Book of Days is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Psychedelic Furs, released in 1989 by Columbia Records.[1] It reached No. 74 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 138 on the US Billboard 200.[2][3]
Book of Days | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 31 October 1989 | |||
Recorded | Rak Studios, London, May–July 1989 | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | David M. Allen, Psychedelic Furs | |||
The Psychedelic Furs chronology | ||||
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Two singles were released from the album, "Should God Forget" and "House", which peaked at No. 8 and No. 1, respectively, on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4] "House" also reached No. 90 in the UK Singles Chart.
Production
editThe album was coproduced by David M. Allen.[5] It marked the return of original bandmember Vince Ely.[6]
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+[8] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
The Great Rock Discography | 4/10[10] |
Melody Maker | favourable[11] |
MusicHound Rock | [12] |
NME | 7/10[13] |
Record Mirror | 4.5/5[14] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [15] |
Spin Alternative Record Guide | 5/10[16] |
The St. Petersburg Times noted that "the Furs often sound downright metallic, kicking out churning, noisome arrangements and hard-rock riffs."[17] The Boston Globe deemed the album "dense, murky, agitated, hauntingly pretty and lush in places, generally caustic."[5] The Toronto Star determined that the album "merits the attention of longtime fans, if only for the raw, anxious intensity that has sprung anew in Richard Butler's doom-laden voice."[18]
The Spin Alternative Record Guide panned David M. Allen's "muddy mix," writing that "Butler's voice has never come across so biteless and small."[16]
Track listing
editAll lyrics written by Richard Butler; all music composed by the Psychedelic Furs.
- "Shine" - 4:03
- "Entertain Me" - 5:00
- "Book of Days" - 5:11
- "Should God Forget" - 4:21
- "Torch" - 4:49
- "Parade" - 4:45
- "Mother-Son" - 4:07
- "House" - 5:12
- "Wedding" - 4:19
- "I Don't Mine" - 3:15
Personnel
edit- The Psychedelic Furs
- Richard Butler - vocals
- Tim Butler - bass guitar
- John Ashton - guitar
- Vince Ely - drums
- Additional personnel
- Anthony Thistlethwaite
- Emily Burridge
- Gena Dry
- Jem Finer
- Joe McGinty - keyboards
- John Hymas
- Knox Chandler - guitar
- Technical
- Roy Spong - engineer
- Allan D. Martin, Richard Butler - cover design
- Allan D. Martin, Peter Robathan - photography
Charts
editChart (1989/90) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[19] | 114 |
UK Albums Chart[2] | 74 |
U.S. Billboard 200[3] | 138 |
References
edit- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 781.
- ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - The Psychedelic Furs". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ^ a b "The Psychedelic Furs - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums". AllMusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ^ Book of Days - The Psychedelic Furs - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles. AllMusic.com.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Jim (24 November 1989). "New Record Marks the Return of the Old-Time Psychedelic Furs". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 111.
- ^ Heim, Chris (3 November 1989). "New Albums". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 63.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "P". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 3 August 2024 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). "Psychedelic Furs". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Groves Dictionaries. p. 4355. ISBN 1-561-59237-4.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). "Psychedelic Furs". The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Canongate Books. p. 1224. ISBN 1-84195-615-5.
- ^ Mico, Ted (4 November 1989). "Let It Bleed". Melody Maker. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "The Psychedelic Furs/Richard Butler/Love Spit Love". MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. p. 903. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.
- ^ Lamacq, Steve (11 November 1989). "The Furs Cut". NME. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Beard, Tony (11 November 1989). "The Psychedelic Furs: Book of Days". Record Mirror. Vol. 36, no. 45. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ Coleman, Mark (1992). "Psychedelic Furs". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 565–566. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
- ^ a b Hannaham, James (1995). "Psychedelic Furs". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 313–314. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
- ^ Volk, Steven (17 November 1989). "Sound Bites". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 15.
- ^ MacInnis, Craig (24 November 1989). "Psychedelic Furs Book of Days". Toronto Star. p. E22.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 12 August 1991". Retrieved 12 August 2022.