Studio Album · No. 5
Approaching Normal Songwriting Credits by Blue October
Produced by Steve Lillywhite · Engineered by CJ Eiriksson
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Blue October carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Approaching Normal is a Justin Furstenfeld authorship record with one clear exception. He wrote nine of the eleven core tracks entirely on his own, so his name is the default lyricist and composer across the album. The lead single 'Dirt Room' is the outlier, a full five-way band co-write credited to Justin Furstenfeld, C.B. Hudson, Jeremy Furstenfeld, Ryan Delahoussaye, and Matt Noveskey, and 'Kangaroo Cry' adds brother Jeremy Furstenfeld as co-writer. In the composer column C.B. Hudson appears under his legal name, Charles Britton Hudson III, the only member whose birth name differs from his credited stage name. The entire album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, with CJ Eiriksson engineering and the two of them sharing the mix.
Approaching Normal is the fifth studio album by Blue October, released March 24, 2009 on Universal Motown as the follow-up to their breakthrough Foiled. It was produced by Steve Lillywhite and recorded between August and October 2008 at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios in Austin and Sony Recordings in Tokyo. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld wrote the large majority of the album alone, drawing on personal upheaval to shape its darker, more aggressive tone. The lead single 'Dirt Room' is the one full band co-write, credited to all five members, while the second single 'Say It' returns to Furstenfeld's solo pen. The record debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and topped out at number 4 on Top Alternative Albums, giving the Houston band its highest chart placement to date.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Weight of the World
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 2 |
Say It
#28
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 3 |
Dirt Room
#7
|
Justin FurstenfeldC.B. HudsonJeremy FurstenfeldRyan DelahoussayeMatt Noveskey | Justin FurstenfeldCharles Britton Hudson IIIJeremy FurstenfeldRyan DelahoussayeMatt Noveskey | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 4 |
Been Down
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 5 |
My Never
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 6 |
Should Be Loved
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 7 |
Kangaroo Cry
|
Justin FurstenfeldJeremy Furstenfeld | Justin FurstenfeldJeremy Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 8 |
Picking Up Pieces
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 9 |
Jump Rope
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 10 |
Blue Skies
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |
| 11 |
Blue Does
|
Justin Furstenfeld | Justin Furstenfeld | Steve Lillywhite | Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jeremy Furstenfeld (Drums, Percussion)Ryan Delahoussaye (Violin, Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals)C.B. Hudson (Guitar, Vocals)Matt Noveskey (Bass, Vocals) |