For Lack of a Better Name cover art

  Studio Album · No. 4

For Lack of a Better Name Songwriting Credits by deadmau5

2009 Mau5trap / Ultra Records 10 tracks 66 min

Produced by deadmau5

Mau5trap / Ultra Records Electro HouseProgressive House
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether deadmau5 carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by deadmau5 0 tracksoutside writers
deadmau5's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist0%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
2009
Released
Data Insight

Joel Zimmermann wrote and produced all 10 tracks on For Lack of a Better Name. The only outside writing credit is Rob Swire, who wrote the lyrics for 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff', the track that became deadmau5's commercial breakthrough. MC Flipside contributed vocals on 'Hi Friend!' but all music composition belongs to Zimmermann.

For Lack of a Better Name is the fourth studio album by deadmau5, released in November 2009 on Mau5trap / Ultra Records and self-produced by deadmau5. The album continued the immersive, long-form progressive house approach of his debut while pushing toward even more emotional and melodic territory, with the track 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff' featuring Rob Swire becoming one of the most recognizable songs in EDM history. The album cemented deadmau5's reputation as one of the few electronic producers whose work was equally beloved by underground dance music fans and mainstream pop audiences. Its combination of technical sophistication in synthesis and programming with genuinely affecting emotional content set a standard that few of his contemporaries could match. For Lack of a Better Name is widely considered one of the finest electronic albums of the 2000s.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
FML
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
2
Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
3
Ghosts 'n' Stuff
Rob Swire Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann deadmau5 (Production)Rob Swire (Lead Vocals)
4
Hi Friend!
MC Flipside Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann deadmau5 (Production)MC Flipside (Lead Vocals)
5
Bot
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
6
Word Problems
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
7
Soma
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
8
Lack of a Better Name
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
9
The 16th Hour
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -
10
Strobe
Not documented Joel Thomas Zimmermann Joel Thomas Zimmermann -

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 4 contributors

JT
Joel Thomas Zimmermann
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
MF
MC Flipside
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
RS
Rob Swire
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
D
deadmau5
Production
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions For Lack of a Better Name

Who wrote 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff'?
deadmau5 composed and produced the track; Rob Swire of the band Pendulum wrote and performed the vocals. Swire is credited as lyricist on the track, making it one of the rare deadmau5 songs with an outside lyric contribution.
How many songs on For Lack of a Better Name did deadmau5 write himself?
deadmau5 wrote the music for all 10 tracks. The only outside lyric contributions are Rob Swire on 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff' and MC Flipside on 'Hi Friend!', all other tracks are fully self-authored instrumentals.
What is 'Strobe' and why is it famous?
'Strobe' is the closing track on For Lack of a Better Name, a 10-minute progressive house piece built around a slow, sustained synth build. It is widely considered one of the defining tracks in electronic music of the 2000s and a showcase of deadmau5's ability to sustain atmosphere and tension over an extended structure.
Who sang on 'Hi Friend!'?
MC Flipside performed the vocals on 'Hi Friend!' and is credited as lyricist. deadmau5 composed and produced the track.
What were the singles from For Lack of a Better Name?
The album's singles included 'Hi Friend!', 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff', 'Word Problems', 'Lack of a Better Name', and 'Strobe.' 'Ghosts 'n' Stuff' became the album's most commercially successful release.
What certifications did For Lack of a Better Name receive?
The album went Gold in both Canada and the United Kingdom.

Sources

Wikipedia: For Lack of a Better Name MusicBrainz: For Lack of a Better Name (release group) Cover Art Archive: For Lack of a Better Name Cover Art Archive: For Lack of a Better Name by deadmau5