{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = February Son | type = Album | artist = Oleander | cover = Oleander-february.jpeg | alt = | released = February 23, 1999 | recorded = 1998 | venue = | studio = Studio D (San Francisco, California) | genre = Post-grunge | length = 44:57 | label = Republic | producer = Steven Haigler | prev_title = Shrinking the Blob | prev_year = 1997 | next_title = Unwind | next_year = 2001 | misc = {{singles | name = February Son | type = studio | single1 = Why I'm Here | single1date = January 25, 1999<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Adds for January 25 & 26|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2239|page=36|date=January 22, 1999}}</ref> | single2 = I Walk Alone | single2date = July 25, 1999<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1309|pages=133, 137|date=July 23, 1999}}</ref> }} }} '''''February Son''''' is the second studio album and major label debut from post-grunge band Oleander. It was produced by Steven Haigler and released on Universal Records on February 23, 1999, and was certified gold on May 5, 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title = Gold & Platinum|website = Recording Industry Association of America}}</ref> ''February Son'' contains some of Oleander's most successful singles. It included new drummer Scott Devours who was hired to replace the band's original drummer, Fred Nelson Jr. Most of the songs on the album had been previously released on the band's independent debut. The album has been certified gold in sales by the RIAA.
==Promotion and touring== The album features Oleander's breakout lead single, "Why I'm Here," and "I Walk Alone." The latter had a music video while the lead single was featured on the popular TV series ''Dawson's Creek'', as well as in the films American Pie and Scary Movie 2. A cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry" would serve as a UK single supported by a video in the summer of 2000. Directed by Cousin Mike, the video stars Bloodhound Gang leader Jimmy Pop who played a nerdy man living in an apartment. Oleander surrounds him as they loudly perform the song, forcing him to weep. Frontman Thomas Flowers explained that the song "really typifies and exemplifies everything that I'm already trying to say on the album."<ref>Gottlieb, Meridith [https://web.archive.org/web/20040915175904/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426232/20000612/bloodhound_gang.jhtml Oleander Taps Bloodhound Gang's Pop For Video] MTV.com (June 12, 2000). Retrieved on 5-12-09.</ref>
In promotion of ''February Son'', the group opened for headliners Creed and Our Lady Peace.<ref>Bercovici, Jeff [http://www.nyrock.com/reviews99/creed_live.htm Creed Saves: In Concert with Oleander and Our Lady Peace] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107135252/http://nyrock.com./reviews99/creed_live.htm |date=January 7, 2009 }} NYRock.com (October 1999). Retrieved on 1-05-08.</ref> They also performed at Woodstock '99. In December 1999, Oleander and Kid Rock performed a charity concert for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. The band also played a New Year's Eve concert with Fastball at the Sacramento Convention Center.<ref>Basham, David [https://web.archive.org/web/20090116143523/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430806/19991208/kid_rock.jhtml Kid Rock, Oleander To Play Food Bank Benefit] MTV.com (December 8, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.</ref>
==Reception== {{Album ratings |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r398115|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref> | rev2 = ''Kerrang!'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Beebee |first=Steve |date=January 22, 2000 |title=Albums |magazine=Kerrang! |publisher=EMAP |issue=785 |page=45}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot--> ''February Son'' received some criticism for allegedly imitating the influential grunge flagship Nirvana, particularly on "Why I'm Here" which begins with a similar note pattern as "Heart-Shaped Box."<ref>{{cite web | title=Thomas Flowers of Oleander | author=Michael Christopher | url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/oleander-030505/ | accessdate=December 7, 2013 | publisher=PopMatters}}</ref> However, despite the accusation, other songs were cited as having unique and enjoyable melodies, and the album managed to sell over a half-million copies.
Adrianne Stone of ''Rolling Stone'' wrote, "Razor sharp guitars on 'Lost Cause,' violin enhancing the warm tones of first single 'Why I'm Here,' and a surprise false ending on 'Never Again' are typical augmentations on a riff-laden album that hints of Nirvana's pained alterna-pop."<ref>Stone, Adrianne [https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/oleander/articles/story/5927869/oleander_toy_with_love_agression_melody Oleander Toy With Love, Agression, Melody ]{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} ''Rolling Stone'' (February 24, 1999). Retrieved on 5-12-09.</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | total_length = 44:57 | all_lyrics = Thomas Flowers | all_music = Oleander, except where noted | title1 = You'll Find Out | length1 = 3:12 | title2 = Stupid | length2 = 3:51 | title3 = Down When I'm Loaded | length3 = 4:24 | title4 = Why I'm Here | length4 = 3:58 | title5 = I Walk Alone | length5 = 4:09 | title6 = Lost Cause | length6 = 4:28 | title7 = Where Were You Then? | writer7 = Flowers, Ivanisevich | length7 = 4:05 | title8 = Shrinking The Blob | length8 = 4:25 | title9 = How Could I? | length9 = 5:13 | title10 = Boys Don't Cry | note10 = The Cure cover | writer10 = Robert Smith, Lol Tolhurst, Michael Dempsey | length10 = 3:14 | title11 = Never Again | length11 = 3:58 }}
==Personnel== ;Oleander * Thomas Flowers – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar * Doug Eldridge – Bass guitar * Ric Ivanisevich – Lead guitar * Fred Nelson, Jr. – Drums
;Production * Steven Haigler – Producer, engineering, mixing * Ted Jensen – Mastering * Mike Crenshaw – Assistant engineering * P.R. Brown – Art Direction
;Additional personnel: **Jonathan Mover - drums **Rich Mouser - guitar **Kristina Kopriva - backing vocals **Steven "Tambourine Man" Haigler - percussion
==Charts== {{col-start}} {{col-2}} {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1999) !Peak<br>position |- |US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=oleander|chart=all}}|title=Oleander Billboard Albums Chart|publisher=billboard.com}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|115 |- |US ''Billboard'' Top Heatseekers | style="text-align:center;"|1 |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" !align="left"|Song !align="left"|Chart !align="left"|Peak<br />position !align="left"|Year |- |align="left"|"Why I'm Here" |align="left"|Mainstream Rock Tracks |align="center"|3 |align="center"|1999 |- |align="left"|"Why I'm Here" |align="left"|Modern Rock Tracks |align="center"|13 |align="center"|1999 |- |align="left"|"I Walk Alone" |align="left"|Mainstream Rock Tracks |align="center"|24 |align="center"|1999 |- |align="left"|"I Walk Alone" |align="left"|Modern Rock Tracks |align="center"|37 |align="center"|1999 |- |}
{{col-2}}
===Certifications=== {|class="wikitable" |- !Country !Certification !Sales |- |United States |Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=RIAA Database Search Results|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America}}</ref> |500,000+ |} {{col-end}}
==External links== * [http://new.music.yahoo.com/singleVideo/?vid=41209165 "Boys Don't Cry" video] on Yahoo! Music * [http://new.music.yahoo.com/singleVideo/?vid=39962422 "I Walk Alone" video] on Yahoo! Music
==References== {{Reflist}}<!--added above categories/infobox footers by script-assisted edit--> {{Oleander}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Oleander (band) albums Category:1999 albums Category:Universal Records albums