Tape Deck Heart
Tape Deck Heart | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 April 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2012 in Los Angeles | |||
Genre | Folk rock, folk punk, punk rock | |||
Length | 50:20 | |||
Label | Xtra Mile, Polydor, Interscope | |||
Producer | Rich Costey | |||
Frank Turner chronology | ||||
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Singles from Tape Deck Heart | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 76/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The A.V. Club | B[3] |
The Guardian | |
Hellhound Music | |
NME | 8/10[6] |
PopMatters | 8/10[7] |
Punknews.org | |
Sputnikmusic | |
The Telegraph | |
This Is Fake DIY | 5/10[11] |
Tape Deck Heart is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Frank Turner, released on 22 April 2013 on Xtra Mile in the UK, and on Polydor / Interscope worldwide. Produced by Rich Costey, the album was preceded by the single, "Recovery."
Described as a "break-up album," Tape Deck Heart was written and recorded following the collapse of a long-term romantic relationship. Turner stated: "There’s a lot of stuff on this record about loss and failure in relationships, about what happens when something that was supposed to be timeless runs out of time."[12]
Tape Deck Heart has been given a Parental Advisory label due to the profanity heard on tracks "Plain Sailing Weather" and "Good & Gone". The title of the album is taken from a lyric in the song "Tell Tale Signs".
Background and recording
[edit]After extensive touring in support of Turner's fourth studio album, England Keep My Bones (2011) - which included an appearance during the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony and a headline show at Wembley Arena - Turner and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls, flew to Los Angeles, in October 2012, to enter the studio with producer Rich Costey, seeking a "big, warm expansive rock sound."[13] Regarding the band's experience in Los Angeles, Turner stated, "It’s such a cliché – bands reach a certain level of success, go to L.A. to record an album. I was nervous about recording outside the UK because my music sounds English and I like that, but in fact, it didn’t make any difference. We stayed at the Holiday Inn next door and didn’t finish until dark every day, so I scarcely saw the sun shine."[14]
Regarding Costey's production, Turner noted, "I will say that I think the production is a massive step up for me. [...] The man is a fucking genius."[12] Nicknamed, "Sauron, the all seeing eye," by Turner and his bandmates, Costey often made the band perform multiple takes in the studio, with Turner stating: "He brings an almost autistic eye for detail. He made me do 42 vocal takes at one point, with the encouragement ‘I know there’s something in there'."[15]
Fergus Coulbeck who featured on Turners 3rd album Poetry of the Deed was quoted saying he would never work with Turner again following a dispute over baked goods and refreshments available while recording Tape Deck Heart.
Writing and composition
[edit]Explaining the album's title, Turner stated, "A 'Tape Deck Heart' is someone who has a love of music above anything else. I don’t miss cassettes, but I am of an age - like many of us - whose music listening life was defined by Walkmen and C90 tapes."[15]
Comparing the album's lyrical and thematic content to his previous album, England Keep My Bones (2011), Turner noted: "This record isn't about England at all — I did that last time round. This album is about self-examination, running through your own faults, about change, and about ending. Something like that."[16]
Regarding the track, "Four Simple Words", Turner stated, "I think that song is something of a nod towards Queen, stylistically. But it’s not something that markedly runs through the record as such, I don’t think."[12] Turner elaborated, "I tell people it's about dancing but it's really a song about punk rock and the pleasantly surprising revelation that, at 31, my ethics and approach to music are the same as when I was 15."[13]
Artwork
[edit]The artwork for the album was done by SWFL tattoo artist Heather Ann Law.
Release
[edit]On 25 December 2012, Turner released a free download of "Four Simple Words" on his website, backed with a demo version of the song, "Cowboy Chords". The opening track and first single, "Recovery", premiered on Radio 1, on 4 March 2013 and was released on iTunes the following day.
