The Bad & the Better

The Bad & the Better is the fourth studio album by American electropop singer-songwriter The Ready Set. The album title was announced on March 18, 2014, along with the track listing.[2] It was released on May 27, 2014, by Razor & Tie Records.[3] The album was released as a 4 track-EP featuring the singles "Higher", "Freaking Me Out" and "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" plus the song "Carry Me Home" digitally outside the United States.[4]

The Bad & the Better
Studio album by
The Ready Set
ReleasedMay 27, 2014 (2014-05-27)
Recorded2012–2014
Genre
Length47:23
LabelRazor & Tie
Producer
The Ready Set chronology
The Celebrity EP
(2014)		 The Bad & the Better
(2014)		 I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love
(2016)
Singles from The Bad & the Better
  1. "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
    Released: May 18, 2012
  2. "Higher"
    Released: April 8, 2014
  3. "Freakin Me Out"
    Released: May 6, 2014
  4. "Fangz"
    Released: December 10, 2014

Background

On June 6, 2013, Witzigreuter announced that he finished writing his fourth studio album on Twitter.[5]

On March 18, 2014, the Ready Set signed to Razor & Tie Records announcing the release of his upcoming album, The Bad & the Better. Witzigreuter spoke about being signed to Razor & Tie stating, "I'm so excited to be signed to Razor & Tie. I feel like it's a great opportunity to get more of my music out there in really creative ways, and I've already seen a ton of passion. I think it's going to be a great partnership."[2] Co-owner of Razor & Tie Cliff Chenfeld added, "We are very excited that Jordan and The Ready Set have chosen to work with Razor & Tie. Jordan is an amazing talent and we will do everything we can do to get his music to the largest possible audience."[2]

Singles

The Ready Set released "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" as the first single from The Bad & the Better. The song peaked at number 30 on the US Mainstream Top 40 and at number 33 in New Zealand.[6][7] The second official single, "Higher", was released on April 8, 2014.[8] The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on May 6, 2014.[9] That same day, the third single, "Freakin' Me Out" was released.[10] The music video was released on October 15, 2014, via VEVO.[11] A live music video for the track "Fangz" directed by Sergio Padilla was released on December 10, 2014.[12]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Alternative Press[14]
idobi Radio[15]

Tim Sendra of AllMusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars, remarking how the release is "all AM pop giddiness, spunky energy, and soft-pedaled, cuddly heartbreak", and how "It's machine-driven, it's juvenile, and it's not going to change the world, but it's a bunch of fun and that's plenty."[13] At Alternative Press, Evan Lucy rated the album two and a half stars, stating that the release is "ultimately disappointing."[14]

Track listing
The Bad & the Better — CD version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Are We Happy Now?"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:48
4."Fangz"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:24
5."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
6."Luxury"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:05
7."Bitter and the Sweetness"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:31
8."Don't You Need Me"
Goldstein3:18
9."Bleeding"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:23
10."Castaway" (featuring Jake Miller)
Goldstein3:55
11."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
12."For the Better"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick1:45
13."More Than This"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Dan Book
  • Alexei Misoul
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Book
  • Misoul
3:45
14."Terrible Things"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick3:46
Total length:47:23
The Bad & the Better — EP version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
  • Camp
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
4."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
Total length:13:43

Personnel

Credits for The Bad & the Better adapted from AllMusic.[16]

Charts
Chart performance for The Bad & the Better
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 75

References
  1. "Album Review: The Ready Set – "The Bad & The Better"". August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  2. Matt Crane (March 18, 2014). "The Ready Set sign to Razor & Tie, announce new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. "The Ready Set Signs To R&T; Announces 'The Bad & The Better' - PropertyOfZack". propertyofzack.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  4. "The Bad & The Better by The Ready Set - EP". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. Brian Kraus (June 8, 2013). "The Ready Set finish writing new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  6. "The Ready Set Chart History: Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  7. "The Ready Set New Zealand Chart Top 40". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  8. "The Ready Set Release New Single, Higher". Alternative Press. 8 April 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  9. "Top 40 Mainstream Releases". All Access Mediabase. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  10. "The Ready Set release new song, Freaking Me Out off upcoming album due out on May 27th!". 6 May 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  11. "THE READY SET PREMIERE VIDEO FOR "FREAKIN ME OUT" ON VEVO". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. "THE READY SET PREMIERE VIDEO FOR "FANGZ" ON VEVO". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. Sendra, Tim (May 25, 2014). "The Bad & the Better – The Ready Set | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  14. Lucy, Evan (2014). "The Ready Set – The Bad & The Better". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. June 2014 (311): 103. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  15. Marvel, Emillie. "Album Review: The Ready Set - The Bad & the Better". Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  16. "The Bad & the Better - The Ready Set Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  17. "The Ready Set Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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