The Motherload

"The Motherload" is a song by American progressive metal band Mastodon. The song was released as the third and final single from the band's sixth studio album, Once More 'Round the Sun.

"The Motherload"
Single by Mastodon
from the album Once More 'Round the Sun
ReleasedSeptember 29, 2014
RecordedRock Falcon Studios, Franklin, Tennessee
GenreProgressive metal[1]
Length4:59
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)Brann Dailor, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders
Producer(s)Nick Raskulinecz
Mastodon singles chronology
"Chimes at Midnight"
(2014)		 "The Motherload"
(2014)		 "Show Yourself"
(2017)

Music video

The song's music video shows several women twerking in front of a group of men inter-cut with footage of the band performing the song. During the solo, the women start dancing in front of the band. Another woman enters and as she dances, psychedelic images appear, with the others cheering her on. They all begin dancing again as the song ends.[2]

Controversy

The video caused some controversy as it featured many women twerking. Dom Lawson of The Guardian criticized the video, calling it "blatant, idiotic and utterly pointless sexism."[3]

Brann Dailor defended the video, saying it was meant to be a parody of "esoteric", "creepy" '90s rock and metal videos and the videos for Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda", Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" and Iggy Azalea's "Booty". The video was also meant as an homage to the band's hometown, Atlanta, which was one of the cities pivotal to early hip hop music.[4] One of the dancers in the video, Jade, defended it, saying "it's not a satirical video, but rather one with an inclusive message."[5]

The video received a positive response from publications such as The Huffington Post and The Independent.[6][7]

Track listing
Digital single
No.TitleLength
1."The Motherload"4:59
12" single
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."The Motherload"4:59
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Halloween" (instrumental)4:39

Chart positions
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Main. Rock 24[8]
MEX. Air 43[9]

Personnel

References
  1. Jurek, Thom. "Once More 'Round the Sun - Mastodon". AllMusic. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  2. "Mastodon - The Motherload [Official Video]". YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  3. Lawson, Dom (September 30, 2014). "Rock bottom: why Mastodon's misogynistic new video misfires". The Guardian. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  4. Gordon, Jeremy (September 30, 2014). "Mastodon's Brann Dailor Talks "The Motherload Video: "It's Not to Be Taken So Seriously"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  5. Minsker, Evan (October 5, 2014). "Dancer in Mastodon's "The Motherload" Video Defends Band, Details Behind-the-Scenes Experience". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  6. Kristobak, Ryan (September 29, 2014). "Mastodon's 'The Motherload' Video Proves It Is Possible To Twerk To Metal". The Huffington Post. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  7. Hooton, Christopher (September 30, 2014). "Metalheads are confused as to why Mastodon's 'The Motherload' music video is full of twerking asses". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  8. "Mastodon – Chart History: Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  9. "Mastodon – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
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