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Skying

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Untitled

Skying is the third studio album by British band The Horrors. The album was released on 11 July 2011 in the UK and on 9 August 2011[1] in the US on XL recordings. Recorded by the band in their self-built London studio, it is the first album the band produced themselves. Two months prior to its release, the song "Still Life" was premiered on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show where it was played in its entirety and named as his "Hottest Record in the World" .[2] This was the first track to be released from the album and the first indicator to fans of the direction the album would take.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
BBC(favorable)[5]
Clash9/10[6]
Drowned in Sound8/10[7]
The Guardian[8]
NME8/10[9]
Pitchfork Media7.5/10[10]
Rockfeedback [11]
Slant Magazine [12]

Skying received considerable attention from the music press before its release, following the overwhelming positive response to Primary Colours. Numerous music publications confirmed it would be their album of the month in upcoming issues including Mojo and Q. The single "Still Life" gained far more media exposure and mainstream radio airplay than previous releases, reaching the Radio 1 A list.

Reviewing the album for BBC Music, Mike Diver wrote, "There's no fault to be found with Skying – truly, every song here hits its mark... From the most incongruous of beginnings, The Horrors have become national treasures in waiting, and now possess the ability to realise any ambitions". Likewise, Clash ran the review as a lead album feature, with writer Joe Zadeh declaring The Horrors "an intellectually collective five-piece, fully immersed in the confidence of their own astonishing abilities".

Mojo placed the album at No. 2 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011"[13] while Uncut placed the album at No. 6.[14] Q placed it at 11. Skying won the Best Album prize at the 2012 NME Awards.

The album's sound was noted as including elements of post-punk revival,[15] neo-psychedelia[16] and shoegazing.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Changing the Rain"4:36
2."You Said"4:51
3."I Can See Through You"4:22
4."Endless Blue"5:15
5."Dive In"4:56
6."Still Life"5:26
7."Wild Eyed"4:09
8."Moving Further Away"8:39
9."Monica Gems"4:33
10."Oceans Burning"7:54
Japanese CD bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."You Said (Ambient Version)"8:12
12."Changing the Rain (Ambient Version)"8:56
US digital bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Wild Eyed (Andrew Weatherall Remix)"7:13

Personnel

The Horrors
  • Faris Badwan - vocals
  • Joshua Third - guitar
  • Tom Furse - keyboards
  • Rhys Webb - bass guitar, keyboards
  • Joe Spurgeon - drums
Additional personnel
  • Derek Watkins, John Barclay, Mark Nightingale, Martin Owen, Richard Edwards, Richard Watkins - horns (tracks 4 and 6)

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Scottish Albums Chart[17] 7
UK Albums Chart[18] 5
U.S. Billboard 200 97
U.S. Billboard Rock Albums 18
U.S. Billboard Independent Albums 11
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums 12
U.S. Billboard Tastemaker Albums 3

Certification

Country Certification
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver[19]

Release history

Region Date Distributing label Format Catalog
Australia[20] 8 July 2011 XL 2LP, CD, digital download 2LP: XLLP539
CD: XLCD539
United Kingdom[21] 11 July 2011
United States[22] 9 August 2011

References

  1. ^ Neyland, Nick (7 July 2011). "The Horrors: "Still Life" | Tracks". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. ^ "New Album - 'Skying'". The Horrors. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Skying - The Horrors - Critic Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  4. ^ Heather Phares (26 July 2011). "The Horrors Skying Review". Rovi. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  5. ^ Mike Diver (28 June 2011). "The Horrors Skying Review". BBC. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  6. ^ Joe Zadeh (8 July 2011). "Album Review: The Horrors - 'Skying'". clashmusic.com. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  7. ^ Drowned in Sound Review
  8. ^ Dorian Lynskey (10 July 2011). "The Horrors - Skying(Abhisar)". Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  9. ^ Louise Brailey (28 June 2011). "Album Review: The Horrors - 'Skying'". nme.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  10. ^ Eric Grandy (25 July 2011). "The Horrors - Skying album review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  11. ^ "Rockfeedback review".
  12. ^ "Slant review".
  13. ^ "MOJO's Top 50 Albums Of 2011". Stereogum. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  14. ^ "Uncut's Top 50 Albums Of 2011". Stereogum. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  15. ^ KCRW Music Host Mario Cotto (31 July 2011). "First Listen: The Horrors, 'Skying'". NPR. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  16. ^ Rich, Matt James (17 August 2011). "The Horrors – Skying". Playgroundmisnomer.com. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  17. ^ "Scottish Albums Top 40 - 17th December 2011". Official Charts. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Official UK Albums Top 100 - 17th December 2011 | The UK Charts | Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  19. ^ http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx
  20. ^ "Skying | Music , Music Genres, Alternative : JB HI-FI". Jbhifionline.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Welcome to Rough Trade Shops". Roughtrade.com. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  22. ^ "iTunes - Music - Skying (Bonus Track Version) by The Horrors". Itunes.apple.com. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skying&oldid=708095068"