Craft Recordings celebrates the enduring career of FINGER ELEVEN with the band’s first collection of hit singles. Spanning over two decades, the “Greatest Hits” album highlights the group’s diverse range with fan favorites, including multi-platinum hit “Paralyzer” and Juno-nominated “One Thing”, plus chart toppers like “Falling On” and “Living In A Dream”. As a bonus, the 12-track set also offers a previously unreleased cover of PINK FLOYD‘s “Welcome To The Machine” (a longtime live staple) as well as the band’s first new single in more than seven years, “Together Right”. The song’s accompanying video, available to view below, opens in a factory, as uniformly dressed workers move like cogs in a machine. But it soon becomes clear that not everyone is happy in their monotonous existence.
“The video takes place in a world where everything is the same,” explains lead guitarist James Black. “Efficiency and conformity are mistaken for unity. But real connection, between two people, is WAY more powerful than people idly following a routine.”
“‘Together Right’ is about unity,” says front-man Scott Anderson. “It’s about the bonds between people and how far that bond can extend before it’s broken. The song has an optimistic-sounding chorus but it’s really a desperate plea from one party to another asking please stick around, let’s go down with this ship together.” Recorded in Toronto last year with drummer/producer Steve Molella, the song packs a punch with anthemic guitar-driven hooks and high-energy handclaps.
“Greatest Hits” arrives on CD and digitally June 16, while the vinyl edition (the band’s first-ever vinyl release) will follow on August 25. A limited-edition Blue Smoke pressing will be available exclusively via the band’s web site and CraftRecordings.com, and indie record stores will carry an exclusive Yellow Marble variant. Meanwhile, fans can pick up a collectible version of the CD featuring unique packaging at Walmart, along with a Walmart-exclusive Purple Smoke LP. All formats are available to pre-order today.
Speaking to the band’s first-ever retrospective, Anderson reflects: “After six albums and 20-plus years of being together, FINGER ELEVEN is beyond excited to finally release a greatest-hits album. As with all things F11, the band obsessed over the song choices, running order, and vinyl version to go along with the beautiful new art that James [Black] created.”
In addition to the above-mentioned fan favorites, “Greatest Hits” includes “Slow Chemical” — a 2002 cover and remix of wrestler Kane‘s entrance theme. The song was played during Kane‘s appearances on “WrestleMania”, as well as in the video game “WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008” and the 2004 Marvel film “The Punisher”.
Speaking to the recording of PINK FLOYD‘s 1975 song “Welcome To The Machine”, Scott Anderson shares, “PINK FLOYD is a band that’s always been near and dear to FINGER ELEVEN and we’re proud to share our version of ‘Welcome To The Machine’ with everyone. The song found its way into our live show, even opening with it sometimes. There are few songs that fill me with equal parts dread and excitement. This one really does it for me.”
One of Canada’s best-selling bands, Juno Award-winning rockers FINGER ELEVEN have built a long-lasting legacy with their genre-defying sound (spanning cathartic metal and alt-rock balladry to danceable funk, power pop, and beyond) that continues to keep fans on their toes.
