# Rubbing Doesn't Help

Rubbing Doesn't Help is the third album by Magnapop, released in 1996.

## Recording

The sessions for Rubbing Doesn't Help were produced by Geza X at City Lab Studios in Hollywood, California in late 1995. Drummer David McNair left the group prior to recording, so they hired session musician Josh Freese to fill in on drums. This would be the band's final album for almost a decade; their record label folded while promoting Rubbing Doesn't Help and they were contractually barred from recording under that name. The band (along with Freese) also went to Plus Four Recordings Studios, in Sherman Oaks, California with engineers Sandy Solomon and Bernie Zwass in June 1995 to record their cover of Tom Waits' "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" for the compilation album Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits. The title of the album comes from a Ben-Gay slogan.

## Reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Blender | favorable |
| Boston Phoenix | favorable |
| Robert Christgau | |
| College Music Journal | favorable |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Launch Magazine | |
| Melody Maker | favorable |
| Ray Gun | favorable |
| The Washington Post | favorable |
The album received mostly positive reviews, with some mixed responses. Positive critics noted the album's emotionally powerful lyrics in addition to its aggressive instrumentation—particularly the guitar. Ambivalent reviewers criticized the lack of variety between this album and Magnapop's previous efforts, as well as a lack of focus in the production.

## Track listing

All songs written by Linda Hopper and Ruthie Morris, except where noted.
* "This Family" – 3:28
* "I Don't Care" – 2:40
* "Open the Door" – 3:37
* "Come on Inside" – 2:43
* "Down on Me" – 3:24
* "An Apology" – 3:04
* "My Best Friend" – 3:26
* "Juicy Fruit" – 2:18
* "Firebrand" – 2:29
* "Cherry Bomb" – 2:15
* "Radio Waves" – 2:32
* "Snake" (Hopper, Morris, and Shannon Mulvaney) – 5:00
* "Dead Letter" – 3:32
    Also includes the hidden track "Suck It Up"

### Japanese edition bonus tracks

* "Hold You Down" (New Mix) – 2:43
* "Voice Without a Sound" – 2:41
The Dutch edition of the album has a slightly different track listing, with "Hold You Down" (3:29) as the fourth track and omitting "Cherry Bomb".

## Tracks from Rubbing Doesn't Help

A promotional EP entitled Tracks from Rubbing Doesn't Help was released by Play It Again Sam in the United States in 1996 (catalogue number PROMOBIAS 033 CD) with the following track listing:
* "This Family" – 3:28
* "An Apology" – 3:04
* "Open the Door" – 3:37
* "My Best Friend" – 3:26
* "Juicy Fruit" – 2:18
* "Snake" – 5:00

## Personnel
### Magnapop

* Linda Hopper – lead vocals, art direction, photography
* Ruthie Morris – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Hold You Down" and "Suck It Up", dobro on "Dead Letter", art direction, photography
* Shannon Mulvaney – bass guitar

### Additional personnel

* Jerry Finn – mixing on "Come on Inside"
* Sherry Rae Etheredge – photography
* Josh Freese – drums
* Geza X – production, engineering
* Maggie Magarian – design
* Nancy Ogami – lettering
* Eddie Shryer of Future Disc – mastering
* Art Shoji – design
* Steve Snow – sound design on "Come On Inside"
* Thom Wilson – mixing

## Release history

The album was initially released on Priority Records in the United States and Play It Again Sam in Europe, with the Japanese edition published by King.
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
| United States | March 21, 1996 | Priority | Compact Disc | P2 53992 |
| United States | March 21, 1996 | Priority | cassette tape | P4 53992 |
| Europe | March 21, 1996 | Play It Again Sam | Compact Disc | 450.0321.20 - BIAS 321 CD |
| Europe | March 21, 1996 | Play It Again Sam | LP (red vinyl) | 450.0321.10 - BIAS 321 LP |
| Australia | 1996 | Cortex | Compact Disc | CTX058CD |
| Japan | 1996 | King | Compact Disc | KICP 507† |
| The Netherlands | 1996 | Play It Again Sam | Compact Disc | 450.0321.26 - BIAS 321 CDX |
†Special edition with bonus tracks

## Sales chart performance

| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
| US Top Heatseekers | 22 |