The State of Things (album)
The State of Things is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Reverend and The Makers. It reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, selling just over 25,000 copies in its first week.[1]
| The State of Things | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 September 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2006-2007 Sheffield, England | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, electronic | |||
| Length | 41:43 | |||
| Label | Wall of Sound | |||
| Reverend and the Makers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The State of Things | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    link |
| Drowned in Sound | 4/10 link |
| The Guardian | link |
| stv.tv | link |
| Uncut | link |
| NME | 5/10 |
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews, with Uncut saying "the record is a tribute to McClure's charisma and unswerving self-belief".[2] The first single, "Heavyweight Champion of the World", reached the top ten and was played on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. Other songs on the album, notably "He Said He Loved Me" and "The Machine" become fan favourites and were played in their concerts, including the band's three night run at Wembley Stadium supporting Oasis.
The album includes seven songs that were previously released as free downloads, in a collection of demos entitled Ten Songs produced by Alan Smyth.
The single "Open Your Window" was featured on the soundtrack to the football video game FIFA 09.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jon McClure, co-writers noted
| No. | Title | Additional musicians | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The State of Things" (Hampton) | 3:01 | |
| 2. | "The Machine" (Turner) | Vocals – Alex Turner | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Heavyweight Champion of the World" (Cosens/Smyth) | Congas – Bert 'Bongo Bert' Rogers | 3:25 |
| 4. | "Bandits" (Rowley/Smith) | Vocals – Tim Hampton and James O'Hara | 2:37 |
| 5. | "Open Your Window" (Cosens/Smyth) | Vocals – Steve Edwards; Guitar – Alan Smyth | 4:03 |
| 6. | "Sex with the Ex" | 4:07 | |
| 7. | "18-30" (Cosens) | 3:15 | |
| 8. | "He Said He Loved Me" (Turner/Smyth) | Chewing – Alan Smyth; Guitar – Alex Turner; Co-lead Vocals – Laura Manuel | 2:54 |
| 9. | "What the Milkman Saw" (Cosens/Smyth) | 2:56 | |
| 10. | "Sundown on the Empire" (Cosens) | Recorder – Tia Coakley | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Miss Brown" (Rowley) | Vocals – Steve Edwards | 3:27 |
| 12. | "Armchair Detective" (Turner/Smyth) | Vocals – Mike Hughes Violin – Stephen Rocheford | 4:13 |
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[3] | 8 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[4] | 5 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[5] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- "Music forums focusing on chart music with chart and entertainment discussion". Buzzjack.
- "Music Reviews". Uncut. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- "British album certifications – Reverend & The Makers – The State of Things". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 April 2022.