Sticks and Stones (New Found Glory album)

Sticks and Stones is the third studio album by American rock band New Found Glory.

Background

New Found Glory released their self-titled second album in September 2000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as a joint release between MCA and Drive-Thru Records.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> MCA had a distribution deal that allowed them to acquire Drive-Thru Records' bands over a period of time.<ref>Billboard 1999, p. 74</ref> Lead single "Hit or Miss" received heavy airplay rotation from the US's biggest rock radio stations.<ref name=Civicbio>Template:Cite web</ref> By April 2001, the band had been moved to MCA. Shortly after this, guitarist Chad Gilbert moved to Los Angeles, California, while the rest of the band moved to San Diego, close to their manager and their label.<ref name=MHinterview>Template:Cite web</ref> Appearing on the Warped Tour and featuring in the film American Pie 2 (2001) helped increase the band's profile.<ref name=AMbio>Template:Cite web</ref>

Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus was highly impressed by New Found Glory's self-titled album,<ref name=Manley65/> going as far as to champion them in an issue of Rolling Stone.<ref name=NFGnewsall/> They eventually supported Blink-182 on their summer tour.<ref name=AMbio/> Blink-182's manager Rick DeVoe met New Found Glory, and soon afterwards, began managing them.<ref name=Manley65>Manley 2010, p. 65</ref> By September 2001, the group were making plans to release a new album by mid-2002.<ref name=NFGnewsall>Template:Cite web</ref> At the end of the year, bassist Ian Grushka got married.<ref name=PNmarriage/> He was unable to go on a honeymoon due to their record label paying for a bus to transport the band from Florida to California two days later. The group set up residence in apartments in La Jolla, a community within San Diego, California, for the next three months.<ref name=Manley65/>

Production

In February 2002, the band began recording<ref name=PNmarriage>Template:Cite web</ref> with Neal Avron, who acted as producer. Sessions took place at DML and Signature Sound Studios in San Diego, California, Larrabee West Studios in West Hollywood, California, and NRG Studios in North Hollywood, California. He was assisted by engineers Sam Bukas, Mike Harris, Juan Jose Ayala, Ted Regier and Mark Kiczula.<ref name=SASbooklet/> For the group's self-titled, Avron wanted a laidback approach for the drums. For Sticks and Stones, he had more confidence in letting drummer Cyrus Bolooki played what he wanted. Bolooki tracked his parts with the tom on his left side. He started playing with this set up while on tour with Fenix TX, whose drummer had a tom and China cymbal on his left side. Bolooki liked the setup, but thought he wouldn't be able to use it as he was right-handed. After setting up his kit in that manner, he found it easier for certain parts.<ref name=MD2>Template:Cite web</ref>

Several members of contemporary bands contributed to the recordings: Rusty Pistachio and Toby Morse of H₂O (backing vocals on "Understatement"), Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 (bass on "Something I Call Personality"), Bane and What Feeds the Fire (backing vocals on "Something I Call Personality" and "Belated"), and Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio (backing vocals on "Forget My Name"). In addition, Chris Georggin of the group's management team Rick DeVoe Management added backing vocals on "Something I Call Personality".<ref name=SASbooklet/> Hoppus was initially brought in to add vocals, but after Grushka was unable to do bass for "Something I Call Personality", Hoppus did it instead.<ref name=MTVdissect/> Jay Baumgardner mixed the recordings, before they were mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering in Hollywood.<ref name=SASbooklet/>

Composition

Gilbert would typically write rough ideas and then jam them out with the rest of the band. After a while, guitarist Steve Klein would take the instrumental and begin adding lyrics to it. Klein and vocalist Jordan Pundik would work on the melody, before sharing it with the rest of the group.<ref name=Kludgeinterview>Template:Cite web</ref> Bolooki, who initially started out as a guitarist, contributed a few ideas that Gilbert or Klein would build a whole song around.<ref name=MD2/> According to Klein, they attempted to move away from lyrical nature of their self-titled, on which, every song was about girls.<ref name=Civicbio/> He added that since becoming a full-time touring act, it was difficult for them to maintain relationships, which had an influence on the lyrics.<ref name=Manley65/> Musically, it retains the pop punk sound found on the self-titled,<ref name="AMG"/> drawing comparison to Green Day.<ref name=Melodicreview/> It incorporated new elements to the group's sound, such as hardcore punk-influenced breakdowns.<ref name=Civicbio/> Avron said the group experimented with different tempos, specifically naming "Sonny" and "Head on Collision".<ref name=Manley65/>

Discussing the album's title, Gilbert said Sticks and Stones "fit[ted] perfectly with the sound of the record and what a lot of the lyrics are about".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group wanted a track that would match the popularity of "Hit or Miss"; they came up with "My Friends Over You".<ref name=Louderbest/> It was the last song written for the album, and evolved from a sole riff to a full song within a day or two.<ref name=Manley65/> It talks about a guy going out with a girl, who hates his friends. She wanted to take their relationship the next step, but due to past experiences, the guy picks his friends over her.<ref name=MTVdissect/> "Sonny" sees Pundik discuss the death of his grandad.<ref name=PMreview/> "Head on Collision" is about someone you continually get into arguments with, and feeling that you're at a loss as a result.<ref name=MTVfalls/> "Singled Out" opens with an electro intro,<ref name=RSreview/> and features Gilbert screaming in the manner that he did while he fronted hardcore band Shai Hulud.<ref name=CAreview/> The opening two snare hits that begin "The Story So Far" were done by Grushka.<ref name=McMahon19>McMahon, ed. 2015, p. 19</ref> Similarly, the four bass notes that follow were done by Bolooki.<ref name=McMahon19/>

