| Welcome to the North | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 20 September 2004 | |||
| Recorded | March–April 2004 | |||
| Studio | Southern Tracks Recording, Atlanta, Georgia | |||
| Genre | Post-grunge, space rock | |||
| Length | 55:13 | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Brendan O'Brien | |||
| The Music chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Welcome to the North | ||||
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Welcome to the North is the second studio album by British rock band the Music. It was released on 20 September 2004 through Virgin Records. Following the release of their self-titled debut studio album (2002), the band toured the United States in early 2003. By June 2003, they had begun writing for its follow-up; they took a break at the end of the year. Two months of sessions at Soundworks in Leeds occurred in early 2004. The band then travelled to Atlanta, Georgia in the US to record with producer Brendan O'Brien at Southern Tracks Recording. Welcome to the North is a post-grunge and space rock album, taking influence from the works of Jane's Addiction, Led Zeppelin and the Stone Roses.
The Music made their first live performance since recording at We Love Homelands festival in May 2004. "Welcome to the North" was posted through NME's website, ahead of the release of the album's lead single "Freedom Fighters" on 6 September 2004. The release of Welcome to the North was promoted with a tour of the United Kingdom with the Engineers. It was followed by a short brief, and then tour of the US with Incubus, leading into three UK shows to close out the year. "Bleed from Within" was planned to be the album's next single but was scrapped in favour of "Breakin'", which was issued on 10 January 2005. The Music then toured across North America with support from Kasabian, which was followed by another UK tour.
Welcome to the North received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom commented on the production and song quality, while others highlighted the array of musical styles. The album reached number eight in the UK Albums Chart; it reached the top 30 in both Japan and Australia, as well as the lower reaches of the Irish and French charts. "Freedom Fighters" peaked within the top 20 of the UK, in addition to charting in the Netherlands and the US. "Breakin'" reached a similar position in the UK, alongside charting in Australia and the US. Welcome to the North was certified silver in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry a few days after release, and later went gold in early 2005.