Conditions is the debut studio album by Australian rock band The Temper Trap, released in Australia through Liberation Music on 19 June 2009. It was later released in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2009. The album debuted at number nine on the Australian Albums Chart,[1] where it has been certified platinum, and peaked at number 25 on the UK Albums Chart, largely due to the success of the debut single "Sweet Disposition", which peaked at number six on the singles chart.[2] The song "Science of Fear" was featured in the EA Sports video game FIFA 10 and the Codemasters racing game DiRT 2, while the song "Fader" was featured in the Eden Games racing game Test Drive Unlimited 2.

Conditions
Studio album by
Released19 June 2009 (2009-06-19)
Recorded2008–2009
GenreIndie rock, indie pop
Length42:42
LabelLiberation (AUS)
Infectious (UK)
Glassnote (US)
ProducerJim Abbiss
The Temper Trap chronology
The Temper Trap EP
(2006)
Conditions
(2009)
The Temper Trap
(2012)
Singles from Conditions
  1. "Sweet Disposition"
    Released: 16 September 2008
  2. "Science of Fear"
    Released: 24 March 2009
  3. "Fader"
    Released: 4 July 2009
  4. "Love Lost"
    Released: 6 February 2010

Background

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After signing a worldwide record deal with Korda Marshall's newly re-launched Infectious Records (previously home to Muse, Ash and Garbage) and scoring a trailer and soundtrack appearance for the US film 500 Days of Summer, Melbourne band The Temper Trap got together with producer Jim Abbiss (of Kasabian, Unkle, Arctic Monkeys, Adele) to work on their debut album in early 2009.[3]

Production

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The album was completed in March 2009 in a final London Session with Abbiss, following a previous four-week stint at Melbourne's Sing Sing Studios with renowned Australian producer Kalju Tonuma who engineered the album.[3]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(71/100)[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [5]
BBC(favourable)[6]
NME(8/10)[7]
OK!     [8]
Pitchfork Media(4.6/10)[9]
Sputnikmusic     [10]
The Sun-Herald(favourable)[11]
The Guardian     [12]
The Times     [13]

Generally, early Australian reviews for the album were positive. Brisbane's Rave magazine gave the album high praise; "Some bands can only dream of a debut as auspicious as this. The Temper Trap have it for real".[14]

In reference to Mandagi's voice, Michael Hann of The Guardian noted that; "with his voice, and a band this dynamic, he could get away with singing the racing cards",[12] The Times online wrote that "the lead singer of this Melbourne four-piece, soars across a debut album with a voice that switches without warning into a rasping, edgy tenor with thrilling dynamic impact",[13] whilst Keira Burgess of the BBC commented that; "Mandagi's falsetto vocal provides the axis around which the rest of the band revolves, displayed both in the often unintelligible 'Love Lost' through to the likes of sing-along synth pop 'Fader'".[6]

However, not all reviews were positive, with music critic site Pitchfork Media deciding that the group is "defined by almost any measure except musical creativity or lyrical ingenuity", as well as noting that "when you adopt the trappings of revolutionary significance without showing much interest in advancing beyond the revolutions of twenty years ago, you sound ridiculous".[9]

The album was nominated for the ARIA Album of the Year Award in 2009.[15]

Promotion and release

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In Melbourne, coinciding with the launch of the album, the logo and title of the album were spray painted on pavements, including in Melbourne's central business district. Their debut album was released in Australia through Liberation Music on 19 June 2009. It was later released in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2009.

It was released in the United States on 13 October 2009, through Glassnote Records, a label which specializes in alternative rock music.[16]

10th Anniversary Edition

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The 10th anniversary of Conditions was marked by a limited edition vinyl and a tour in Australia.

