.net/?p=53893 |title=Interview: Filter's Richard Patrick Looks Back At 'Title of Record' For 15th Anniversary |publisher=AlternativeNation.net |date=August 24, 2014 |access-date=November 20, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114626/http://www.alternativenation.net/?p=53893 |archive-date=August 26, 2014 }} The exception was "It's Gonna Kill Me", where Patrick conceded that Lenardo wrote the entirety of the music of the track. Cavanaugh did not contribute to the writing process other than creating the bass line to the track "Cancer", otherwise just playing as directed by others. Gillis oftentimes had to re-record his drum tracks multiple times due to Lenardo altering the guitar parts of the songs. The band continued to work with Dileo on the album, but also brought in music producer Ben Grosse to assist with the album's production and mixing.{{cite web|author=Ben Grosse |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-grosse-mn0000792389/credits |title=Ben Grosse | Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=November 20, 2015}} Other collaborators included D'Arcy Wretzky, former bassist of the Smashing Pumpkins, who provided vocals for the chorus of the track "Cancer".[http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/band/about/71111.filter.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903125504/http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/band/about/71111.filter.html|date=September 3, 2014}} Eric Remschneider, who had also contributed to the Smashing Pumpkin's song "Disarm" was also brought in to play cello on the opening track "Sand", lead single "Take a Picture" and closing track "Miss Blue".{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/title-of-record-mw0000248135/credits |title=Title of Record - Filter | Credits |website=AllMusic |date=August 24, 1999 |access-date=November 20, 2015}}

Described as being "firmly within the industrial-metal tradition", the record expands on the grunge-influenced industrial rock sound of Short Bus with electronic textures and elements from folk, worldbeat and psychedelia.

In the liner notes for the 20th anniversary edition of Title of Record, Patrick revealed that he was in a relationship with Wretzky during the making of the album. "Take a Picture," "Skinny" and "It's Going to Kill" were written about her,{{citeweb|url=https://loudwire.com/filter-richard-patrick-darcy-wretzky-relationship-title-of-record/|title=D’Arcy Wretzky Was the Secret Muse for Filter’s ‘Title of Record'|first=Chad|last=Childers|website=Loudwire|date=August 2, 2019|accessdate=May 12, 2025}} while "Welcome to the Fold", "Captain Bligh", "Miss Blue" and "I’m Not the Only One" were written directly after their break-up.{{citeweb|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/filter-take-a-picture-remix-premiere-title-of-record-anniversary-8526960/|title=Filter’s ‘Take a Picture’ Gets a New Remix for ‘Title of Record’ 20th Anniversary: Exclusive Premiere|first=Brian|last=Stingley|website=Billboard|date=August 9, 2019|accessdate=May 12, 2025}} While doing press for the original album's release, Patrick refrained from divulging the identity of the love interest in his lyrics because Wretzky was still married to Kerry Brown during the affair, which they had kept secret from the public.

The album was released on August 24, 1999, and debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at no. 30.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/78159/filters-amalgamut-due-next-year |title=Filter's 'Amalgamut' Due Next Year |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 20, 2015}} In support of it, the band performed on Family Values Tour 1999.[http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/9ap99.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040701180531/http://filterpage.tripod.com/archive/9ap99.html|date=July 1, 2004}} By October 2001, the album had amassed over 800,000 sold, and was eventually certified platinum, indicating over one million units shipped.{{cite web|author= |url=http://loudwire.com/filter-new-album-the-sun-comes-out-tonight-june/ |title=Filter To Unleash New Album 'The Sun Comes Out Tonight' in June |publisher=Loudwire.com |date= |access-date=November 20, 2015}} On August 9, 2019, the band released a 20th Anniversary reissue of the album via Craft Recordings, which compiled a number of b-sides and remixes that had been released separately around the time of the album's release.{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/filter-expanded-20th-anniversary-edition-of-title-of-record-due-in-august/|title = FILTER: Expanded 20th-Anniversary Edition of 'Title of Record' Due in August|date = June 19, 2019}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last= Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/title-of-record-mw0000248135 |title=Filter: Title of Record |website=AllMusic |date=August 24, 1999 |access-date=August 25, 2023}}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1102269&style=music |title=Filter - Title of Record CD Album |publisher=CDUniverse.com |date= |access-date=March 12, 2012}}

| rev4 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev4score = B{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/08/20/title-record/ |title=Title of Record Review |last=Mirkin |first=Steven |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=August 20, 1999 |access-date=June 24, 2012}}

| rev5 = Q

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev3 = Robert Christgau

| rev3score = {{rating-Christgau|dud}}{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=filter |title=CG: Filter |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=June 24, 2012}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/filter/albums/album/283232/review/5940938/title_of_record |title=Filter: Title of Record : Music Reviews |last=Kot |first=Greg |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 2, 1999 |access-date=June 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619065340/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/filter/albums/album/283232/review/5940938/title_of_record |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = Rock Hard

| rev6score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Rensen|first=Michael|title=Rock Hard review|url=http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen.html?tx_rxsearch_pi1%5Breview%5D=11001|work=issue 148|access-date=May 21, 2013}}

