Deep Down & Dirty is the fourth studio album by the British electronic band Stereo MC's, released on 28 May 2001, nine years after the album Connected.[1] The album maintains a similar style to its predecessor with deep-groove, beatbox funk, nods to soul-jazz and gospel though music critics at the time noted its grittier, edgier approach.[2] The title track was released as the album's first single. It was recorded at Frontline Studios, Brixton, London.[3][4]

Deep Down & Dirty
Studio album by
Released28 May 2001 (2001-05-28)
StudioFrontline Studios
GenreElectronic, hip hop
Length50:55
LabelIsland
ProducerStereo MC's
Stereo MC's chronology
DJ-Kicks: Stereo MC's
(2000)
Deep Down & Dirty
(2001)
Retroactive
(2002)

Background

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The Stereo MC's toured from 1992 until 1994 in support of their previous album, Connected following the resounding success of its 1992 release which earned two coveted Brit Awards (including album of the year) before taking an extended hiatus due to being "burnt out" explained Nick "the Head" Hallam in a Billboard interview. "It got to a point where Rob and I weren't even really talking -- and this went on for about one year. This was particularly bizarre, as we've known each other since we were 6 years old." During their absence, the two formed a publishing company (Spirit Songs) and an independent label (Response Records). They also remixed U2's "Mysterious Ways" and Madonna's "Frozen" under the Ultimatum alias. In 2000 they mixed a volume of the DJ Kicks series for German imprint Studio !K7.[3]

The first single released was the title track, Deep Down and Dirty and was issued to modern rock and college radio at the end of April. Club DJs were issued remixes of the track (by Jon Carter and Two Lone Swordsmen).[3]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
The New Zealand Herald     [7]
Mojo          [8]

The album was met with mixed to positive reaction from music critics, scoring 68% on Metacritic, 4 stars out of 5 on Allmusic and peaked at no 17 on the UK charts.[9] Mojo gave it 60 out of 100 and said "If all you want to do is throw the same funky shapes you threw a decade ago, this long-awaited outing will more than suffice. Otherwise, it's the same old same old".[10] Stephen Dalton from NME gave a scathing review of the album, saying "This is so grindingly pedestrian you almost feel sorry for these one-time pioneers.[11]

Track listing

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  1. "Deep Down & Dirty" – 4:23
  2. "We Belong in This World Together" – 4:40
  3. "Breeze" – 4:25
  4. "Running" – 4:53
  5. "Graffiti Part One" – 2:34
  6. "Graffiti Part Two" – 2:49
  7. "Sofisticated" – 4:14
  8. "Traffic" – 5:17
  9. "The Right Effect" – 4:40
  10. "Stop at Nothing" – 4:01
  11. "Unconscious" – 4:06
  12. "Shameless" – 4:53

Total running time: 50:55[1]

Personnel

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Stereo MC's

  • Rob Birch
  • Nick Hallam
  • Cath Coffey
  • Vernoa Davis
  • Andrea Groves
  • Owen If

Additional

  • Carol Kenyon – vocals
  • Delance Curtis – vocals
  • Angela Murrell – vocals
  • Sam Scott – vocals
  • The Kick Horns – flute, brass
  • John Eacott – trumpet
  • Malcolm Earle Smith – trombone
  • Kwaku "Reg" Dzidzornu – percussion
  • The Head – DJ
  • Leon Mar – bass, pre-production
  • Neil Douglas – engineer
  • Mike Marsh – mastering
  • Stereo MC's – producer

Charts

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Chart performance for Deep Down & Dirty
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[12] 58
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 35
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[15] 24
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[16] 40
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 34
French Albums (SNEP)[18] 120
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] 10
Irish Albums (IRMA)[20] 19
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[21] 22
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 60
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 20
UK Albums (OCC)[24] 17

Certifications

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Certifications for Deep Down & Dirty
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Deep Down & Dirty : Stereo MC's - Urban | Archambault". Archambault.ca. 12 June 2001. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Stereo MC's Deep Down and Dirty Review". BBC. 2001. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c +nick_name+. "Stereo MC's Get 'Deep Down & Dirty' - Life & Style - Billboard article/news". Billboard.com. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Stereo MC's - Deep Down & Dirty CD Album". Cduniverse.com. 12 June 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2013.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Deep Down & Dirty Reviews". Metacritic. 12 June 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  6. ^ John Bush (12 June 2001). "Deep Down & Dirty - Stereo MC's | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  7. ^ +nick_name+ (14 July 2001). "Stereo MC's: Deep Down and Dirty - Life & Style - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  8. ^ "Critic Reviews for Deep Down & Dirty". Metacritic. 12 June 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  9. ^ Alexis Petridis (25 May 2001). "CD review: Stereo MC's: Deep Down and Dirty | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Critic Reviews for Deep Down & Dirty". Metacritic. 12 June 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  11. ^ "NME Track Reviews - Stereo MC's : Deep Down And Dirty". NME. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  12. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 266.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Lescharts.com – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Stereo MC's". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Stereo MC's – Deep Down & Dirty". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – Stereo MC's – Deep Down and Dirty". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 January 2019.