Crooked Timber (album)
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''Crooked Timber'' is the twelfth studio album by the rock band
Therapy? Therapy? are a Northern Irish rock band from Larne, formed in 1989 by guitarist-vocalist Andy Cairns and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing. Therapy? recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar. To complete the lineup, the band ...
, and the first to be released on Demolition Records. It was released on 23 March 2009. The album was recorded from July to August 2008 at Blast Studios,
Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...
, with additional recording at The Beauchamp Building in London from August to September 2008. Produced by
Andy Gill Andrew James Dalrymple Gill (1 January 1956 – 1 February 2020) was an English musician and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the rock band Gang of Four, which he co-founded in 1976. Gill was known for his angular, jagged style of ...
, the album features a bias towards rhythm rather than melody. According to
Andy Cairns Therapy? are a Northern Irish rock band from Larne, formed in 1989 by guitarist-vocalist Andy Cairns and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing. Therapy? recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar. To complete the lineup, the band ...
; "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 Immanuel Kant (born Emanuel Kant; 22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German Philosophy, philosopher and one of the central Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment thinkers. Born in Königsberg, Kant's comprehensive and systematic works ...
(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 and was certified silver. The album was released on limited edition white 12" vinyl, CD and Download. On 19 July 2010 the album was re-released as a "Deluxe Gold Edition" digipak CD featuring two bonus tracks, two remixes and 4 alternate versions. On 10 June 2022 the album was once again re-released, this time as a 2CD "Extended Version" featuring the original album on disc 1 and a selection of previously released bonus tracks on disc 2.


Singles

*"Crooked Timber" – 18 May 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" – 7 July 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 album's first single, but in a change of heart, "Crooked Timber" was deemed to be a better choice by the band.


Promo video

*"Crooked Timber": directed by 'Sitcom Soldiers'


Reception

Reviews 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 ''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...
! gave the album a KKK review (the equivalent of 3/5). Kerrang!'s UK competitor,
Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' featu ...
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.


Track listing


Personnel

;Therapy? *
Andy Cairns Therapy? are a Northern Irish rock band from Larne, formed in 1989 by guitarist-vocalist Andy Cairns and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing. Therapy? recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar. To complete the lineup, the band ...
– vocals, guitar, mixing * Neil Cooper – drums *
Michael McKeegan Michael McKeegan (born 25 March 1971) is a Northern Irish musician best known as the bassist of rock band Therapy?. Evil Priest In 1988, McKeegan (bass/vocals), along with his two brothers Ciaran (guitar) and Charlie (drums), formed a heavy ...
– bass ;Technical *
Andy Gill Andrew James Dalrymple Gill (1 January 1956 – 1 February 2020) was an English musician and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the rock band Gang of Four, which he co-founded in 1976. Gill was known for his angular, jagged style of ...
– producer and engineer *Sam Morton – engineer *Adam Sinclair – mixing and additional recording *Tom Hoad – photography *Michael Surtees – design


Charts


References


External links

*
Global Music store
{{Authority control 2009 albums Therapy? albums Albums produced by Andy Gill