Around The Block Movies Smooth Criminal Alien Ant Farm

Around The Block Album: Up In The Attic (2006)
Movies Album: ANThology (2001)
Smooth Criminal Album: ANThology (2001)
by Alien Ant Farm

Up in the Attic is the fourth studio album by American rock band Alien Ant Farm, released online on May 30, 2006, and physically on July 17, 2006. The album is identical to the band's 2005 self-released album, 3rd Draft, with the addition of one new track; the radio promo, "Forgive & Forget". Track 5 is Around The Block.

"Movies" is the debut single of American rock band Alien Ant Farm, released on January 16, 2001, from their second studio album, Anthology (2001). Originally released on their 1999 album Greatest Hits, it was re-recorded (along with numerous other songs) for Anthology. It was re-released after the success of their second single, "Smooth Criminal". "Movies" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and became a top-five hit in the United Kingdom and a top-20 hit in Ireland.

Upon its initial release, Movies reached number 18 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. After the band achieved success with "Smooth Criminal", they re-released the single on November 6, 2001. This time, it was a commercial success in the UK, reaching number five.

There were three music videos made for this single. One, which was shot before the success of "Smooth Criminal" revolves around the band playing at a house party, and the imagined events after they each pick up a different girl at the party.

The second video features a "behind the scenes" style shooting of the video, with grips and lighting crew interrupting shots to fix equipment, while the band performs before a tacky Hollywood sign backdrop.

There is a bigger budget re-shoot music video, released after the success of "Smooth Criminal", which shows the band jumping through the screen at a movie theatre, and interacting with the audience in homages to Ghostbusters, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, The Karate Kid (including an appearance by the film's costar Pat Morita) and Edward Scissorhands. At the end of the video, the entire audience jumps through the screen and joins the band. This version was directed by Marc Klasfeld. In 2001, the band's record label DreamWorks Records was a subsidiary of the film studio DreamWorks Pictures, although none of the films referenced in the video were from DreamWorks, with the film studio itself having only started releasing films in late 1997.

Michael Jackson originally recorded "Smooth Criminal" on his 1987 album Bad. Many of Alien Ant Farm's fans were too young to know about Jackson's version.
This made Alien Ant Farm famous, but it was not their first single. They released "Movies" first, but the Los Angeles radio station KROQ started playing "Smooth Criminal" instead, which led to a great deal of exposure and prompted them to release it as a single. "Movies" was re-released later to take advantage of their new fame.

Smooth Criminal was included on their first album, which was released on an independent label. When they signed with a big record company, they included it on their first major-label release, ANThology.

Alien Ant Farm have played a lot of quirky covers over the years. When they started, they tried to play a different cover at every show. Some of the bands they covered include Weezer, Bad Brains, The Police, and Sade.

The Smooth Criminal video pokes fun at Michael Jackson, but they made sure to get his permission and keep it lighthearted. Some of the Michael Jackson clichés they make fun of are Bubbles the chimp and the Moonwalk.

When Jackson saw the video, he asked that a scene with a boy in a surgical mask be removed, because it made fun of his medical condition. They took it out, but Jackson decided he liked it the way it was. In the end, there were 2 videos, one with the mask, one without.
This was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Song.