Philophobia (album)

Last updated

Philophobia
Philophobiaalbumcover.png
Studio album by
Released20 April 1998 (1998-04-20)
Recorded1998
Studio
Genre
Length65:44
Label Chemikal Underground
Producer
Arab Strap chronology
The Week Never Starts Round Here
(1996)
Philophobia
(1998)
Mad for Sadness
(1999)
Singles from Philophobia
  1. "Here We Go" / "Trippy"
    Released: 1998 (1998)
  2. "(Afternoon) Soaps"
    Released: 1998 (1998)

Philophobia is the second studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released on 20 April 1998 on Chemikal Underground. [1]

Contents

Philophobia peaked at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart, [2] as well as number 3 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. [3]

The 2010 reissue edition of the album comes with an additional bonus disc. [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Drowned in Sound 10/10 [6]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
NME 8/10 [8]
Pitchfork 7.7/10 [9]
PopMatters 8/10 [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]

NME named Philophobia the 17th best album of 1998. [12] In 2012, Fact placed the album at number 91 on its "100 Best Albums of the 1990s" list. [13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Packs of Three" 3:23
2."Soaps" 4:16
3."Here We Go" 5:04
4."New Birds" 6:27
5."One Day, After School" 5:01
6."Islands" 3:42
7."The Night Before the Funeral" 4:51
8."Not Quite a Yes" 3:42
9."Piglet" 6:48
10."Afterwards"
  • Middleton
  • Moffat
  • Adele Bethel
4:23
11."My Favourite Muse" 5:03
12."I Would've Liked Me a Lot Last Night" 7:26
13."The First Time You're Unfaithful" 5:38
Total length:65:44
2010 reissue edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Packs of Three" (Peel Session 2) 3:46
2."Piglet" (Peel Session 2) 6:44
3."The Night Before the Funeral" (Peel Session 2) 5:05
4."Blood" (Peel Session 2) 6:12
5."Girls of Summer" (Live at T in the Park) 7:56
6."New Birds" (Live at T in the Park) 6:27
7."Here We Go" (Live at T in the Park) 5:32
8."Soaps" (Live at T in the Park) 5:30
9."Afterwards" (Live at T in the Park)
  • Middleton
  • Moffat
  • Bethel
5:40
10."I Would've Liked Me a Lot Last Night" (Live at T in the Park) 6:56
Total length:59:48

Personnel

Credits for Philophobia adapted from album liner notes. [14]

Arab Strap

Additional musicians

Production

Artwork and design

Charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [15] 34
UK Albums (OCC) [2] 37
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [3] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bis (Scottish band)</span> Scottish indie pop band

Bis are a Scottish indie pop band composed of Steven Clark, John Clark, and Amanda MacKinnon, formed in 1994. The band's name, rhyming with 'this', derives from "black iron skyline", a lyric from the song "Twilight of a Champion" by The The. After releasing numerous cult EPs and three studio albums the band broke up in 2003, but re-formed briefly in 2007 for a series of concerts. In 2009 they once again re-formed and released the album data Panik etcetera in 2014. The album Slight Disconnects was released in February 2019 with the band lineup returning to the original core three-piece. An archival album, Music For Animations, consisting of music recorded in 2004 for CBBC kids TV show BB3B, was released in 2020. In 2021 the band self-released a cassette-only live album entitled The Fan Club Tapes Vol. 1 - Live In Toulouse 1997. Low Level - a CD consisting of previously unreleased material recorded during the Return To Central sessions - was also released in 2021. In October 2022 Systems Music For Home Defence was released, which Sci-Fi Steven has described as the band's "rave" album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemikal Underground</span> Scottish independent record label

Chemikal Underground is an independent record label set up in 1994 at Glasgow, Scotland by rock band The Delgados. It was set up to release their first single, "Monica Webster" / "Brand New Car" and went on to break many new Scottish bands in the nineties.

Arab Strap are a Scottish indie rock band whose core members are Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton. The band were signed to independent record label Chemikal Underground, split in 2006 and reformed in 2016. The band signed to Rock Action Records in 2020.

<i>The Boy with the Arab Strap</i> 1998 studio album by Belle & Sebastian

The Boy with the Arab Strap is the third studio album by Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian, released in 1998 through Jeepster Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogwai</span> Scottish post-rock band

Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band, formed in 1995 in Glasgow. The band consists of Stuart Braithwaite, Barry Burns, Dominic Aitchison, and Martin Bulloch (drums). Mogwai typically compose lengthy guitar-based instrumental pieces that feature dynamic contrast, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of distortion and effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Middleton</span> Scottish musician

Malcolm Bruce Middleton (born 31 December 1973) is a Scottish musician and member of indie band Arab Strap. He has also released seven solo studio albums and three albums performing under the pseudonym Human Don't Be Angry.

