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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."^[1]

Enjoy The Struggle was scheduled to be released as the albums first single^[2], but in a change of heart, Crooked Timber was deemed to be a better choice by the band^[3].

The album was released on limited edition white 12" vinyl and CD. Crooked Timber reached number 197 in the UK Album charts.

Track listing

All songs written by Therapy? except Exiles 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)

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

Single

"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)".

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^[4].
On April 1, 2008, Michael posted a news item that they would self-produce the album and it was nearing completion at that time^[5]. This turned out to be an April Fools Joke.
On July 14, 2008, Michael announced Andy Gill to be the producer^[6].
On July 21, 2008, the band posted a rehearsal video featuring an early idea recorded in June^[7].
On July 29, 2008, Michael posted a diary item with pictures from the recording studio^[8].
On August 3, 2008, Michael posted a diary item from week one of the album recording^[9].
On August 11, 2008, Michael posted a diary video clip from week two of the album recording^[10].
On August 24, 2008, Michael posted a diary item stating that the album recording had been completed^[11].
On December 18, 2008, the band posted a news item revealing the name of the new album and the release date^[12].
On December 22, 2008, Michael posted a diary item revealing the tracklisting^[13].
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^[14].
On January 13, 2009, the band posted a news item revealing the artwork^[15].
On January 23, 2009, the full album version of The Head That Tried To Strangle Itself was streamed on the bands' official Myspace site^[16].
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^[17].
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^[18].
On March 3, 2009, Neil posted a diary item revealing the video for Crooked Timber had been recorded in Manchester in February^[19].
On March 20, 2009, the band posted a free download of Enjoy The Struggle on the official site^[20].
On March 23, 2009, the album was released on CD. The band launched it with an acoustic instore performance in HMV, Belfast^[21].
On March 29, 2009, the complete promo video for Crooked Timber was posted on the bands official website^[22].
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^[23].

Reception

Reviews collated thus far have been mixed. 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"^[24], and they earner the first ever 10/10 on The Mag"^[25]. 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.

Trivia

A total of 14 tracks were recorded for the album, only 10 of which made the final cut.
In the original unconfirmed track listing, there were 12 tracks scheduled for the album. The two songs removed (from 12 to 10) were "Low Winter Sun" and "Don't Try".
"Beercan" and "Rite Of Spring" are old working titles of "Exiles" and "Bad Excuse For Daylight", both of which appear on the album.
A track called "Mingusisyphus" was also recorded, more than likely an early working title for "Enjoy The Struggle" on the album.
"The Magic Mountain" is the name of a famous German novel by Thomas Mann about a sanatorium.
"I Told You I Was Ill" is the translation of an Irish quote that appears on the gravestone of Irish/English comedian Spike Milligan.
"Somnambulist" is a medically defined term for a sleepwalker.

References

External links

[1] "Andy Cairns interview in press release for new album".

[2] "Micheal McKeegan message board post regarding track listing".

[3] "Micheal McKeegan diary regarding first single".

[4] "March 2008 - Clowns Galore".

[5] "Therapy? April Fools Joke".

[6] "Therapy? announce new producer".

[7] "June 2008 - Rehearsal".

[8] "So it begins".

[9] "Week one".

[10] "Week two".

[11] "New album complete".

[12] "Therapy? announce new album".

[13] "Michael reveal tracklisting".

[14] "New Year Riffs".

[15] "Therapy? reveal artwork".

[16] "Official Myspace site".

[17] "Micheal McKeegan diary regarding first single".

[18] "Crooked White Vinyl".

[19] "Neils' diary entry about new video".

[20] "Enjoy The Struggle".

[21] "Album launch".

[22] "Crooked Timber video".

[23] "Crooked Timber single".

[24] "drop-d review of Crooked Timber".

[25] "The Mag Review of Crooked Timber".

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 ==Reception==
-Reviews collated thus far have been mixed. 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"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://drop-d.ie/article.php?article_id=905 | title=drop-d review of Crooked Timber}}</ref>. [[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.
+Reviews collated thus far have been mixed. 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"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://drop-d.ie/article.php?article_id=905 | title=drop-d review of Crooked Timber}}</ref>, and they earner the first ever 10/10 on The Mag"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Music/Bands/Item/Therapy/| title=The Mag Review of Crooked Timber}}</ref>. [[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.
 ==Trivia==

v t e Therapy?
Andy CairnsTemplate:•wrap Michael McKeeganTemplate:•wrap Neil Cooper Fyfe EwingTemplate:•wrap Martin McCarrickTemplate:•wrap Graham Hopkins
Studio albums	BabyteethTemplate:•wrap Pleasure DeathTemplate:•wrap NurseTemplate:•wrap TroublegumTemplate:•wrap Infernal LoveTemplate:•wrap Semi DetachedTemplate:•wrap Suicide Pact - You FirstTemplate:•wrap ShamelessTemplate:•wrap High AnxietyTemplate:•wrap Never Apologise Never ExplainTemplate:•wrap One Cure Fits AllTemplate:•wrap Crooked Timber
Compilations	Caucasian PsychosisTemplate:•wrap Hats Off to the InsaneTemplate:•wrap Born In A CrashTemplate:•wrap So Much For the Ten Year PlanTemplate:•wrap Music Through A Cheap Transistor
Singles and EPs	Meat AbstractTemplate:•wrap TeethgrinderTemplate:•wrapShortSharpShock EPTemplate:•wrap Face The Strange EPTemplate:•wrap Opal Mantra EPTemplate:•wrap NowhereTemplate:•wrap Trigger InsideTemplate:•wrap Die LaughingTemplate:•wrap IsolationTemplate:•wrap FemtexTemplate:•wrap StoriesTemplate:•wrap LooseTemplate:•wrap DianeTemplate:•wrap Stories (re-release)Template:•wrap Bad MotherTemplate:•wrap Church Of NoiseTemplate:•wrap Lonely, Cryin’, OnlyTemplate:•wrap Hate Kill DestroyTemplate:•wrap Gimme Back My BrainTemplate:•wrap I Am The MoneyTemplate:•wrap If It Kills Me/RustTemplate:•wrap My Voodoo DollTemplate:•wrap Polar Bear/Rock You MonkeysTemplate:•wrap Rain Hits Concrete EPTemplate:•wrap Crooked Timber
Radio only promos	NauseaTemplate:•wrap PerversonalityTemplate:•wrap ScreamagerTemplate:•wrap KnivesTemplate:•wrap MiseryTemplate:•wrap Stay HappyTemplate:•wrap Six Mile WaterTemplate:•wrap Bad Karma Follows You AroundTemplate:•wrap Rise Up (Make Yourself Well)Template:•wrap Die Like A MotherfuckerTemplate:•wrap Long Distance
Rare and specialty	Thirty Seconds Of Silence (demo)Template:•wrap Meat Abstract (demo)Template:•wrap Have A Merry Fucking ChristmasTemplate:•wrap Live In Japan (Fan Club Edition)Template:•wrap Official Fan Club 1996Template:•wrap Webgig
Videos	ScopophobiaTemplate:•wrap Gold
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