Smooth Criminal The tale of Alien Ant Farm oddly doesn’t begin with ANThology. The band formed in 1996 and would release two EPs leading up to their first full-length record in 1999 that they anointed Greatest Hits. After forming a friendship with Papa Roach due to playing similar music circuits in Los Angeles, California, Alien Ant Farm would eventually sign a Dreamworks Records imprint known as New Noize to begin re-tooling their major label debut of ANThology with the Infest producer, Jay Baumgardner. The set was introduced by the lead single of “Movies” that came out January 2001, but the record wouldn’t fully take off until the Michael Jackson cover of “Smooth Criminal” dominated the rock airwaves that Summer. The rest of the tunes that make up ANThology are really strong for a debut LP, and highlighted the quirky magic of Alien Ant Farm and their captivating front-man, Dryden Mitchell. While the band may be best known for their breakthrough cover of a Michael Jackson song, ANThology deserves another look on its 25th anniversary.
The early 00’s were beginning to be dominated by Nu-metal bands coming out of the gates like Linkin Park, Deftones, and Papa Roach, so Alien Ant Farm had the right timing on their side for ANThology. The crunchy guitar riffing from Terry Corso on the opener of “Courage” showcased the flavor of Nu-metal that Alien Ant Farm were going with, and I remember enjoying the album from start to finish when it came out during my last year of high school. At a time when I was beginning to figure out who I was as a person, this creative band was filling my headspace with a different type of rock music than what I had been used to hearing. The smoother crooning of the lead single of “Movies” had the refrain of, “I want you to be free,” that I used as a mantra for my own self-development in determining my next steps as I got closer to going away to college.
”Flesh and Bone” has some really punchy drums from Mike Cosgrove, paired with the slick bass lines from Tye Zamora, who would later show his unique personality in the music videos. The track features some intricate guitar parts from Corso, while Dryden Mitchell continues to deliver another emphatic vocal performance. “Whisper” is a more abrasive song about the pitfalls of letting record labels dictate your sound as a band on a major label, while “Summer” is a fitting title for a track that shimmers out of the gate and highlights the pop sensibilities of Alien Ant Farm.
”Sticks and Stones” has an opening guitar riff very similar to Papa Roach’s “Blood Brothers”, but with down-tuned guitars to let it stand on its own merit. As the song unfolds, Alien Ant Farm build up to an anthemic chorus and sing about the ups and downs of relationships. “Attitude” was the third and final single to be released from ANThology, and it was an easy candidate for a single. The Latin-flavored track is utterly infectious and showcased the wide range of styles that AAF were capable of crafting. The song features some upright bass from Tye Zamora to get just the right tone for the emotions behind the track.
”Stranded” is a pure Summer-pop gem that is meant for being listened to while relaxing on a beach somewhere with the soft sound of waves crashing upon the shore. “Wish” is the polar opposite. The latter track is pointed, abrasive, and prickly in its intentions in the lyrical material about people who are more worried about their status in society than fulfilling relationship obligations. “Calico” drifts somewhere between the starry-eyed rock of Deftones paired with early-Incubus, while “Happy Death Day” is a happy-go-lucky ballad that is comfortable staying in the pop realm.
”Smooth Criminal” is as hard-hitting as when I first heard it. The cover is a welcome departure from the last few songs leading up to it, and Dryden Mitchell’s vocal performance is top-notch in the near-impossible task of living up to the original. It comes almost as a shock when you hear it in the sequencing of ANThology, as it would be the album’s most sure-fire hit coming out of the gates. At a time when people were still going to Tower Records to listen to albums in a way to “try before you buy”, the risk of having this song so late in the tracklisting was a bold move from the label. Luckily, the song would take off in a way that Alien Ant Farm could’ve only dreamed of, and it would force the label to continue to promote the record by re-releasing “Movies” as a single (again) and then rounding out the promotional period with “Attitude” almost a full year later. The cover would go on to be one of the most successful and prominent rock covers of all time, and definitely one of the more popular ones from this era of music.
”Universe” broods along to the finish line, while the hidden track of “Orange Appeal” is quite the strange listening experience to hear back. At a time when the “hidden” CD track was big in the music industry, this one may take the cake as one of the weirder ones.
ANThology’s legacy is tied up in the success of the “Smooth Criminal” cover, sure, but the rest of the material that surrounds that is a credit to Alien Ant Farm for standing apart in the crowded Nu-metal genre of the 00’s. It’s an album that struck me at just the right time in my personal development, helped shaped my music tastes, and left me clamoring for more from the California rock band. ANThology has since been certified platinum by the RIAA, and I think it’s beyond time that it gets an official vinyl pressing.