Health (band)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Health
Health performing at Becks Music Box in 2010
Health performing at Becks Music Box in 2010
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active2005–present
Labels
Members
  • Benjamin Jared Miller
  • Jake Duzsik
  • John Famiglietti
Past membersJupiter Keyes[6]
Websitewww.youwillloveeachother.com

Health (often stylized as HEALTH) is an American noise rock/industrial band from Los Angeles, California. The band currently consists of drummer BJ Miller, vocalist and guitarist Jake Duzsik, and bassist and producer John Famiglietti. It formerly also included Jupiter Keyes, who left in 2015. Originating from the Los Angeles underground experimental music community, they gained prominence with a remix of "Crimewave" by Crystal Castles before releasing a self-titled album in 2007.

Since then, they have released a further five albums: Get Color in 2009, Death Magic in 2015, Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear in 2019, the double album Disco4 in 2020 and 2022, and Rat Wars in 2023. The band has also contributed to a variety of video game soundtracks, including those for Max Payne 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Grand Theft Auto V, and Ultrakill.

History[edit]

Health was created after its members agreed the name should be an "everyday word." After reviewing a long list of terms, "health" was the only one not taken.[7]

Health[edit]

Health first gained a reputation through a remix of their song "Crimewave" by experimental electronic band Crystal Castles in August 2007. This was followed by their full-length debut a month later, which was recorded at L.A.’s noise/experimental venue, The Smell.[8][9][10] Famiglietti said in an interview, "The room completely changes the tone of anything you want to record; makes a lot of things dark and beautiful. It also makes everything sound like 'CLANG!' We didn't realize how hard it would be at all, we especially weren't prepared for the Vaquero bar dropping the reggaeton jamz at 1pm every day."[7] Their sound on the album caught the attention of Spin in which they wrote, "The near-innocuous opening track of Health's self-titled album, 'Heaven,' segues into the 36-second neurotic dissonance of 'Girl Attorney,' which picks up tempo on its transition into 'Triceratops'—a thrashing scourge of screeches, feedback, and gratuitous clanging reminiscent of Liars laced with a relief of a Deerhunter meditation."[11]

Health released their first remix album, Health//Disco in 2008, which received favorable critical reception.[12] That year, the band also opened for the rock band Nine Inch Nails on their Lights In The Sky tour.[13]

Get Color[edit]

To promote their 2009 album, Get Color, the band held a sweepstakes contest, in which the winner of a golden ticket was awarded a free trip to Los Angeles to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain with the band. Other prizes included locks of the band members' hair and posters autographed in blood.[14] The album earned a score of eight from Pitchfork in which the review claimed "Never merely meager, this project delivers, both when you're waving your orgy-snorkel all blotto on-the-town, and for a soundtrack to serious rumination at your midday desk of harsh reality." Duzsik agreed with an interviewer that Get Color was indeed more accessible than their self-titled debut, but "It’s still crazy, though."[12] The track "Die Slow" was released as the album's single with its music video garnering nearly 500,000 views.[15][16] The album received a positive score of 7.4 on Pitchfork.[17]

The band's second remix album with tracks from Get Color continued to receive critical acclaim. The BBC reviewed the album and said, "Whatever HEALTH’s secret is for excellent remix albums, they would do well to bottle it up to flog to lesser-able musicians insistent on releasing similar affairs of a much lower standard. This might not actually improve on the original, but it comprises a fine complementary release for hardcore fans and newcomers alike."[18]

Video game soundtracks[edit]

In 2012, Health composed the soundtrack for the Rockstar Games video game, Max Payne 3.[19] In an interview with Pitchfork, Duzsik said, "The number one reaction from HEALTH fans was, ‘What the fuck? You guys are doing a video game score?’ Just surprise. And very congratulatory." Duzsik continued, "It was fun to make music that was atypical for that sort of entertainment."[20] Ivan Pavlovich, music director of Max Payne 3 stated, "We wanted to give Max a sound that is really an identifiable sound and HEALTH as a band has an incredible sense of who they are and a very strong identity. When we saw HEALTH perform live it was very clear that they were the ones who were going to be able to capture this."[21]

The score was nominated for Best Score in a Game and "Tears" was nominated for Best Song in a Game at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards.[22] On May 13, 2022, just before the 10-year anniversary of the game's release, an expanded anniversary edition of the soundtrack was announced for release later that year. This would also mark the album's first release on a Vinyl record.[23]

Health would continue to work on soundtracks for Rockstar's games, later recording a song called "High Pressure Dave" which appeared in Grand Theft Auto V; the song takes lyrics from "High Pressure Days" by The Units.[24] Health also composed the soundtrack for GTA Online's Arena War update.

