It Is So Good to See You Again in Japanese

1988 studio album by Megadeth

So Far, So Skillful... So What!
Studio album by Megadeth
Released	January 19, 1988 (1988-01-19)
Recorded	1987
Studio	Music Grinder, Los Angeles
Genre	Thrash metal
Length	34:26
Label	Capitol
Producer	Paul Lani Dave Mustaine
Megadeth chronology
Peace Sells... only Who'south Ownership? (1986) So Far, And so Skillful... And then What! (1988) Rust in Peace (1990)
Singles from So Far, And then Skilful... So What!
"Anarchy in the U.K." Released: February 17, 1988 "Mary Jane" Released: May 12, 1988

So Far, And then Good... So What! is the third studio anthology by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on January xix, 1988 past Capitol Records. It was the ring's only album recorded with drummer Chuck Behler and guitarist Jeff Immature, both of whom were fired from the band in early 1989, several months later on the completion of the anthology's earth tour. So Far, So Good... So What! features music performed at fast tempos with technical ability; lyrically, frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine addresses a variety of topics, including nuclear holocaust and freedom of voice communication.

So Far, And so Proficient... Then What! was well-received past critics upon its release, although retrospective assay has been less favorable. Information technology managed to enter the top-thirty of the Billboard 200 (although it received no commercial radio play), and charted in several other countries as well. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA, and indicated Megadeth's forthcoming emergence from the underground scene.

Background and production [edit]

Guitarist Chris Poland and drummer Gar Samuelson had been both fired from the band following the conclusion of the Peace Sells tour for disruptive behavior, including Poland'due south addiction of pawning band equipment to pay for drugs.^[ane] Samuelson was immediately replaced by his drum technician, Chuck Behler.^[2] Nonetheless, a new guitarist would take longer to emerge. At first, the band hired guitarist Jay Reynolds from the band Malice,^[3] but Reynolds was non upward to the task of recording, and was subsequently replaced by his guitar instructor, Jeff Immature. Dave Mustaine has since stated his regret for the way he handled Reynolds's firing.^[4]

Work on the album started while Reynolds was in the band, but continued after the induction of Immature. To mix the album, the characterization turned to Paul Lani, who had remixed the band's previous album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?. ^[5] Mustaine was initially skeptical, but later became very irate with Lani's "eccentricities" and his style of handling things. To mix the album, Lani relocated himself and Mustaine to Bearsville Studios, near Woodstock, New York, ostensibly for the purpose of inspiration.^[6] Mustaine decided that he had his limits when he, having just awakened and made java, noticed Lani outside in his underwear feeding an apple to a deer. Mustaine flew dorsum to Los Angeles later that day and fired Lani, who was replaced by Michael Wagener. Mustaine has since criticized Wagener'south "pedestrian" mixing efforts, citing the album's "dingy experience", in particular.^[7] Mustaine was able to recruit Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones to perform guitar parts on "Anarchy in the U.K."^[8]

Music and lyrics [edit]

Co-ordinate to music critic J. D. Considine of Spin, Then Far, And then Expert... So What! displays music performed at "volumes budgeted the threshold of hurting".^[9] This was the first album where another band member other than Mustaine contributed to writing, with bassist David Ellefson contributing to either lyrics or music on half of the album's songs. The album features fast guitar solos, multiple tempo changes and technical dexterity.^[ten] Mike Stagno of Sputnikmusic observed that the album offers the archetype "accept no prisoners" style which is commonly associated with Megadeth; however, he noted that the sound does not differ much from the other underground metal bands from that menstruation.^[xi] Jim Farber of Rolling Stone chosen Mustaine's vocals "bloodthirsty" and praised the musicianship for keeping rhythmic pace even at the "most anarchic moments".^[12] Los Angeles Times journalist Dennis Chase noted that the music was filled with extensive and "torrid" instrumentals and described Mustaine's singing as a combination of extreme shrieking and screaming.^[13] Despite the positive overview, "Anarchy in the U.Thousand." received some negative criticism, partially because information technology was perceived to lack the rebelliousness of the original version.^[fourteen]

The lyrical themes on the album explore a variety of subjects, from nuclear holocaust ("Set up the World Afire") to revisionism and censorship ("Hook in Oral cavity").^[13] Still, the bulk of the songs are accompanied by the aforementioned sentiment of disillusion and nihilism as their previous two albums.^[15] Unlike traditional topics related to heavy metal music, the vocal "In My Darkest Hour" contains emotional lyrics which deal with loneliness and isolation.^[sixteen] Dave Mustaine revealed that he tried to write well-nigh subject area matters that were in bear on with reality, including social issues and taboo topics.^[thirteen] The lyrics on Megadeth's cover of "Anarchy in the U.K." were slightly mistaken because Mustaine claimed he had heard them incorrectly.^[17]

