NOLA (album)

NOLA
Studio album by Down
Released	September 19, 1995
Recorded	August 29, 1994 – January 22, 1995
Genre	Heavy metal, sludge metal, stoner metal
Length	56:33
Label	Elektra
Producer	Down, Matt Thomas
Down chronology
NOLA (1995) Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow (2002)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

NOLA is the debut album of Louisiana-based heavy metal band Down. It was released on September 19, 1995. The songs on the album were written mainly by Phil Anselmo and Pepper Keenan between 1990 and 1995. The title is the abbreviation for New Orleans (N.O.), Louisiana (La.).

Background

Down formed in 1991 with vocalist/songwriter Phil Anselmo of Pantera, guitarist Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity, second guitarist Kirk Windstein and bassist Todd Strange of Crowbar, and drummer Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod. All of the band members were longtime friends, and shared interest in bands such as Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus, which would significantly influence the music they made. The band made a three-track demo for underground trading. In an effort to build a fan base, the band would ask heavy metal fans if they had ever "heard of this band, Down" and hand them copies of the tape without telling the person that they were in the band. Eventually, the tape was distributed throughout the United States and Down played a small concert in its hometown. A record executive from Elektra Records was attending the show. When he found out who the members of the band were, he signed Down to a recording contract.

Release and reception

NOLA reached number 55 on the Billboard 200, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America with 1,000,000 copies sold in America.^[2] Allmusic reviewer David Reamer gave the album a nearly perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars, praising the songs "Temptation's Wings", "Stone the Crow", and "Bury Me in Smoke". Reamer stated that "this is a landmark album that combines the talents of dedicated rock musicians, and should be included in any collection of heavy metal music." The album's debut single Stone the Crow reached number 40 on the Mainstream Rock charts, becoming Down's first and only top 40 song.

Tour

Down supported NOLA with a 13-date concert tour.^[2][3] The band went on hiatus in 1996 as all members continued their main projects. They would reunite in 1999 to make a second album, Down II, released in 2002.

Tour dates

^[4]

Date	City	Country	Venue
An Evening with Down
01995-09-20September 20, 1995	New Orleans, Louisiana	United States	Rendon Inn
01995-09-21September 21, 1995	Dallas, Texas		Deep Ellum
01995-09-24September 24, 1995	Chicago, Illinois		The Vic Theatre
01995-09-25September 25, 1995	Detroit, Michigan		Saint Andrew's Hall
01995-09-26September 26, 1995	Cleveland, Ohio		The Odeon
01995-09-27September 27, 1995	New York City, New York		The Academy
01995-09-29September 29, 1995	San Francisco, California		Fillmore West
Headlining with Far
01995-09-30September 30, 1995	Los Angeles, California	United States	The Palace
An Evening with Down
01995-12-27December 27, 1995	San Antonio, Texas	United States	Sneakers
01995-12-28December 28, 1995	Houston, Texas		The Millenium
01995-12-30December 30, 1995	Shreveport, Louisiana		The Warehouse

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Temptation's Wings"	Anselmo/Keenan	4:24
2.	"Lifer"	Anselmo/Keenan	4:36
3.	"Pillars of Eternity"	Anselmo	3:57
4.	"Rehab"	Anselmo/Keenan/Windstein	4:03
5.	"Hail the Leaf"	Anselmo	3:28
6.	"Underneath Everything"	Anselmo/Keenan	4:46
7.	"Eyes of the South"	Anselmo/Keenan	5:13
8.	"Jail"	Anselmo/Keenan/Strange/Windstein	5:17
9.	"Losing All"	Anselmo/Keenan	4:21
10.	"Stone the Crow"	Anselmo/Keenan	4:42
11.	"Pray for the Locust"	Anselmo	1:07
12.	"Swan Song"	Anselmo/Bower/Keenan	3:35
13.	"Bury Me in Smoke"	Anselmo/Keenan	7:04

Line-up

Band members

• Phil Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"
• Pepper Keenan - guitar
• Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass
• Jimmy Bower - drums

Guest musicians

• Todd Strange - Whistle at the beginning of Lifer & bass (credited, does not perform)
• Big Ross Karpelman - Keyboards on "Jail"
• Lil' Daddy and Sid Montz - percussion on "Jail"
• Lil' Daddy - Water pipe solo on "Hail the Leaf"

Artwork

The booklet art is by Jim DeBarros and David Manteau and makes extensive use of vintage photographs by Clarence John Laughlin.

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1995	The Billboard 200	57

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1995	"Stone the Crow"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	40

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ ^{a b} Geist, Brandon (November 2007). "Never Say Die". Revolver Magazine. 
3. ^ "Interview with Pepper Keenan (Down and C.O.C.)". Stormbringerwebzine.co.uk. http://www.stormbringerwebzine.co.uk/Interviews/Pepper_Keenan.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ http://downboard.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=31037