Truelove's Gutter

Last updated

Truelove's Gutter
RichardHawleyTruelovesGutter.jpg
Studio album by
Released21 September 2009
StudioYellow Arch Studios, Sheffield
Genre Alternative pop, chamber pop
Length51:05
Label Mute
Producer Richard Hawley and Colin Elliot
Richard Hawley chronology
Lady's Bridge
(2007)
Truelove's Gutter
(2009)
Standing at the Sky's Edge
(2012)
Singles from Truelove's Gutter
  1. "For Your Lover Give Some Time"
    Released: 10 August 2009
  2. "Open Up Your Door"
    Released: 30 November 2009

Truelove's Gutter is the sixth studio album from musician Richard Hawley, released on 21 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September 2009 in the US. The album title refers to an ancient street in Hawley's native Sheffield, now thought to be the location of present-day Castle Street, which was allegedly named after 18th-century innkeeper Thomas Truelove, who used to charge local people to dump their rubbish in the gutter in the street that then flowed down to the River Don. [1] [2] Thematically, Truelove's Gutter is Hawley's darkest album to date. Hawley told the BBC that the album was inspired by particularly dark periods in his life and those of others. [3] The album features some uncommon instrumentation, such as the waterphone, megabass, and cristal baschet. [1]

Contents

The first single, "For Your Lover Give Some Time," was released as a three-track digital download on 10 August 2009. A second single, "Open Up Your Door", was released on 30 November 2009, also as a three-track digital download. "Remorse Code" was issued as the album's de facto third single on the EP False Lights from the Land on 7 June 2010.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10 [4]
Metacritic 79/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Pitchfork 6.7/10 [11]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Spin 6/10 [13]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]

The album was mostly well received by the critics. Allmusic said "The album is more sparse than anything he's released. Its eight songs have a decidedly late-night feel. The grand sweeping orchestral strings of his last two albums have been replaced by a chamber section and odd instrumentation... that add real intimacy to the proceedings... Truelove's Gutter is a singular moment in Hawley's catalog that displays the maturity of all his gifts. It is quietly passionate, graceful, elegant, utterly moving, and unequivocally beautiful in its honesty and sophistication." [6] BBC Music described the album as "a classic flawed masterpiece... Repeated plays reveal some truly sumptuous treasures... His strengths and weakness as a lyricist are laid bare by the sparse, moody atmospheres" but "aside from this, it's the sheer beauty and unity of feel that make this a more than worthy addition to the Hawley discography". [16] The Daily Telegraph believed Hawley "has a strong claim to be the country's most accomplished songwriter" and described the tracks as "grown-up love songs – elevated by hope but weighed down by experience – and they sound all the more beautiful for it". [7] Uncut said "Throughout, his mellowness of tone is the album’s defining feature... Miraculously, thanks to the minutiae of the arrangements, it’s a sound that never becomes one dimensional". [15] Awarding the album eight out of ten, PopMatters called Truelove's Gutter "a beautiful and deceptively simple album" and said "this is a highly recommended album by an artist who seems to keep getting better. From what initially seemed like a limited palette, Richard Hawley has produced a masterpiece of tonal space that demands full concentration." [17] MusicOMH was similarly enthralled, saying "Just looking at the sleeve it's possible to deduce that within lies a much darker, more minimal sound relative to its predecessors... This minimal approach is matched by the sound of the album which rarely breaks its spell of intoxicating intimacy... Truelove's Gutter is yet another showcase for Hawley's subtle genius. Every sound on the album, from the notes to the vocals, is warming and rich with sensations. Six studio albums into his late-starting solo career and Hawley's light shows no signs of dwindling." [18]

