Crooked Timber (album)
Encyclopedia
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.”
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."
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.
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.
Deluxe Gold Edition:
"Enjoy The Struggle" was scheduled to be released as the albums first single, but in a change of heart, "Crooked Timber" was deemed to be a better choice by the band.
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.
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
, 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
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from August to September 2008. Produced by Andy Gill, the album features a bias towards rhythm rather than melody.
According to Andy Cairns
Andy Cairns
Andrew James Cairns , is a founding member, singer, guitarist and songwriter for Therapy?, a hard rock band from Northern Ireland.- Therapy? :...
; “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 KantImmanuel KantImmanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
(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."
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.
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.
Track listing
All songs written by Therapy? except track 4 written by Therapy? & Andy Gill- "The Head that Tried to Strangle Itself" – 3:24
- "Enjoy the Struggle" – 4:10
- "Clowns Galore" – 3:41
- "Exiles" – 5:36
- "Crooked Timber" – 5:52
- "I Told You I Was Ill" – 3:50
- "Somnambulist" – 4:04
- "Blacken the Page" – 2:48
- "Magic Mountain" – 10:05
- "Bad Excuse for Daylight" – 5:49
Deluxe Gold Edition:
- "The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself" - 3:27
- "Enjoy The Struggle" - 4:12
- "Clowns Galore" - 3:43
- "Exiles (Sample Version)" - 5:47
- "Crooked Timber (Breathless Fx Mix)" - 5:55
- "I Told You I Was Ill" - 3:53
- "Somnambulist" - 4:08
- "Blacken The Page" - 2:49
- "Magic Mountain (Sample Version)" - 10:14
- "Bad Excuse For Daylight (Sample Version)" - 5:57
- "Exiles (Bong-RaBong-RaBong-Ra is the performing name of Dutch breakcore musician Jason Kohnen from Utrecht. Formed in 1996, initially producing and DJing jungle music...
Gutteral Exodus Mix)" - 4:42 - "Magic Mountain (Snug Slut Mix)" - 4:32
- "Low Winter Sun" - 4:21
- "Don't Try" - 4:16
Personnel
- Andy CairnsAndy CairnsAndrew James Cairns , is a founding member, singer, guitarist and songwriter for Therapy?, a hard rock band from Northern Ireland.- Therapy? :...
– vocals, guitar, mixing - Neil Cooper. – drums
- Michael McKeeganMichael McKeeganMichael Robert McKeegan is best known as the bassist with the rock band, Therapy?.-Evil Priest:...
– 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, but in a change of heart, "Crooked Timber" was deemed to be a better choice by the band.
Timeline
- On March 27, 2008, bassist Michael McKeeganMichael McKeeganMichael Robert McKeegan is best known as the bassist with the rock band, Therapy?.-Evil Priest:...
posted a rehearsal video featuring an early idea entitled Clowns Galore. - On April 1, 2008, Michael posted a news item that they would self-produce the album and it was nearing completion at that time. This turned out to be an April Fools Joke.
- On July 14, 2008, Michael announced Andy GillAndy GillAndy Gill is a founding member and guitarist for the English rock group Gang of Four, considered among the most influential post-punk bands...
to be the producer. - On July 21, 2008, the band posted a rehearsal video featuring an early idea recorded in June.
- On July 29, 2008, Michael posted a diary item with pictures from the recording studio.
- On August 3, 2008, Michael posted a diary item from week one of the album recording.
- On August 11, 2008, Michael posted a diary video clip from week two of the album recording.
- On August 24, 2008, Michael posted a diary item stating that the album recording had been completed.
- On December 18, 2008, the band posted a news item revealing the name of the new album and the release date.
- On December 22, 2008, Michael posted a diary item revealing the tracklisting.
- 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.
- On January 13, 2009, the band posted a news item revealing the artwork.
- On January 23, 2009, the full album version of The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself was streamed on the bands' official MyspaceMyspaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
site. - 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.
- 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.
- On March 3, 2009, Neil posted a diary item revealing the video for Crooked Timber had been recorded in Manchester in February.
- On March 20, 2009, the band posted a free download of Enjoy The Struggle on the official site.
- On March 23, 2009, the album was released on CD. The band launched it with an acoustic instore performance in HMV, Belfast.
- On March 29, 2009, the complete promo video for Crooked Timber was posted on the bands official website.
- 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.
- 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.
- On May 25, 2010, the 'Deluxe Gold Edition' version of the album was detailed in a news item.
- On July 7, 2010, the Exiles single was released.
- 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", and they earned the first ever 10/10 on The Mag". Kerrang! gave the album a KKK review (the equivalent of 3/5). Kerrang!'s UK competitor, Metal HammerMetal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
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.