The Big Dirty (album)

The Big Dirty is the fourth studio album by American metalcore band Every Time I Die. It was released on September 4, 2007 on Ferret Records.

The Big Dirty
Studio album by Every Time I Die
Released	September 4, 2007
Recorded	March and April 2007
Genre	Metalcore,[1][2] Southern rock[1]
Length	36:20
Label	Ferret
Producer	Steve Evetts
Every Time I Die chronology
Gutter Phenomenon (2005) The Big Dirty (2007) New Junk Aesthetic (2009)

Background

At the end of their set at Dirtfest on August 19, 2006, Every Time I Die announced that bassist Chris Byrnes would be leaving the band.[3] Buckley said Byrnes departure was due to money, "He really couldn't afford it on our touring schedule and salary".[4] He was replaced by former the Chariot member Keller Harbin.[5] Following an October and November tour with Atreyu, the band started writing their next album, with aim of releasing it the following summer.[4] On February 14, 2007, vocalist Keith Buckley mentioned that the band have been holed up in a basement in North Tonawanda, New York composing "what will easily prove to be the best record ETID has crafted since Gutter Phenomenon."[6]

Recording and composition

In early March 2007, the band went to California to record The Big Dirty with producer Steve Evetts for a period of two months. Despite the band announcing that, in regards to a bass player, fans should "expect some help on the recording from a good friend of ours",[6] guitarists Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams perform bass on the album.

The title is a reference to the 2006 film Trailer Park Boys: The Movie,[7] in which the criminal protagonists plot to pull off "The Big Dirty," a grand heist, before retiring from their lives of crime. The band said the album was "Chock-a-block with riffs that only 4 months of a Buffalo, New York winter could spawn, this new record will undoubtedly satisfy [long-time fans.] ... The Big Dirty is the CD you would compile if asked to make a mix of the BEST Every Time I Die songs you haven't heard yet. ... If this ain't your favorite heavy release of the year, I'll eat my damn hat."[8] According to Buckley, the album's lyrical content revolve around "coming to terms with the fact that [prior to the album] I needed to calm down in life."[9] He mentioned that people around him were starting to settle down and have families and he "didn’t like that. It’s about coming to terms with the fact I didn’t need to stop living.”[9] According to a press release, the lyrics to "Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Battery" were based on the Federico Fellini film 8½ (1963). The press release also mentioned that the track "has everything that the band has become notorious for wrapped into one two-minute-and-thirty-second keg stand of ass-kicking fuck-all."[10]

Release

On April 24, 2007, The Big Dirty was announced for release.[8] In June, the band went on a tour of Australia with Norma Jean.[6] During the tour, the band headlined the Come Together Music Festival.[11] The band supported Shadows Fall for three shows,[12] before headlining the 2007 edition of the Sounds of the Underground tour in July and August.[13] On July 2, "Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Battery" was made available for streaming.[14] On July 8, the album's track listing and artwork was revealed.[10] On July 24, "No Son of Mine" was made available for streaming.[15] On August 28, a music video was posted for "We'rewolf" on the band's Myspace profile.[16] The Big Dirty was planned for release in August,[8] however it was made available for streaming on August 31,[17] and released on September 4 through Ferret Music.[14] On October 19, the band appeared on Fuel TV's The Daily Habit show performing "We'rewolf" and "No Son of Mine".[18] The band performed these two songs again for their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 31.[19] In January and February 2008, the band went on a US tour alongside Killswitch Engage, the Dillinger Escape Plan and Parkway Drive.[20] However, shortly prior to the tour, drummer Michael Novak had sustained a back injury from playing basketball. As a result, Steve Bache of He Is Legend temporarily filled in.[21]

In February and March,[22] the band co-headlined the Take Action Tour with From First to Last.[23] The band then embarked on a European and UK tour in April with Drop Dead, Gorgeous and Scary Kids Scaring Kids.[24] On June 13, the band announced that Josh Newton of From Autumn to Ashes had joined them as their new bassist.[25] Between June and August, the band performed on the 2008 edition of Warped Tour.[26] In October, the band made an appearance at Liskfest.[27] Following this, the band performed a few shows with Trash Talk and Alpha & Omega.[28] In November, the band went on the November Reign Tour in North America, alongside the Bronx and Stick to Your Guns.[29] In February and March 2009, the band toured Australia as part of the Soundwave festival.[30] In between dates on the festival, the band played two sideshows with the Dillinger Escape Plan, Poison the Well and Evergreen Terrace.[9]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[31]
AbsolutePunk	88% [32]
Blabbermouth.net	8.5/10 [33]
Drowned in Sound	9/10 [34]
FasterLouder	Favourable [35]
Kerrang!
Spin	Favorable [36]
Sputnikmusic	3/5 [1]

