Oz Factor (album)

Oz Factor
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1996
RecordedNovember–December 1995 at Pyramid Sound, Ithaca, New York
Genre
Length33:57
LabelEpic
ProducerGreg Graffin
Unwritten Law chronology
Blue Room
(1994)
Oz Factor
(1996)
Unwritten Law
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Tampa Tribune[2]

Oz Factor is the second album and major label debut by American punk rock band Unwritten Law, released in 1996 by Epic Records.[5][6] The songs "Superman" and "Denied" became minor hits on local rock radio stations.

Unwritten Law supported the album by touring with Bad Religion.[7][8] It was the band's last album with bassist John Bell, who left the band following the supporting tours.

Production

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The band spent about six months writing songs for the album, which was produced by Greg Graffin, of Bad Religion.[9][10][11][12][13] Brian Baker, also of Bad Religion, appeared on the album as well. The songs "Suzanne" and "Shallow" are re-recordings of songs from the band's debut album, Blue Room.

Critical reception

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The Washington Post thought that "only a few tracks (notably 'Shallow' and 'Tell Me Why') bear a strong resemblance to Bad Religion's high-speed folkie-punk, but everything on Oz has been heard somewhere before."[14] The San Diego Union-Tribune determined that the album "gets its mosh-pit kick from Wade Youman's breakneck drums and John Bell's antsy bass and its pop snap from the band's twisted way with a catchy tune."[4] The Tampa Tribune opined that "the title track boasts blistering rhythm work and loose-limbed downshifts a la NOFX."[2]

AllMusic wrote that the album "sounds like a lighter-weight and much lamer version of Green Day's Dookie, having the same power pop take on skatepunk."[3]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Unwritten Law (Scott Russo, Steve Morris, Rob Brewer, John Bell, and Wade Youman)

No.TitleLength
1."Superman"3:36
2."Oz Factor"2:50
3."Suzanne"2:58
4."Denied"2:24
5."Tell Me Why"2:55
6."Rejected"2:14
7."Falling Down"2:26
8."Shallow"3:11
9."Differences"3:27
10."Lame"2:36
11."Stop to Think"1:19
12."The Legend of Johnny and Sarah"3:50
Total length:33:57

Personnel

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Band

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Additional musicians

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Production

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Artwork

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  • David Coleman – art direction
  • Bagel – cover illustration
  • John Dunne – photography

References

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  1. ^ Edward. "A new life for Unwritten Law". The USCD Guardian. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Jeter, Jeff (June 28, 1996). "UNWRITTEN LAW, Oz Factor". The Tampa Tribune. FRIDAY EXTRA!. p. 21.
  3. ^ a b c "Oz Factor - Unwritten Law | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  4. ^ a b Peterson, Karla (April 11, 1996). "OZ FACTOR UNWRITTEN LAW". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Entertainment. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Unwritten Law Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  6. ^ ""The songs chose themselves," Unwritten Law's Scott Russo talks acoustic album, touring, more". Alternative Press Magazine. December 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Weatherford, Mike (29 Mar 1996). "Illnesses affect some concerts, but theres always Beach Boys, Benatar, Bad Religion". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2J.
  8. ^ Gubbins, Teresa (April 5, 1996). "BAD RELIGION AT DEEP ELLUM LIVE". The Dallas Morning News. Guide. p. 36.
  9. ^ "RockNet Interview: Unwritten Law's Steve Morris". Archived from the original on May 30, 2001. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Unwritten Law The Law Pays". Archived from the original on February 18, 2001. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Unwritten Law on first Aussie tour". Archived from the original on February 26, 2000. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Unwritten Law Leave Their Mark". www.mtv.com. February 15, 1996. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  13. ^ "Review". www.ox-fanzine.de.
  14. ^ "Equally energetic but even less distinctive..." The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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