February Son

February Son is the second studio album and major label debut from post-grunge band Oleander. It was produced by Steven Haigler and released on Universal Records on February 23, 1999 and was certified gold on May 5, 2000.[1] February Son contains some of Oleander's most successful singles. It included new drummer Scott Devours who was hired to replace the band's original drummer, Fred Nelson Jr. Most of the songs on the album had been previously released on the band's independent debut. The album has been certified gold in sales by the RIAA.

February Son
Studio album by
Oleander
ReleasedFebruary 23, 1999
Recorded1998
StudioStudio D in San Francisco, California
GenrePost-grunge
Length44:57
LabelRepublic
ProducerSteven Haigler
Oleander chronology
Shrinking the Blob
(1997)		 February Son
(1999)		 Unwind
(2001)
Singles from February Son
  1. "Why I'm Here"
    Released: 1998
  2. "I Walk Alone"
    Released: 1999
  3. "Boys Don't Cry"
    Released: 2000

Promotion and touring

The album features Oleander's breakout lead single, "Why I'm Here," and "I Walk Alone." The latter had a music video while the lead single was featured on the popular TV series Dawson's Creek. A cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" would serve as a UK single supported by a video in the summer of 2000. Directed by Cousin Mike, the video stars Bloodhound Gang leader Jimmy Pop who played a nerdy man living in an apartment. Oleander surrounds him as they loudly perform the song, forcing him to weep. Frontman Thomas Flowers explained that the song "really typifies and exemplifies everything that I'm already trying to say on the album."[2]

"Why I'm Here" appeared on Now, Vol. 3 and Universal Smash Hits. "I Walk Alone" landed on the Bravo Hits, Vol. 28 and Shine! compilations, and Gravity Games 2000: Summer Sounds, Vol. 1 featured "Where Were You Then?".

In promotion of February Son, the group opened for headliners Creed and Our Lady Peace.[3] They also performed at Woodstock '99. In December 1999, Oleander and Kid Rock performed a charity concert for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The band also played a New Year's Eve concert with Fastball at the Sacramento Convention Center.[4]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[5]

February Son received some criticism for allegedly imitating the influential grunge flagship Nirvana, particularly on "Why I'm Here" which begins with a similar note pattern as "Heart-Shaped Box."[6] However, despite the accusation, other songs were cited as having unique and enjoyable melodies, and the album managed to sell over a half-million copies.

Adrianne Stone of Rolling Stone wrote, "Razor sharp guitars on 'Lost Cause,' violin enhancing the warm tones of first single 'Why I'm Here,' and a surprise false ending on 'Never Again' are typical augmentations on a riff-laden album that hints of Nirvana's pained alterna-pop."[7]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Thomas Flowers; all music is composed by Oleander, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You'll Find Out" 3:12
2."Stupid" 3:51
3."Down When I'm Loaded" 4:24
4."Why I'm Here" 3:58
5."I Walk Alone" 4:09
6."Lost Cause" 4:28
7."Where Were You Then?"Flowers, Ivanisevich4:05
8."Shrinking The Blob" 4:25
9."How Could I?" 5:13
10."Boys Don't Cry" (The Cure cover)Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey3:14
11."Never Again" 3:58
Total length:44:57

Personnel
Oleander
Production
Additional personnel
    • Jonathan Mover
    • Rich Mouser
    • Kristina Kopriva
    • Steven "Tambourine Man" Haigler

Charts

References
  1. https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database
  2. Gottlieb, Meridith Oleander Taps Bloodhound Gang's Pop For Video MTV.com (June 12, 2000). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
  3. Bercovici, Jeff Creed Saves: In Concert with Oleander and Our Lady Peace Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine NYRock.com (October 1999). Retrieved on 1-05-08.
  4. Basham, David Kid Rock, Oleander To Play Food Bank Benefit MTV.com (December 8, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
  5. Allmusic review
  6. Michael Christopher. "Thomas Flowers of Oleander". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  7. Stone, Adrianne Oleander Toy With Love, Agression, Melody Rolling Stone (February 24, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.
  8. "Oleander Billboard Albums Chart". billboard.com.
  9. "RIAA Database Search Results". Recording Industry Association of America.
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