While generally positive about the album, The Guardian felt that "it's hard to escape a niggling feeling that Hawley is here polishing a formula, even falling back on cliche, in his continuing quest to make the local and homely sound lushly romantic". [8] Spin was unimpressed, saying Truelove's Gutter "has moments of heartbreaking beauty. Too bad those moments are outnumbered by a reliance on secondhand lyrical conceits and drifting arrangements." [13] Pitchfork said "The gorgeous, backward-looking beauty of past releases like Coles Corner ... has shifted toward something more dark, ambient, and withdrawn. It may be too slow for many, but it's more measured than it is mundane... Hawley can sound too stripped down this time out, and the two songs that hover near the 10-minute mark overplay the appeal of minimal compositions and Hawley's sweet croon" but ultimately "Hawley's mined a specific vein of emotion for years, and it's a testament to his skill that his hyper-local focus maintains such a broad appeal". [11] Drowned in Sound noted the bleakness of the record, saying that Hawley "lends his uniquely melancholic voice to a uniquely melancholic album, even by his standards... Truelove's Gutter isn't all blackness, but even at its few hopeful moments there are those tinges of pessimism and cynicism that prevent it from ever being rose coloured. As a whole it's a musically and lyrically a beautiful reflection on the less than smooth course life can take." [19]

Track listing

All tracks written by Richard Hawley.

  1. "As the Dawn Breaks" – 4:35
  2. "Open Up Your Door" – 4:42
  3. "Ashes on the Fire" – 4:24
    • Richard Hawley – vocals, Gretsch 6196, Atkin acoustic parlour guitar, Baldwin 12-string electric guitar
    • Dean Beresford – drums
    • Colin Elliot – Fender bass, piano, celeste
    • Shez Sheridan – harmony vocals, Spanish guitar, Gretsch "48" synchromatic acoustic guitar, Tremolo mandolas, 12-string guitars
  4. "Remorse Code" – 9:51
    • Richard Hawley – vocals, Atkin acoustic parlour guitar, Atkin jumbo guitar, Gretsch 6196, Burns Nu-Sonic, cymbals
    • Dean Beresford – drums
    • Colin Elliot – Fender bass, the enchanted lyre
    • Shez Sheridan – tenor guitar, e-bow lap steel, feedback 12-string drones, dulcimer, Fisherman's lyre
    • Jon Trier – pipe organ
  5. "Don't Get Hung Up in Your Soul" – 4:16
    • Richard Hawley – vocals, Atkin acoustic parlour guitar
    • David Coulter – musical saw
    • Colin Elliot – double bass
    • Shez Sheridan – Alpine concert zither
  6. "Soldier On" – 6:50
    • Richard Hawley – vocals, Atkin acoustic parlour guitar, Atkin jumbo guitar, Gretsch clipper, Gretsch 12-string, Fender Jaguar, Fender Telecaster, Danelectro baritone, Gibson 120T
    • Dean Beresford – drums
    • Thomas Bloch – Ondes Martenot
    • Colin Elliot – Fender bass, double bass feedback, wind chimes, vibes, gong
    • Shez Sheridan – lap steel
    • The Red Skies – string section
  7. "For Your Lover Give Some Time" – 5:38
    • Richard Hawley – vocals
    • Colin Elliot – harpsichord, organ, celeste
    • Donald Grant – solo violin
    • Liz Hanks – solo cello
    • Shez Sheridan – Spanish guitar, Fisherman's lyre
    • The Red Skies – string section
  8. "Don't You Cry" – 10:42
    • Richard Hawley – vocals, Atkin acoustic parlour guitar, Gretsch 6120w, Gretsch G6118T-LTV 125th, snare drum
    • Dean Beresford – drums and cymbals
    • Thomas Bloch – cristal baschet, glass harmonica, waterphone
    • David Coulter – musical saw, waterphone
    • Colin Elliot – Fender bass, hi-hat, harpsichord, glockenspiel, organ, synthesizer, steel drum, sleigh bells, Tibetan singing bowls, backing vocals
    • Shez Sheridan – acoustic 12-string guitar, Fisherman's lyre, Gretsch electric 12-string guitar, Baldwin electric 12-string guitar, Selmer lap steel, backing vocals
    • Jon Trier – celeste

Singles

Production credits

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Hawley</span> English musician (born 1967)

