View source for Blaze (Lagwagon album)

{{Infobox album
| name       = Blaze
| type       = [[Album]]
| artist     = [[Lagwagon]]
| cover      = Lagwagon Blaze cover.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = April 8, 2003
| recorded   = November 2002
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Punk rock]], [[skate punk]], [[melodic hardcore]]
| length     = 41:48
| label      = [[Fat Wreck Chords]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fatwreck.com/products/blaze|title=Blaze|website=Fat Wreck Chords}}</ref>
| producer   = [[Joey Cape]]
| prev_title = [[Let's Talk About Leftovers]]
| prev_year  = 2000
| next_title = [[Resolve (Lagwagon album)|Resolve]]
| next_year  = 2005
}}
'''''"Blaze"''''' is the sixth studio album by American punk rock band [[Lagwagon]],which was released in 2003.
==Background and recording==
Lagwagon recorded with [[Ryan Greene]] in March 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/2491/fat-bands-in-studio|title=Fat Bands in Studio|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=January 2, 2002|accessdate=February 14, 2021}}</ref> While on the 2002 [[Warped Tour]], the band handed out promo samplers that included two songs from the album, "Dinner and a Movie" and "Never Stops".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/3719/vagrant-installs-one-of-those-fancy-german-motors|title=Vagrant installs one of those fancy German Motors|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=June 18, 2002|accessdate=February 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Blaze It! / Situationist Comedy|others=Lagwagon / Dillinger Four|year=2002|type=sleeve|publisher=Fat Wreck Chords|id=}}</ref> In September, the band were writing material for their next album, which they spent November recording.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4174/lagwagons-new-album-out-by-february|title=Lagwagon's new album out by February|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 5, 2002|accessdate=February 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4574/lagwagon-in-the-studio-soon|title=Lagwagon In The Studio Soon|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=October 31, 2002|accessdate=March 1, 2021}}</ref>
The album marked their first studio release in the five years since ''[[Let's Talk About Feelings]]''. The absence was due to frontman [[Joey Cape]] being involved with band projects like [[Bad Astronaut]] and [[Me First and the Gimme Gimmes]]. Lagwagon did not completely disband during that time, and briefly reunited in 2002.
==Release==
On December 25, 2002, ''Blaze'' was announced for release in April 2003.<ref name=PNannounce>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4951/new-lagwagon-lp-april-8th|title=New Lagwagon LP April 8th|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=December 25, 2002|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}</ref> On March 17, 2003, the album's artwork and track listing was posted online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5580/wagons-on-the-way|title=Wagon's on the way|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=March 18, 2003|accessdate=March 4, 2021}}</ref> Two days later, "Falling Apart" was posted on the label's website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5601/new-nofx-lagwagon-and-rise-against-mp3s-posted|title=New NOFX, Lagwagon, and Rise Against MP3s posted|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=March 19, 2003|accessdate=March 4, 2021}}</ref> ''Blaze'' was released on April 8, 2003, through Fat Wreck Chords.<ref name=PNannounce/> In April and May 2003, the band embarked on a headlining US tour, with [[Avoid One Thing]] and [[Yellowcard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5624/tours-lagwagon-hits-the-road-in-april|title=Lagwagon Hits The Road In April|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=March 22, 2003|accessdate=March 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5817/avoid-one-thing-plan-next-album|title=Avoid One Thing Plan Next Album|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=April 15, 2003|accessdate=March 5, 2021}}</ref><ref name=PIinteview>{{cite web|url=http://www.punk-it.net/Interviews/yellowcard.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060706184136/http://www.punk-it.net/Interviews/yellowcard.html|title=Yellowcard|publisher=Punk-It|date=May 5, 2003|archivedate=July 6, 2006|accessdate=August 7, 2022}}</ref> On May 31 and June 1, the band held one-off shows that were recorded as part of the ''[[Live in a Dive]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6099/live-lagwagon-swingin-utters-records|title=Live Lagwagon, Swingin' Utters Recordse|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=May 19, 2003|accessdate=March 8, 2021}}</ref> In August and September, the band toured across Europe, which included appearances at the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals]], and four shows as part of the Reconstruction Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/6663/tours-european-dates-reconstruction-terremoto-and-more|title=European Dates: Reconstruction, Terremoto and more|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=July 26, 2003|accessdate=March 10, 2021}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Album ratings|rev1= [[AllMusic]]
|rev1Score= {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/blaze-mw0000023838|title=Blaze - Lagwagon &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic}}</ref>
}}
It was the first Lagwagon album to rank on the ''Billboard'' 200, reaching #172.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Blaze+%28Lagwagon+album%292003&pg=PA57|title=The Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|first=Nielsen Business Media|last=Inc|date=April 26, 2003|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Joey Cape]] and Jesse Buglione, except where noted.
# "Burn" - 3:15
# "E Dagger" - 2:09
# "Dancing the Collapse" - 2:16
# "I Must Be Hateful" - 3:30
# "Falling Apart" (Cape, Buglione, [[Chris Rest]]) - 2:39
# "Max Says" - 3:22
# "Billy Club" - 2:48
# "Dividers" - 2:43
# "Never Stops" - 3:34
# "Dinner and a Movie" - 2:04
# "Lullaby" - 3:49
# "Billionaire" - 2:30
# "Tomorrow Is Heartbreak" - 3:00
# "Baggage" - 4:08
This album contains 2 live videos from the [[Warped Tour]] 2002 and the music video for "Falling Apart" as [[Enhanced CD|enhanced]] content.
==Personnel==
*[[Joey Cape]] – vocals
*[[Chris Flippin]] – guitar
*[[Chris Rest]] – guitar
*[[Dave Raun]] – drums
*[[Jesse Buglione]] – bass
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEL3E8Oc4lwMxDQePmK1zxXH28hdTXGwW ''Blaze''] at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)
{{Lagwagon}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Lagwagon albums]]
[[Category:2003 albums]]
[[Category:Fat Wreck Chords albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Joey Cape]]
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