The Chemistry of Common Life

The Chemistry of Common Life
Studio album by Fucked Up
Released	October 7, 2008 (2008-10-07)
Recorded	January – June 2008 at Halla Music Studios and Central Audio Studios, Toronto
Genre	Hardcore punk, [1] indie rock [1]
Length	52:20 56:56 (vinyl)
Label	Matador
Producer	Jon Drew and Fucked Up
Fucked Up chronology
Hidden World (2006) The Chemistry of Common Life (2008) David Comes to Life (2011)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	85/100 [2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Alternative Press	[4]
The A.V. Club	A [5]
Blender	[6]
Mojo	[7]
NME	8/10 [8]
Pitchfork	8.8/10 [1]
Q	[9]
Spin	[10]
Uncut	[11]

The Chemistry of Common Life is the second full-length studio album by Canadian hardcore punk band Fucked Up. It was released on October 7, 2008, on Matador Records in CD and double LP formats and on Welfare Records in Reel-to-reel Audio Tapes. The statement on the label's site describes it as "an expansive epic about the mysteries of birth, death, and the origins of life (and re-living)".

The album is named after a book by James F. W. Johnston, which (among other things) describes hallucinogenic properties of mushrooms and plants. The title for the track "The Peaceable Kingdom" is taken from a famous painting by American folk-painter Edward Hicks. The cover art depicts the phenomenon of Manhattanhenge.

The album won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize. ^[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Haliechuk and Fucked Up, except where noted. Lyrics by Haliechuk, except where noted.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Son the Father"	Damian Abraham		6:32
2.	"Magic Word"			3:21
3.	"Golden Seal"	instrumental	Haliechuk, Corona	3:35
4.	"Days of Last"	Abraham		4:31
5.	"Crooked Head"			5:55
6.	"No Epiphany"		Fucked Up, Jonah Falco	4:19
7.	"Black Albino Bones"	Abraham		4:14
8.	"Royal Swan"		Falco	4:49
9.	"Twice Born"	Abraham	Falco	4:26
10.	"Looking for God"	instrumental	Haliechuk, Corona	3:15
11.	"The Chemistry of Common Life"			7:23

The song "The Peaceable Kingdom" (4:25) is only available on vinyl, iTunes Music Store, and Apple Music, as track 7.

Personnel

Fucked Up

• Pink Eyes (Damian Abraham) – vocals (1, 2, 4–9, 11)
• 10,000 Marbles (Mike Haliechuk) – guitar (1–7, 10, 11), hand claps (2), shaker (2), tambourine (2, 5), humming (6, 11), acoustic guitar (11), backing vocals (11)
• Gulag (Josh Zucker) – guitar (1, 2, 4–7, 9, 11), hand claps (2), humming (11)
• Mustard Gas (Sandy Miranda) – bass (1–9, 11), drum seat (2)
• Mr. Jo (Jonah Falco) – drums (1, 2, 4–7, 9, 11), guitar (1, 2, 6, 8, 9), hand claps (2), humming (6, 11), acoustic guitar (11)
• Young Governor (Ben Cook) – backing vocals (4)

Additional musicians

• Justin Small – backing vocals (1)
• Katia Taylor – backing vocals (1)
• Jane Fair – flute (1, 11)
• Jonathan Adjemian – Farfisa organ (2)
• Max McCabe Lokos – organ (2, 8), Moog synthesizer (3)
• Corona – guitar (3, 10)
• Tom Wade-West – French horn (3, 4, 8)
• Michael Armstrong – congas (5, 6, 11)
• Cassie Ramone – backing vocals (5, 6, 11)
• Frankie Rose – backing vocals (5, 6, 11)
• "Kickball Katy" Goodman – backing vocals (5)
• Dallas Green – backing vocals (7)
• Katie Stelmanis – vocals (8)
• Sebastien Grainger – backing vocals (9)

Production

• Jon Drew – producer, recording engineer, sequencing
• Jeremy Scott – recording engineer, backing vocals (5, 6, 11)
• Greg Calbi – mastering
• Mimi Cabell – cover photo
• Jay Gardner – original art
• David Waldman – photos
• Mark Ohe – design (with Fucked Up)

References

1. Cohen, Ian (October 16, 2008). "Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 3, 2016.
2. "Reviews for Chemistry Of Common Life by Fucked Up". Metacritic . Retrieved July 3, 2016.
3. Lymangrover, Jason. "The Chemistry of Common Life – Fucked Up". AllMusic . Retrieved July 3, 2016.
4. "Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life". Alternative Press (244): 156. November 2008.
5. Burgess, Aaron (October 6, 2008). "Fucked Up: The Chemistry Of Common Life". The A.V. Club . Retrieved July 3, 2016.
6. Dolan, Jon. "Fucked Up: The Chemistry Of Common Life". Blender . Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
7. "Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life". Mojo (180): 106. November 2008.
8. Patashnik, Ben (October 10, 2008). "Fucked Up: The Chemistry Of Common Life". NME . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
9. "Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life". Q (268): 117. November 2008.
10. Gross, Joe (November 2008). "F-Bomb Squad". Spin . 24 (11): 102. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
11. "Fucked Up: The Chemistry of Common Life". Uncut (138): 96. November 2008.
12. Nurwisah, Ron (September 22, 2009). "F***** Up wins the 2009 Polaris Music Prize". National Post . Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2009.

External links

• The Chemistry of Common Life at Matador Records site