On 9 August 2019, Conditions was reissued in a limited edition white vinyl with a gatefold sleeve with commemorative imagery from the early days of the band's career.[17]

A 3 date tour of Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney was announced, with a 4th date being added later. The tour is set to begin on 4 December 2019, and will feature special guests The Lazy Eyes, and Djirri Djirri.[18]

Track listing

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Conditions (original release)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Love Lost"Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon Aherne, Lorenzo Sillitto3:33
2."Rest"Mandagi, Aherne, Sillitto, Dundas3:52
3."Sweet Disposition"Mandagi, Sillitto3:54
4."Down River"Mandagi, Aherne3:40
5."Soldier On"Mandagi, Aherne, Sillitto5:55
6."Fader"Mandagi, Dundas3:12
7."Fools"Mandagi, Sillitto4:32
8."Resurrection"Mandagi, Sillitto5:31
9."Science of Fear"Mandagi, Sillitto, Dundas, Aherne4:17
10."Drum Song"Mandagi, Sillitto, Aherne, Dundas3:20

All tracks are written by The Temper Trap

Conditions (international release)
No.TitleLength
1."Love Lost"3:33
2."Sweet Disposition"3:52
3."Fader"3:03
4."Rest"3:40
5."Down River"3:45
6."Soldier On"5:55
7."Fools"4:32
8."Resurrection"5:31
9."Science of Fear"4:17
10."Drum Song"3:20
11."Little Boy" (iTunes bonus track)3:51
12."Hearts" (iTunes bonus track)2:45
Conditions Remixed
No.TitleLength
1."Love Lost" (Rollo & Sister Bliss Remix) 
2."Rest" (Three Trapped Tigers Remix) 
3."Sweet Disposition" (Alan Wilkis Remix) 
4."Down River" (Fool's Gold Remix) 
5."Soldier On" (RUSKOS F'kin Seagull Remix) 
6."Fader" (Adam Freeland Remix) 
7."Fools" (Peter, Bjorn & John Hortlax Cobra Remix) 
8."Resurrection" (Penguin Prison Remix) 
9."Science of Fear" (The Count (aka Hervé) 'Medusa' Remix) 
10."Drum Song" (bretonLABS remix featuring Kate Tempest) 

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] Platinum 70,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Label Format Catalogue
Australia 19 June 2009 Liberation CD, digital download
CD LMCD0056
United Kingdom 10 August 2009 Infectious
United States 13 October 2009[16] Glassnote[16]

References

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  1. ^ Steffen Hung (6 February 2012). "Discography The Temper Trap". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Temper Trap". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Conditions | Music , Music Genres, Alternative : JB HI-FI". Jbhifionline.com.au. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Conditions Reviews, Ratings, Credits and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  5. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "Review: Conditions". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  6. ^ a b Burgess, Keira (10 August 2009). "A less marketable, but equally accurate description is blooming enjoyable pop music". BBC. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  7. ^ MacBain, Hamish (12 August 2009). "Album review: The Temper Trap - 'Conditions'". NME. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  8. ^ "The Temper Trap: Conditions". OK! Magazine. 11 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  9. ^ a b Hogan, Mark (24 August 2009). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: The Temper Trap: Conditions". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  10. ^ Boy, Davey (24 July 2009). "The Temper Trap - Conditions (staff review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  11. ^ Ohandjanian, Sevana (31 July 2009). "The Temper Trap - Conditions". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  12. ^ a b Hann, Michael (7 August 2009). "The Temper Trap: Conditions". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  13. ^ a b Cairns, Dan (9 August 2009). "The Temper Trap: Conditions". The Times. London. Retrieved 6 October 2009.[dead link]
  14. ^ "Brisbane Street Press - THE TEMPER TRAP – Conditions". Rave Magazine. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  15. ^ Noel Mengel (8 October 2009). "ARIA Awards 2009 nominations a musical mixed bag". The Courier-Mail. News.com.au. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
  16. ^ a b c "Conditions: The Temper Trap: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  17. ^ "The Temper Trap celebrate debut album Conditions' tenth anniversary with a tour". Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Frontier Touring". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Temper Trap – Conditions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Temper Trap – Conditions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Temper Trap – Conditions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Lescharts.com – The Temper Trap – Conditions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  23. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 5, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  24. ^ "Italiancharts.com – The Temper Trap – Conditions". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Temper Trap | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  26. ^ "The Temper Trap Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  27. ^ "The Temper Trap Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  28. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  29. ^ "UK Year-End 2009" (PDF). Charts Plus. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  30. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2010". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  31. ^ "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  32. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 December 2021.