Brain Pain

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Brain Pain
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 28, 2020 (2020-02-28)
StudioGraphic Nature Audio, Belleville, New Jersey
GenrePop punk, melodic hardcore
Length42:04
LabelPure Noise
ProducerWill Putney, Four Year Strong
Four Year Strong chronology
Four Year Strong
(2015)
Brain Pain
(2020)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Dead Press![1]
Exclaim!8/10[2]
Kerrang!4/5[3]
Ox-Fanzine[4]
Wall of Sound4/5[5]

Brain Pain is the seventh studio album by Massachusetts pop punk band Four Year Strong, released on February 28, 2020. It was the band's first studio album in nearly five years. The album was announced on January 14, 2020, accompanied by the release of the first two singles from the album, "Talking Myself in Circles" and "Brain Pain".[6]

Background and recording[edit]

Vocalist/guitarist Alan Day spent time producing records for Can't Swim, Seaway and Knuckle Puck,[7] and managing his Christmas tree farm.[8] In January and February 2017, the group went on a UK tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rise or Die Trying (2007).[9] It was followed by two US legs: one in March and April 2017,[10] and the other in September and October.[11] A compilation album, Some of You Will Like This, Some of You Won't, appeared in September 2017.[12]

Recording sessions for the band's next album were held at Graphic Nature Audio in Belleville, New Jersey with producer Will Putney. He also acted as engineer, with additional engineering from Steve Seid and additional editing from Geo Hewitt. Randy Slaugh and Guy Randle engineered the strings on "Be Good When I'm Gone". Putney mixed and mastered the recordings; the bonus tracks from the reissue were produced by the band and engineered, mixed and mastered by Day.[13]

Release[edit]

On January 14, 2020, Brain Pain was announced for release the following month. Alongside this, the album's artwork and track listing were revealed. In addition, "Talking Myself in Circles" and the title-track were made available for streaming.[14] On February 11, a music video was released for "Learn to Love the Lie",[14] directed by Miguel Barbosa.[15] On February 27, a music video was released for "Get Out of My Head",[16] directed by Barbosa and the band.[17] The following day, Brain Pain was released through Pure Noise Records.[14] Following this, the group supported Silverstein on their 20th anniversary tour. The trek was planned to continue into April,[18] however, in mid-March the second half of shows were pushed back to July and August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Track listing[edit]

Track listing per booklet.[13]

Brain Pain track listing
No.TitleLength
1."It's Cool"3:23
2."Get Out of My Head"3:10
3."Crazy Pills"3:30
4."Talking Myself in Circles"3:41
5."Learn to Love the Lie"3:44
6."Brain Pain"3:46
7."Mouth Full of Dirt"3:15
8."Seventeen"3:25
9."Be Good When I'm Gone"3:20
10."The Worst Part About Me"3:45
11."Usefully Useless"2:59
12."Young at Heart"4:06
Total length:42:04
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."MYVEK"2:46
14."Pipe Dream"2:34
15."Get Out of My Head (Acoustic)"3:35
16."Talking Myself in Circles (Acoustic)"3:39
17."Learn to Love the Lie (Acoustic)"3:43
18."Seventeen (Remix)"3:08
19."Bitter Sweet Symphony (The Verve cover)"3:29

Personnel[edit]

Personnel per reissue booklet.[13]

Charts[edit]

Sales chart performance for Brain Pain
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 93
US Billboard 200[21] 175

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Blackburn, Steve (March 2, 2020). "ALBUM: Four Year Strong - Brain Pain". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. ^ Zhu, Eva (February 26, 2020). "Four Year Strong Brain Pain". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  3. ^ Law, Sam (February 25, 2020). "Album Review: Four Year Strong – Brain Pain". Kerrang!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Wahle, Sebastian. "Reviews: Four Year Strong Brain Pain". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Citylightstam (February 25, 2020). "Four Year Strong – Brain Pain (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Four Year Strong Issue Two New Songs, Announce 'Brain Pain' Disc". Loudwire. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Dickman, Maggie (October 26, 2017). "Four Year Strong's Alan Day explains how he went from musician to producer". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Richardson, Jake (December 21, 2018). "Four Year Strong's Alan Day on how he started a Christmas tree farm". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Redrup, Zach (November 9, 2016). "NEWS: Four Year Strong announce 'Rise Or Die Trying' 10th anniversary UK tour!". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  10. ^ Ralph, Caitlyn (January 11, 2017). "Four Year Strong expand 'Rise Or Die Trying' 10-year anniversary tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  11. ^ Dickman, Maggie (June 14, 2017). "Four Year Strong announce second U.S. leg of 'Rise Or Die Trying' anniversary tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Redrup, Zach (July 23, 2017). "NEWS: Four Year Strong announce rarities/acoustic album!". Dead Press!. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Brain Pain (booklet). Four Year Strong. Pure Noise Records. 2021. PNE268.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ a b c Leuthauser, Adrian (January 14, 2020). "Four Year Strong drop two songs off first album in five years 'Brain Pain'". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  15. ^ Pure Noise Records (February 11, 2020). Four Year Strong "Learn To Love The Lie" Official Music Video. Retrieved June 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ Campbell, Rachel (February 27, 2020). "Four Year Strong can't shake the infectious "Get Out Of My Head"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Pure Noise Records (February 27, 2020). Four Year Strong "Get Out Of My Head" Official Music Video. Retrieved June 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ Shoemaker, Whitney (October 7, 2019). "Silverstein celebrate 20 years with massive North American tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  19. ^ Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (March 17, 2020). "Silverstein reschedule 20th anniversary North American tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200". Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved March 10, 2020.