Consent to Treatment

Consent to Treatment
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 15, 2000
Recorded1999/2000
GenreAlternative rock, post-grunge, funk metal[1]
Length56:34
LabelUniversal
ProducerNick Launay
Blue October chronology
The Answers
(1998)
Consent to Treatment
(2000)
History for Sale
(2003)
Singles from Consent to Treatment
  1. "James"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Breakfast After 10"
    Released: 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram[3]

Consent to Treatment is the second album by Blue October. Pre-production sessions took place in Nashville with producer Blue Miller, and the final album recording sessions took place at Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village and Media Vortex in Burbank, California with producer Nick Launay. The album was released in the United States on August 15, 2000, by Universal Records. It is the band's first major-label album and their only album to feature former member Brant Coulter on guitar as well as their first album featuring Matt Noveskey. The opening track is a spoken poem written by Justin Furstenfeld and recited by Blue Miller.[4] Ryan Smith sings the female backing vocals on "The Answer" and "Balance Beam." The album was originally released on cassette and compact disc. A remastered version of the album was released on translucent colored vinyl in 2024 as part of Blue October's "Collected Series" box set, which included their first four albums. A stand-alone version of the album will be released on black vinyl in 2025.

The cover art was inspired by Peter Gabriel's music videos for "Sledgehammer" and “Digging in the Dirt”.

Matt Noveskey has said that Nick Launay was extremely nurturing in response to Noveskey's inquisitiveness during the Consent to Treatment production process, which was the impetus for Noveskey pursuing a career as a producer himself.

When performed live, the album tells a story of Justin Furstenfeld first falling in love with his girlfriend Amanda. However, while Justin is away recording Blue October's debut album, Amanda betrays Justin by sleeping with his friend James. Upon finding out, Justin is enraged and is committed to a mental hospital after threatening to kill James and himself. Justin is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and is prescribed medication and eventually released and finds closure and happiness through shedding codependency and expressing his emotions through musical performance.

Track listing

All tracks written by Justin Furstenfeld except for "James", cowritten with Matt Noveskey.

No.TitleLength
1."Retarded Disfigured Clown"0:42
2."Independently Happy"4:55
3."James"4:29
4."HRSA"3:33
5."Breakfast After 10"4:28
6."Balance Beam"3:50
7."Holler"3:23
8."Schizophrenia"3:54
9."Drop"4:35
10."Conversation Via Radio (Do You Ever Wonder)"4:03
11."Angel"5:05
12."Libby I'm Listening"3:31
13."Amnesia"3:55
14."The Answer"6:11

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Blue October - Consent to Treatment (album review 2) | Sputnikmusic".
  2. ^ "Consent to Treatment - Blue October". Allmusic.
  3. ^ Malcolm Mayhew (August 11, 2000). "CD Reviews: Blue October, Consent to Treatment" (Newspaper). Fort Worth, Texas: Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 16. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Krangle, Jodi (2000). "A Muse's Muse Interview with Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Blue Miller".