Popular Monster (album)
Popular Monster | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 16, 2024 | |||
Recorded | 2018–2023 | |||
Length | 37:48 | |||
Label | Epitaph | |||
Producer | ||||
Falling in Reverse studio album chronology | ||||
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Singles from Popular Monster | ||||
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Popular Monster is the fifth studio album by American rock band Falling in Reverse, released on August 16, 2024, through Epitaph Records.[1] It is the band's first studio album to feature guitarist Max Georgiev, bassist Tyler Burgess and drummer Luke Holland. Derek Jones contributed to the title track and lead single "Popular Monster" before his death in 2020. The album also features rapper Tech N9ne, Slaughter to Prevail vocalist Alex Terrible, who both appeared in the single "Ronald", and country singer Jelly Roll, who appeared in the single "All My Life". The name of the album was taken from the 2019 single and was announced the same day as "Ronald" was released, on May 7, 2024.[2] It is also the band's first album in seven years, since Coming Home.
Background
[edit]After Falling in Reverse released Coming Home in 2017, they would start releasing several non-album singles, and they also faced a lineup instability. They changed drummers before settling with Luke Holland in 2021. Christian Thompson left in 2018 before returning in 2020, while Tyler Burgess and Max Georgiev both joined in 2018. The band released two non-singles, titled "Losing My Mind" and "Losing My Life" in 2018. They also released "Drugs" in 2019, featuring Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor.
The band released "Popular Monster" on November 20, 2019, and it became a massive hit, gaining over 43 million streams and becoming the band's most well known single of their career;[3] the band would also get them their first-ever platinum certified single.[4] Rhythm guitarist Derek Jones, who has been in the band since its formation in 2008, died on April 21, 2020, from subdural hematoma.[5] "Popular Monster" was his final contribution to the band. The song was also the album's very first single. They also released two remastered singles from their 2011 debut studio album The Drug in Me Is You. "The Drug in Me Is Reimagined" was released on February 13, 2020, and "I'm Not a Vampire (Revamped)" was released on February 12, 2021. "Carry On" was also released in 2020, using a similar album cover from their 2017 studio album Coming Home.
In 2022, they released two more singles, "Zombified" and "Voices in My Head", both of which gained a lot of success. Rumors were also spread about the song being an attempt to mock Machine Gun Kelly, however Ronnie Radke declared these rumors false.[6] The band released "Watch the World Burn" on January 31, 2023, and it also became a hit, with it becoming the first time Falling in Reverse entered Billboard Hot 100, landing on No. 83; the song along, with Popular Monster, Zombified and Voices in My Head, managed to beat Bring Me the Horizon for the most No. 1 singles for the past three years.[7] "Zombified", "Voices in My Head" and "Watch the World Burn" would also later appear in the Popular Monster album. Another single that would appear in the album was a reimagined version of Papa Roach's 'Last Resort", which was released on June 26, 2023. The reimagined was a more emotional and a ballad than the more rocky original.[8] Papa Roach vocalist Jacoby Shaddix was "blown away" and very impressed with the cover.[9]
On May 7, 2024, the band released another single titled "Ronald", which featured rapper Tech N9ne and Slaughter to Prevail vocalist, Alex Terrible. Alongside the song, the band announced Popular Monster, which was originally due to be released on July 26, 2024, before being pushed back to August 16, 2024.[10] It is the band's first album since 2017's Coming Home. The band also announced the Popular MonsTOUR II: World Domination, which will take place from August–December 2024, with guests Tech N9ne, Slaughter to Prevail, Hollywood Undead, Dance Gavin Dance and Black Veil Brides.[11] On June 6, 2024, the band released another single for the album, titled "All My Life", which featured country singer Jelly Roll;[12] the single received one million views on YouTube in the first 24 hours of its release.[13] A music video for the track "Prequel" was released on August 16, 2024, coinciding with the album release.[14] The album cover of Popular Monster is frontman Ronnie Radke's mugshot for when he got arrested for alleged domestic assault in 2012.[15][16]
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blabbermouth | 8/10[18] |
Sputnikmusic | 1.8/5[19] |
Still Listening | 0/10[20] |
Wall of Sound | 6.5/10[21] |
Popular Monster received mixed reviews from critics. Anne Erickson of Blabbermouth gave it a rating of 8 out of 10 saying: On Popular Monster', Radke and Falling in Reverse show they're trendsetters. This release is like nothing else out there in the metalcore and post-hardcore world. Their experimentation is similar to bands such as Bad Omens and Sleep Token in their unapologetic moves to meld pop and rap with metal. Falling in Reverse truly have a sound that's all their own, and that's a treasure.[18] Paul Brown of Wall of Sound gave it a rating of 6.5 out of 10 saying: "Popular Monster will get you moshing while questioning the world around you. A concept album for the rise of a glorified rolling stone."[21] AllMusic also gave the album a rating of two and a half stars.[17]
