An Answer Can Be Found

Many of the lyrics on An Answer Can Be Found include references to suicide, in particular renouncing the idea, with the songs "Suddenly Tragic", "The Way You Lived" and "Don't Hold Your Breath" all said to relate to this theme.[14] Gigwise described the album's lyrics as "angry yet positive".[15] The lyrics of "Tripled Manic State" are about the idea of experimenting on humans, and the song is a sequel to Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild track "Inhuman Creation Station", which was written about a hypothetical factory which manufactured humans.[3] "Familiar Realm" is said to be about feelings of "frustration and ennui", with Billboard magazine proposing these themes being felt by band members in relation to CKY's "growing fame".[16]

The music of An Answer Can Be Found has been compared to that of previous album Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild, but has also been identified as an evolution from the 2002 release. AllMusic's Rob Theakston noted that the album followed much of the same formula as the band's previous album, but claimed that it is "more heavy metal than it is punk", identifying the influence of G.G. Allin on the record.[17] Alternative Press writer Rob Ortenzi highlighted the "slowed-down death-metal riffs and midtempo backbeat that've become CKY's trademarks".[18] A review on Blabbermouth.net summarised the album's style as being typified by "massive riffs, a full-bodied production style, and an interesting combination of stoner esthetics with futuristic leanings",[19] while Gigwise described it as sounding like "a cross between Weezer and Stone Temple Pilots with the song sensibilities of Linkin Park".[15]

An Answer Can Be Found was the second album released by CKY to register on a music chart, reaching number 35 on the US Billboard 200 (the band's highest position to date).[20] According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album sold 27,786 copies in the United States in its first week of release.[21] According to Miller, as of August 2015 the album has sold over 153,000 copies, making it the third best-selling CKY album behind Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild and Volume 1.[22]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[17]
Alternative Press	5/5[18]
Blabbermouth.net	7/10[19]
Exclaim!	Unfavorable[23]
Gaffa	2/6[24]
Gigwise
Rolling Stone	[14][25]

Media response to An Answer Can Be Found was mixed. Ortenzi of Alternative Press awarded the album a rating of five out of five, claiming that "Every riff feels precision cut; every melody holds a surprise; every drumbeat knocks the ball into the pocket; and the synth and classical-guitar accents ... serve the songs perfectly".[18] AllMusic's Theakston was similarly positive in his four-star review, identifying an evolution in the band's sound from previous albums and praising the "tight" interplay between Miller and Ginsburg.[17] Blabbermouth.net's review praised An Answer Can Be Foud for its progression from Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild, guitar riffs, production style and melodic elements.[19] Gigwise applauded the album too, describing it as a "wonderful album that must be purchased by all immediately", and highlighting "Suddenly Tragic" and "Tripled Manic State".[15]

However, writing for the magazine Exclaim!, Kendall Shields criticised An Answer Can Be Found for its lack of progression from Infiltrate•Destroy•Rebuild, claiming that the band "barely manage to reiterate, let alone reinvent the suburban skate punk wheel" on the album.[23] She recognised the attempt at variety on closing track "Don't Hold Your Breath", but concluded that the track does not appeal to many outside of the band's core fanbase.[23] The album's review on Blabbermouth.net complained that An Answer Can Be Found lacks "one absolutely killer tune", and also criticsed Miller's vocal performances, which were described as "limited in range and ... a bit over-produced".[19] PopMatters writer Lana Cooper claimed that An Answer Can Be Found is "knee-deep in dull songs indistinguishable from one another".[26]

The album received an infamously negative review from Rolling Stone writer Jenny Eliscu, who awarded it one star out of five and described it as "mind-numbing stoner metal, with ginormous power chords, repetitive vocals and overwrought lyrics".[14][25] She even went as far as suggesting a listener might want to commit suicide just to "drown out the sound" of the album.[14][25] Miller publicly responded to the review, criticising Rolling Stone for publishing Eliscu's opinion and suggesting that the critic "simply isn't intelligent enough to understand" the lyrics she criticized.[14]

The feud with Rolling Stone later escalated, after Miller allegedly posted Eliscu's home telephone number online and CKY fans subsequently harassed and even threatened the journalist.[27] Eliscu complained to the band's label The Island Def Jam Music Group and publicist, while Rolling Stone defended the writer by retorting that the episode seemed like "a rather sad attempt to promote a band who should ... rely more on their talent".[27]