All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion

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All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion
A man in an animal mask holding a stick in front of a tree
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 24, 2009
RecordedOctober 2008
StudioBuzzbomb Sound Labs, Orange, California
GenrePop punk,[1][2][3] power pop[2]
Length32:39
LabelTriple Crown
ProducerChad Gilbert
Fireworks chronology
Adventure, Nostalgia and Robbery
(2008)
All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion
(2009)
Gospel
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
AbsolutePunk8.3/10[1]
Punknews.org[4]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[5]
Rock Sound7/10[3]

All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band Fireworks.

Background[edit]

Fireworks formed in Metro Detroit, Michigan in 2005.[6] The band consisted of vocalist David Mackinder, guitarists Brett Jones and Chris Mojan, bassist Kyle O'Neil, and drummer Tymm Rengers.[6] The group released a demo, Can't Hardly Wait, before releasing the We Are Everywhere (2006) EP the following year.[6] The group supported the EP by touring with bands such as Set Your Goals, Valencia, and Strung Out.[6] In 2008 the band released another EP, Adventure, Nostalgia, and Robbery through Run for Cover.[7] The EP featured one new song, a cover and two re-recordings of previously released songs.[7] On July 31, it was announced that the band had signed to Triple Crown.[8] A friend of the band gave Fred from Triple Crown their EP, from there the band "just kept bothering Fred until he signed us."[9] In the announcement, the band realized they had not released much new material and reassured that they were working towards an album.[8] The group was "extremely excited" to have signed with Triple Crown.[8] In August, the band toured with Hit the Lights.[8]

Composition and recording[edit]

Compared to their past work, Mojan thought the band "made a nice but smooth progression."[9] Some of the material "is more angry, some stuff is more rocking."[9] O'Neil claimed the material sounded "more mature and developed" than their previous work.[10] In terms of lyrics, he thought they "have definitely grown as people".[10]All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion was recorded over the course of two and a half weeks[10] in October 2008[8] at Buzz Bomb Sound Lab.[9] 14 songs had been recorded in total, 12 of them appeared on the finished version of the album.[9] It was produced by Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory[6] and mixed by Paul Miner. The group knew of gilbert through mutual friends, but the idea of working with him came from Fred of Triple Crown.[9]

Release[edit]

In November 2008, the band went on tour with This Time Next Year.[11] Following this, the band went on a brief tour with Polar Bear Club, Forfeit and the Swellers in December.[12][13] On January 29, 2009, All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion was announced for release in two months' time.[14] On February 13, 2009, "Detroit" was made available for streaming via the band's Myspace profile.[15] In March, the band went on a tour of the US with This Time Next Year. A Loss for Words, Title Fight and Transit appeared on select dates.[16] On March 17, "Come Around" was made available for streaming.[17] After a planned winter release,[8] and then a spring release,[18] All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion was eventually released on 24 March[19] through Triple Crown.[6] A European edition was released by Hassle.[20] The album's title is taken from a quote by American author Jack Kerouac. Throughout April, the band went on a co-headlining tour with We Are the Union. Though the tour was intended to run into May,[21] Fireworks replaced Shai Hulud on their tour with New Found Glory from mid-April.[22] Alongside Crime in Stereo and Title Fight, the band toured the US in June.[23] In July, the band filmed a music video for "Detroit".[24]

From mid-July until late August, the band supported Set Your Goals.[25] In late August and early September, the band supported Four Year Strong.[26] The band supported Hit the Lights on their Manatour tour between early October and early November.[27] The band went on a co-headlining tour with The Wonder Years in mid-November.[28] From late-November to mid-December, the band toured Europe, alongside Set Your Goals and Broadway Calls.[29] On January 11, 2010, the music video for "Detroit" was posted online.[30] The band were initially planned to support Anti-Flag[31] but were replaced by Star Fucking Hipsters, The Menzingers, Trash Talk and Broadway Calls.[32] From late January to mid-March, the band supported New Found Glory on their US tour.[33] In early June, the band supported Four Year Strong on their Enemy of Europe Tour.[34] In July, the band went on a tour of the US with Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals, the Swellers and Grave Maker.[35] From mid-August until early October, the band supported the Swellers on their tour of the US.[36]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Geography, Vonnegut and Me" – 3:43
  2. "Come Around" – 2:53
  3. "Closet Weather" – 2:35
  4. "2923 Monroe St." – 3:12
  5. "Holiday" – 2:32
  6. "I Support Same Sex Marriage" – 3:25
  7. "Show Me Your Vanishing Act One More Time" – 0:57
  8. "You've Lost Your Charm" – 2:37
  9. "Again and Again" – 3:14
  10. "Detroit" – 3:56
  11. "When We Stand on Each Other We Block Out the Sun" – 3:35