Additionally, Health was featured with the song "Major Crimes" in the video game Cyberpunk 2077, published in 2020.[25] "Major Crimes", alongside some other songs from the game, also appeared in its anime adaptation, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, in 2022. Later, in April 2023, Health would also be featured with their single "Hateful" in the video game Ultrakill.[26]

Death Magic and Disco3[edit]

Health's third album, Death Magic, was released on August 7, 2015, on Loma Vista Records.[27] The album's release was preceded by three singles: On April 23, 2015, Health premiered "New Coke" on SiriusXMU. The song "Stonefist" would be the second single released in June. On July 24, "Men Today" was released as the third track from the album.[citation needed] In late 2015, shortly after the release of the album, Jupiter Keyes left the band.[6]

Disco3 was released in the United States on February 17, 2017, in Loma Vista. Announced and released alongside a reverse telethon event on Facebook live, broadcast from the FunnyOrDie studios. Fans were asked to text a number in order to receive a call back from those involved, including BJ and John.[28]

Vol. 4 :: Slaves of Fear[edit]

Health's fourth album, Vol. 4 :: Slaves of Fear, was released on February 8, 2019, on Loma Vista. The album was preceded by the singles "Slaves of Fear", released in December 2018, and "Feel Nothing", released through the Adult Swim Singles Program in January 2019.[29][30][31]

Disco4 series[edit]

On September 17, 2020, the band announced their fifth album, Disco4: Part I. Despite being called Disco4 "in the interest of continuity", it is not a part of Health's Disco series of remix albums, but a collection of original collaborations (with the exception of the album's lead single, "Cyberpunk 2020", which was composed solely by Health themselves).[32] The album was released through Loma Vista on October 16, 2020.[33] An accompanying remix album, Disco4+, was later released on April 2, 2021 on the band's Bandcamp page.[34]

On May 3, 2021, the band posted a short teaser on their social media accounts announcing a new song in collaboration with Nine Inch Nails, "Isn't Everyone", to be released on May 6. The trailer's description on YouTube confirmed that this would be the first song off of their next album, Disco4: Part II.[35] It was eventually released on 8 April 2022, featuring collaborations with Poppy, Lamb of God, The Neighbourhood and Street Sects.[36]

Rat Wars[edit]

The band announced their sixth album, Rat Wars, in 2023, with a release date of December 7. Alongside the announcement, they released the singles "Children of Sorrow" and "Sicko".[37] To promote its release, they published a Vampire Survivors-like game, Rat Wars Survivors, on itch.io themed around the album.[38]

Musical style[edit]

Health has been described as having "artfully crafted noise and raw synth, haunting monotone vocals, and drum skills that are borderline insane."[39] The band's unusual sound can be partially credited to the use of the Zoothorn, which is a permutation of microphone and guitar pedal and an occasional atonal sound without a symmetrical structure.[40] Lyrically, the band describes the role of lyrics as being "purposely kept vague for the listener" "...[Lyrics] sort of begin to bring out this more individual quality to the whole thing like, ‘These are the lyrics, and this is the guy is singing them, so I can relate to that.’ Which is really not something we want. We wanted the vocals to have an even, unaffected feel. A softness, like a Zombies melody, or even a Gregorian chant. We aren't just interested in being a noisy screaming band."[41]

Members[edit]

Current members

  • Jake Duzsik – vocals, guitar (2005–present)[42]
  • John Famiglietti – bass, pedals, electronics (2005–present)[42]
  • BJ Miller – drums (2005–present)[42]

Past members

  • Jupiter Keyes – guitar, synthesizer (2005–2015)[42]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Album Details Peak chart positions
US
Alt.
[43] 		US
Current
[44] 		US
Heat
[45] 		US
Indie
[46]
Health
  • Released: September 18, 2007[8]
  • Label: Lovepump United
 — — — —
Get Color
  • Released: September 8, 2009[47]
  • Label: Lovepump United
 — — 17 43
Death Magic — 24 5 —
Vol. 4: Slaves of Fear
  • Released: February 8, 2019[31]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 93 — 6 —
Disco4: Part I
  • Released: October 16, 2020[33]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 — — — —
Disco4: Part II
  • Released: April 8, 2022[36]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 — — — —
Rat Wars
  • Released: December 7, 2023[37]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Remix albums[edit]

