"Couples" (album)

Infobox Album | Name = "Couples"
Type = Album
Artist = The Long Blondes

---

Lower Caption = Official front cover Released =
Genre = Indie rock
Producer = Erol Alkan| Label = Rough Trade Records
Reviews =
*"Allmusic" rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfqxz9jldse Link]
*"Drowned In Sound" (8/10) [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/3121173 Link]
*DOA rating|4|5 [http://www.adequacy.net/review.php?reviewID=8631 Link]
*"The Guardian" rating|4|5 [http://music.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,2270707,00.html Link]
*"The Independent" (Positive) [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-the-long-blondes-couples-rough-trade-805065.html Link]
*LAUNCHcast (9/10) [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080414/33/21yp9.html Link]
*"Metro" rating|5|5 [http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/music/article.html?in_article_id=136379&in_page_id=25 Link]
*"Mojo" rating|4|5 [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/longblondes/couples Link]
*"Music Week" (Positive) [http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=20&storycode=1033223&c=2 Link]
*"NME" (6/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-long-blondes/9612 Link]
*Pitchfork Media (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/49809-couples Link]
*PopMatters (8/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/57317/the-long-blondes-couples/ Link]
*"Uncut" rating|4|5 [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/longblondes/couples Link] | Last album = "Someone to Drive You Home"
(2006)
This album = "Couples""
(2008)
Next album = ""Singles""
(2008)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = Album

|

"Couples"" is the second album by Sheffield band The Long Blondes. It was released on April 7, 2008 with the first single, "Century", released on March 24, 2008. [cite web | title = Long Blondes Wrap Up New Album|publisher=Aversion.com | date = 2007-12-21 | url = http://www.aversion.com/news/news_article.cfm?news_id=9882 | accessdate = 2008-01-18]

Recording

The album was recorded in October 2007 with Erol Alkan reprising production duties, having already produced two b-sides, "Fulwood Babylon" and "Five Ways to End It" in 2006.

Reception

The album was well received by critics. "The Independent" called it "one of the albums of the year from one of the bands of the decade", "Mojo" called their album "ambitious and close to unique" and Allmusic called "Couples" an "exciting, challenging, daring listen that's full of brains" [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-the-long-blondes-couples-rough-trade-805065.html Album: The Long Blondes, "Couples" (Rough Trade) - Reviews, Music - The Independent ] ] [ [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/longblondes/couples The Long Blondes: Couples (2008): Reviews ] ] [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfqxz9jldse~T1 allmusic ((( Couples > Review ))) ] ] .

Track listing

#"Century" – 5:36
#"Guilt" – 4:35
#"The Couples" – 3:37
#"I Liked the Boys" – 1:59
#"Here Comes the Serious Bit" – 2:49
#"Round the Hairpin" – 5:43
#"Too Clever by Half" – 4:26
#"Erin O'Connor" – 3:09
#"Nostalgia" – 3:12
#"I'm Going to Hell" – 5:58 [cite web | title = Long Blondes Reveal North American Tour, Tracklist|publisher=Pitchforkmedia.com | date = 2008-02-08 | url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/48583-long-blondes-reveal-north-american-tour-tracklist | accessdate = 2008-02-13]

Bonus tracks

#"Picture of You" (UK iTunes bonus track)
#"Going Grey" (UK iTunes bonus track)

Personnel

The Long Blondes

* Emma Chaplin: guitars, keyboards, vocals
* Dorian Cox: guitars, keyboards, vocals, lyrics except on tracks 1 and 4
* Reenie Hollis: bass guitar, vocals
* Kate Jackson: lead vocals, lyrics on tracks 1 and 4, artwork
* Screech Louder: drums

Other

* Produced and mixed by: Erol Alkan
* Engineered by: Jimmy Robertson
* Assistant engineers: Mark 'Elton' Alloway, John Sephton and Paul Harris
* Mastered by: Guy Davie at the Exchange
* Artwork: Kate Jackson
* Photography: Steve Harries

References