Famous | ||||
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Studio album by Puddle of Mudd | ||||
Released | October 9, 2007 | |||
Genre | Post-grunge | |||
Length | 38:29 | |||
Label |
Flawless Geffen |
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Producer | Brian Howes, Wes Scantlin, Bill Stevenson, Jason Livermore, Jack Joseph Puig | |||
Puddle of Mudd chronology | ||||
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Singles from Famous | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
CD Universe |
Famous is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on October 9, 2007 on Flawless Records. Famous was originally set to be released in May, but was pushed back to add more songs to the album. The album was also announced by the band to be titled Livin' on Borrowed Time, but that was changed to Famous after the name of the first single.
The title track provided the album's lead single on May 21, 2007. "Psycho" would follow as the second single on November 2. Famous debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 31,000 copies in its first week.
The album has sold around 363,000 copies in the US.
In early 2007, the album was in finishing stages with producer Bill Stevenson. In its hiatus, the band had written 60 to 70 songs, eventually narrowing it down to just a few tracks. Originally, the album was due out in July with the title, Living on Borrowed Time. However, by the time of the final release the title has been changed by an unidentified person to that of the lead single. A decision singer Scantlin didn't care for. He later denied this saying, "I didn't really care. I was just like 'as long as it comes out, name it whatever you want man.'" In early 2007 the album was in finishing stages with producer Bill Stevenson. But at the suggestion of some advisers, outside writers and arrangers were brought in to help with album production. This because of record company advisers, who due to file sharing and poor album sales in general, "want to take no chances," as the bands bassist put it in one interview. As of 2009, Scantlin felt the album was fine in its initial finished stage and regrets the changes that were made and somewhat dislikes the final release.
More traditional lyrics in the realm of positive relationships and religion were aided with clean in-line production. The band also noted that while they felt pressured at times, it was a welcome change of pace, and that they never intend to leave their roots; only expand them.
An interview with the band on FUSE TV had Wes Scantlin discussing why some of the issues in the songs had changed from previous efforts. He stated that producer Bill Stevenson "helped me change my life for the better," explaining that before, his life was much like a typical Hollywood newcomer, gradually involving himself more and more in the negative party scene.