Five Lessons Learned

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Five Lessons Learned is the fourth full-length album by Swingin’ Utters, released on June 23, 1998. It was recorded in the winter of 1997–98 at Motor Studios in San Francisco and runs 38 minutes and 7 seconds. The punk rock set was released by Fat Wreck Chords and produced by Fat Mike, Ryan Greene, and the band itself. This was their second album with Fat Wreck Chords.

The title track, Five Lessons Learned, was featured in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. The album’s single was I Need Feedback. Another song, This Bastard’s Life, appears in Rock Band 3, while Tell Me Lies was used in the BMX video Dig.

Musically, the album mostly sticks to short, fast punk songs, with I Need Feedback borrowing a riff from The Damned’s Neat Neat Neat. It also includes a ska-influenced track, Unpopular Again, and an Irish folk-flavored piece, Fruitless Fortunes, hinting at the band’s future direction and the side project Filthy Thievin’ Bastards.

The cover art, by Steve Zeigler, features black-and-white photos with themes of guns and crime, including a chalk-etched date of 2-14-47. Fat Mike of NOFX co-produced and played bass on Unpopular Again, and Chris Shiflett—who would later join Foo Fighters—appeared as a guest.