''In/Casino/Out'' (stylized as ''in/CASINO/OUT'') is the second full-length album by American

post-hardcore Post-hardcore is a punk rock music genre that maintains the aggression and intensity of hardcore punk but emphasizes a greater degree of creative expression. It was initially inspired by post-punk and noise rock. Like post-punk, the term has been ...

band At the Drive-In, released on August 18, 1998, through

Fearless Records Fearless Records is an American independent record label that was founded in 1994. Fearless is based in Culver City, California, and is best known for its early pop punk moments captured in the ''Fearless Flush Sampler'' and ''Punk Bites'' releas ...

. It was recorded as a live studio album, with the intention of better capturing the energy and sound of their live shows. The album marks a clear middle ground between the raw, lo-fi sound of their first album, ''

Acrobatic Tenement ''Acrobatic Tenement'' is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In, released on February 18, 1997, on Flipside. The album, along with ''In/Casino/Out'' and ''Relationship of Command'', was reissued by Fearless Recor ...

'', and the sleeker, more produced sound heard on '' Relationship of Command''. In 2016, ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' placed the album at #20 in their "40 Greatest Emo Albums of All Time" list.

Background and recording

During the recording of the album, the band faced a sort of crisis when they were unable to find a label that was able to release the record. By that point in time, Flipside, the label that issued ''

'', quit releasing records and Offtime Records, who released the band's ''

El Gran Orgo ''El Gran Orgo'' is the third EP by American post-hardcore band At the Drive-In. It was recorded and released in 1997 without the presence of Jim Ward, whose guitar duties were filled by Ben Rodriguez and Omar Rodriguez, the latter of whom had p ...

'' the previous year, was not in the financial position to issue more releases. At one point the group considered to independently release the album themselves until

offered their support. Recording for the album took place in early June 1998 at Messenger's Studio, Hollywood California. The entire recording was done live by the band, with little to no overdubs. Production duties were held by Alex Newport with assistance by Doug Messenger at Harddrive Analog in North Hollywood. Newport also mixed the album "half asleep" at Paramount in Hollywood for around 21 hours total. In retrospect, vocalist Cedric Bixlar-Zavala felt that they were "rushed" and that they were unable to ''"execute maybe 30% of the ideas that were initially planned for the record because of a lack of time"'', however he did also point out that he felt the band worked very well in the end because of the pressure. ''In/Casino/Out'' marks founding member Jim Ward's return to the band after not performing on record the previous year with ''El Gran Orgo'', taking a year break from the group after the tour for ''Acrobatic Tenement''. The track "Hourglass" marks his debut in performing lead vocals for the group.

Track listing

Personnel

; ATDI * Cedric Bixler-Zavala – lead vocals * Jim Ward – guitars, backing vocals; co-lead vocals, keyboards (on "Hourglass") * Omar Rodríguez-López – guitars * Paul Hinojos (credited as Pall) – bass guitar *

Tony Hajjar Tony Hajjar (born August 17, 1974) is a Lebanese American drummer, best known for playing in At the Drive-In and Sparta. As of 2016, he is playing in the reformed At The Drive-In, as well as the new group, Gone Is Gone. Tony also produced and dru ...

– drums, percussion ; Additional musicians *Angel Marcelo Rodríguez-Cheverez (credited as Marcelo Rodche) – percussion (on "Chanbara") * Jeremy Ward – outro recording (on "Lopsided") ; Another personnel *Alex Newport – production, recording engineer, mixing *John Golden – mastering engineer *Taylor Crockett – photography *Travis Keller – photography *Emberly Modine – artwork, design * At the Drive-In – design *Cheryl Benson – layout

Chart performance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:In Casino Out 1998 albums At the Drive-In albums Albums produced by Alex Newport