Regulate the Chemicals

Description

Regulate the Chemicals is the sophomore album by the American indie rock band twothirtyeight, released on Takehold Records in 2000. Re-issued by Tooth & Nail Reocrds in 2022 featuring to bonus tracks; “The Sticks Are Woven in the Spokes” and “Les Wirth.” The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by James Wisner at his home studio Wisner Productions in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, May of 2000. All songs written by lead singer Chris Staples.

Two-Thirty Eight features Chris Staples on vocals and guitar, Kevin Woerner on guitar, Jake Brown on bass, and David James Stone on drums. The album features backing vocals by Chris Carrabba, who appears courtesy of Tooth & Nail Records.

TwoThirtyEight has succeeded the last few years in creating a niche for themselves in the underground indie rock market. Their release Regulate the Chemicals on Takehold Records in 2000 defined the band and brought them to a new level. It wasn’t long before Tooth & Nail Records noticed and had the band sign a contract. Now in 2002, TwoThirtyEight has re-released Regulate the Chemicals, with two new songs and nine previous songs that have by now become favorites among emo/indie rock lovers.

The music of TwoThirtyEight does a good job of staying original. There are bands who are in the same genre as TwoThirtyEight, but none that sound the same. The music can at times get fast and distorted, but generally plods along at a normal pace with involving guitar lines that keep the listener intrigued enough to not skip ahead to the next track.

The lyrics have a discernable Christian influence, but not any kind of outright gospel message. The lyrics are honest, as the band uses their lives and conversations after their concerts as their ministry. There are certainly some good points made in TwoThirtyEight’s songs, however. Take, for instance, «The Bastard Son and the Spoiled One»: “I’m not the grateful bastard son, I’m the rich and spoiled one.” Lyrics like this have a way of getting straight to point without being cliche.

The two new songs on the album are «The Sticks Are Woven in the Spokes» and «Les Wirth». «The Sticks» is a more upbeat song, speaking of dealing with problems. I liked the song the instant I heard it. «Les Wirth» takes more time to get used to, but is probably the better tune. It’s slower but much more understated and real than even indie rock listeners are used to.

It would be hard for me to not recommend Regulate the Chemicals, an album that succeeds musically and lyrically and ties everything together in a way that should make any indie rock listener happy. [Trae Cadenhead, The Phantom Tollbooth, 8/2/2002]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. The Hands Of Men
02. There Is No Dana
03. Coin-Laundry Loser
04. The Sticks Are Woven In The Spokes
05. This Town Will Eat You
06. The Bastard Son And The Spoiled One
07. Les Wirth
08. Moving Too Far
09. Songs Will Write The Words
10. Ears And Fingers
11. Indian In Your Eyes

Note: The Tooth & Nail Records release contains two tracks (4 and 7) that were not found on the original Takehold Records release of this album. Released on both CD and 12-inch vinyl LP.

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