Understated

Understated
Studio album by Edwyn Collins
Released	25 March 2013
Recorded	AED Records
Genre	Indie
Length	41:08
Label	AED
Producer	Edwyn Collins and Sebastian Lewsley
Edwyn Collins chronology
Losing Sleep (2010) Understated (2013) Badbea (2019)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Drowned In Sound	8/10 [2]
The Guardian	[3]
Mojo
musicOMH	[4]
NME	7/10 [5]
Pitchfork	6.8/10 [6]

Understated is the eighth solo album by the Scottish singer/songwriter Edwyn Collins, released 25 March 2013 on AED Records. It is his first album released on his own label, and reached No. 66 on the UK Albums Chart. It was the last album he recorded at his West Heath Studio, London.

The album is both optimistic and autobiographical, reflecting Collins’ recovery from a major stroke in 2005. It was acclaimed in the music press with NME rating it 7/10, Pitchfork 6.8/10, and The Guardian and Mojo praising its resilience and charm.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Edwyn Collins; except where indicated

1. "Dilemma" - 3:26
2. "Baby Jean" - 3:27
3. "Carry On, Carry On" - 4:05
4. "31 Years" - 3:58
5. "It's a Reason" - 4:06
6. "Too Bad (That's Sad)" - 3:20
7. "Down the Line" - 4:28
8. "Forsooth" - 4:10
9. "In the Now" - 3:46
10. "Understated" - 3:01
11. "Love's Been Good to Me" - 3:21 Rod McKuen

Personnel

• Edwyn Collins – vocals, solina strings (track 3), memphis chords (track 4), strings, backing vox (track 9) mellotron (track 10)
• Carwyn Ellis – guitar (track 3, 6, 7), slide guitar (track 6), bass (track 2, 3, 6, 7, 8), mandolin (track 2), backing vocals (track 3, 5, 6, 8), moog synthesizer, Univox keyboards (track 4), wurlitzer (track 6), piano (track 6, 7), organ (track 8), All instruments (track 11)
• Paul Cook – drums (tracks 1-2, 6-10)
• Dave Ruffy – drums track 5
• Liam Hutton - drums (track 3)
• Rob Walbourne - drums (track 4)
• Barrie Cadogan – guitar (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8), bass (tracks 1, 5)
• Sean Read – flute, trumpet (track 1), vibraphone (track 1), saxaphone (track 1, 2, 9), backing vox (track 1, 4, 5, 7, 10), wurlizter (track 2), glockenspiel (track 3, 8), organ (track 5, 7), percussion (track 8, 10)
• James Walbourne – guitars, (tracks 3, 4, 9 and 10) stomps (track 3), bass (track 4), backing vox (track 7)
• Sebastian Lewsey – wurlitzer (track 4)
• Will Collins - bass (track 9)

Charts

Chart performance for Understated

Chart (2013)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC) [7]	66

References

1. Sendra, Tim. Understated at AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
2. Clark, Jon (8 April 2013). "Album Review: Edwyn Collins - Understated". DrownedInSound. Archived from the original on 25 January 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
3. Simpson, Dave (21 March 2013). "Edwyn Collins: Understated – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
4. Murphy, John (26 March 2013). "Edwyn Collins - Understated". musicOMH. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
5. Gardner, Noel (25 March 2013). "Edwyn Collins - 'Understated'". NME. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
6. Neyland, Nick. "Edwyn Collins: Understated". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
7. "Edwyn Collins | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart . Retrieved 9 April 2025.