Natural Selection (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Natural Selection
Type = studio
Artist = Fuel


Released = September 23, 2003
Recorded = 2003
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 51:05
Label = Epic Records
Producer = Michael Beinhorn
Carl Bell
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8absa9rgw23f link]
Last album = "Something Like Human"
(2000)
This album = "Natural Selection"
(2003)
Next album = "The Best of Fuel"
(2005) |

"Natural Selection" is Fuel's third full-length album, released in 2003. It features generally the same style as heard on the band's previous two efforts but didn't manage to match their commercial success.

Preceding the album's release "Won't Back Down" was featured as the lead single of the film soundtrack "". "Falls on Me" served as the first single of "Natural Selection" and received much airplay on MTV throughout the summer. The album also had a third marginally successful single in "Million Miles."

Background

Following the multi-platinum success of their previous album "Something Like Human", Fuel had some set backs to overcome before they could begin recording the album that became "Natural Selection". First off, the band had to resolve some pressing legal matters which prohibited them from recording. [ [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12055404 Fuel Rehearsing For New Recording] ]

Medical problems also inhibited the recording of the album as well. Singer/guitarist Brett Scallions clashed onstage with guitarist/songwriter Carl Bell on one of the band's earlier tours which left Scallions with a deviated septum that required medical attention and time for recovery. [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12065861 Fuel Vocalist Sings Again After Surgery] ] According to Scallions, "I think I basically had to relearn how to sing... I had to recondition myself and figure out how to sing again."

Reception

Bell expressed confidence in "Natural Selection", stating "The record is, I think, far and beyond any of the other records we've had as a body of work." [ [http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12061874 Fuel Guitarist Says New Album Is Best 'Selection' Of Songs Yet] ]

"Natural Selection" debuted at #15 on the U.S. "Billboard" album charts. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=10712&model.vnuAlbumId=960395 Billboard Album Chart info] ] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for best engineered album. [ [http://www.ez-entertainment.net/features/46grammys.htm 46th Annual Grammy Award Nominees] ]

Aftermath

"Natural Selection" would prove to be the final Fuel album to feature drummer Kevin Miller and Scallions on vocals. Miller was excused from the band in 2004, and Scallions left in 2006, stating that "... there was no fun in [making the album] because there was no activity within the band." [ [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=893 "Brett Scallions Tells his Story"] ] Scallions' feelings of lack of group activity along with Bell's feelings of Scallions losing vocal range led to Scallions' eventual departure from the group. [ [http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article.asp?id=884 "Carl Bell of Fuel Speaks Out"] ]

Track listing

All songs written by Carl Bell except where noted.

# "Quarter" - 3:39
# "Down Inside of You" - 4:07
# "Million Miles" - 3:51
# "Falls on Me" - 4:13
# "These Things" - 4:57
# "Won't Back Down (Bring You Hell Remix)" - 3:23
# "Running Away" - 4:54
# "Most of All" - 4:13
# "Getting Thru?" - 4:09
# "Die Like This" - 4:29
# "Luck" (Brett Scallions) - 4:15
# "Days with You" - 4:29

Personnel

*Brett Scallions: Vocals, Guitar
*Carl Bell: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards
*Jeff Abercrombie: Bass
*Kevin Miller: Drums

References