Recorded June–December 2002 Label Playground Music Release date 17 March 2003 | Length 39:24 Artist The Rasmus | |
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Released 21 March 2003 (EU)
See release dates below Studio Nord Studios in Stockholm, Sweden Producer Martin Hansen
Mikael Nord Genres Alternative rock, Pop rock, Gothic rock Awards Echo Award for Best International Newcomer, Eska Music Awards: Best International Album Nominations Echo Award for Best International Rock/Alternative Group Similar The Rasmus albums, Gothic rock albums | ||
Dead Letters is the fifth album by Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus released in 2003. It was released later in 2004 in the US, UK and Australia. Their previous album, Into, had seen some success in some parts of Europe, particularly Scandinavia and Germany, but Dead Letters signified the band's major break-through. The album received 8 Gold and 6 Platinum music certification awards. Lead single "In the Shadows" received 6 gold and 2 platinum awards, selling over 1 million copies and breaking the record for performance royalties received abroad on a Finnish composition (overtaking the works of Jean Sibelius). Dead Letters had sold around 1.7 million copies as of December 2004, including 130,000 in the US alone, and is currently their biggest selling album to date.
Contents
The rasmus first day of my life lyrics
Making of the album
The Rasmus recorded Dead Letters in June–December 2002 at Nord Studios in Sweden, reuniting with Mikael Nord Andersen and Martin Hansen, who had produced their Scandinavian hit album Into.
Lead singer Lauri Ylönen explained the title of the album on the band's website. "Each song is a letter to somebody. It could be an apology, confession or cry out for help". The back side of the album booklet reads:
Critical reception
Allmusic rated the album 3 stars out of 5. The review said "This Finnish group is more than capable of presenting dark and moody yet very finely tuned rock songs". It rated the best tracks as "Time to Burn", "Not Like the Other Girls" and the re-recording of "F-F-F-Falling", of which the original version appears on the Into album, and was added to the UK release as a bonus track.
Commercial performance
Dead Letters was released in Europe in early 2003. It reached the top of the album charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as in Finland, where it stayed in the Top 20 Album chart for over a year. The album was released in the UK in 2004, being the first record to be released in the country by the band, and was one of the Top 50 best-selling albums of 2004. Commercial success in Europe led to the release of the album in other parts of the world. Dead Letters and lead single "In the Shadows" both reached the Top 50 of the Australian ARIA charts in 2004, as well as the Top 20 of the American Billboard Heatseeker charts.
The Rasmus received numerous music awards across Europe, winning the 'Best Nordic Act' category in the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards, and five Finnish EMMA awards for Best Group, Best Album, Best Video (In My Life), Best Artist and Export in 2004. The band also won an ECHO award for best international newcomer and were awarded "Best International Artist" at the 2004 MTV Russia Music Awards. "In The Shadows" was on the nominations list for the 2004 Kerrang! Award for Best Single.
Track listing
All tracks written by The Rasmus.
Personnel
The Rasmus
Additional musicians
Production and design
Release history
A list of countries and the date when the album was released.
Music videos
Video directed by Finn Andersson for Film Magica Oy in Helsinki, Finland.
Video directed by Niklas Fronda and Fredrik Löfberg, Baranga Film/Topaz.
Video directed by Niklas Fronda & Fredrik Löfberg, Baranga Film in Stockholm, Sweden.
Video directed by Sven Bollinger and produced by Volker Steinmetz (Erste Liebe Filmproduktion) in Lausitzring, Germany.
Video directed by Philipp Stöltzl in Bucharest, Romania.
Video directed by Niklas Fronda and Fredrik Löfberg, Baranga Film in Stockholm, Sweden.
Video directed by Nathan Cox in Los Angeles.
Songs
1First Day Of My Life3:45
2In the Shadows4:10
3Still Standing3:32