They Liked You Better When You Were Dead

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They Liked You Better When You Were Dead
Fightstar TLYBWYWD.JPG
EP by
Fightstar
Released28 February 2005
RecordedNovember 2004
StudioCriterion Studios, London, England
Genre
Length25:39(EP)
38:39 (Mini-LP)
Label
Producer Mark Williams
Fightstar chronology
They Liked You Better When You Were Dead
(2005)		 Grand Unification
(2006)
Singles from They Liked Better When You Were Dead
  1. "Palahniuk's Laughter"
    Released: January 2005

They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is the debut EP by English rock band Fightstar, released on 28 February 2005 through Sandwich Leg Records. The release proved a critical success, in spite of the cynics' initial expectations of the band. It has been said that the EP helped "present Fightstar as a British rival to the East Coast alternative rock scene". [1] Alex Westaway, the band's lead guitarist and co-lyricist drew the artwork based on Edward Norton for the inlay of the booklet, [2] as the record was inspired by author Chuck Palahniuk and the film adaptation Fight Club . [3]

Contents

The UK version contained 5 tracks (including a sixth hidden track), meaning the EP was ineligible for the UK Singles Chart. However, the release proved popular enough to warrant a reprinting on 23 March 2005. The music video for "Palahniuk's Laughter" enjoyed heavy rotation on music channels and spent many weeks in charts based on video and radio requests. [4] The EP was released in April 2006 in North America through Deep Elm Records [5] as an extended mini-album.

Background, writing and recording

During 2003, when Charlie Simpson was still an active member of successful pop trio Busted, he met fellow songwriter-guitarist Alex Westaway and drummer Omar Abidi at a party. He was by this stage becoming increasingly frustrated by the music he was performing in Busted and stated he had "all of this creativity pent up inside and I just needed to vent it somewhere, and I was writing a lot of songs but I couldn’t play them, because I didn’t have anyone to play them with". [6]

Westaway subsequently moved into Simpson's spare room after dropping out of university and the pair began writing together. Over the next six months, the EP had been written. [3] Alex later invited school friend, bassist Dan Haigh, to practise with the band and the foursome soon began booking regular rehearsal sessions together. [6] Later, after Simpson had decided to focus on Fightstar full-time, the band entered Criterion Studios in London with producer Mark Williams to begin tracking. [6] Recording sessions were often interrupted as during this period Simpson was in the middle of a sold-out stint of Wembley shows with Busted. [7] Commenting on recording period, Simpson later stated:

This EP was all I cared about. It consumed my mind. It was the first time I'd recorded anything that I loved. I was 18 and we were just kids having fun. It was the most innocent record because we weren't thinking about how it might be received at all. We just wanted to record some songs. There were no limitations: we were just doing it for ourselves. It was such a fun time. I'll always remember those days. We didn't have a care in the world. [7]

The song "Mono", named in honor of the Japanese band of the same name, was recorded during a thunderstorm. Shortly before the track's heavy finale, it's possible to hear the sound of Simpson screaming in the rain after he ran outside, unaware the studio's room mics were capturing his antics. [7] The video for promotional video "Palahniuk's Laughter" was directed by bassist Dan Haigh and was released to music stations shortly after Simpson's official departure from Busted.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Aversion Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
MusicOMH (favorable) [10]
Punknews.orgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Rock Sound 9/10
SputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]

Following much scepticism during the band's emergence due to Charlie Simpson's past, things began to turn in the quartet's favour. A string of positive reviews to early live shows were followed by acclaimed reaction to the EPs release.

Allmusic were highly favourable, awarding four stars. They wrote, "At a time when post-hardcore's torch seems to have been almost completely passed to succeeding generations of screamo bands, Fightstar stand firmly enough on the mother country of their genre to do well by the legacy of groups such as Fugazi and Helmet. Vocalists Al Westaway and Charlie Simpson utilize a distinct sound that reaches total catharsis. Train-like guitar work also adds strength to the record, creating drama and tension in the key moments. The driving force behind most of the songs, however, is the rhythm section. The tight bass lines and tighter drumming are what lead each track through its arc, shirking convention when things start to get clichéd". [8]

American music website Aversion awarded the album four stars in their review. They commented; "Few can really channel an obsession with a celebrity into something truly productive – bedroom shrines and mashed potato monuments are just creepy. But four North Londoners known as Fightstar have done just that with their infatuation with Fight Club author, Chuck Palahniuk. Through passionate musicianship that's equal parts serenading melody and jarring punch, these blokes unleash a welcome roundhouse kick to the face of overly sensitive emo rock, triggering crying fits and bloodying scarves". [9]

British rock publication, Kerrang! , awarded an "excellent" four K rating in their review. They wrote, "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead delivers. Articulate rage, barbed guitars and epic choruses recall the likes of Thursday or Brand New. 'Palahniuk's Laughter' floors the listener with a mammoth-rolling riff. 'Speak Up' builds into walls of noise and anguished vocals. The six and a half minutes of 'Mono' are simply majestic, featuring barely audible swirling guitars and whispered vocals that grow into a momentous, bludgeoning roar. Simpson and Westaway play like they have been in the same band for years, weaving intricate soundscapes and dark passages of crushing noise. Stunning post-hardcore."

