Unwritten Law (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Unwritten Law
Type = Album
Artist = Unwritten Law


Released = June 2, 1998
Recorded = July/August 1997
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 44:37
Label = Interscope
Producer = Rick Parashar
Reviews = *AllmusicRating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ta9fs32ia3xg~T1 link] |
Last album = "Oz Factor"
(1996)
This album = "Unwritten Law"
(1998)
Next album = "Elva"
(2002)

"Unwritten Law" is the third album by the San Diego, California punk rock band Unwritten Law, released in 1998 by Interscope Records. It gained the band international attention with the success of singles "Lonesome" and "Cailin." Due to the departure of original bassist John Bell the previous year, Micah Albao filled in with the band on bass for the recording of the album. Shortly after its recording Pat "PK" Kim joined the band as their new permanent bass player.

The song "Cailin" was written for singer Scott Russo's daughter and is named after her. Beginning with the supporting tours for the album it became common for Russo to bring her onstage and sing the song directly to her, especially at the band's shows in San Diego where Russo and his family live. The song "418" is a "hidden track" that, although it is listed on the album sleeve, has no track separator to separate it from the preceding song "Genocide." It is named because it appears 4 minutes and 18 seconds into the playing time of track 12. The song features a guest appearance by Brandon Boyd of Incubus.

Track listing

All music by Unwritten Law. All lyrics by Russo except where indicated
#"Harmonic" (Russo/Brewer)
#"Teenage Suicide"
#"Sorry"
#"California Sky" (Russo/Youman)
#"Cailin"
#"Lonesome"
#"Coffin Text"
#"Holiday"
#"Underground" (Russo/Youman/Brewer)
#"Close Your Eyes"
#"Before I Go" (Russo/Youman/Morris)
#"Genocide" / "418" (Russo/Brandon Boyd)

Performers

*Scott Russo - vocals
*Steve Morris - guitar
*Rob Brewer - guitar
*Micah Albao - bass
*Wade Youman - drums, percussion
*Rick Parashar - piano, keyboards, tambura, percussion
*Geoff Turner - DJ
*Erik Aho - additional guitar on "Cailin"
*Brandon Boyd - spoken vocals and didgeridoo on "418"
*Michael Einzinger - additional guitar on "418"
*Craig Yarnold - additional backing vocals on "Holiday"

Album information

*Record label: Interscope Records
*All music by Unwritten Law
*All lyrics by Scott Russo except "Harmonic" by Russo and Rob Brewer, "California Sky" by Russo and Wade Youman, "Underground" by Russo, Youman, and Brewer, "Before I Go" by Russo, Youman, and Steve Morris, and "418" by Russo and Brandon Boyd.
*Recorded and mixed at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, Washington July/August 1997
*Additional recording on "Holiday" at Studio West in San Diego, California September 1997
*Produced, engineered, and mixed by Rick Parashar
*"Sorry" mixed by Andy Wallace
*Assistant production, engineering, and mixing by Jon Plum
*Geoff Ott: second engineer
*Additional mixing on "Underground" and "418" by Kelly Gray
*"Holiday" engineered by Jon Mathias
*Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York, New York
*Graphic design by Lorna Turner
*Cover illustration used with permission from Random House, UK
*Art concepts by Unwritten Law
*Photography by Craig Tomkinson and Dave Morris