Songs [edit]

The album'due south first track, "Into the Lungs of Hell", is an instrumental composition which features synthesized horns, winds and percussion.^[18] "Set up the World Afire" is the first song Dave Mustaine wrote for Megadeth after beingness fired from Metallica. He was a fellow member of Metallica from 1981 to 1983, and was dismissed only earlier Metallica recorded its debut album Kill 'Em All. He later said that he wrote the lyrics during his journey habitation from the difference. Inspiration for the vocal came from a paper he read while on the jitney back to California. The initial lyrics were written with a borrowed pencil on a cupcake wrapper, leading some fans to refer to "Set the World Ablaze" equally "the cupcake song".^[19] The offset of the song contains a sample of "I Don't Want to Prepare the World on Burn down", a 1941 vocal past The Ink Spots.^[20]

"Anarchy in the U.One thousand." is a Sex Pistols cover, which quickly became a staple of the band's alive set.^[21] Over the years, the vocal was dropped from the set listing because of its anti-Christian viewpoint.^[22] "Mary Jane" tells a story about a young witch buried alive by her begetter well-nigh the Loon Lake cemetery in Minnesota. According to the legend, anyone who dared to disturb her grave was doomed to a prompt expiry.^[23] The song features descending guitar lines and begins with Mustaine summoning her spirit during the introduction.^[24]

"502" is nigh breaking laws and driving fast cars. The title is a reference to the police code in California for boozer driving; Mustaine himself would be arrested for drunk driving in March the following yr when he crashed into a police automobile.^{[nine] [25]} "In My Darkest Hour" was written by Mustaine shortly subsequently the death of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Mustaine had found out through give-and-take of rima oris, equally his erstwhile bandmates never contacted him about the tragic event that occurred in Europe. He later recalled that he was extremely unhappy that day and wrote the song in one sitting.^[26] "Liar" is a diss song directed at past fellow member Chris Poland, who Mustaine claimed was stealing guitars and selling them for heroin coin.^[17] "Hook in Mouth" declaims censorship and the Parents Music Resources Center (PMRC). Mustaine elaborated that the lyrics were aimed at those who were "fucking around with our constitutional rights and trying to take away our liberty of spoken language".^[27]

Critical reception [edit]

Professional person ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[14]
Los Angeles Times	[ten]
Rock Hard	x/10[29]
Rolling Stone	[12]
The Rolling Stone Anthology Guide	[30]
The Village Voice	B–[28]

The album received positive feedback from music critics at the time of its release. In a contemporary review, Holger Stratmann from Rock Difficult hailed the anthology as "the new masterpiece of Megadeth" and asserted that the band had created a slap-up follow-upwardly to their highly acclaimed Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? ^[29] Jim Farber of Rolling Rock besides gave the album a favorable review, proverb it propelled the group "right at the top of the thrash-rock heap". He concluded his review by saying, "among today'due south narcoleptic pop scene, albums like So Far, And so Good ... So What! offer a disruptive racket that's welcome indeed".^[12] Writing for Spin, J. D. Considine felt that the record showed a "18-carat maturity" for the ring.^[9] In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau reacted toward the album with tepid positivity, and wrote that Megadeth garnered "its modest portions of profit and respect" with their latest studio release. He praised "Anarchy in the U.G.", commenting that Mustaine covers the Sexual practice Pistols "similar a gnaw".^[28]

Retrospective reviews, however, tend to be more critical of the album. AllMusic's Steve Huey criticized the album for lacking "the conceptual unity and musical bite" of its predecessor. Co-ordinate to him, the anthology "wants to sound threatening but more often than not comes off every bit forced and somewhat juvenile", citing the encompass track every bit an example.^[xiv] Conversely, Adrien Begrand from MSN Music opined that the record was "somehow ignored" in the band'due south discography.^[17]

Touring [edit]

The tour that followed the album's release was the first to feature new band members Chuck Behler and Jeff Young. Bassist David Ellefson said that previous members Gar Samuelson and Chris Poland were tired of constantly existence on the road and their departure was inevitable. He further revealed that drummer Behler was appointed shortly before because the ring feared that Samuelson would not be able to keep touring.^[31] However, some problems occurred during the Australian leg of the bout. The band was forced to abolish some of these shows considering of drug problems. Mustaine claimed that the group returned home because guitarist Young "ran out of heroin", which Young denied, stating that it was Mustaine who wanted to go dorsum to Los Angeles and seek rehabilitation.^[32] Both Immature and Behler were eventually fired from the ring in 1989.^[33]