}}

The album was commercially and critically well received. AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine praised the album for its "subtle differences in tension and dynamics that keep it fresh and engaging throughout", albeit "a little out of place within the modern rock world of 1999" (due to the prominence of nu metal) and ultimately "a strong album". Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Steven Mirkin regarded the record as "derivative", while noting the band's "attention to melody and craft" to be refreshing. Greg Kot of Rolling Stone thought that the album "rehashes the Jekyll and Hyde dynamics that have become alternative rock's creative downfall." Nevertheless, Kot further stated: "With Short Bus, Filter sounded like the latest and lightest in a long line of industrial-rock bands, but Title of Record expands the possibilities."

The album sold more than 1 million copies, and the hit single "Take a Picture" fared well on several charts. In 2005, Title of Record was ranked number 493 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=10}}

The album was featured as number 8 on Loudwire's list of "15 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1999".

{{Track listing

| headline = Title of Record track listing

| title1 = Sand

| writer1 = Richard Patrick

| length1 = 0:36

| title2 = Welcome to the Fold

| writer2 = Patrick

| length2 = 7:40

| title3 = Captain Bligh

| writer3 = Patrick

| length3 = 5:12

| title4 = It's Gonna Kill Me

| writer4 = Patrick, Geno Lenardo

| length4 = 5:04

| title5 = The Best Things

| writer5 = Patrick

| length5 = 4:26

| title6 = Take a Picture

| writer6 = Patrick

| length6 = 6:03

| title7 = Skinny

| writer7 = Patrick, Lenardo

| length7 = 5:43

| title8 = I Will Lead You

| writer8 = Patrick, Lenardo

| length8 = 3:23

| title9 = Cancer

| writer9 = Patrick, Frank Cavanagh

| length9 = 6:39

| title10 = I'm Not the Only One

| writer10 = Patrick

| length10 = 5:49

| title11 = Miss Blue

| note11 = track ends at 5:36; after 13 minutes of silence, incoherent screaming and backmasking occurs.

| writer11 = Patrick

| length11 = 19:48

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition

| title12 = Jurassitol

| note12 = from The Crow: City of Angels soundtrack

| writer12 = Patrick, Brian Liesegang

| length12 = 5:13

| title13 = (Can't You) Trip Like I Do

| note13 = from Spawn soundtrack

| writer13 = Patrick, Liesegang, The Crystal Method

| length13 = 4:28

}}

{{track listing

| headline = German edition

| title12 = One

| note12 = cover; from The X-Files: Fight the Future soundtrack

| writer12 = Harry Nilsson

| length12 = 4:07

| title13 = A Note from the Author

| writer13 = Patrick

| length13 = 1:13

}}

{{track listing

| headline = 20th Anniversary expanded edition

| title12 = Jurassitol

| note12 = 2009 remaster version; from The Crow: City of Angels soundtrack

| writer12 = Patrick, Brian Liesegang

| length12 = 5:13

| title13 = (Can't You) Trip Like I Do

| note13 = 2009 remaster version; from Spawn soundtrack

| writer13 = Patrick, Liesegang, The Crystal Method

| length13 = 4:28

| title14 = Take a Picture

| note14 = H&H remix; from "Take a Picture" single

| writer14 = Patrick

| length14 = 4:17

| title15 = The Best Things

| note15 = Humble Brothers remix; from "The Best Things" single

| writer15 = Patrick

| length15 = 6:36

}}

Band

• Richard Patrick – vocals, guitars, bass, programming
• Geno Lenardo – guitars, bass, sitar, mandolin, programming
• Frank Cavanagh – bass
• Steven Gillis – drums

Additional musicians

• D'arcy Wretzky – additional vocals on "Cancer"
• Eric Remschneider – acoustic cello, electric cello
• Jim McGrath – percussion
• Elliot Caine – trumpet

Production

• Richard Patrick – production
• Geno Lenardo – production
• Ben Grosse – production, mixing
• Rae DiLeo – production, programming, digital editing
• Bob Ludwig – mastering

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Filter|title=Title of Record|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1999|certyear=2000}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Filter|title=Title of Record|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1999|certyear=2000}}

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Category:1999 albums

Category:Filter (band) albums

Category:Reprise Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Richard Patrick