Release

On March 13, 2002, Sticks and Stones was announced for release in June. In March and April, the group went on a tour of Australia. On April 12, the album's artwork was revealed.<ref name=NFGnewsall/> It features a boy and a girl fighting. Klein explained that when the band was younger, their relationships with girls were "a lot easier. You could hit each other and it would be fun. And I think as you get older everything gets a little more serious. When you have an argument with a girl it can actually break your heart or ruin your life."<ref name=MTVdissect>Template:Cite web</ref> Following this, the band performed at Skate and Surf Fest.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sticks and Stones was released on June 11<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> through MCA and Drive-Thru Records. The UK edition, which was released a week later,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> includes the bonus tracks "Anniversary", "Forget Everything" an acoustic version of "The Story So Far".<ref name=SASbooklet/> Between late June and mid-August, the group went on the Warped Tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 9, the band appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 16, a music video was filmed for "Head on Collision" on the Universal Studios backlot. The video, directed by the Malloys, features the band on a 1930s movie set. While the video progresses, the group realize they are on the wrong film set, before taking the stage and beginning to perform.<ref name=MTVfalls>Template:Cite web</ref> On August 27, "My Friends Over You" was released as a single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> While the track was doing well at radio, the president of the group's label stopped funding the track, and decided to reinvest the money in Shaggy.<ref name=Manley65/> In September, the band performed at the Inland Invasion festival, and appeared on Total Request Live and The Late Late Show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In October and November, the band went on tour across the US alongside Something Corporate, Finch and Further Seems Forever.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 12, the band performed on Last Call with Carson Daly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 26, "Head on Collision" was released as a single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the same day, Sticks and Stones was reissued with an extra CD consisting of the group's contemporaries.<ref name=NFGnewsall/> In December, the band performed at KROQ-FM's Almost Acoustic Christmas festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In January 2003, the group went on a tour of Japan with Good Charlotte and The Starting Line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 7, a music video for "Understatement" was posted online.<ref name=NFGnewsall/> Between April and June, they co-headlined the Honda Civic Tour with Good Charlotte. First half the tour was supported by Less Than Jake, with MxPx supporting the second half.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August, the band played the Summer Sonic Festival in Japan, before supporting Sum 41 on their headlining Australian tour. To coincide with the Australian shows, the album was reissued in that territory with a bonus disc. It included radio performances of "Head on Collision" and "Something I Call Personality", and music videos for "Head on Collision" and "Understatement".<ref name=NFGnewsall/>

Reception and legacy

Template:Music ratings Sticks and Stones charted at number four on the Billboard 200, after selling 91,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 30, 2020, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over one million units in the United States.<ref name="riaa">Template:Cite web</ref>

The group celebrated the album's 10th anniversary by playing it in its entirety on two separate US tours, one in 2012 and the other in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They played it in its entirety again on a tour in 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary since they formed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassie Whitt of Alternative Press said "Understatement", "My Friends Over You" and "Head on Collision" had become "staples across a couple generations of pop-punk fans—and bands, too."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All Time Low and The Story So Far took their name from songs on the album, "Head on Collision" and "The Story So Far" respectively.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Gilbert ranked Sticks and Stones as his fourth favorite New Found Glory album.<ref name=Louderbest>Template:Cite web</ref> Cleveland.com ranked "My Friends Over You" at number 12 on their list of the top 100 pop-punk songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Alternative Press ranked "My Friends Over You" at number 32 on their list of the best 100 singles from the 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
BuzzFeed	United States	36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F——ing Die<ref name=BuzzFeed>Template:Cite web</ref>	2014	11
Rock Sound	United Kingdom	The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time<ref>Bird, ed. 2014, p. 74</ref>	2014	9
Kerrang!		51 Greatest Pop Punk Albums Ever<ref name="kerrang15">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2015	3

Track listing

All songs written by New Found Glory.<ref name=SASbooklet/> Template:Track listing

Some editions include the hidden track "The Toothpick Song" after track 12

Template:Track listing

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.<ref name=SASbooklet>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 New Found Glory

Jordan Pundik – lead vocals
Chad Gilbert – lead guitar
Ian Grushka – bass guitar
Steve Klein – rhythm guitar
Cyrus Bolooki – drums

Additional musicians

Rusty Pistachio – backing vocals (track 1)
Toby Morse – backing vocals (track 1)
Mark Hoppus – bass (track 4)
Chris Georggin – backing vocals (track 4)
Bane – backing vocals (tracks 4 and 11)
What Feeds the Fire – backing vocals (tracks 4 and 11)
Matt Skiba – backing vocals (track 7)
Dan Andriano – backing vocals (track 7)

Template:Col-2 Production

Neal Avron – producer, recording
Jay Baumgardner – mixing
Sean Bukas – assistant engineer
Mike Harris – assistant engineer
Juan Jose Ayala – assistant engineer
Ted Regier – assistant engineer
Mark Kiczula – assistant engineer
Tom Baker – mastering
Tim Stedman – art direction, design
Marco Orozco – design
Justin Stephens – photography

Template:Col-end

Chart performance

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2

Weekly charts

Template:Album chart Template:Album chart Template:Album chart Template:Album chart Template:Album chart Template:Album chart Template:Album chart

Weekly chart performance for *Sticks and Stones* by New Found Glory
Chart (2002)	Peak position
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	30

Template:Col-2

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Sticks and Stones* by New Found Glory
Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	188
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref name = "CANALTYE02">Template:Cite web</ref>	60
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	157