| Sleaford Mods | ||||
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| EP by | ||||
| Released | 14 September 2018 | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Studio | JT Soar, Nottingham | |||
| Length | 15:03 | |||
| Label | Rough Trade | |||
| Sleaford Mods chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sleaford Mods | ||||
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Sleaford Mods is the eponymous third extended play by the English duo Sleaford Mods, [a] released on 14 September 2018 through Rough Trade Records. Recorded earlier that year, the EP was preceded by the single "Stick in a Five and Go" and reached no. 42 in the UK Albums Chart.
The EP was recorded in Nottingham at studio JT Soar in 2018. [2] On the lead tracks "Stick in a Five and Go" and "Bang Someone Out", vocalist Jason Williamson created the songs as outlets for his more violent imaginations, [3] which are a result of both the political aftermath of Brexit and what he described as "historical flaws in my personality". The lyrics on "Gallows Hill" are based on the history of a war cemetery in Nottingham. Originally written as a song, Williamson adapted it into a short story, [4] included as one of thirteen in his book Happy Days released later in 2018. [5] The fourth track, "Dregs", refers to Williamson's time working as a glass collector in a Nottingham bar where he would often drink the patrons' leftovers, and the closer, "Joke Shop", was originally not intended to be included as part of the EP; Williamson was ultimately encouraged by his manager Steve Underwood to add one more piece that showed the group was open to experimentation. [4]
Coinciding with the announcement for the EP, Sleaford Mods was preceded by the single "Stick in a Five and Go" on 31 July 2018. [6] Backed by a bassline and an electronic beat, "Stick in a Five and Go" details a revenge fantasy. [7] In the plot, after reading a confrontational comment on Twitter, Jason Williamson finds the user's address, poses as a postman for the Royal Mail with a fake package, and drives to their home to goad the commenter into a real life confrontation, repeating "Sign for it mate". [3]
Sleaford Mods was released on 14 September 2018 through Rough Trade Records, [3] about a year and a half after their album English Tapas (2017). [7] It peaked on the UK Albums Chart at no. 42, additionally placing on the Scottish Albums and UK Independent Albums Charts at no. 20 and 8, respectively. [8]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| PopMatters | 8/10 [3] |
| The Skinny | [7] |
In a review for AllMusic, Heather Phares considered Sleaford Mods to be "As vivid, eloquent, and artfully ugly as any of their full-lengths," and that, referencing the quality of their previous EPs, it "proves once again that there's no such thing as a stopgap release in Fearn and Williamson's world. [9] Randal Doane of PopMatters rated Sleaford Mods 8 out of 10 and called it "a solid EP and a key cultural artifact for what looks increasingly like a hard Brexit." [3] In a four star review for The Skinny , Lewis Wade said that "while there's a bit more variation in the instrumentation than usual it's still very much what you'd expect", highlighting the "barnstorming" opener and lead single "Stick in a Five and Go" as "the EP's best" track. [7]
Credits are adapted from the CD liner notes [2] and Tidal. [10]
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [8] | 20 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [8] | 42 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [8] | 8 |
