Too Bad You're Beautiful
Too Bad You're Beautiful is the debut studio album by Long Island-based post-hardcore band From Autumn to Ashes. The album is unique in that it features the dual vocals of Benjamin Perri and drummer Francis Mark. Perri provides the hardcore-esque shouts while Mark sings and occasionally contributes background screams. The album was reissued in 2005 with the "Sin, Sorrow, and Sadness" demo as bonus tracks at the end. A music video was released for the song "The Royal Crown vs. Blue Duchess." Background and release. From Autumn to Ashes formed in  2000 with Benjamin Perri (vocals), Stephen Salvio (guitar), and Francis Mark (drums, clean vocals). The band spent its first few months touring and would record the EP "Sin, Sorrow and Sadness", which would be released through Tribunal Records that same year. Following the EP's release, the band would appear on Warped Tour over the summer. In early 2001, From Autumn to Ashes performed with Skycamefalling and Martyr AD, where Carl Severson, founder of Ferret Music, was in attendance; the band would be signed to the label the following day. Around this time founding guitarist Stephen Salvio left the band  and was replaced by Brian Denevee. Production of "Too Bad You're Beautiful" lasted from May 15 to May 23 in 2001. The album was produced by the band and Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage at Zing Studios in Westfield, MA. Each song on "Too Bad You're Beautiful" is written about a relationship vocalist Benjamin Perri had. The album was released through Ferret Music on August 14, 2001. "Too Bad You're Beautiful" has sold over 100,000 units and remains one of Ferret's best-selling releases. Reception and legacy. "Too Bad You're Beautiful" has received highly positive  reviews since its release. "Chronicles of Chaos" reviewer Xander Hoose praised the band's ability to mix fast-paced hardcore with slower, melodic moments. Hoose criticized drummer Francis Mark's clean vocals noting his vocals were off-key at times and kept the album from being perfect. Lambgoat reviewer Mustapha Mond noted the band's ability to mix hardcore, metal, emo. Mond highlighted the songs "Cherry Kiss," "Capeside Rock," "Take Her to the Music Store," and "Reflections." Mond stated that "'The Royal Crown -vs.- Blue Duchess' took so many disparate elements, and yet somehow managed to keep a unified sound  - it stayed one song the whole time.But over the course of 'Too Bad,' one cannot help but feel that too many things happen separately, and never quite gel." Mond concluded by calling "Too Bad You're Beautiful" one of the best albums of 2001, despite its flaws. In a 5/5 review, Punk News praised the album for its variety of musical styles and elements, from the hardcore of album opener "The Royal Crown vs. Blue Duchess" to the metal of "Cherry Kiss" to the acoustic emo of "Chloroform Perfume" and the spoken word of "Mercury Rising." The review  highlighted "Take Her to the Music Store" and "Reflections" as examples of how the band can quickly change tempo and song structure. The review called closing track "Short Stories with Tragic Endings" a masterpiece, praising the use of violins and Melanie Wells's performance. In 2020, Brooklyn Vegan included "Too Bad You're Beautiful" on its list of "15 albums that defined the 2000s post-hardcore boom."