The deluxe edition of the album contains six additional tracks, with Turner noting, "Track listing an album is a fine art, and usually a pretty agonising process. I’m glad I've had the opportunity to do the extended version for this one – all these songs belong together. That said, I think an album is a piece of art in its own right and can be too long, so it’s worth making the twelve-track definitive version. Choosing what makes it and what doesn’t is agonising, though."[12]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album entered the UK chart at No. 2 on its release, and was certified Silver by the BPI on 15 November 2013.[17] It became his most successful album yet, with 200,000 copies sold.[18]
In the United States, the album debuted at No. 52 on Billboard 200,[19] and No. 15 on Top Rock Albums,[20] selling 7,000 copies in its first week. It has sold 44,000 copies in the United States as of July 2015.[21]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Frank Turner, except where noted
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Recovery" | 3:28 |
2. | "Losing Days" | 3:32 |
3. | "The Way I Tend to Be" | 3:41 |
4. | "Plain Sailing Weather" (Frank Turner, Matt Nasir) | 4:01 |
5. | "Good & Gone" | 3:50 |
6. | "Tell Tale Signs" | 4:12 |
7. | "Four Simple Words" | 4:56 |
8. | "Polaroid Picture" | 3:43 |
9. | "The Fisher King Blues" | 5:00 |
10. | "Anymore" | 3:09 |
11. | "Oh Brother" (Turner, Nasir) | 4:18 |
12. | "Broken Piano" | 5:30 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "We Shall Not Overcome" | 3:52 |
14. | "Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons?" | 3:35 |
15. | "Tattoos" | 2:39 |
16. | "Undeveloped Film" | 4:17 |
17. | "Time Machine" | 3:20 |
18. | "Cowboy Chords" | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Cowboy Chords" | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
17. | "Undeveloped Film" | 4:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "We Shall Not Overcome" | 3:52 |
14. | "Wherefore Art Thou Gene Simmons?" | 3:35 |
15. | "Tattoos" | 2:39 |
16. | "Undeveloped Film" | 4:17 |
17. | "Time Machine" | 3:20 |
18. | "Cowboy Chords" | 3:21 |
19. | "Oh Brother (Live From London / 2013)" | 3:57 |
20. | "Plain Sailing Weather (Live From London / 2013)" | 4:02 |
Editions
[edit]- Standard CD
- Deluxe CD
- 12" Vinyl available in green or black
- iTunes LP
- Cassette Tape
Singles
[edit]"Four Simple Words" was released as a free download, along with a demo version of "Cowboy Chords" through Xtra Miles website on Christmas Day 2012. The first single from the album was "Recovery", which was released on 5 March 2013 and the music video was released the same day. "The Way I Tend To Be" was later released on 17 June and peaked at number 33 in the UK singles chart. "Losing Days" was the third single to be released.
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Personnel
[edit]Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls
[edit]- Frank Turner – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
- Ben Lloyd – electric guitar, backing vocals, noise (12), drums (12)
- Tarrant Anderson – bass guitar, backing vocals, drums (12)
- Matt Nasir – piano, accordion, organ, Mellotron, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, mandolin, xylophone, backing vocals, drums (12)
- Nigel Powell – drums, percussion, recorder, backing vocals
Additional musicians
[edit]- Rich Costey - electric guitar (1 and 9), backing vocals (7)
- Elle King - banjo (3)
- Fergus Coulbeck - jew’s harp ("her velvet tones")
- John Hill - soundscapes (3)
- Chris Trovero - backing vocals (7)
- Scott Keys - backing vocals (7)
- Deena Keys - backing vocals (7)
- Samantha Keys - backing vocals (7)
- Chris Kasych - backing vocals (7)
- Ben Hallett - backing vocals (7)
Recording personnel
[edit]- Rich Costey - producer, recording, mixing
- Chris Kasych - engineer, additional mixing (9 and 12)
- Dave Schiffman - additional engineering
- Eric Isip - recording assistant
- Howie Weinberg - mastering
- Nick Moorbath - producer, mixing (15 and 18)
Artwork
[edit]- Heather Ann Law - cover design
- Matt Hunt - portraits
- Ben Morse - band photographs
- Thomas Lacey - album artwork and layout
References
[edit]- ^ "Tape Deck Heart Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Christopher Monger, James. "Tape Deck Heart - Frank Turner". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Zaleski, Annie (23 April 2013). "Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (18 April 2013). "Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart – review". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Crane, Matt (17 April 2013). "Album Review: Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart". Hellhound Music. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Cooper, Leonie (19 April 2013). "Frank Turner - 'Tape Deck Heart'". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven (22 April 2013). "Frank Turner: Tape Deck Heart". Popmatters. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart". Punknews.org. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Freeman, Channing (23 April 2013). "Frank Turner Review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (19 April 2013). "Album Review". The Telegraph. London: Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Doyle, Tomas (22 April 2013). "Frank Turner - Tape Deck Heart". This Is Fake DIY. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d Rodger, James Daniel (22 January 2013). "Frank Turner - Interview". Dance Yrself Clean. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ a b Paine, Andre (20 April 2013). "It's a punk-folk thing: Frank Turner Interview". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ "Frank Turner Reveals His Tape Deck Heart". May the Rock Be With You. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ a b Kyle, Steve (12 March 2013). "Interview: Frank Turner on Albatrosses, Relief, Springsteen and C90 Cassettes". Something Gold Something New. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ Thaine, Marcus (16 March 2013). "Frank Turner interview". AsiaLIFE Guide. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ "British album certifications – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Type Tape Deck Heart in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "Frank Turner". Red dreams.
- ^ "Billboard 200: May 11, 2013". Billboard.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums: May 11, 2013". Billboard.
- ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015.
- ^ Turner, Frank. "'TAPE DECK HEART' – NEW ALBUM + TICKET PRE-SALE". frank-turner.com. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart" (in German). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Frank Turner | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
- ^ "Frank Turner Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "Frank Turner Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Frank Turner Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Frank Turner Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "End of Year 2013" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Frank Turner – Tape Deck Heart". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 March 2024.