Razzmatazz (album)

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For the Paolo Conte album, see Razmataz.
Razzmatazz
Studio album by
I Dont Know How But They Found Me
ReleasedOctober 23, 2020
Recorded2020[a]
StudioPagzilla Sound (North Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length37:15 (digital)
41:59 (physical)
LabelFearless
Producer
I Dont Know How But They Found Me chronology
Christmas Drag
(2019) 		Razzmatazz
(2020) 		Gloom Division
(2024)
Singles from Razzmatazz
  1. "Leave Me Alone"
    Released: August 5, 2020
  2. "Razzmatazz"
    Released: September 16, 2020
  3. "New Invention"
    Released: October 2, 2020
  4. "Lights Go Down"
    Released: October 14, 2020

Razzmatazz (stylized in all caps; sometimes as RΛZZMΛTΛZZ) is the debut studio album by American musical duo I Dont Know How But They Found Me (often shortened to iDKHOW). It was originally set to be released by Fearless Records on October 16, 2020, but was pushed back to October 23, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6][7] It is the band's only studio album to feature Ryan Seaman before his departure in 2023.

Promotion[edit]

Over two years prior to the album's release, the song "Nobody Likes The Opening Band" was released as a free download on their website on March 14, 2018, accompanied with a music video.[8] On August 5, 2020, the band released a lyric video for the album's lead single "Leave Me Alone" along with the announcement of the album's title and release date.[9] On September 16, the title track "Razzmatazz" and accompanying lyric video were released.[10] Following a video on October 1 explaining the need to push back the album, the band released the third single "New Invention" the next day alongside a lyric video.[7][11]

The band continued promoting the album long after release and performed "Leave Me Alone" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the following January[12][13] and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February.[14][15] For Record Store Day 2021, the band released Razzmatazz B-Sides as an exclusive picture disc. This EP included one new track: "Mx. Sinister", a cover of "Debra" by Beck, and reimagined versions of "Leave Me Alone" and "Modern Day Cain".[16]

On November 19, the band released Razzmatazz: Deluxe Edition. Included in the bonus tracks were a cover of "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure, a revision of "New Invention" featuring Tessa Violet, various live performances of tracks from Razzmatazz, and material previously only found on their limited B-Side release.

Starting in mid-2021 the band toured internationally to support the album and were featured in various festivals. The tour was split into two parts: the "Razzmatazzmatour" (late 2021) and "The Thought Reform Tour" (early 2022).[17][18]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[20]
DIY[21]
Kerrang!4/5[22]
The Line of Best Fit8.5/10[23]

Razzmatazz received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from reviews from critics, the album has an average score of 84, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 4 reviews.[19] DIY described the album as "melding together '80s synths, baroque piano and pithy, self-deprecating choruses", while adding that it is "fun, flamboyant, and entirely of its time".[21] The Line of Best Fit praised frontman Dallon Weekes' lyricism in the songs "Mad IQs" and "Clusterhug", as well as his bass guitar work in "Sugar Pills" and "New Invention".[23]

Track listing[edit]

Razzmatazz – Digital edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Leave Me Alone"Dallon WeekesTim Pagnotta3:35
2."Mad IQs"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • Brian Phillips
  • Pagnotta
  • Phillips
3:02
3."Nobody Likes the Opening Band"WeekesWeekes2:15
4."New Invention"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • Chad Walsh
  • David Walsh
Pagnotta3:11
5."From the Gallows"WeekesPagnotta2:42
6."Clusterhug"WeekesPagnotta3:12
7."Sugar Pills"
  • Weekes
  • Stu Maxfield
Pagnotta3:07
8."Kiss Goodnight"WeekesPagnotta3:50
9."Lights Go Down"
Pagnotta3:24
10."Need You Here"
Pagnotta3:07
11."Door"WeekesWeekes1:32
12."Razzmatazz"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • Phillips
Pagnotta4:18
Total length:37:15
Razzmatazz – Physical edition (CD and Vinyl)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Leave Me Alone"WeekesPagnotta3:44
2."Indoctrination"WeekesPagnotta1:11
3."Mad IQs"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • Phillips
  • Pagnotta
  • Phillips
3:02
4."Nobody Likes the Opening Band"WeekesWeekes2:15
5."New Invention"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • C. Walsh
  • D. Walsh
Pagnotta3:51
6."From the Gallows"WeekesPagnotta2:42
7."Clusterhug"WeekesPagnotta3:35
8."Sugar Pills"
  • Weekes
  • Maxfield
Pagnotta3:33
9."Kiss Goodnight"WeekesPagnotta3:50
10."Lights Go Down"
  • Weekes
  • Hill
Pagnotta3:43
11."Need You Here"
  • Weekes
  • Goldstein
Pagnotta3:29
12."Door"WeekesWeekes1:29
13."Tomorrow People"WeekesPagnotta1:19
14."Razzmatazz"
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • Phillips
Pagnotta4:18
Total length:41:59
Razzmatazz – Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks[24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."New Invention" (featuring Tessa Violet)
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • C. Walsh
  • D. Walsh
Pagnotta3:11
14."Boys Don't Cry" (The Cure cover)
Weekes3:15
15."Leave Me Alone" (Live From A TV Studio)WeekesWeekes3:40
16."New Invention" (Fisch Loops Remix)
  • Weekes
  • Pagnotta
  • C. Walsh
  • D. Walsh
Fisch Loops3:06
17."From the Gallows" (Demo)WeekesWeekes2:29
18."Modern Day Cain" (Slow Jam version)WeekesWeekes2:58
19."Sugar Pills" (Live From London / 2021)
  • Weekes
  • Maxfield
Weekes3:57
Total length:59:51
Razzmatazz B-Sides
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mx. Sinister"WeekesWeekes3:02
2."Modern Day Cain" (Slow Jam version)WeekesWeekes2:58
3."Leave Me Alone"WeekesPagnotta3:44
4."Debra" (Beck cover)
Weekes4:36
5."From the Gallows" (Demo)WeekesWeekes2:31
6."Leave Me Alone" (Piano version)WeekesWeekes3:32
Total length:20:23