Personnel[edit]

Fireworks
  • David Mackinder – lead vocals, keyboard, piano, guitars
  • Chris Mojan – guitars
  • Brett Jones – guitars
  • Kyle O'Neil – bass
  • Tymm Rengers – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
Production
  • Chad Gilbert – producer
  • Paul Miner – mixing

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nassiff, Thomas. "Fireworks - All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Henderson, Alex. "All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion - Fireworks - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Ritchie, Andy (December 11, 2009). "Fireworks - All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion - Reviews". Rock Sound Magazine. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Brian (May 15, 2009). "Fireworks Fireworks - All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  5. ^ Silveri, Alex (March 31, 2009). "Fireworks - All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Deming, Mark. "Fireworks | Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Now Pre-order The Fireworks 7". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Fireworks Signs To Triple Crown Records". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Fireworks - 10.29.08". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c "Interviews: Kyle O'Neil (Fireworks)". Punknews.org. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "This Time Next Year announces dates with 2*Sweet, Anarbor, Fireworks". Alternative Press. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  12. ^ "Polar Bear Club / Fireworks / Forfeit doing short tour together". Alternative Press. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  13. ^ Conoley, Ben (November 26, 2008). "The Swellers post tour videos and add December dates". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  14. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 29, 2009). "Fireworks plan 'All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Paul, Aubin (February 13, 2009). "Fireworks: 'Detroit'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Fireworks / This Time Next Year heading out on tour". Alternative Press. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  17. ^ "ABSOLUTExclusive: Fireworks". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  18. ^ "Fireworks Album News". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "Fireworks Track Listing And Album Art". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  20. ^ Henderson, Alex. "All I Have to Offer Is My Own Confusion - Fireworks - Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  21. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 14, 2009). "Fireworks / We Are the Union". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Fireworks to replace Shai Hulud on NFG tour". Alternative Press. April 18, 2009. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  23. ^ "Tours: Crime In Stereo / Fireworks / Title Fight". Punknews.org. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  24. ^ "Fireworks News". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  25. ^ "Tours: Set Your Goals / Four Year Strong / Fireworks with Polar Bear Club, the Swellers". Punknews.org. 20 May 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  26. ^ "Tours: Four Year Strong / Crime in Stereo / Fireworks / A Loss for Words". Punknews.org. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  27. ^ Heisel, Scott (August 26, 2009). "Hit the Lights Plan Fall Tour With There For Tomorrow". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  28. ^ "Fireworks / The Wonder Years Tour Dates". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  29. ^ "Tours: Set Your Goals / Broadway Calls / Fireworks". Punknews.org. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  30. ^ Yancey, Bryne (January 11, 2010). "Fireworks: 'Detroit'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  31. ^ "Tours: Anti-Flag / Aiden / Cancer Bats / Fireworks". Punknews.org. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  32. ^ "Tours: Menzingers, Star F*cking Hipsters, Broadway Calls, Trash Talk added to Anti-Flag tour". Punknews.org. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  33. ^ Paul, Aubin (December 4, 2009). "New Found Glory / Saves The Day / Hellogoodbye / Fireworks". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  34. ^ "Four Year Strong and Friends in Europe". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  35. ^ "Set Your Goals, Four Year Strong and more to tour". Alternative Press. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  36. ^ Shotwell, James (June 29, 2010). "The Swellers confirm tour with Fireworks and reveal dates". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.

External links[edit]