Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
| Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Funeral for a Friend | ||||
| Released | 13 October 2003 | |||
| Recorded | Chapel Studios, Miloco Studios and Rak Studios (London) in mid-2003 | |||
| Genre | Post-hardcore, emo,[1][2] screamo, melodic hardcore | |||
| Length |
49:36 56:14 (JP Edition) | |||
| Label | Atlantic, Mighty Atom, Ferret | |||
| Producer |
Colin Richardson Funeral for a Friend | |||
| Funeral for a Friend chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation | ||||
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Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation is the debut album by Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend. It was released on 13 October 2003 through Atlantic Records and was produced by Colin Richardson with co-production by the band themselves. The cover of the album as well as its subsequent singles is based on a small series of paintings by Belgian artist René Magritte titled: "The Lovers".[3]
Upon its release the album received positive reception from critics and was a commercial success. The album was included on NME's album of the year list for 2003,[4] and Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics list.[5] debuted at number 12 on the UK charts and achieved Gold certifications after a sales of 100,000 a year after its release on 29 October 2004.[6]
Background
The album featured newly recorded versions of "Red is the New Black" and "Juno" (renamed "Juneau") from their "Between Order And Model" EP.
It also features remastered versions of "She Drove Me To Daytime Television" and "Escape Artists Never Die" from Four Ways To Scream Your Name (the latter is slightly remixed).
"Waking Up" was a largely rewritten version of "Summer's Dead and Buried", which was one of the band's earliest songs. "Storytelling" had previously been recorded in studio after Between Order And Model came out. The band liked this demo, but this version hadn't been released at the time (it can be found on the "Between Order And Model" 10th anniversary edition, as well as the out of print Digital 3CD edition of Your History Is Mine). "Moments Forever Faded" was also previously demoed (featured on the 3CD Digital edition of 'Your History Is Mine).
"Rookie of the Year" was featured on the soundtracks of WWE Wrestlemania 21 and Burnout 3: Takedown. "Red Is The New Black" was used in the Torchwood episode "They Keep Killing Suzie".
Release
In 2012 the band released a live album titled Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation: Live and in Full at Shepherds Bush Empire. The live album was recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London in July 2010.[7] The live performance's setlist featured the debut album in its entirety, plus additional tracks from other albums in its encore.[8] The album was announced in January 2011, with no tentative release date announced but a teaser trailer was posted.[9] The live recording featured guitarist Darran Smith before he left the band in late 2010. He was replaced by Richard Boucher, whom was a member of hardcore punk band Hondo Maclean.[7] The album was released in early April 2012 and was made available through the band's online store to purchase.[10] To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album, it was repressed on double white 180g vinyl as a limited edition release for Record Store Day 2013.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AbsolutePunk | (88%)[11] |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| BBC Music | (Favourable)[12] |
| Drowned in Sound | [13] |
| Exclaim.ca | (Favourable)[2] |
| Music OHM | (Favourable)[14] |
| NME | [15] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4/5[16] |
The album received very positive reviews from the British music press upon its release. With NME writer Dan Martin gave the album at 8 out of 10 and praised the album quite considerably calling it a "fearsome debut" and stating that: "It would be unfair on everyone else to call 'Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation' the first great album to come out of all this. But what is true is that this fiery, dynamic hulk of a record will be the first to break properly out into daylight."[15] It was also featured at number 17 in New Musical Express's albums of the year list for 2003.[4]
In 2012, British publication Rock Sound added Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation into their "101 Modern Classics", placed at number 33. They considered the album more of a classic than Sum 41's All Killer No Filler and Botch's We Are the Romans. Stating that "‘Casually Dressed…’ evidences a remarkable young band who, on their debut full-length release, were already the finished article, establishing a sound that continues to define an entire generation."[5]
Track listing