Megadeth started performing the album's songs live before the record was released. During 1987 they toured with other thrash metallic bands such as Kreator and Overkill at a number of European venues.^[34] The following yr Megadeth appeared with more than established heavy metal acts such every bit Dio and Savatage for some shows in North America.^[35] They likewise headlined a European tour, with support from Testament and Sanctuary.^[36] Later on in 1988 the group fabricated an advent at the Monsters of Rock festival, but were dropped from the line-up after one prove;^[33] Megadeth was replaced by Testament.^{[37] [38]} Dave Mustaine explained that the band toured quite often because they were non receiving much media exposure: "Nosotros practise a lot of shows and sell records by discussion-of-mouth". Los Angeles Times reported that So Far, Then Good... And so What! sold 400,000 copies one calendar month after its release, becoming Megadeth's fastest selling album at that point.^[13] The tape eventually went platinum and indicated Megadeth's forthcoming emergence from the underground scene.^[39]

Rail list [edit]

All songs written and composed by Dave Mustaine, except where noted.^[xl]

Side one

No.	Championship	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Into the Lungs of Hell" (instrumental)			3:29
2.	"Prepare the Globe Ablaze"			5:48
3.	"Chaos in the U.K." (Sex activity Pistols cover)	Johnny Rotten	Rotten, Jones, Glen Matlock, Paul Cook	3:00
4.	"Mary Jane"	Mustaine, David Ellefson		4:25

Side ii

No.	Championship	Lyrics	Music	Length
v.	"502"			3:28
half dozen.	"In My Darkest Hour" (six:26 on 2004 reissue)	Mustaine, Ellefson		6:xvi
7.	"Liar"		Mustaine, Ellefson	3:20
eight.	"Hook in Mouth"		Mustaine, Ellefson	4:40
Total length:				34:26

2004 remixed/remastered edition bonus tracks

No.	Championship	Lyrics	Length
9.	"Into the Lungs of Hell" (Paul Lani mix)	instrumental	3:32
ten.	"Set the World Afire" (Paul Lani mix)		5:53
11.	"Mary Jane" (Paul Lani mix)	Mustaine, Ellefson	4:08
12.	"In My Darkest Hour" (Paul Lani mix)	Mustaine, Ellefson	6:xi
Total length:			54:20

Personnel [edit]

Product and performance credits are adapted from the anthology liner notes.^[40]

Megadeth Dave Mustaine – lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, audio-visual guitar David Ellefson – bass, bankroll vocals Jeff Young – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar Chuck Behler – drums, percussion Additional personnel Steve Jones (of the Sex Pistols) – guitar solo on "Anarchy in the U.K." (the 2nd i at i:40)

Production Produced by Paul Lani and Dave Mustaine Engineered by Paul Lani with Matt Freeman Mixed past Michael Wagener at The Enterprise, Hollywood, California Executive produced by Tim Carr Mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Precision Lacquer, Hollywood, California

2004 remix and remaster Produced by Dave Mustaine Mixed by Ralph Patlan and Dave Mustaine Engineered by Ralph Patlan with Lance Dean Edited past Lance Dean with Scott "Sarge" Harrison Mastered by Tom Bakery

Charts [edit]

Certifications [edit]

References [edit]

1. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 167-168.
2. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 167.
3. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 169.
4. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 170-173.
5. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 173.
6. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 177-178.
7. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 179.
8. ^ Mustaine 2010, p. 175-176.
9. ^ ^{a b c} Considine, J.D. (March 1988). "Megadeth - So Far, And so Proficient... So What!". Spin: 31. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
10. ^ ^{a b} Strauss, Duncan (January 24, 1988). "Sonic Booms: ** Megadeth - "Then Far, And then Practiced... So What!". Capitol". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
11. ^ Stagno, Mike (Apr 25, 2007). "Megadeth - So Far, So Good... Then What! (staff review)". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved July 15, 2012.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Farber, Jim. "Megadeth: So Far, So Good... And so What!". Rolling Rock. Archived from the original on October one, 2007. Retrieved Baronial 23, 2013.
13. ^ ^{a b c d} Chase, Dennis (March 6, 1988). "Coming together Mr. Megadeth, Dave Mustaine". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
14. ^ ^{a b c} Huey, Steve. "Megadeth: So Far, And so Good... And then What!". AllMusic . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
15. ^ Joyner 2002, p. 301.
16. ^ Arnett 1996, p. l.
17. ^ ^{a b c} Begrand, Adrien (January 25, 2013). "Megadeth, 'Then Far, So Practiced...So What!'". MSN Music. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
18. ^ Pillsbury 2006, p. 82.
19. ^ "Dave Mustaine Nearly His Cupcake Song". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2016-08-03 .
20. ^ "xxx Years Agone: Megadeth Struggle Through 'So Far, And then Skillful ... so What!'". Ultimate Archetype Rock. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
21. ^ Buckley 2003, p. 660.
22. ^ Philthy Phil (July 24, 2005). "Dave Mustaine Speaks to KNAC.com From Gigantour". KNAC.com. Retrieved Nov 10, 2013.
23. ^ "Ex-Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson: The Return Of Mary Jane". Blabbermouth.net . Retrieved Nov 8, 2013.
24. ^ Ramirez, Carlos. "10 Most Underrated Megadeth Songs". Noisecreep . Retrieved November 10, 2013.
25. ^ "Revised Lawmaking of Washington :: DUI :: 46.61.502 Driving under the influence". www.dui.co . Retrieved 2019-04-21 .
26. ^ Herzog, Kenny (July xviii, 2011). "Setlist - Dave Mustaine". The A.V. Club . Retrieved November half dozen, 2013.
27. ^ Palmer, Robert (April 1988). "Every Mean solar day's a Megadeth Day". Spin: 35–37. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
28. ^ ^{a b} Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews". The Village Vox . Retrieved Baronial 23, 2013.
29. ^ ^{a b} Stratmann, Holger. "Megadeth: And so Far, And so Good... So What!" (in German). Rock Hard. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
30. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Anthology Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 534. ISBN0-7432-0169-8.
31. ^ Gomes, Celesete (August 1988). "So Far, Then Good For Megadeth". Classic Rock. Rockmetal.art.pl. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
32. ^ "Ex-Megadeth Guitarist Jeff Immature Responds To Dave Mustaine'southward Drug Allegations". Blabbermouth.net. December twenty, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
33. ^ ^{a b} "Megadeth History - 1988". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
34. ^ Exley, Mike (Dec xiii, 1987). "Alive Reviews: Megadeth at Queens Hall, Leeds, England". Metal Forces . Retrieved November 12, 2013.
35. ^ Strauss, Duncan (March 15, 1988). "Dio Upstaged by Megadeth at Long Beach". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November eleven, 2013.
36. ^ "Megadeth". Metallipromo.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
37. ^ "Monsters of Rock Schweinfurt 1988 Line-Upward". songkick.com. Retrieved Nov seven, 2016.
38. ^ "Monsters of Rock at Mainwiesen (Schweinfurt) on 27 Aug 1988". final.fm. Retrieved November vii, 2016.
39. ^ Kahn-Harris 2007, p. 3.
40. ^ ^{a b} So Far, So Good... And then What! liner notes (2004 rerelease). Capitol Records. 2004. pp. 4, 6–ix.
41. ^ "Peak 100 Albums". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 47 (24). Apr two, 1988. Archived from the original (DjVu) on October five, 2012. Retrieved August v, 2008.
42. ^ ^{a b c d} "Megadeth - And then Far, So Skillful... Then What! (Album)". swedish-charts.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
43. ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
44. ^ "メガデス-ORICON STYLE ミュージック" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
45. ^ "The Official Charts Company - Megadeth". Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 15, 2013.
46. ^ "Megadeth - Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved October 15, 2013.
47. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Megadeth – Then Far, And so Good... And then What!". Music Canada.
48. ^ "British album certifications – Megadeth – So Far, So Good... So What!". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 February 2019. Select albums in the Format field.Select Silver in the Certification field.Type And then Far, So Proficient... And so What! in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
49. ^ "American album certifications – Megadeth – So Far, Then Good... So What!". Recording Industry Association of America.

Bibliography [edit]

• Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen (1996). Metalheads: Heavy Metal Music And Boyish Alienation . Westview Printing. ISBN0-8133-2813-6.
• Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Stone . Rough Guides. ISBN1-84353-105-iv.
• Joyner, David Lee (2002). American popular music. McGraw-Hill College Education. ISBN0-07-241424-3.
• Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme Metal: Music and Civilization on the Edge. Berg Publishers. ISBN978-i-84520-399-iii.
• Mustaine, Dave (2010). Mustaine: A Heavy Metallic Memoir . New York, New York, USA: Harper Collins. ISBN978-0-06-171437-5.
• Pillsbury, Glenn (2006). Harm Incorporated: Metallica and the Production of Musical Identity. New York, New York, U.s.a.: Routledge. ISBN1-136-09122-10.

External links [edit]

• So Far, Then Proficient... So What! at Discogs (list of releases)

fryehiguess.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Far,_So_Good..._So_What!

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