Natural Selection (Fuel album)
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Natural Selection is Fuel's third album, released in 2003. It features generally the same style as heard on the band's previous two efforts but didn't manage to match their commercial success.
Preceding the album's release "Won't Back Down" was featured as the lead single of the film soundtrack Daredevil: The Album. "Falls on Me" served as the first single of Natural Selection and received much airplay on MTV throughout the summer. The album also had a third marginally successful single in "Million Miles."
Background
Following the multi-platinum success of their previous album Something Like Human, Fuel had some setbacks to overcome before they could begin recording the album that became Natural Selection. First off, the band had to resolve some pressing legal matters which prohibited them from recording.[1]
Medical problems also inhibited the recording of the album. Singer–guitarist Brett Scallions clashed on stage with guitarist–songwriter Carl Bell on one of the band's earlier tours which left Scallions with a deviated septum that required medical attention and time for recovery.[2] The procedure had an effect on his voice, and according to Scallions, "I think I basically had to relearn how to sing... I had to recondition myself and figure out how to sing again."[2]
Reception
Bell expressed confidence in Natural Selection, stating "The record is, I think, far and beyond any of the other records we've had as a body of work."[3]
Natural Selection debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 album chart,[4] selling about 71,000 copies in its first week of release.[5] The album was later nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for best engineered album.[6]
Aftermath
Natural Selection would prove to be the final Fuel album to feature drummer Kevin Miller and Scallions on vocals. Miller was excused from the band in 2004, and Scallions left in 2006, stating that "... there was no fun in [making the album] because there was no activity within the band."[7] Scallions' feelings of lack of group activity along with Bell's feelings of Scallions losing vocal range led to Scallions' eventual departure from the group.[8] Fuel would release their next album with a new drummer and lead vocalist before Scallions reformed the current incarnation of Fuel in 2010.[9]
Track listing
All songs written by Carl Bell except where noted.
- "Quarter" - 3:39
- "Down Inside of You" - 4:07
- "Million Miles" - 3:51
- "Falls on Me" - 4:13
- "These Things" - 4:57
- "Won't Back Down (Bring You Hell Remix)" - 3:23
- "Running Away" - 4:54
- "Most of All" - 4:13
- "Getting Thru?" - 4:09
- "Die Like This" - 4:29
- "Luck" (Brett Scallions) - 4:15
- "Days With You" - 4:29
Personnel
- Brett Scallions: Vocals, Guitar
- Carl Bell: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards
- Jeff Abercrombie: Bass
- Kevin Miller: Drums
References
- ^ Davis, Darren. "Fuel Rehearsing For New Recording". Yahoo! Music. October 23, 2002.
- ^ a b Author Unknown. "Fuel Vocalist Sings Again After Surgery". Yahoo! Music. October 16, 2003.
- ^ Author Unknown. "Fuel Guitarist Says New Album Is Best 'Selection' Of Songs Yet". Yahoo! Music. September 20, 2003.
- ^ Billboard Album Chart info
- ^ Martens, Todd. "OutKast Leads Nine New Top-20 Chart Entries". boston.com. Oct 1, 2003.
- ^ 46th Annual Grammy Award Nominees
- ^ Chad. "Brett Scallions Tells his Story". Alternative Addiction. August 5, 2007.
- ^ Chad. "Carl Bell of Fuel Speaks Out" Alternative Addiction. July 21, 2007.
- ^ http://fuelies.net/messageboard/viewthread.php?tid=26153