Villains (The Verve Pipe album)

1996 studio album by the Verve Pipe

Villains is the third studio album and first major label release by American rock band the Verve Pipe. It was released in March 1996. The band received its first hit in "Photograph", which peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks. A year after the release of the album, a reformatted version of "The Freshmen" peaked at number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The single was also the band's sole appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at number 5. The success of the song helped this album go platinum. To date, it is the Verve Pipe's best selling album. The album was originally pressed in a blue case to match the color of the artwork, which included the slower recording of "The Freshmen," before it was later re-recorded and added to subsequent pressings.

Artwork

The artwork includes a toy duck in a darkened background and inverted-like coloring.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Brian Vander Ark, except where noted

Personnel

Adapted from the Villains booklet and liner notes.^[4]

Charts

Certifications

References

1. RCA's Verve Pipe Earns Freshman Standing – Billboard Magazine Google Books
2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r233041
3. "Robert Christgau: CG: Verve pipe".
4. Villains (booklet; inlay cover). The Verve Pipe. RCA. 1996. 07863 66809-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. "The Verve Pipe, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
6. "The Verve Pipe, TLN". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
7. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
8. "American album certifications – The Verve Pipe – Villains". Recording Industry Association of America.