Crooked Timber (album)

Crooked Timber (album)
Crooked Timber
Studio album by Therapy?
Released 23 March 2009
Recorded July-August 2008 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, England and August-September 2008 at The Beauchamp Building, London, England
Genre Alternative rock, post-punk
Length 49:22
67:58 (DGE)
Label Demolition Records
Producer Andy Gill
Therapy? chronology
Music Through A Cheap Transistor
(2007)
Crooked Timber
(2009)
We're Here to the End
(2010)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3.5/5 stars[1]

Crooked Timber, is the tenth full-length album by the band Therapy?, and the first to be released on Demolition Records. It was released on March 23, 2009. The album was recorded from July to August 2008 at Blast Studios, Newcastle, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building, London from August to September 2008. Produced by Andy Gill, the album features a bias towards rhythm rather than melody.

According to Andy Cairns; “I guess we’re always challenging just what makes us Therapy?. After so many years, if we were formulaic about it, we’d have gotten bored with the band long ago. The album was written together as a band, and each track has its own concept and inspirations. They took a while to write and we’ve taken our time to write them.”

“From the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” – Immanuel Kant (18th-century German philosopher)

Andy explains: “The recording is about celebrating people’s quirks, the things which make us unique. These days everyone tries to fit in, instead of just being themselves. The songs examine what it means to be human - To realise that we are the only living things on the planet aware of our own deaths."[2]

Crooked Timber reached number 197 in the UK Album charts. As of early May 2009 (6 weeks following its release), the album had sold 30,000 copies in Europe[3].

The album was released on limited edition white 12" vinyl, CD and Download.

On July 19, 2010, the album was re-released as a "Deluxe Gold Edition" digipak CD featuring two bonus tracks, two remixes and 4 alternate versions[4].

Contents

Track listing

All songs written by Therapy? except track 4 written by Therapy? & Andy Gill

  1. "The Head that Tried to Strangle Itself" – 3:24
  2. "Enjoy the Struggle" – 4:10
  3. "Clowns Galore" – 3:41
  4. "Exiles" – 5:36
  5. "Crooked Timber" – 5:52
  6. "I Told You I Was Ill" – 3:50
  7. "Somnambulist" – 4:04
  8. "Blacken the Page" – 2:48
  9. "Magic Mountain" – 10:05
  10. "Bad Excuse for Daylight" – 5:49

Deluxe Gold Edition:

  1. "The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself" - 3:27
  2. "Enjoy The Struggle" - 4:12
  3. "Clowns Galore" - 3:43
  4. "Exiles (Sample Version)" - 5:47
  5. "Crooked Timber (Breathless Fx Mix)" - 5:55
  6. "I Told You I Was Ill" - 3:53
  7. "Somnambulist" - 4:08
  8. "Blacken The Page" - 2:49
  9. "Magic Mountain (Sample Version)" - 10:14
  10. "Bad Excuse For Daylight (Sample Version)" - 5:57
  11. "Exiles (Bong-Ra Gutteral Exodus Mix)" - 4:42
  12. "Magic Mountain (Snug Slut Mix)" - 4:32
  13. "Low Winter Sun" - 4:21
  14. "Don't Try" - 4:16

Personnel

  • Andy Cairns – vocals, guitar, mixing
  • Neil Cooper. – drums
  • Michael McKeegan – bass
  • Andy Gill – producer & engineer
  • Sam Norton - engineer
  • Adam Sinclair - mixing & additional recording
  • Tom Hoad - photography
  • Michael Surtees - design

Singles

  • "Crooked Timber" - May 18, 2009 on CD and download. A single edit version of "Crooked Timber" with "Don't Try", "Low Winter Sun" and "Crooked Timber (Breathless FX Mix)".
  • "Exiles" - July 7, 2010 as a download only. "Exiles" (Gold Edition Sample Version), with "Exiles (Subglitch & Stitch Remix)" and "Magic Mountain (The Dubious Twins Babylon Remix)"

"Enjoy The Struggle" was scheduled to be released as the albums first single[5], but in a change of heart, "Crooked Timber" was deemed to be a better choice by the band[6].

