Not Thinking Straight (album)
| Not Thinking Straight | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 April 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2013 | |||
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| Length | 51:00 | |||
| Label | Young Lust | |||
| Producer |
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| Matt Fishel chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Not Thinking Straight | ||||
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Not Thinking Straight is the debut studio album by British singer, songwriter and recording artist Matt Fishel. It was released internationally on 8 April 2013[1][2] through Fishel's own record label Young Lust Records.[3]
Formats[edit]
Not Thinking Straight was released as both a physical CD (on Bandcamp and Fishel's website store)[4] and a digital download (on iTunes and Amazon worldwide).
Style and themes[edit]
Musically, the album incorporates elements of alternative rock, punk rock, pop punk and rock. It has been described as "a blend of heavy guitars, big vocal harmonies and anthemic choruses".[5] Fishel is openly gay[6] and many of the songs and lyrics on Not Thinking Straight deal candidly with the "joys, pains and experiences of growing up as a gay teenager and young man".[7] The album showcases Fishel's "unique style of songwriting and production"[7] and comprises thirteen tracks that explore love, lust, education, sexuality[7] and "themes and issues surrounding gay life, relationships and experiences".[5] In an interview with RightOutTV, Fishel said of the album: "Some songs are loud, angry and full of energy; some are fun, celebratory or tongue-in-cheek and others are quieter, more reflective and nostalgic."[7] He told Jon Roth of Out Magazine: "There are songs on the album about boyfriends and relationships, coming out and the places I’ve lived, religion, hypocrisy, sexuality and education."[8]
Artwork and album booklet[edit]
The artwork for Not Thinking Straight was created by San Diego comic book artist and illustrator Joe Phillips.[5] The album cover depicts Fishel as a superhero in cartoon form, with a guitar on his back and piano keys around his hands. The words 'Super Fishel Comics' and '#1 First Issue' are also written on the cover. The CD version of the album comes with a sixteen-page colour booklet[4] and the iTunes release comes with a digital eighteen-page colour booklet,[2] each containing full artwork, lyrics, credits and thank yous. Both versions of the album booklet are presented in a comic book format. Each contains eighteen original illustrations by Phillips, with each illustration representing a different song's lyrics and showing images of young gay life and relationships.[5][9]
Singles, remixes and B-sides[edit]
Six singles have been released from Not Thinking Straight: "Football Song" (released 7 June 2010), "The First Time" (released 7 November 2011), "Behind Closed Doors" (released 9 April 2012), "Testament" (released 28 May 2012), "Radio-Friendly Pop Song" (released 18 March 2013) and "When Boy Meets Boy" (released 3 June 2013). An a cappella version of album track "Armitage Shanks (Jamie)" was released as a B-side to the "Football Song" single;[10] Amsterdam remixer/producer Matt Pop provided two remixes of "The First Time" for its single release;[11] the "Behind Closed Doors" single includes both a remix of the song by J Stax and an a cappella version of the song performed by Fishel[12] and the "When Boy Meets Boy" single includes an acoustic version of the song and another remix by Matt Pop.[13]
Music videos[edit]
Official music videos were released for singles "Football Song" (directed by Dan Shipton),[14] "The First Time" (directed by Alexis Dos Santos),[15] "Testament" (directed by Arno),[16] "Radio-Friendly Pop Song" (produced by Tyjens Media and animated by Kenneth Wilcox)[17] and "When Boy Meets Boy" (directed and animated by Joe Phillips).[18]
Critical reception[edit]
Howard Stump of music blog Soundtrack to mMy Day said Not Thinking Straight was: "smart, funny, and still remains honest and very real. And when you pair honesty and smart up so well, it can't help but be kinda sexy, too. Stylistically [there is] a wonderfully eclectic feeling to [Fishel's] music. And while he tells universal stories of love, loss and life, Matt doesn't shy away from the fact he is a gay man, using that experience to enrich the lyrics....[it is] a wonderful journey, touching on aspects of life from teen to adult. The album touches my heart in so many ways, at times making me smile, or give a sigh, or even drop a tear or two. It speaks to our shared histories of love, hurt, and confusion, all part of growing up."[19] Music journalist and broadcaster JD Doyle of Queer Music Heritage said of Not Thinking Straight: "I just love the new Matt Fishel CD! I've been calling his music 'Political Power Pop'...it's music that never even thought about being in the closet."[20]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Not Thinking Straight won the Album of the Year award at the 2013 Co-operative Respect 'Loved By You' Awards, voted for by the public.[21][22]
Co-operative Respect 'Loved By You' Awards[edit]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Not Thinking Straight | Album of the Year | Won |
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Matt Fishel.
