THE CLASSIC CRIME

The Classic Crime’s “PHOENIX” Charts on Billboard and iTunes
What a difference a few months make. Not long ago the future seemed, at best, uncertain for The Classic Crime. Propelled forward by the success of their Kickstarter campaign, (incidentally the 9th most funded music project in Kickstarter history), The Classic Crime is presently in the latter portion of a successful West Coast tour, and have also managed to chart their self-produced and self-released album, “Phoenix,” on both iTunes and Billboard. On iTunes the Classic Crime peaked at #3 on the Rock album chart and #24 on the overall album chart. On Billboard The Classic Crime charted as follows for the sales week ending August 19, 2012:

Top 200 (#130)
Independent Albums (#22)
Current Alternative Albums (#29)
Current Contemporary Christian (#4)
Top Hard Music (#15)

Charting an album in an incredibly crowded and competitive music space is no easy feat but going at it alone, without the full resources of a record label and still achieving this kind of success is a rarity. As if that wasn’t enough this was also The Classic Crime’s biggest selling first week for any one of their albums. The Alt Rock quartet from Seattle is shaping up to be the DIY Cinderella story of 2012.

“Phoenix is our rebirth,” front man and songwriter Matt MacDonald reflects. “Conceptually, it’s about the time spent in the ashes, between death and this new life, wondering if we’d ever get out. The whole process has restored our hope in the value of what we do. Our Kickstarter backers have revived our confidencein the fact that we are not alone and there is still work to be done.”

“Phoenix” was largely written during the period of uncertainty prior to the band’s Kickstarter campaign. The result is a thematic lyrical journey through the threat of hopelessness, which resolves in the ultimate payoff: a happy ending to a situation in which all seemed lost.

Ultimately, Phoenix is therapy. Therapy for The Classic Crime. Therapy for MacDonald. And hopefully, therapy for all those who face a hopeless scenario in their lives. It is the medicine that many need – an honest record from an honest, fearless band with genuine supporters.

The Classic Crime is Matt MacDonald (vocals, guitar), Alan Clark (bass), Robert “Cheeze” Negrin (guitar), and Paul “Skip” Erickson (drums, vocals). Their album Phoenix was produced by Matt MacDonald, engineered by Brandon Metcalf, mixed by Michael “Elvis” Baskette, and mastered by Ted Jensen. It was self-released on August 14, 2012.

“PHOENIX” In Stores

Physical copies of “PHOENIX” are available at these stores:Best Buy / BestBuy.com – bit.ly/phoenix_bestbuy
FYE / FYE.com – http://bit.ly/phoenix_FYE
Hastings / GoHastings.com
Lifeway
Amazon.com
or your favorite local record store.

The album is also available online at:
iTunes
Bandcamp
Amazon MP3

Pre-order on iTunes Pre-order on Bandcamp Pre-order on Amazon Phoenix Track List 1. One Man Army (Intro) 2. You and Me Both 3. Young Again 2. Beautiful Darkside 5. Heaven and Hell 6. The Precipice 7. Let Me Die 8. Glass Houses 9. Dead Rose 10. Painted Dreams 11. What I’d Give Up 12. City of Orphans 13. I Will Wait (Outro) 14. Seven Minute Sampler – Phoenix

About the Author

Rob Houston

Robert “Shameless” Houston is the Special Projects Manager at HM Magazine. He has been writing for HM for the past eight years. Outside of HM, Robert owns Panther City Films and is a co-owner at Notice The Impossible with HM writer Melissa Sanchez. When he is not hard at work with those three, he is playing video games, riding his bike or hanging out at shows around the US. You can also find him volunteering at Fort Worth-area DIY, punk venue 1919 Hemphill.

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