Album Details Peak chart positions
US
Dance
[48]
Health//Disco
  • Released: May 27, 2008[12]
  • Label: Lovepump United
 —
Health::Disco2
  • Released: June 22, 2010[49]
  • Label: Lovepump United
 22
Disco3
  • Released: February 17, 2017[28]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 —
Disco3+
  • Released: June 16, 2017[50]
  • Label: Loma Vista
 —
Disco4+
  • Released: April 2, 2021[34]
  • Label: None (Self-released)
 —

Splits[edit]

  • 2006 – Health/Elphaba 7" split (Rome Plow Records)
  • 2007 – Crystal Castles//Health 7" split (Lovepump United)

Singles[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Dance
Dig.
[51] 		US
Dance
Sales
[52] 		UK
Indie
"Crimewave" (Crystal Castles vs. Health) 2007 — — 9 Health//Disco
"Triceratops" / "Lost Time" 2008 — — — Health
"Heaven" — — —
"/ / M \ \" — — —
"Perfect Skin" — — —
"Die Slow" 2009 — 9 — Get Color
"USA Boys" 2010 — — — Health::Disco2
"Tears" 2012 — — — Max Payne 3 Official Soundtrack
"Men Today" 2015 — — — Death Magic
"New Coke" — — —
"Stonefist" — — —
"Life" — — —
"Crusher" 2016 — — — Disco3
"Blue Monday" 2017 22 — — Atomic Blonde
"Hard to Be a God" (with Nolife) — — — Disco4: Part I
"Mass Grave" (with Soccer Mommy) 2018 — — —
"Body/Prison" (with Perturbator) — — —
"Innocence" (with Youth Code) — — —
"Hate You" (with JPEGMafia) 2019 — — —
"Judgement Night" (with Ghostemane) — — —
"Delicious Ape" (with Xiu Xiu) — — —
"Full of Health" (with Full of Hell) 2020 — — —
"Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0" — — —
"Isn't Everyone" (with Nine Inch Nails) 2021 — — — Disco4: Part II
"Anti-Life" (with Tyler Bates and Chino Moreno) — — — Dark Nights: Death Metal soundtrack
"Dead Flowers" (with Poppy) — — — Disco4: Part II
"Cold Blood" (with Lamb of God) 2022 — — —
"Hateful" 2023 — — — Rat Wars
"Sicko" (feat. Godflesh) — — —
"Children of Sorrow" — — —
"Ashamed" — — —
"Unloved" — — —
"Demigods" — — —
"The Drain" (with Bad Omens and Swarm) 2024 — — — Concrete Jungle [The OST]

Music videos[edit]

Title Year Director(s)
"Die Slow" 2009 John Famiglietti
"We Are Water" 2010 Eric Wareheim
"USA Boys" John Famiglietti
"Tears" 2012 David Altobelli, Jeff Desom
"New Coke" 2015 John Famiglietti
"Stonefist" Naked Faces
"L.A. Looks" 2016 Derrick Beckles
"Euphoria" 2017 John Famiglietti / James Kid
"Life" 2018 Jason DeMarco
"Ashamed (of Being Born)" 2023 John Famiglietti / James Kid
"Children of Sorrow" 2024
"Don't Try" rose-engine

