Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate

Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate
Studio album by
Puddle of Mudd
Released December 8, 2009
Recorded Early 2009
Genre Post-grunge, alternative metal
Length 35:50
Label Flawless
Geffen
Producer Brian Howes, Brian Virtue, John Kurzweg, Jack Joseph Puig
Puddle of Mudd chronology
Famous
(2007) 		Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate
(2009) 		re:(disc)overed
(2011)
Singles from Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate
  1. "Spaceship"
    Released: October 27, 2009
  2. "Stoned"
    Released: March 8, 2010
  3. "Keep It Together"
    Released: July 12, 2010
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Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate is the fourth studio album by American post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd. It was released on December 8, 2009, on Flawless Records.

Background

In Spring 2009, the band began recording sessions in Vancouver with Famous producer Brian Howes. Recording in a three part, three week session in Canada initially because of extensive touring duties. Afterwards the band relocated to Hollywood, California for three weeks for additional production with producer and engineer Brian Virtue and Come Clean and Life on Display producer John Kurzweg. Their first time together in six years. Scantlin commented on production work, "Even though we hate messing with success, we felt adding newcomer Brain Virtue to the producer mix would be a welcome change. What we got is 10 tracks of exactly what we were looking for."

The band announced through their MySpace and follow-up interviews in late summer that the album had finished production and was in mixing. Bassist Doug Ardito confirmed only 10 songs to avoid what he called "filler material" and to have new listeners focus more on non-single songs.

Around 21 songs were worked on during production, and whittled down to 10 to 12 tracks according to singer Scantlin. Scantlin described the sound as more edgier, punk rock, similar to earlier releases.

The album was released on December 8, 2009. It debuted at #95 on the Billboard 200. It sold around 100,000 copies in the United States, and the lead single "Spaceship" also sold well over 100,000 copies. Volume 4 was however the band's first album to not produce a Hot 100 hit, and, unlike the previous albums Come Clean, Life on Display and Famous, neither the album sales or any single sales topped 500,000. The album was mixed at Ocean Way Recording.

Track listing

Volume 4: Songs in the Key of Love & Hate
No. Title Length
1. "Stoned" 3:30
2. "Spaceship" 3:14
3. "Keep It Together" 3:52
4. "Out of My Way" 4:02
5. "Blood on the Table" 3:13
6. "The Only Reason" 4:07
7. "Pitchin' a Fit" 3:39
8. "Uno Mas" 2:59
9. "Better Place" 4:01
10. "Hooky" 3:10
Total length: 35:50
Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
11. "Spaceship" (Acoustic) 3:15
12. "Better Place" (Acoustic) 3:53
13. "Stoned" (Acoustic) 3:33
14. "Crowsfeet" 4:08
iTunes Exclusive Track
No. Title Length
15. "Living In A Dream" 4:27
Puddle of Mudd Website Exclusive
No. Title Length
16. "Shook Up the World" 4:55

Due to the departure of some members during 2009-2011, more than half of the album's songs were never performed live. The only songs that are constant parts of current live gigs are Stoned and Spaceship. In the early 2010s, Keep It Together and Blood On The Table were performed several times. The rest of the songs have yet to be performed live.

Personnel

  • Wesley Scantlin – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar,
  • Paul Phillips – Lead guitar on all tracks except track 6
  • Doug Ardito – Bass
  • Ryan Yerdon – Drums on tracks 4,5,7,8,9,10 and 14
  • Josh Freese – Drums on tracks 1,2,3, and 6
  • Duane Betts – Lead guitar on track 6
  • Brian Howes – Additional guitar, Keys and Vocals on tracks 1,2 and 3
  • Misha Rajaratnam – String arrangement on track 3
  • Wesley Michener – Background vocals on track 5
  • John Kurzweg – Piano on tracks 12 and 14

Production

  • Brian Howes – Producer on tracks 1,2 and 3
  • Jay "JVP" Van Poederooyen – Engineer on tracks 1,2, and 3
  • Brian Virtue – Producer/Engineer on tracks 4,5,7, and 8
  • John Kurzweg – Producer/Engineer on tracks 9, 10, 14
  • Bill Stevenson – Producer/Engineer on track 6
  • Jason Livermore – Producer/Engineer on track 6
  • Andrew Berlin – Engineer on track 6
  • Johnny Schou – Engineer on track 6
  • Tal Herzberg – Engineer on track 6