However, there were also very bad reviews. Sputnikmusic had mostly bad reviews, for example SaseiTunes review rated the album as: "Popular Monster is an embarrassment of an album that tries to paint its lead singer as this poor crucified soul, and fails miserably at it, while not knowing what sound it wants to pursue, and acting like it’s the hottest *** since sliced bread."[19] Luke Nutail of The Soundboard said: "The best that Falling In Reverse can aspire to on Popular Monster is copying another grifter also better known for an insufferable public persona well above any music."[22] Rachel Aimee of Still Listening Magazine gave it a rating of zero, the lowest of all, saying: "It is baffling and decently depressing that a band like Falling in Reverse still have a platform, and a big one at that."[20]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Prequel" |
| 3:53 | ||
2. | "Popular Monster" |
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| 3:41 |
3. | "All My Life" (featuring Jelly Roll) |
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| 3:11 |
4. | "Ronald" (featuring Tech N9ne and Alex Terrible) |
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| 3:17 |
5. | "Voices in My Head" |
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| 3:17 |
6. | "Bad Guy" (featuring Saraya Bevis) |
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| 2:37 |
7. | "Watch the World Burn" |
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| 3:24 |
8. | "Trigger Warning" |
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| 2:22 |
9. | "Zombified" |
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| 3:40 |
10. | "No Fear" |
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| 3:48 |
11. | "Last Resort (Reimagined)" |
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| 4:43 | |
Total length: | 37:48 |
Notes
Personnel
[edit]
Falling in Reverse
Additional musicians
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Additional personnel
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Charts
[edit]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 7 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[24] | 2 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[25] | 55 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[26] | 90 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[27] | 43 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] | 42 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] | 28 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] | 10 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[31] | 37 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[32] | 28 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[33] | 12 |
Swedish Hard Rock Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] | 8 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] | 9 |
UK Albums (OCC)[36] | 29 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[37] | 5 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[38] | 2 |
US Billboard 200[39] | 12 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[40] | 1 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[41] | 1 |
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[42] | 5 |
References
[edit]- ^ Joe DiVita (July 12, 2024). "Falling in Reverse & Jelly Roll's 'All My Life' Tops Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse announces new album, 'Popular Monster'". 105.7 The Point. May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Hit Radio Milestone With 'Popular Monster'". Loudwire. April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Earn Their First Platinum Single With 'Popular Monster'". Loudwire. October 15, 2021.
- ^ "Derek Jones Death Confirmed by Falling in Reverse Bandmate Ronnie Radke: 'My Heart is Broken'". Newsweek. April 22, 2020.
- ^ "Ronnie Radke Says Falling in Reverse's 'Voices in My Head' Isn't Mocking MGK". Loudwire. June 7, 2022.
- ^ "Hot 100 First-Timers: Falling in Reverse Lands With 'Watch the World Burn'". Billboard. February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Social Media Buzzing After Falling in Reverse Turn Papa Roach's 'Last Resort' Into Emotional Piano Ballad". Loudwire. June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix is "blown away" by Falling in Reverse's "Last Resort" cover". June 29, 2023.
- ^ "Falling In Reverse Announce First Album Since 2017, 'Popular Monster'". Loudwire. May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Tour Dates".
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Shares Video For New Single 'All My Life' Featuring JELLY ROLL". June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse share BTS footage of 'All My Life' video | The Label". June 19, 2024.
- ^ "FALLING IN REVERSE Releases 'Prequel' Music Video". Blabbermouth. August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse announces new album, 'Popular Monster'". May 7, 2024.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ a b "Popular Monster – Falling in Reverse". AllMusic. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- ^ a b Erickson, Anne (August 16, 2024). "Reviews – Popular Monster". Blabbermouth. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b "Falling in Reverse Popular Monster Review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ a b Aimee, Rachel (August 22, 2024). "Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster Review". Still Listening. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Brown, Paul (August 16, 2024). "Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster Review". Wall of Sound. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Nutail, Luke. "Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster Review". The Soundboard. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse: Popular Monster" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2024. 34. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 26, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Veckolista Hårdrock, vecka 36" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Falling in Reverse – Popular Monster". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
- ^ "Falling in Reverse Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2024.