All songs produced by Fishel and Mark Crew except for "Football Song", produced by Fishel
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Radio-Friendly Pop Song" | 3:49 |
| 2. | "Testament" | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Behind Closed Doors" | 3:30 |
| 4. | "The First Time" | 3:15 |
| 5. | "Maybe..." | 3:29 |
| 6. | "Nottingham" | 4:17 |
| 7. | "Seventeen Again" | 4:42 |
| 8. | "Armitage Shanks (Jamie)" | 2:47 |
| 9. | "Alastair" | 4:37 |
| 10. | "Football Song" | 4:00 |
| 11. | "Boxer Shorts & Razor Blades" | 3:43 |
| 12. | "Boys" | 5:22 |
| 13. | "When Boy Meets Boy" | 3:45 |
Credits and personnel[edit]
Credits for Not Thinking Straight are adapted from the album's liner notes.[2][23]
- Album executive producer: Matt Fishel
- All songs written and arranged by Matt Fishel
- Matt Fishel – All lead and background vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, synths and programming
- Mark Crew – Keyboards and programming
- Jonas Jalhay – Guitars and Bass
- Siri Steinmo – Additional background vocals on "Testament" and "Behind Closed Doors"
- Marcus Bonfanti – Additional guitars on "Football Song"
- All songs (except "Football Song") – Produced by Matt Fishel and Mark Crew / Recorded, engineered and mixed by Mark Crew at Unit 24, London UK / Additional instruments and all background vocals performed, arranged, recorded and engineered by Matt Fishel at Superfishel Studios, London UK
- "Football Song" – Produced, arranged, performed, engineered and mixed by Matt Fishel at Superfishel Studios, London UK / Additional mixing by Jos Jorgensen
- All songs mastered by Streaky for Streaky Mastering
- Album artwork by Joe Phillips
- "Football Song" illustration by Jacopo Camagni
- Matt Fishel photograph by Claire Newman-Williams
References[edit]
- ^ "This week's new releases 08-04-2013", Official Charts Company, UK, 8 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ a b c "Not Thinking Straight by Matt Fishel on Apple Music". iTunes. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "About". Matt Fishel. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Not Thinking Straight - AUDIO CD | Matt Fishel". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d Hopps, Gordon. "Songs In The Key Of Gay – Matt Fishel", Bent Magazine, UK, 15 March 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ Watts, Laurence. "Interview: Matt Fishel on his new album Not Thinking Straight", Pink News, UK, 21 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Matt Fishel is Not Thinking Straight" Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, RightOut TV, Canada. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ Roth, Jon. "Matt Fishel's First Time", Out Magazine, United States, 16 December 2011. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Out Radio: April 2013, Part 1 – JD Doyle Interviews Matt Fishel" Archived 25 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine, JD Doyle, Out Radio, United States, April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Football Song – Single by Matt Fishel on Apple Music". iTunes. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "The First Time – Single by Matt Fishel on Apple Music". iTunes. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Behind Closed Doors – Single by Matt Fishel on Apple Music". iTunes. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "When Boy Meets Boy – Single by Matt Fishel on Apple Music". iTunes. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Matt Fishel – Football Song (Official Music Video)" on YouTube, YouTube. 11 October 2009. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Matt Fishel – The First Time (Official Music Video)" on YouTube, YouTube. 30 October 2011. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Matt Fishel – Testament (Official Music Video)" on YouTube, YouTube. 20 May 2012. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Matt Fishel – Radio-Friendly Pop Song (Official Music Video)" on YouTube, YouTube. 10 March 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Matt Fishel – When Boy Meets Boy (Official Music Video)" on YouTube, YouTube. 2 June 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ Stump, Howard. "Matt Fishel * Not Thinking Straight", Soundtrack To My Day, United States, 2 May 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "JD Doyle Interviews Matt Fishel April 2013 The Script" Archived 25 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Queer Music Heritage – JD Doyle, United States, April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.
- ^ "Respect 'Loved by You' Awards 2013". Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ "Well done to @mattfishel who's your 'Album & Song of the Year' in our 'Loved by You' awards". Co-operative.coop. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ Not Thinking Straight (CD liner / Young Lust Records). Matt Fishel. Europe / United Kingdom. 2013. p. 16. YLR001CD.
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