Promo Video

  • "Crooked Timber": Directed by 'Sitcom Soldiers'

Timeline

  • On March 27, 2008, bassist Michael McKeegan posted a rehearsal video featuring an early idea entitled Clowns Galore[7].
  • On April 1, 2008, Michael posted a news item that they would self-produce the album and it was nearing completion at that time[8]. This turned out to be an April Fools Joke.
  • On July 14, 2008, Michael announced Andy Gill to be the producer[9].
  • On July 21, 2008, the band posted a rehearsal video featuring an early idea recorded in June[10].
  • On July 29, 2008, Michael posted a diary item with pictures from the recording studio[11].
  • On August 3, 2008, Michael posted a diary item from week one of the album recording[12].
  • On August 11, 2008, Michael posted a diary video clip from week two of the album recording[13].
  • On August 24, 2008, Michael posted a diary item stating that the album recording had been completed[14].
  • On December 18, 2008, the band posted a news item revealing the name of the new album and the release date[15].
  • On December 22, 2008, Michael posted a diary item revealing the tracklisting[16].
  • On January 1, 2009, Michael posted a studio diary video featuring unmastered mp3 clip's of three new songs; Enjoy The Struggle, Crooked Timber and The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself[17].
  • On January 13, 2009, the band posted a news item revealing the artwork[18].
  • On January 23, 2009, the full album version of The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself was streamed on the bands' official Myspace site[19].
  • On February 22, 2009, Michael posted a diary entry revealing the choice of Crooked Timber as first single, instead of original choice Enjoy The Struggle[20].
  • On February 27, 2009, the band posted a news item stating that the album would be released on limited edition white vinyl on March 30, and both the vinyl and CD can be pre-ordered from the Global Music web store[21].
  • On March 3, 2009, Neil posted a diary item revealing the video for Crooked Timber had been recorded in Manchester in February[22].
  • On March 20, 2009, the band posted a free download of Enjoy The Struggle on the official site[23].
  • On March 23, 2009, the album was released on CD. The band launched it with an acoustic instore performance in HMV, Belfast[24].
  • On March 29, 2009, the complete promo video for Crooked Timber was posted on the bands official website[25].
  • On March 30, 2009, the album was released on vinyl.
  • On April 15, 2009, the band posted a news item detailing the new single Crooked Timber[26].
  • On May 18, 2009, the Crooked Timber single was released.
  • On June 25, 2009, Andy Cairns posted a blog on Myspace that in Europe the album has sold 30,000 copies within its first 6 weeks of release[27].
  • On May 25, 2010, the 'Deluxe Gold Edition' version of the album was detailed in a news item[28].
  • On July 7, 2010, the Exiles single was released[29].
  • On July 19, 2010, the 'Deluxe Gold Edition' version of the album was released.

Reception

Reviews collated thus far have been mostly positive. The album earned a rave review on Irish indie website drop-d, stating it "not only confirms their incredible legacy, but takes them to a new level"[30], and they earned the first ever 10/10 on The Mag"[31]. Kerrang! gave the album a KKK review (the equivalent of 3/5). Kerrang!'s UK competitor, Metal Hammer gave the album 8/10. However, French websites have, on average, slated the album criticising its schizophrenic nature and the bands' refusal to focus on one particular sound.

References

  1. ^ Prato, Greg. "Review: Crooked Timber". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1502078. Retrieved 29 December 2009. 
  2. ^ "Andy Cairns interview in press release for new album". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=240. 
  3. ^ "Album Goes Silver". http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=23245957&blogId=496875468. 
  4. ^ "Crooked Timber Deluxe Gold Edition". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=279. 
  5. ^ "Micheal McKeegan message board post regarding track listing". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/wallofmouths/discussions/post/281351/#post-281351. 
  6. ^ "Micheal McKeegan diary regarding first single". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=264. 
  7. ^ "March 2008 - Clowns Galore". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=233. 
  8. ^ "Therapy? April Fools Joke". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=234. 
  9. ^ "Therapy? announce new producer". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=237. 
  10. ^ "June 2008 - Rehearsal". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=238. 
  11. ^ "So it begins". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=258. 
  12. ^ "Week one". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=261. 
  13. ^ "Week two". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=261. 
  14. ^ "New album complete". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=261. 
  15. ^ "Therapy? announce new album". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=240. 
  16. ^ "Michael reveal tracklisting". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=262. 
  17. ^ "New Year Riffs". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=263. 
  18. ^ "Therapy? reveal artwork". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=241. 
  19. ^ "Official Myspace site". http://www.myspace.com/therapyquestionmark. 
  20. ^ "Micheal McKeegan diary regarding first single". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=264. 
  21. ^ "Crooked White Vinyl". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=246. 
  22. ^ "Neils' diary entry about new video". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/biography/diary/read.php?diaryid=265. 
  23. ^ "Enjoy The Struggle". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=252. 
  24. ^ "Album launch". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?diaryid=267. 
  25. ^ "Crooked Timber video". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk. 
  26. ^ "Crooked Timber single". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=257. 
  27. ^ "Album Goes Silver". http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=23245957&blogId=496875468. 
  28. ^ "Deluxe Gold Edition". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=279. 
  29. ^ "Exiles single released". http://www.therapyquestionmark.co.uk/news/read.php?newsid=280. 
  30. ^ "drop-d review of Crooked Timber". http://drop-d.ie/article.php?article_id=905. 
  31. ^ "The Mag Review of Crooked Timber". http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Music/Bands/Item/Therapy/. 

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