Vik Bansal of MusicOMH was also very positive in his review. With regards to Simpson abandoning his former pop career, he stated, "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is such a good debut EP that the fact Monsieur Simpson used to be part of a heinous crime against humanity's ears is an irrelevant piece of history that will soon be consigned to pub quizzes and trivia board games". He picked out "Mono" as a stand-out track; "'Mono' is the centrepiece of the EP - a brooding slowie that builds into a swathing crescendo of weighty power chords and will have you reaching for the repeat button as soon as it's over". [10] Rock Sound were also full of praise in their review, scoring the album at 9/10; "Fightstar clearly demonstrate that they can hold their own in a world of heavy, emotional rock. Anyone who likes Muse, Biffy Clyro, Radiohead and even Scissorfight will find something to be absorbed in here. Brilliantly executed".

Adam Knott of Sputnikmusic said during his review that the album was, "one of the most surprising first impressions I've ever heard". Awarding an "excellent" four out of five rating, he added; "The combination of grit and beauty is most prominent on 'Until Then', which morphs from an all-out rocker to a softly crooned middle section and back again, and it's this duality which lends itself to multiple listens. To say that Fightstar's debut EP showed promise or potential would be a disservice - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead is in and of itself a release well worthy of a place on any discerning music-lover's bedroom shelf". [12]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway; all music is composed by Fightstar [13] .

Original EP
No.TitleLength
1."Palahniuk's Laughter"4:10
2."Speak Up"3:27
3."Mono"6:26
4."Lost Like Tears in Rain"4:07
5."Amethyst" (contains the hidden track "Hazy Eyes")7:19
Total length:25:39
Mini-LP
No.TitleLength
1."Paint Your Target"3:18
2."Palahniuk's Laughter"4:10
3."Amethyst"4:20
4."Lost Like Tears in Rain"4:06
5."Speak Up"3:27
6."Until Then"4:40
7."Cross Out the Stars"5:02
8."Hazy Eyes"3:10
9."Mono"6:22
Total length:38:39

Personnel

The following personnel contributed to They Liked You Better When You Were Dead: [13]

Fightstar
Production

Release history

RegionDateLabelTypeFormatCatalogue #Ref.
Japan25 February 2005 Universal EP Digipack UICI1043 [14]
Europe28 February 2005 Sandwich Leg EP Digipack CID887 [15]
North America12 April 2006 Deep Elm Mini-LP Compact DiscDER-453 [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busted (band)</span> English pop-punk band

Busted are an English pop-punk band from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson. Formed in 2000, the band had four UK number-one singles, won two Brit awards, released four studio albums and sold over 5 million records worldwide. The band released the albums Busted in 2002 and A Present for Everyone in 2003 before disbanding in January 2005. Following the split, all three members pursued separate musical careers: Simpson as the frontman for the post-hardcore band Fightstar, Bourne as the lead singer of pop-punk band Son of Dork and Willis as a solo artist. The band reunited in 2015, embarking on the Pigs Can Fly arena tour in May 2016 and released their third studio album, Night Driver, on 25 November 2016. On 26 October 2018, Busted announced their fourth album Half Way There, released on 1 February 2019, as well as a UK arena tour. At the end of 2019, the band embarked on a hiatus to pursue solo projects. In 2023, Busted announced their return for their 20 year anniversary, consisting of an upcoming album and tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Simpson</span> English singer, songwriter and musician

Charles Robert Simpson is an English singer, songwriter and musician from Suffolk. He is a member of the pop-punk band Busted and he is also the lead vocalist and the rhythm guitarist in the British post-hardcore band Fightstar. AllMusic has noted that Simpson is "perhaps the only pop star to make the convincing transition from fresh-faced boy bander to authentic hard rock frontman". Simpson is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, bass, keyboard, piano and drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fightstar</span> British rock band

Fightstar are a British rock band from London that formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and co-vocalist Alex Westaway, bassist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi. Generally considered a post-hardcore band as a whole, Fightstar are known to incorporate metal, alternative rock and other genres into their sound. During the band's early days, they were viewed sceptically by critics because of Simpson's former pop career with Busted. Their live shows got a more positive reaction, and their 2005 debut EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, was a critical success.