The album debuted at number 41 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 14,000 copies in its first week.[37] The album was included in Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics list at number 88.[38]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"No Son of Mine"	3:25
2.	"Pigs Is Pigs"	2:39
3.	"Leatherneck"	2:08
4.	"We'rewolf"	3:24
5.	"Rebel Without Applause"	3:22
6.	"Cities and Years"	2:57
7.	"Rendez-Voodoo"	3:15
8.	"A Gentleman's Sport"	2:34
9.	"INRIhab" (featuring Dallas Green of Alexisonfire)	4:04
10.	"Depressionista"	2:29
11.	"Buffalo Gals"	3:27
12.	"Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Battery"	2:29

Personnel

Every Time I Die

• Keith Buckley – vocals
• Jordan Buckley – guitar, bass
• Andy Williams – guitar, bass
• Mike 'Ratboy' Novak – drums

Others

• Dallas Green – guest vocals on "INRIhab".
• Steve Evetts – production, mixing, engineering

References

1. H., Andrew (September 5, 2007). "Review: Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
2. "The Big Dirty reviews". Ultimate-guitar. Archived from the original on 2017-04-09.
3. "EVERY TIME I DIE Parts Ways With Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. August 21, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
4. Harris, Chris (August 28, 2006). "Every Time I Die Carry On With Tour, DVD After Losing Fifth – Yes, Fifth – Bassist". MTV. Viacom. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
5. "Every Time I Die officially becomes the Spinal Tap of metalcore". Alternative Press. August 23, 2006. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
6. "EVERY TIME I DIE Working On New Album". Brave Words. February 14, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
7. Crossfire, "Every Time I Die Interview", June 1, 2008 Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
8. "Every Time I Die to unleash The Big Dirty this August". Alternative Press. April 24, 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
9. Hutton, Sarah (February 13, 2009). "Every Time I Die". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
10. "EVERY TIME I DIE: 'The Big Dirty' Artwork Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. July 8, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
11. Dixon, Carl (March 1, 2007). "Come Together Weekender line-up announced". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
12. "Shadows Fall playing three shows with Every Time I Die". Alternative Press. May 29, 2007. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
13. "Every Time I Die, Chimaira top Sounds Of The Underground 07". Alternative Press. April 11, 2007. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
14. "Every Time I Die post first song from The Big Dirty". Alternative Press. July 2, 2007. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
15. "Every Time I Die post another new song". Alternative Press. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
16. "EVERY TIME I DIE: 'We'rewolf' Video Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. August 28, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
17. "Every Time I Die stream The Big Dirty on MySpace". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. August 31, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
18. "EVERY TIME I DIE To Perform On FUEL TV's 'The Daily Habit'". Blabbermouth.net. October 12, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
19. "Every Time I Die: 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Performance To Re Air This Friday". Blabbermouth.net. November 21, 2007. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
20. "Killswitch Engage announce tour to heat up your winter". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. November 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
21. "Every Time I Die drummer out for tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. January 8, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
22. "Take Action! 08 dates announced". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. December 10, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
23. "Complete Take Action! 08 lineup announced". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. December 5, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
24. "Every Time I Die to tour Europe with Scary Kids Scaring Kids". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
25. "EVERY TIME I DIE Announces New Bassist". Blabbermouth.net. June 13, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
26. "Venues for Warped Tour 2008 revealed". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 12, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
27. White, Adam (September 9, 2008). "Pennywise lines up radio festivals to support new single". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
28. Paul, Aubin (September 16, 2008). "Trash Talk / Alpha & Omega". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
29. Wippsson, Johan (November 5, 2008). "DiNG It Up With Every Time I Die". Melodic. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
30. Hutton, Sarah (September 23, 2008). "Soundwave Line-up 2009". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
31. "The Big Dirty". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
32. "Every Time I Die - The Big Dirty - Album Review". AbsolutePunk.net. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
33. Alisoglu, Scott. "CD Reviews - The Big Dirty Every Time I Die". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
34. Rauf, Raziq (October 22, 2007). "Album Review: Everytime I Die - The Big Dirty". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
35. Slingsby, Tim (August 19, 2007). "Every Time I Die – The Big Dirty". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
36. Earles, Andrew (October 17, 2007). "Every Time I Die, 'The Big Dirty' (Ferret)". Spin. SpinMedia. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
37. Katie Hasty, "'High School Musical 2' Still Tops On Billboard 200" Archived 2014-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, Billboard.com, September 12, 2007.
38. "Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics: 101 - 75". Rock Sound Magazine. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2015.