''Blaze'' is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band

Lagwagon Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which can ...

, released in 2003.

Background and recording

Lagwagon recorded with

Ryan Greene Ryan Greene is an American record producer, sound engineer, former owner of Crush Recording Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona and founder of Area 52 Entertainment in Los Angeles, California. In an over 25-year-long career he has worked with many art ...

in March 2002. While on the 2002

Warped Tour The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that toured the United States plus three or four stops in Canada annually each summer from 1995 until 2019. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States and the longest-running touring ...

, the band handed out promo samplers that included two songs from the album, "Dinner and a Movie" and "Never Stops". In September, the band were writing material for their next album, which they spent November recording. The album marked their first studio release in the five years since ''

Let's Talk About Feelings ''Let's Talk About Feelings'' is the fifth full-length album released by the punk rock band Lagwagon on November 24, 1998. Singer Joey Cape has stated that it is his favorite Lagwagon album. NOFX's ''Punk in Drublic'' (1994) was a big influence o ...

''. The absence was due to frontman

Joey Cape Randal Joseph Cape (born November 16, 1966) is an American singer and musician. Active since 1989, Cape is best known as the frontman of the California punk rock band Lagwagon. Cape released his first solo album, ''Bridge'', in 2008. His secon ...

being involved with band projects like

Bad Astronaut Bad Astronaut is an American indie/alternative rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a style of alternative rock, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters. The band ...

and

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (often shortened to just Me First or the Gimmes) are a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in San Francisco in 1995. The band's lineup consists of Spike Slawson, Fat Mike, Joey Cape, and Dave Raun. Ch ...

. Lagwagon did not completely disband during that time, and briefly reunited in 2002.

Release

On December 25, 2002, ''Blaze'' was announced for release in April 2003. On March 17, 2003, the album's artwork and track listing was posted online. Two days later, "Falling Apart" was posted on the label's website. ''Blaze'' was released on April 8, 2003, through Fat Wreck Chords. In April and May 2003, the band embarked on a headlining US tour, with

Avoid One Thing Avoid One Thing is a punk band that started as a side project by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones' bassist Joe Gittleman. The Boston-based group's first album, titled '' Avoid One Thing'', was released in 2002 on Side One Dummy Records. The album was ...

and

Yellowcard Yellowcard is an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1997 and was based in Los Angeles beginning in 2000. The band is recognized for having a distinct sound in their genre, primarily due to the prominent use o ...

. On May 31 and June 1, the band held one-off shows that were recorded as part of the ''

Live in a Dive Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990. The label has released ma ...

'' series. In August and September, the band toured across Europe, which included appearances at the

Reading and Leeds Festivals The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend. The Reading Festiv ...

, and four shows as part of the Reconstruction Festival.

Reception

It was the first Lagwagon album to rank on the ''Billboard'' 200, reaching #172.

Track listing

All songs written by

and Jesse Buglione, except where noted. # "Burn" - 3:15 # "E Dagger" - 2:09 # "Dancing the Collapse" - 2:16 # "I Must Be Hateful" - 3:30 # "Falling Apart" (Cape, Buglione,

Chris Rest Chris Rest is an American guitarist best known for his work with the bands No Use For A Name, Rich Kids on LSD, and Lagwagon. He was Rich Kids on LSD's only constant member, having participated in every album and tour. Musical career Chris Res ...

) - 2:39 # "Max Says" - 3:22 # "Billy Club" - 2:48 # "Dividers" - 2:43 # "Never Stops" - 3:34 # "Dinner and a Movie" - 2:04 # "Lullaby" - 3:49 # "Billionaire" - 2:30 # "Tomorrow Is Heartbreak" - 3:00 # "Baggage" - 4:08 This album contains 2 live videos from the

2002 and the music video for "Falling Apart" as enhanced content.

Personnel

– vocals *

Chris Flippin Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which can ...

– guitar *

Dave Raun Dave Raun (born June 7, 1970) a resident of Fresno, California, is the drummer for the seminal California punk rock band Lagwagon. He also filled in on drums for a short period for Sean "SC" Sellers of Good Riddance. Additionally, Raun drums f ...

– drums *

Jesse Buglione Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara, California, Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the b ...

– bass

References

External links

''Blaze''
at

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

(streamed copy where licensed) Lagwagon albums 2003 albums Fat Wreck Chords albums Albums produced by Joey Cape {{2000s-punk-rock-album-stub