Personnel[edit]

I Dont Know How But They Found Me

  • Dallon Weekes – vocals and bass (all tracks), synthesizer (1, 2, 4–10, 12); piano (3, 9, 10, 12), ukulele (11), production
  • Ryan Seaman – drums (except tracks 3 and 11), percussion

Additional personnel

  • Ian Walsh – guitar (except tracks 3, 7 and 11)
  • Stu Maxfield – guitar (track 7)
  • Alex Nauth – trumpet (track 5)
  • Matt Appleton – saxophone (track 12)

Production[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Razzmatazz
Chart (2020) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[25] 87
US Billboard 200[26] 122
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[27] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[28] 26
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[29] 11
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[30] 22
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[31] 23

Release history[edit]

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Various October 23, 2020 Fearless CD, LP, digital download, streaming FEAR01397

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ All tracks except for "Nobody Likes the Opening Band"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Razzmatazz by I Don't Know How But They Found Me". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  2. ^ a b "I Don't Know How But They Found Me - RAZZMATAZZ - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. ^ Trevan, Kelsey (2020-10-21). "iDKHOW – Razzmatazz (Album Review)". Wall of Sound AU. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  4. ^ Speter, Tiana (2020-10-11). "Album Review: Razzmatazz (iDKHOW)". The Soundcheck. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me". Fearless Records. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  6. ^ "In cooperation with TELLEXX, we here at iDKHOW are proud to present 'Razzmatazz'..." 5 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-23 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b "iDKHOW presents: BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS with DW". 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-03 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Hear IDKHBTFM's dreamy new song, "Nobody Likes The Opening Band"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  9. ^ "I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME – Leave Me Alone (Lyric Video)". Youtube. 5 August 2020.
  10. ^ "'Razzmatazz' (the song) is now available..." 16 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-03 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ iDKHOW Presents: Bad News / Good News with DW, retrieved 2022-03-02
  12. ^ Dowd, Rachael (26 January 2021). "iDKHOW just made their late-night TV debut with "Leave Me Alone"—watch: They appeared on Monday's episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  13. ^ I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (26 January 2021). "Leave Me Alone". Jimmy Kimmel Live. youtube. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  14. ^ Lew, Audrey (February 22, 2021). "News Flashes 02.22.21: The Irregulars, iDKHow on Ellen, HFPA Ethics". idobi.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  15. ^ I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME Rocks Out!, retrieved 2021-09-21
  16. ^ "I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - RAZZMATAZZ (B-Sides)". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  17. ^ "iDKHOW announce summer shows in London and Glasgow". NME. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  18. ^ "iDKHOW announce 2022 The Thought Reform Tour". Kerrang!. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  19. ^ a b "Reviews for Razzmatazz by I Don't Know How but They Found Me". Metacritic. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  20. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Razzmatazz – I Don't Know How but They Found Me | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  21. ^ a b Jamieson, Sarah (22 October 2020). "I Dont Know How But They Found Me – Razzmatazz". DIY. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  22. ^ McLaughlin, David (October 22, 2020). "Album Review: iDKHOW – Razzmatazz". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  23. ^ a b Simon-Bashall, Sophia (October 20, 2020). "I Don't Know How But They Found Me's debut is a brightly lit, dance-ready time machine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  24. ^ "RAZZMATAZZ (Deluxe Edition)". Spotify. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  25. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  26. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  27. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  28. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  29. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  30. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  31. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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