<i>A Present for Everyone</i> 2003 studio album by Busted

A Present for Everyone is the second studio album by English pop punk band Busted. It was released on 17 November 2003 by Universal Island Records and features a sound mixing pop punk and power pop material with traditional pop rock. Five singles were released from the album, including the number-one hits "Crashed the Wedding", "Who's David" and "Thunderbirds / 3AM".

<i>Grand Unification</i> (Fightstar album) 2006 studio album by Fightstar

Grand Unification is the debut studio album by British post-hardcore band Fightstar, released on 13 March 2006 through Island Records. Based upon the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, Grand Unification was produced by Colin Richardson and is considered a concept album. The track "Lost Like Tears in Rain" contains the line "It's Neon Genesis" to support the band's interest in the anime series. The artwork, drawn digitally by Daniel Conway, also portrays scenes similar to that of the ruined cities in Evangelion. It is also thought to believe the cover has taken influence from the song "Grand Unification Part 2" as the lyric "hold my hand until the waves come" and the cover features two persons holding hands waiting for what appears to be a flood. The lyrics are themed around social commentary at the end of the world, while the album's title refers to the Human Instrumentality Project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Haigh</span> British musician

Dan Haigh is an English musician, film director, video game designer, writer and visual effects artist. He is best known as co-founder of synthwave band Gunship and as the bass player in the English rock band Fightstar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazy Eyes</span> 2006 single by Fightstar

"Hazy Eyes" is the fourth single from the debut Fightstar album Grand Unification. Written by Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway, "Hazy Eyes" was released a year after the first single "Paint Your Target".

<i>One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours</i> 2007 studio album by Fightstar

One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours is the second studio album by British post-hardcore band Fightstar, released on 24 September 2007 through Institute Recordings, itself a subsidiary of independent label Gut Records. Recorded in Los Angeles and produced by Matt Wallace, the album debuted at number twenty seven on the UK Albums Chart and was preceded by the free downloadable single, "99" and first official single, "We Apologise for Nothing". As with the bands debut album, Daniel Conway digitally painted the albums artwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floods (Fightstar song)</span> 2008 single by Fightstar

"Floods" is the fourth single from Fightstar's second studio album, One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours. It was originally intended to be released as the second single, however this was changed to "We Apologise For Nothing" due to the recent floods in the UK at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deathcar</span> 2007 single by Fightstar

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The English Way</span> 2008 single by Fightstar

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<i>Be Human</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Fightstar

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Change (Fightstar song)</span> 2009 single by Fightstar

"Never Change" is the third single to be taken from Fightstar's third studio album, Be Human, and was released on 20 July 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Westaway</span> Musical artist

Alex Westaway is the lead vocalist of Gunship and co-vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Fightstar alongside Charlie Simpson, Omar Abidi and Dan Haigh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A City on Fire</span> 2009 single by Fightstar

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<i>Young Pilgrim</i> 2011 studio album by Charlie Simpson

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<i>Night Driver</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Busted

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Gunship is a British synthwave band formed in 2014 by Dan Haigh and Alex Westaway; they were later joined by drummer Alex Gingell.

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References

  1. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Fightstar". Yorkshire Evening Post . Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  2. ↑ "Fightstar's "Making Palahniuk's Laughter - Post production"". Fightstarmusic. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2006.
  3. 1 2 "Fightstar - Liverpool - 02/05/09". Crowdsurfer.net. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  4. ↑ "Band Biography for Fightstar". Leeds Gig Guide. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  5. ↑ "Deep Elm Records signs Fightstar". Alternative Press. 20 December 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Guest, Los. "I Am Fightstar..." Kerrang! Radio . Archived from the original on 14 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 "Charlie Simpson's Treasure Chest - An Intimate Portrait of A Life In Rock", Kerrang! , no. 1264, p. 40, 3 June 2009
  8. 1 2 Collar, Cammila. "They Like You Better When You Were Dead - Fightstar". AllMusic.
  9. 1 2 Barr, Josh. "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead". Aversion. Retrieved 17 April 2007.[ dead link ]
  10. 1 2 Bansal, Vik. "Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead EP (Sandwich Leg)". MusicOMH . Archived from the original on 14 December 2006. Retrieved 28 May 2005.
  11. ↑ Shultz, Brian (14 April 2006). "Fightstar - They Liked You Better When You Were Dead". Punknews.org. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  12. 1 2 Knott, Adam. "Fightstar: They Liked You Better When You Were Dead". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  13. 1 2 They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (Digipack). Fightstar. Sandwich Leg Records. 2005. CID887.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ "FIGHTSTAR They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (2005 Japanese exclusive)". EIL. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
  15. ↑ "FIGHTSTAR They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (2005 European limited edition 5-track CD EP)". Eil. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2006.
  16. ↑ "They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (Import) by Fightstar". Amazon UK. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2007.
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