Soundtracks[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kreps, Daniel (24 April 2015). "Noise Rockers Health Release Most Disgusting Video of the Year". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b Sigur, Matthew (April 25, 2019). "Noise rock band HEALTH talks new album, reality's 'lame, dystopian movie' ahead of BR show". The Advocate. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Hughes, Josiah (October 24, 2012). "HEALTH Drop Off of Crystal Castles Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  4. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "HEALTH". AllMusic. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. ^ Kharas, Kev (27 July 2009). "New HEALTH Album Get Color Reviewed Track-By-Track". The Quietus. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b Keyes, Jupiter [@jupiter_keyes] (February 23, 2017). "1/ I haven't clarified this publicly yet, but HEALTH and I parted ways in late 2015" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [dead link]
  7. ^ a b Jones, Kenya (2009-09-17). "Interview: Health". Impose Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  8. ^ a b "HEALTH, by HEALTH". Bandcamp. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ "HEALTH". ABC Rage. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. ^ Host, Vivian. "Interview: LA noise rockers HEALTH". Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Artist of the Day: HEALTH". Spin. 2007-11-06. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  12. ^ a b c "HEALTH//DISCO". Pitchfork Media. 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  13. ^ "Nine Inch Nails Cancel, Reschedule Some Shows". Pitchfork Media. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  14. ^ "Best Contest Launched By An L.A. Band: HEALTH's CD Sweepstakes (the Golden Ticket is Discovered!)". LA Weekly. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  15. ^ "HEALTH :: DIE SLOW :: MUSIC VIDEO". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  16. ^ "Best New Track: HEALTH "Die Slow"". Pitchfork Media. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  17. ^ "Reviews: HEALTH 'Get Color'". Pitchfork Media. 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  18. ^ "HEALTH ::DISCO2 Review". BBC. 2010. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  19. ^ "HEALTH Max Payne 3: The Official Soundtrack Review". BBC. 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  20. ^ "The L.A. electro-noise band tell us what to expect from their forthcoming third LP". Pitchfork Media. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  21. ^ "Scoring Max Payne 3 With HEALTH". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2014-08-11 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ "2012 Spike Video Game Awards Winners List". Game Rant. 2012-12-07. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  23. ^ "Celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of Max Payne 3". Rockstar Games Newswire. 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
  24. ^ "Health: High Pressure Dave". Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  25. ^ Breihan, Tom (18 December 2020). "HEALTH – "Major Crimes"". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  26. ^ Brown, Andy (28 April 2023). "HEALTH debut new single 'HATEFUL' through first-person shooter 'Ultrakill'". NME. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Game Over: HEALTH Finish First Album in Six Years". Pitchfork. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-24.
  28. ^ a b Bowe, Miles (17 February 2017). "Watch Pauly Shore and HEALTH call fans to announce surprise album DISCO3". Fact Magazine. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Hear HEALTH Rain Industrial Terror With New Song "SLAVES OF FEAR"". Revolver. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  30. ^ Rettig, James (28 January 2019). "HEALTH - "FEEL NOTHING"". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Album Review: HEALTH Vol. 4 :: Slaves of Fear". Metal Injection. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  32. ^ "HEALTH announce collaborative album 'DISCO 4:: PART I' | News". diymag.com. 17 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  33. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (16 October 2020). "HEALTH Release Excellent New All-Collabs Album 'DISCO4 :: PART I': Stream". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  34. ^ a b "DISCO4+, by HEALTH". Health. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  35. ^ Health x Nine Inch Nails :: Isn't Everyone, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2021-05-06
  36. ^ a b Crudgington, Kate. "HEALTH's DISCO::4 Part II is the sound of the disconnected seeking connection". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  37. ^ a b Damara Kelly, Tyler. "Health announce new album, Rat Wars alongside double singles, "Children of Sorrow" and "Sicko"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  38. ^ Easby, Ryan (11 December 2023). "HEALTH release free 'Vampire Survivors'-style game with sex toys and death magic". NME. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  39. ^ "HEALTH - BLOWIN' UP". Rock Insider. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  40. ^ "HEALTH: HE'S APPROVING FRIEND REQUESTS". L.A. Record. 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  41. ^ "HEALTH – ::Disco2". Way Too Indie. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
  42. ^ a b c d Appleford, Steve (21 November 2023). "Winning the 'Rat Wars': How HEALTH pulled triumph out of "a purgatory of meaninglessness and death"". Revolver. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  43. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  44. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Top Current Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  45. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  46. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  47. ^ Hughes, Josiah (18 August 2009). "HEALTH Announce CD Sweepstakes, Put Prizes in Select Copies of Their Forthcoming Get Color | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  48. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  49. ^ Collins, Matthew (23 June 2010). "HEALTH: DISCO2, PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  50. ^ "DISCO3+, by HEALTH". Bandcamp. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  51. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  52. ^ "HEALTH Chart History: Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  53. ^ "Billboard.com article with playlist". Billboard.com. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  54. ^ "CYBERPUNK 2077 SOUNDTRACK - MAJOR CRIMES by HEALTH & Window Weather (Official Video)". Retrieved 10 December 2023 – via YouTube.
  55. ^ "HEALTH :: HATEFUL :: MUSIC VIDEO". Retrieved 10 December 2023 – via YouTube.

External links[edit]

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