All tracks written by Funeral for a Friend.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rookie of the Year" | 3:01 |
| 2. | "Bullet Theory" | 3:53 |
| 3. | "Juneau" | 3:38 |
| 4. | "Bend Your Arms to Look Like Wings" | 4:21 |
| 5. | "Escape Artists Never Die" | 5:18 |
| 6. | "Storytelling" | 3:35 |
| 7. | "Moments Forever Faded" | 4:25 |
| 8. | "She Drove Me to Daytime Television" | 3:36 |
| 9. | "Red Is the New Black" | 5:15 |
| 10. | "Your Revolution Is a Joke" | 2:44 |
| 11. | "Waking Up" | 3:59 |
| 12. | "Novella" | 5:50 |
Total length: |
49:36 | |
| Japanese bonus tracks | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 13. | "This Year's Most Open Heartbreak" | 2:43 |
| 14. | "Kiss and Makeup (All Bets Are Off)" | 3:54 |
Personnel
- Funeral for a Friend
- Gareth Davies - bass, backing vocals
- Kris Roberts – guitars
- Matt Davies – lead vocals
- Ryan Richards – drums, screamed vocals
- Darran Smith – guitars
- Production credits
- Written and performed by Funeral for a Friend
- Produced and mixed by Colin Richardson
- Co-produced by Funeral for a Friend
- Recorded at Chapel Studios, Rak Studios and Miloco Studios (London)
- Engineered by Colin Richardson with Matt Hyde, Will Bartle and Richard Woodcraft
- Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisc
- Managed by Craig Jennings and Rod Smallwood for Sanctuary Artist Management
- Assisted management by Paul Dando
- Booking by Jeremy Holgersen for the Agency Group
- A&R by Joel De'Ath
- Photography by Chris Dunlop
- Live photography by Anna Gudaniec and George Davison
- Art design by Barny Bewick for Indium Design, inspired by René Magritte
Singles
| Year | Song title | Chart position |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles | ||
| 2003 | "Juneau" | 19 |
| "She Drove Me to Daytime Television"/"Bullet Theory" | 20 | |
| 2004 | "Escape Artists Never Die" | 19 |
Charts and certifications
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References
- 1 2 Johnny Loftus. "Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation - Funeral for a Friend". Allmusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- 1 2 Jasamine White-Gluz (May 2004). "Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed & In Deep Conversation • Metal Reviews • exclaim.ca". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ "René Magritte's The Lovers". Knowledge Lost. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Albums and Tracks of the Year for 2003". New Musical Express. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- 1 2 "Rock Sound's 101 Modern Classics: 49 - 25". Rock Sound. Freeway Press. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
The album that dogged the Welsh wonders for the best part of a decade before they finally made their peace with its infinite charms, ‘Casually Dressed…’ evidences a remarkable young band who, on their debut full-length release, were already the finished article, establishing a sound that continues to define an entire generation.
- ↑ Harvey, John (8 February 2004). "Funeral for a Friend Interview 2004". leedsmusicscene. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- 1 2 "Funeral For A Friend to release new live DVD – video". New Musical Express. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ Ryan Minic (10 April 2012). "Funeral For A Friend Release 'Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation' Live DVD". Ryans Rock Show. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ "Funeral For A Friend DVD Trailer". Rock Sound. Freeway Press. 4 January 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ "Funeral For A Friend Release "Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation" Live DVD". The PRP. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ James Ding (11 June 2009). "Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation - Album Review". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ Jack (27 August 2003). "BBC - Music - Review of Funeral For A Friend Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ Peter White. "Funeral For A Friend - Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ Vik Bansal (13 October 2003). "Funeral For A Friend - Casually Dressed & Deep In Conversation (Infectious)". Music OHM. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- 1 2 Dan Martin (13 October 2003). "Funeral For A Friend: Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation". NME. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ↑ "Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation (Sputnikmusic Review)". Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ↑ "Funeral For A Friend Artist Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- 1 2 "Funeral for a Friend ALbum & Song Chart History Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard 200. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Funeral for a Friend – Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search