Handsome is the only studio album by American rock band Handsome. It was released on February 4, 1997 through Epic Records,^[3] and was produced by Terry Date.^[4]

Handsome was founded by Australian guitarist Peter Mengede, an original member of the New York City band Helmet. Mengede had left Helmet in 1993 over disagreements with the songwriting process, and was in debt due to tax issues.^[5]

Mengede recruited former members of New York area hardcore bands Cro-Mags and Quicksand.^[6] However, he claimed at the time that the band were "being very cautious to avoid cashing in on this 'hardcore supergroup' label."^[7] Vocalist Jeremy Chatelain was discovered by the other members during a long auditioning process in New York.^[5]

The band eventually signed a multi-record deal with Sony's Epic. Their eponymous debut was recorded and mastered at Bad Animals Studio in Seattle, Washington with Terry Date. Prior to making the album in Seattle, they had done a small tour of the midwest with Deftones.^[5]

It has been described as "slightly more cerebral" than Peter Mengede's previous band Helmet.^[8] Drummer Pete Hines, formerly of Cro-Mags, stated in a 1997 interview that, "Because Sony has used our ex-bands as marketing, I think that a lot of people who were into those bands tend to think that we've sold out or something. We knew from the beginning of Handsome that we didn't want to do the same thing -- Peter was tired of doing the same kinda [guitar] licks, and I was tired of the thrash thing. We knew that we wanted a melodic singer over really heavy music."^[6]

It was released by Epic on February 4, 1997, with a black and white music video being made to support the single "Needles". Touring for the album lasted up until late July 1997, and included runs of shows with Corrosion of Conformity and Silverchair/Local H.^[9]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	9/10[11]
Fort Worth Star-Telegram	[12]
MusicHound Rock	[13]
Punknews.org	[14]
Rock Hard	8.5/10[15]

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In 1997, Jenny Eliscu wrote for CMJ, "like the bands from which it is descended, Handsome's chief strategy is to combine dramatic vocal melodies, chugging, tandem guitar lines, and pounding rhythms into brief, catchy anthems."^[16] She claimed, "the powerhouse rhythm section could jackhammer through the strongest bulwark, and any of these songs could turn a crowd of shoegazing ne'er do-wells into a writhing mass of moshers."^[16] Peter Stepek of AllMusic stated in his review that, "Handsome delivers a distinctive hybrid that is complex and interesting, particularly when, as in "Eden Complex," the band shifts effortlessly from one hook filled section to the next."^[10] In August 1998, The Lantern named it as one of the "top unheard records of '97".^[17]

In Europe, the album came with a bonus disc which featured the songs "Closer" and "Spill". "Closer" appears as a hidden track on some versions, and was performed live in 1997.

Handsome was reissued on vinyl in two different editions, through 6131 Records and SRC Vinyl, respectively. 6131 pressed the album on two colors; SRC's version saw the album pressed on 180g audiophile vinyl, mastered for the format with lacquers made by Stan Ricker, inside of a matte gatefold jacket which fits the exclusive 7-inch including the B-sides "Closer" and "Spill". Both reissues were released in mid-September 2013.

1. "Needles" – 3:12
2. "Ride Down" – 3:20
3. "Going to Panic" – 3:13
4. "Left of Heaven" – 3:07
5. "Thrown Away" – 3:37
6. "Dim the Lights" – 2:54
7. "Lead Bellied" – 2:46
8. "My Mind's Eye" – 3:09
9. "Waiting" – 2:44
10. "Quiet Liar" – 4:07
11. "Eden Complex" – 3:25
12. "Swimming" – 4:06
13. "Multimedia content" – (Enhanced CD version)

European bonus disc

1. "Spill" – 3:17
2. "Closer" – 2:58

• Peter Mengede – guitars
• Tom Capone – guitars
• Jeremy Chatelain – vocals
• Eddie Nappi – bass
• Pete Hines – drums