Richard Willis Hawley is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. After his first band Treebound Story broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. He played with Pulp, led by his friend Jarvis Cocker, as a touring musician for a short time. As a solo musician, Hawley has released eight studio albums. He has been nominated for a Mercury prize twice and once for a Brit Award. He has collaborated with Lisa Marie Presley, Shakespears Sister, Arctic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers, Elbow, Duane Eddy and Paul Weller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baritone guitar</span> Variation on the standard guitar

The baritone guitar is a guitar with a longer scale length, typically a larger body, and heavier internal bracing, so it can be tuned to a lower pitch. Gretsch, Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, ESP Guitars, PRS Guitars, Music Man, Danelectro, Schecter, Burns London and many other companies have produced electric baritone guitars since the 1960s, although always in small numbers due to low popularity. Tacoma, Santa Cruz, Taylor, Martin, Alvarez Guitars, Ovation Guitar Company and others have made acoustic baritone guitars.

<i>Guitars</i> (Mike Oldfield album) 1999 studio album by Mike Oldfield

Guitars is the 19th record album written and performed by British musician Mike Oldfield, released in 1999. The concept of the album was to only perform it using guitar-like instruments.

<i>Front Parlour Ballads</i> 2005 studio album by Richard Thompson

Front Parlour Ballads is the twelfth studio album by Richard Thompson, recorded in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of guitars</span> Overview of and topical guide to guitars

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to guitars:

<i>Numbers</i> (Cat Stevens album) 1975 studio album by Cat Stevens

Numbers is the ninth studio album, and the first concept album by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens released in November 1975.

<i>Let Me in Your Life</i> 1974 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Let Me in Your Life is the twentieth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released on February 26, 1974, by Atlantic Records.

<i>Baby Its Me</i> 1977 studio album by Diana Ross

Baby It's Me is the eighth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 16, 1977, by Motown Records. It peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 7 on the R&B album chart. The album was produced by producer Richard Perry. The LP yielded one top 40 hit, "Gettin' Ready for Love", reaching number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Other charting singles released from the album include "You Got It" and "Your Love Is So Good for Me", the latter receiving a Grammy nomination.

<i>Indian Summer</i> (Poco album) 1977 studio album by Poco

Indian Summer is the tenth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released on May 1, 1977. The appearance of Steely Dan's Donald Fagen playing synthesizer on two of the tracks marked another move away from the country rock sound the band had primarily been known for. This was the band's last studio album before both Timothy B. Schmit and George Grantham left the group.

<i>Coles Corner</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Richard Hawley

Coles Corner is the fourth studio album from English pop/rock musician Richard Hawley, released on 5 September 2005 in the UK and on 6 September 2005 in the US. The title immortalises the legendary Sheffield landmark Coles Corner, a popular meeting place of old and new lovers. The album was nominated for the 2006 Mercury Music Prize for best album.

<i>Ladys Bridge</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Richard Hawley

Lady's Bridge is the fifth studio album from musician Richard Hawley, released on 20 August 2007 in the UK and on 9 October 2007 in the US. The album follows his 2005 Mercury Music Prize-nominated album Coles Corner. It is named after the landmark location of Lady's Bridge in Hawley's hometown of Sheffield, an old bridge over the River Don that historically connected the rich and poor parts of the town. Hawley told Uncut magazine that "the title is a metaphor too; it's about leaving the past behind". The cover features a photograph, taken by Martin Parr, of Hawley and his guitar at the Club 60 music venue in Sheffield as a tribute to his father Dave who had died of lung cancer earlier that year: Dave Hawley had been a blues guitarist at the club in his youth, playing alongside Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lennon's musical instruments</span> Instruments played by John Lennon

John Lennon's musical instruments were both diverse and many, and his worldwide fame resulted in his personal choices having a strong impact on cultural preferences.

<i>Lowedges</i> 2003 studio album by Richard Hawley

Lowedges is the third studio album from musician Richard Hawley. It was released in the UK in February 2003 by Setanta Records. It is named after a district in Hawley's home city of Sheffield.