<i>Mogwai Young Team</i> 1997 studio album by Mogwai

Mogwai Young Team is the debut studio album by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. Produced by Paul Savage and Andy Miller, the album was released on 21 October 1997 through the Chemikal Underground record label.

<i>The Week Never Starts Round Here</i> 1996 studio album by Arab Strap

The Week Never Starts Round Here is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released on 25 November 1996 on Chemikal Underground. The album was reissued in 2010, with a bonus CD which includes the band's first session for John Peel, from March 1997 with guest appearances from Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch and Chris Geddes, and their first ever live gig, at King Tut's in Glasgow in October 1996, as recorded live for Peel's show.

<i>The Last Romance</i> 2005 studio album by Arab Strap

The Last Romance is the sixth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 17 October 2005 on Chemikal Underground.

<i>Monday at the Hug & Pint</i> 2003 studio album by Arab Strap

Monday at the Hug & Pint is the fifth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released in Europe on 21 April 2003 by Chemikal Underground and in the United States a day later by Matador Records. The album features appearances from Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes and Barry Burns of Mogwai, among others.

<i>Elephant Shoe</i> 1999 studio album by Arab Strap

Elephant Shoe is the third studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 13 September 1999 by Go! Beat.

<i>The Red Thread</i> (Arab Strap album) 2001 studio album by Arab Strap

The Red Thread is the fourth studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 26 February 2001 by Chemikal Underground.

<i>Mad for Sadness</i> 1999 live album by Arab Strap

Mad for Sadness is a live album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 3 May 1999 by Go! Beat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aidan Moffat</span> Scottish musician

Aidan John Moffat is a Scottish vocalist and musician, and member of the band Arab Strap.

<i>Into the Woods</i> (Malcolm Middleton album) 2005 studio album by Malcolm Middleton

Into The Woods is the second studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter, Malcolm Middleton, released on 13 June 2005 on Chemikal Underground.

<i>Ballads of the Book</i> 2007 studio album by Various Artists

Ballads of the Book is a collaborative studio album, released on 5 March 2007, on Chemikal Underground. The project was curated by Idlewild lead vocalist Roddy Woomble, and features collaborations between Scottish musicians and Scottish writers. The album is considered a "joint effort" by all those involved. Ballads of the Book was produced at Chem19 studios by Paul Savage and Andy Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The First Big Weekend</span> 1996 single by Arab Strap

"The First Big Weekend" is a song by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was first released as a 7" single limited to 700 copies, then later on Arab Strap's debut album, The Week Never Starts Round Here, both released in 1996 on Chemikal Underground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Is No Ending</span> 2006 single by Arab Strap

"There Is No Ending" is a song by Scottish post-folk indie band Arab Strap. It was first released on Arab Strap's 2006 album, The Last Romance, and later as a 7" single limited to 1000 copies, both released in 2006 on Chemikal Underground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RM Hubbert</span> Scottish guitarist and singer

RM Hubbert, commonly known as Hubby, is a Scottish guitarist and singer. Best known for his solo work as RM Hubbert and as a member of Scottish post rock band El Hombre Trajeado, he has been an active member of the Glaswegian DIY music scene since 1991.

<i>As Days Get Dark</i> 2021 studio album by Arab Strap

As Days Get Dark is the seventh studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap, released on 15 March 2021 on Rock Action.

References

  1. ""Philophobia" by Arab Strap". shop.chemikal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  4. Breihan, Tom (9 July 2010). "Arab Strap's First Albums Reissued". Pitchfork . Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  5. Raggett, Ned. "Philophobia – Arab Strap". AllMusic . Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. Thomas, Sean (27 August 2010). "Album Review: Arab Strap – Philophobia (special edition)". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  7. O'Reilly, John (10 April 1998). "Arab Strap: Philophobia (Chemikal Underground)". The Guardian .
  8. Williams, Simon (18 April 1998). "Arab Strap – Philophobia". NME . Archived from the original on 10 October 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. Tangari, Joe (19 August 2010). "Arab Strap: The Week Never Starts Round Here [Deluxe Edition] / Philophobia [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork . Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  10. Beasley, Corey (23 September 2010). "Arab Strap: The Week Never Starts Round Here / Philophobia (Deluxe Reissues)". PopMatters . Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  11. Gross, Joe (12 August 1998). "Arab Strap: Philophobia". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: 1998". NME . 10 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  13. "The 100 Best Albums of the 1990s". Fact . 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  14. Philophobia (liner notes). Arab Strap. Chemikal Underground. 1998. CHEM21CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.