Against the Stars

Against the Stars is the sixth studio album by Boston-based indie rock band the Dambuilders,[1] and their third for a major label.[2] It was released on July 29, 1997 on East West and Elektra Records.[3][4]

Against the Stars
Studio album by
The Dambuilders
ReleasedJuly 29, 1997 (1997-07-29)
RecordedKevin March's basement
GenreIndie rock
Length45:47
LabelEast West
Elektra
ProducerEric Masunaga
The Dambuilders chronology
Ruby Red
(1995)		 Against the Stars
(1997)

Background and recording

Against the Stars was recorded in the basement of the Dambuilders' drummer, Kevin March, and produced by the band's guitarist, Eric Masunaga.[5]

Release and promotion

Against the Stars was released on July 29, 1997 on both East West and Elektra Records.[3][4] The album's first single was "Burn this Bridge".[6] The song "Break Up With Your Boyfriend" was released as another single from the album on October 27, 1997. To promote it, the band collected fans' stories of their worst breakups via their website.[3]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[7]
Dayton Daily News[1]
The Montreal Gazette5/10[8]

JT Griffith of AllMusic gave Against the Stars 3 out of 5 stars. He compared it to the Dambuilders' previous albums, writing, "If Encendedor and Ruby Red were more akin to Sub Pop records, then Against the Stars is closer to Cheap Trick arena rock."[2] Jim Sullivan of the Boston Globe was highly favorable in his assessment of the album, writing, "The 13 tracks show a mix of pop-craft smarts and art-rock leanings. There's variety and wit, bracing guitar and violin parts, and a keen sense of melody that is consistent throughout."[5] Writing in the Hartford Courant, Roberto Gonzalez praised both the album and the band as a whole: "Intelligent, well-crafted and intense, Boston's Dambuilders create a swirling sound of violin and electric guitar, wrapped around a tight rhythm section. While their last album, "Ruby Red," was all prickly pop, their new effort displays their true influences."[6] Mark Lepage of the Montreal Gazette was less favorable in his review. He gave the album a rating of 5 out of 10, quipping, "Decades of technological progress, and we get a new Missing Persons with Howard Jones fronting."[8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by The Dambuilders

No.TitleLength
1."Digitize"1:40
2."Break Up With Your Boyfriend"2:34
3."Burn This Bridge"3:19
4."Herstory"3:55
5."You Might Want Me Around"3:35
6."You'll Never Know"3:54
7."Itch It"2:25
8."Discopolis"4:02
9."Luster"4:17
10."I Was Wrong"3:30
11."On The Slide"2:48
12."Seek And Destroy"3:24
13."Wished On The Wrong Star"6:24
Total length:45:47

References
  1. Underwood, Bob (21 November 1997). "Recordings In Brief". Dayton Daily News.
  2. Griffith, JT. "The Dambuilders - Against the Stars". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. Reece, Doug (11 October 1997). "Popular Uprisings". Billboard. p. 26. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  4. Schulps, Dave (2007). "Dambuilders". Trouser Press. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  5. Sullivan, Jim (15 August 1997). "Dambuilders delve into their playful side". The Boston Globe.
  6. Gonzalez, Roberto (2 October 1997). "Against the Stars -- The Dambuilders". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. McKeough, Kevin (22 August 1997). "Dambuilders Against the Stars (East West)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  8. Lepage, Mark (16 August 1997). "Neko Case has the credentials for country". Montreal Gazette.



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