When Broken Is Easily Fixed

Forming in early 2000,[2] Silverstein released two EPs, Summer's Stellar Gaze (2000) and When the Shadows Beam (2002).[3] The second EP caught the attention of Victory Records, who announced that they had signed the band on October 22, 2002.[4][5]

When Broken Is Easily Fixed was recorded at Mount Fairview and Unity Gain between January and February 2003 with producer Justin Koop.[6] Koop engineered and mixed the album; Koop was assisted by engineer Rob Turri at Mount Fairview.[6] Rainer Tan provided violin, while Shane Told and Richard McWalter supplied additional guitar.[6] Kyle Bishop gave additional vocals to the title track.[6] The album was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.[6]

On April 3, 2003, When Broken Is Easily Fixed was announced for release in the following month. Alongside this, "Smashed Into Pieces" was posted online,[7] followed by "Giving Up" on April 5, 2002.[8] In April and May 2003, the band toured across the Midwest and southern US states, with Choke and Self Made Man.[9] When Broken Is Easily Fixed was released on May 20, 2003[10] on Victory Records.[11] Martin Wittfooth created the artwork.[6][nb 1] In July and August, the band toured across the US, with Freya; it included an appearance Warped Tour and Redemption Fest.[13][14] The band went on a short tour in October with the Fulllbast, which was then followed by a handful of shows with Rise Against.[15] Silverstein then went on a west coast and midwest US tour in November, with Bayside; Haste, Eleventeen, and Preacher Gone to Texas appeared on select dates.[16] In January 2004, the band supported Spitalfield on their headlining US tour.[17] In February 2004, the band went tour with the A.K.A.s.[18] Following this, the band toured with Strike Anywhere and Fifth Hour Hero on their tour of the US, which ran into March 2004.[19] In May and June 2004, the band went on tour with Alexisonfire, Emery, the Higher, and Hawthorne Heights.[20] The album was reissued on September 14, 2004 with a DVD and two bonus tracks, "Friends in Fall River" and "Forever and a Day".[11] In November 2004, the band supported Hot Water Music on their headlining North American tour.[21]

The "Smashed into Pieces" music video featured the whole band dressed in black pants and white shirts with red ties. However, singer Shane Told is wearing the opposite - a red shirt with a white tie. The video begins by showing a completely white room, with the instruments set up around the room. The song begins playing as the band members walk in, in reverse, pick up their instruments, and start playing the song backwards. In the final minute of the song, oil splashes across the members of the band, but they keep on playing until the entire scene is covered in oil. However, not long later, the oil flies off and they go on to finish the song. When the song finishes playing, they walk out in reverse.

The "Giving Up" music video follows a depressed man who is remembering times spent with an ex-girlfriend. These scenes are entwined with shots of the band playing, which are mostly shot using fisheye lens.

"Smashed into Pieces" was re-recorded by the band in 2013 and released on May 20 to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the album.[22]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Exclaim!	No rating[23]
Metal Hammer	6/7[24]

As of June 2007, the album has sold 179,000 copies.[25]

Personnel per booklet.[6]

Silverstein

• Shane Told – vocals, additional guitar
• Paul Koehler – drums
• Neil Boshart – lead guitar
• Josh Bradford – rhythm guitar
• Billy Hamilton – bass guitar

Additional personnel and production

• Justin Koop – producer, engineer, mixing
• Rob Turri – assistant engineer
• Alan Douches – mastering
• Rainer Tan – violin
• Richard McWalter – additional guitar
• Kyle Bishop – additional vocals on "When Broken Is Easily Fixed"
• Martin Wittfooth – artwork
• Eric Deleporte – design

Footnotes

Citations

• When Broken Is Easily Fixed at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)