Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!

Background

Hellogoodbye was formed in 2002 by vocalist/guitarist Forrest Kline, bassist Marcus Cole, keyboardist Jesse Kurvink, and drummer Chris Profeta.

Drive-Thru, which formerly employed Kline as a web design intern at 16, signed the band in 2004. The label’s deal with majors MCA (and its successor, Geffen) was nearing its conclusion and the label intended to keep their newest artist signing quiet. Drive-Thru feared the majors might realize Hellogoodbye’s potential and attempt to steal them away. The band issued an eponymous online EP for free, and although it was intended to remain “under the radar,” it attracted commercial attention. "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" became a minor hit on MTV and helped the group gain notoriety. The group was chosen by the cast of MTV’s The Real World: Austin to be followed during South by Southwest (SXSW), and their profile began to increase dramatically. This exposure was aided by Drive-Thru’s distribution deal with Sony BMG’s RED Distribution, through Sanctuary Records. Drive-Thru paid $20,000 to promote the EP, which Sanctuary funded retail pricing and positioning.

Recording

The album was recorded at a home studio with help from Matt Mahaffey of the band Self. Kline found his first professional recording not dissimilar from the way he had previously made music, via a computer in his bedroom. Recording of the album finished in March 2006. The cover artwork was done by LeDouxville (see Jesse LeDoux).

Release

The group went on a east/Midwest tour of the U.S. from late November to mid December 2005 with The Rocket Summer, Hit the Lights, and Dave Melillo. During this tour the group performed new songs. The band supported Motion City Soundtrack on the mtvU Campus Invasion tour in April 2006. The band went on the 2006 edition of the Warped Tour. On June 26, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! was announced for release, and the track listing was revealed. The album was initially planned for release in May, before being eventually released in August. The music video for "Here (In Your Arms)" was directed by Fred Savage. By the end of the summer of 2006, the group were regularly selling out 1,000+ venues. In October and November, the band went on a headlining tour with support from Ozma, Cute Is What We Aim For, Peachcake, Reggie and the Full Effect, and Dave Melillo.

On March 14, 2007, the band released a "All of Your Love" remix EP featuring "The Jimmy Pop Remix", "Forrest's Remix" and "Self's Remix". From early April to early June, the band went on the Two Months Of Spring Break Tour '99 tour of North America. They were supported by Boys Like Girls, the Hush Sound and the Rocket Summer. In October and November, the group co-headlined the Myspace Music Tour with Say Anything. They were supported by Polysics and Young Love.

Critical reception

Spin's Trevor Kelley gave the album 5 out of 10 in his review, remarking, "While the synth-punk anthems on the California quartet's debut full-length are infectious blasts, when Kline tries his hand at Kinks-y rave-ups ("Stuck to You") and sweeping orchestral pop ("Baby, It's Fact"), his overreach is a tad premature." Allmusic's Corey Apar called it "a charming album that indeed entertains," while noting it as a "somewhat uneven listen when taken as a whole."

Commercial performance

Selling 40,057 units within its first week, the album debuted at No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart, at No. 1 on the U.S. Independent albums chart and on No. 1 at the U.S. Internet albums chart. This response surprised executives at Drive-Thru, who in response began heavily promoting the band to pop radio. Through the help of RED and Sanctuary, it became a radio hit.

By the end of August 2006, the album had sold over 60,000 copies. By December 2006, the album has sold 150,000 copies in the United States. As of April 2007, the album has sold 343,569 copies in the United States. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 21, 2007, where it debuted at No. 17 on the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

1. "Baby, It's Fact" (live from London)
2. "All of Your Love" (live from London)
3. "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" (from the Hellogoodbye EP)

1. "Here (In Your Arms)" (live at House of Blues)
2. "Homewrecker" (live at House of Blues)
3. "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" (from the Hellogoodbye EP)

Live at the Avalon

On the re-issue, Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! And More!, is included a bonus DVD of a 50-minute live concert performed at the Avalon in Boston, Massachusetts on May 6, 2007 during their tour with The Hush Sound and Boys Like Girls.

1. "All Time Lows"
2. "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn"
3. "All of Your Love"
4. "Stuck to You"
5. "Dear Jamie...Sincerely Me"
6. "Bonnie Taylor Shakedown...2K4"
7. "Baby, It's Fact"
8. "Oh, It Is Love"
9. "Call N' Return"
10. "Here (In Your Arms)"
11. "Touchdown Turnaround (Don't Give Up on Me)"
12. "Dammit" (Blink-182 cover)

Credits