(Used) FILTER cd collection The Amalgamut Short Bus Title Of Record
Filter are an American industrial and alternative rock band formed in Cleveland in 1993 by Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang. Patrick had previously toured as a guitarist with Nine Inch Nails before leaving to develop his own music.
Filter’s sound combines industrial programming, abrasive guitars and Patrick’s distinctive scream with a surprisingly melodic and vulnerable side. Although the line-up has changed repeatedly, Patrick has remained the band’s central songwriter and only constant member.
Recommended for listeners of Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward, Gravity Kills, Ministry and 1990s alternative metal.
1. Short Bus
Released in 1995, Short Bus introduced Filter with a raw mixture of industrial rock, post-grunge and programmed aggression. Much of the album was created by Patrick and Liesegang using drum machines, samples and heavily distorted guitars.
“Hey Man Nice Shot” became the defining hit, built around a tense bassline before erupting into one of the decade’s most recognisable guitar riffs. Despite persistent rumours, the song was not about Kurt Cobain. “Dose,” “Under,” “Take Another,” “Spent” and “Stuck in Here” reveal a record that can be hostile, mechanical and unexpectedly introspective.
The essential starting point for Filter at their rawest.
2. The Amalgamut
Released in 2002, The Amalgamut attempted to combine the industrial aggression of Short Bus with the melodic range of Title of Record.
“You Walk Away,” “American Cliché,” “Columind” and “My Long Walk to Jail” provide the heavier material, while “Where Do We Go from Here,” “The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)” and “God Damn Me” show Richard Patrick’s increasingly confident clean vocals.
The supporting tour was cancelled when Patrick entered rehabilitation, interrupting the album’s momentum. As a result, The Amalgamut remains less commercially recognised than its predecessors despite being one of Filter’s most varied records.
Recommended for listeners who want both sides of the band in one album.
3. Title of Record
Released in 1999, Title of Record expanded Filter beyond the industrial attack of the debut. Brian Liesegang had departed, and Patrick worked with a fuller band and producer Ben Grosse to create a more layered and melodic album.
“Welcome to the Fold” opens with crushing guitars and electronic tension, while “The Best Things,” “It’s Gonna Kill Me” and “Cancer” retain the band’s aggressive character.
The major breakthrough was “Take a Picture,” an atmospheric and deeply personal song that became Filter’s biggest crossover hit. “I’m Not the Only One” and “Miss Blue” further demonstrate the album’s quieter, reflective side.
For the strongest balance of heaviness, melody and emotional depth, Title of Record may be Filter’s best overall album.