<i>Late Night Final</i> 2001 studio album by Richard Hawley

Late Night Final is the second studio album from musician Richard Hawley, released in the UK in October 2001 by Setanta Records. Named after the cry of vendors selling the Sheffield Star evening newspaper on the streets of his home city, it was released to positive reviews. A single, "Baby, You're My Light" was released from the album in February 2002, reaching #81 in the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Killingsworth</i> (album) Album by The Minus 5

Killingsworth is the eighth studio album by the Minus 5, released by Yep Roc Records in 2009. The album was a collaboration with the Portland, Oregon–based indie rock band the Decemberists.

<i>National Ransom</i> 2010 studio album by Elvis Costello

National Ransom is a studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released on 25 October 2010 through the Hear Music label. It was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with American songwriter and producer T Bone Burnett. The album's cover art is made by Maakies creator Tony Millionaire.

<i>Solitaire</i> (Andy Williams album) 1973 studio album by Andy Williams

Solitaire is the thirty-first studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams, released in the fall of 1973 by Columbia Records and was an attempt to move away from his formulaic series of recent releases that relied heavily on songs that other artists had made popular.

<i>Standing at the Skys Edge</i> 2012 studio album by Richard Hawley

Standing at the Sky's Edge is the seventh studio album from English musician Richard Hawley, released in the UK on 7 May 2012 and in the US on 28 August 2012. The album is markedly different from Hawley's previous efforts, often relinquishing softer instrumentation in favour of squalling guitars. As with all of Hawley's previous albums, the title obliquely refers to a location in his native city of Sheffield, in this case Skye Edge, a hillside area with views over the city centre and formerly known for its crime-ridden estates but largely redeveloped in the mid-2000s.

<i>In This City They Call You Love</i> 2024 studio album by Richard Hawley

In This City They Call You Love is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Hawley, released on 31 May 2024 through BMG Rights Management. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Two for His Heels", "Heavy Rain" and "Prism in Jeans". It received positive reviews from critics.

References

  1. 1 2 Naylor, Tony (5 December 2009). "One last thing..." The Guardian . London, England. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. Leader, Robert Eadon (R.E.) (1875), "VIII: Streets, Shops, Wells and Markets", Reminiscences of Old Sheffield: Its Streets and Its People (out of print), retrieved 30 October 2012, Reproduced on local historian Eric Youle's website – this out of copyright material has been transcribed by Eric Youle, who has provided the transcription on condition that any further copying and distribution of the transcription is allowed only for noncommercial purposes, and includes this statement in its entirety.
  3. Archived 6 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Truelove's Gutter by Richard Hawley reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. "Reviews for Truelove's Gutter by Richard Hawley". Metacritic . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  6. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "Truelove's Gutter – Richard Hawley". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. 1 2 Carnwath, Ally (16 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". The Daily Telegraph . London, England. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 Costa, Maddy (18 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". The Guardian . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. Clayton-Lea, Tony (25 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". The Irish Times . Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  10. "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Mojo . No. 191. London, England. October 2009. p. 94.
  11. 1 2 Sisson, Patrick (22 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Pitchfork . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  12. "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Q . No. 279. London, England. October 2009. p. 113.
  13. 1 2 Marchese, David (October 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Spin . Vol. 25, no. 10. New York City, USA. p. 78. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  14. Gatti, Tom (19 September 2009). "Richard Hawley: Truelove's Gutter" . The Times . Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  15. 1 2 Robinson, John (October 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Uncut . No. 149. London, England. p. 96. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
  16. Lusk, Jon (16 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". BBC Music . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  17. Elliott, Richard (1 October 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". PopMatters . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  18. Lee, Darren. "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". MusicOMH . Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  19. Farah, Amanda (25 September 2009). "Review: Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  20. "Richard Hawley - Open Up Your Door - Listen/Watch Now". Musicremedy.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  21. "Richard Hawley - False Lights From The Land EP (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  22. "British album certifications – Richard Hawley – Truelove's Gutter". British Phonographic Industry.