The Bad & the Better
Studio album by
The Ready Set
ReleasedMay 27, 2014 (2014-05-27)
Recorded2012–2014
Genre
Length47:23
LabelRazor & Tie
Producer
The Ready Set chronology
The Celebrity EP
(2014)		 The Bad & the Better
(2014)		 I Will Be Nothing Without Your Love
(2016)
Singles from The Bad & the Better
  1. "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
    Released: May 18, 2012
  2. "Higher"
    Released: April 8, 2014
  3. "Freakin Me Out"
    Released: May 6, 2014
  4. "Fangz"
    Released: December 10, 2014

The Bad & the Better is the fourth studio album by American electropop singer-songwriter The Ready Set. The album title was announced on March 18, 2014, along with the track listing.[2] It was released on May 27, 2014, by Razor & Tie Records.[3] The album was released as a 4 track-EP featuring the singles "Higher", "Freaking Me Out" and "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" plus the song "Carry Me Home" digitally outside the United States.[4]

Background

On June 6, 2013, Witzigreuter announced that he finished writing his fourth studio album on Twitter.[5]

On March 18, 2014, the Ready Set signed to Razor & Tie Records announcing the release of his upcoming album, The Bad & the Better. Witzigreuter spoke about being signed to Razor & Tie stating, "I'm so excited to be signed to Razor & Tie. I feel like it's a great opportunity to get more of my music out there in really creative ways, and I've already seen a ton of passion. I think it's going to be a great partnership."[2] Co-owner of Razor & Tie Cliff Chenfeld added, "We are very excited that Jordan and The Ready Set have chosen to work with Razor & Tie. Jordan is an amazing talent and we will do everything we can do to get his music to the largest possible audience."[2]

Singles

The Ready Set released "Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)" as the first single from The Bad & the Better. The song peaked at number 30 on the US Mainstream Top 40 and at number 33 in New Zealand.[6][7] The second official single, "Higher", was released on April 8, 2014.[8] The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio in the United States on May 6, 2014.[9] That same day, the third single, "Freakin' Me Out" was released.[10] The music video was released on October 15, 2014, via VEVO.[11] A live music video for the track "Fangz" directed by Sergio Padilla was released on December 10, 2014.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Alternative Press[14]
idobi Radio[15]

Tim Sendra of AllMusic rated the album three-and-a-half stars, remarking how the release is "all AM pop giddiness, spunky energy, and soft-pedaled, cuddly heartbreak", and how "It's machine-driven, it's juvenile, and it's not going to change the world, but it's a bunch of fun and that's plenty."[13] At Alternative Press, Evan Lucy rated the album two and a half stars, stating that the release is "ultimately disappointing."[14]

Track listing

The Bad & the Better — CD version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Are We Happy Now?"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:48
4."Fangz"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:24
5."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
6."Luxury"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:05
7."Bitter and the Sweetness"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:31
8."Don't You Need Me"
Goldstein3:18
9."Bleeding"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick3:23
10."Castaway" (featuring Jake Miller)
Goldstein3:55
11."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
12."For the Better"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick1:45
13."More Than This"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Dan Book
  • Alexei Misoul
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Book
  • Misoul
3:45
14."Terrible Things"WitzigreuterKirkpatrick3:46
Total length:47:23
The Bad & the Better — EP version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Higher"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
Kirkpatrick3:42
2."Freakin' Me Out"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Kirkpatrick
  • Moran
  • Camp
Kirkpatrick3:06
3."Give Me Your Hand (Best Song Ever)"
  • Witzigreuter
  • Goldstein
  • Wilcox
Goldstein3:48
4."Carry Me Home"
  • Witzigreuter
Kirkpatrick3:07
Total length:13:43

Personnel

Credits for The Bad & the Better adapted from AllMusic.[16]

Charts

Chart performance for The Bad & the Better
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 75

References

  1. ↑ "Album Review: The Ready Set – "The Bad & The Better"". August 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Matt Crane (March 18, 2014). "The Ready Set sign to Razor & Tie, announce new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The Ready Set Signs To R&T; Announces 'The Bad & The Better' - PropertyOfZack". propertyofzack.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  4. ↑ "The Bad & The Better by The Ready Set - EP". Apple Music. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. ↑ Brian Kraus (June 8, 2013). "The Ready Set finish writing new album". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Ready Set Chart History: Mainstream Top 40". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ "The Ready Set New Zealand Chart Top 40". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Ready Set Release New Single, Higher". Alternative Press. 8 April 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Top 40 Mainstream Releases". All Access Mediabase. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ "The Ready Set release new song, Freaking Me Out off upcoming album due out on May 27th!". 6 May 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "THE READY SET PREMIERE VIDEO FOR "FREAKIN ME OUT" ON VEVO". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ "THE READY SET PREMIERE VIDEO FOR "FANGZ" ON VEVO". Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Sendra, Tim (May 25, 2014). "The Bad & the Better – The Ready Set | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Lucy, Evan (2014). "The Ready Set – The Bad & The Better". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. June 2014 (311): 103. ISSN 1065-1667. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ Marvel, Emillie. "Album Review: The Ready Set - The Bad & the Better". Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ "The Bad & the Better - The Ready Set Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  17. ↑ "The Ready Set Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
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