American Interior

American Interior
Studio album by Gruff Rhys
Released	5 May 2014 (2014-05-05)
Recorded	Arc Studios, Omaha, Nebraska and Toybox, Bristol, England
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	46:09
Label	Turnstile
Producer	Gruff Rhys, Ali Chant
Gruff Rhys chronology
Hotel Shampoo (2011) American Interior (2014) Set Fire to the Stars (2016)
Singles from American Interior
"American Interior" Released: 28 April 2014

American Interior is the fourth solo album by Gruff Rhys, released on 5 May 2014. ^[1] It is a concept album based on the life of the explorer John Evans. ^[2] It peaked at number 24 in the UK. ^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	79/100 [4]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash Music	[5]
Drowned in Sound	[6]
The Guardian	[7]
musicOMH	[8]

The album was well received by critics.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Gruff Rhys, except "Allweddellau Allweddol" credited to Gruff Rhys/Traditional.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"American Exterior"	0:28
2.	"American Interior"	3:16
3.	"100 Unread Messages"	4:32
4.	"The Whether (Or Not)"	3:36
5.	"The Last Conquistador"	3:58
6.	"Lost Tribes"	3:01
7.	"Liberty (Is Where We'll Be)"	4:54
8.	"Allweddellau Allweddol" (English translation: Key Keyboards)	4:02
9.	"The Swamp"	4:12
10.	"Iolo"	3:49
11.	"Walk Into the Wilderness"	3:49
12.	"Year of the Dog"	3:30
13.	"Tiger's Tale"	3:11

Personnel

• Gruff Rhys - vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, keyboard, synths, production, mixing
• Ali Chant - production, engineering (Toybox), mixing, timpani on "The Swamp"
• Mike Mogis - engineering (Arc Studios)
• Kris Jenkins - engineering (Wings for Jesus)
• Andy Votel - production on "Allweddellau Allweddol"
• Guy Davie - mastering
• Gruff ab Arwel - string arrangements
• Kliph Scurlock - drums on "American Interior", "100 Unread Messages", "The Whether (Or Not)", "The Last Conquistador", "Lost Tribes", "Iolo" and "Walk Into the Wilderness"
• Chris Walmsley - drums on "Liberty (Is Where We'll Be)", "The Swamp", "Year of the Dog" and "Tiger's Tale"
• Osian Gwynedd - piano
• Jonathan Thomas - bass on "The Whether (Or Not)"
• Alun Tan Lan - electric lead guitar on "100 Unread Messages", "Year of the Dog" and "Tiger's Tale", electric mandolin on "American Interior"
• Lisa Jen Brown - harmony vocals on "100 Unread Messages"
• Mari Morgan - violin
• Francesca Simmons - violin
• Rebecca Homer - viola
• Elen Ifan - cello
• Maggie Bjorklund - pedal steel guitar on "Liberty (Is Where We'll Be)", "Year of the Dog" and "Tiger's Tale"
• Pete Fowler - artwork and design
• Dylan Goch - photography
• Ryan Owen Eddleston - photography

References

1. Murray, Robin (27 March 2014). "Gruff Rhys - American Interior". Clash Music. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
2. Cragg, Michael (26 March 2014). "Gruff Rhys – American Interior: New music". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
3. "Official charts". Official Charts . Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
4. "American Interior - Gruff Rhys". metacritic.com. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
5. Murray, Robin (6 May 2014). "Gruff Rhys - American Interior". Clash Magazine. Clash Music. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
6. Lavery, Aaron (7 May 2014). "Gruff Rhys: American Interior". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
7. Dennis, Jon (4 May 2014). "American Interior review – Gruff Rhys: American Interior review – wit, originality and indelible tunes". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 May 2014.
8. Raymond, Max (29 April 2014). "Gruff Rhys – American Interior". music OMH. Retrieved 8 May 2014.