Alternative 4 (album)
Alternative 4 is the fourth album by the British rock band Anathema. It was released on 22 June 1998 through Peaceville Records. Like Eternity, Alternative 4 is sung with clean vocals. Various reviews categorised this album as experimental, depressing and atmospheric.
| Alternative 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 22 June 1998 | |||
| Recorded | January–February 1998 | |||
| Studio | The Windings | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 44:57 | |||
| Label | Peaceville | |||
| Producer | Kit Woolven | |||
| Anathema chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Sputnikmusic | [2] |
| Silencio Hungary | [3] |
The title of the album is derived from Leslie Watkins' book Alternative 3. Bassist and co-principal songwriter Duncan Patterson had read it a few years before they wrote the album. The book is about conspiracy theories, and most songs on Alternative 4 are about trust. Patterson is now playing in a band with same title, and the songs are based on similar themes.
It is the last album with Patterson, and also the only album released without John Douglas. He was replaced by Shaun Steels in 1997 but returned in 1998.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shroud of False" | Duncan Patterson | 1:37 |
| 2. | "Fragile Dreams" | Daniel Cavanagh | 5:32 |
| 3. | "Empty" | Patterson | 3:00 |
| 4. | "Lost Control" | Patterson | 5:50 |
| 5. | "Re-Connect" | Vincent Cavanagh | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Inner Silence" | D. Cavanagh | 3:08 |
| 7. | "Alternative 4" | Patterson | 6:18 |
| 8. | "Regret" | D. Cavanagh | 7:58 |
| 9. | "Feel" | Patterson | 5:28 |
| 10. | "Destiny" | Patterson | 2:14 |
| Total length: | 44:57 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Your Possible Pasts" (Pink Floyd cover) | Roger Waters | 4:28 |
| 12. | "One of the Few" (Pink Floyd cover) | Waters | 1:50 |
| 13. | "Better Off Dead" (Bad Religion cover) | Brett Gurewitz | 4:21 |
| 14. | "Goodbye Cruel World" (Pink Floyd cover) | Waters | 1:39 |
| Total length: | 57:15 | ||
Personnel
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References
- Alternative 4 - Anathema at AllMusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- Altmer (6 January 2009). "Anathema - Alternative 4 (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- "Anathema - Alternative4 (1998) // Silencio". silencio.freeblog.hu. 10 March 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.