Let It Come Down is the fourth studio album by the rock band Spiritualized, released in 2001. It was recorded and produced at Abbey Road and AIR Studios. It took Jason Pierce, Spiritualized's lead singer, guitarist and sole constant member, four years to write, perform, produce and release. The album utilises 115 session musicians, including orchestra and London Community Gospel Choir. The wall of sound technique (most notably used by 1960s record producer Phil Spector) is evident on this album, especially on such tracks as "Do It All Over Again", "Stop Your Crying", "The Straight and the Narrow" and "Out of Sight".
| Let It Come Down | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 September 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 1999–2001 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 63:01 | |||
| Label | Arista | |||
| Producer | Jason Pierce | |||
| Spiritualized chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Let It Come Down | ||||
| ||||
Music
editThe album's sound is described as art rock,[1] symphonic rock,[2] space rock,[3] and gospel.[4]
Album cover
editThe album was released in two different sleeves – one in a standard jewel case, the other in a much bulkier one-piece box, with the cover image (the wife of the artist) debossed in the case material.
Track listing
editAll songs written by J Spaceman.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "On Fire" | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Do It All Over Again" | 3:48 |
| 3. | "Don't Just Do Something" | 6:54 |
| 4. | "Out of Sight" | 6:12 |
| 5. | "The Twelve Steps" | 4:43 |
| 6. | "The Straight and the Narrow" | 5:12 |
| 7. | "I Didn't Mean to Hurt You" | 5:14 |
| 8. | "Stop Your Crying" | 5:16 |
| 9. | "Anything More" | 5:36 |
| 10. | "Won't Get to Heaven (The State I'm In)" | 10:34 |
| 11. | "Lord Can You Hear Me" | 5:38 |
| Total length: | 63:01 | |
Reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Blender | [6] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[2] |
| The Guardian | [7] |
| Los Angeles Times | [8] |
| NME | 9/10[9] |
| Pitchfork | 8.4/10[10] |
| Q | [11] |
| Rolling Stone |  [12] |
| Spin | 4/10[13] |
Q listed Let It Come Down as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.[14] Paste ranked the album number 18 on its list of best albums of 2001.[15]
The Independent ranked the album number 11 on its list of 20 most underrated albums ever.[16]
Commercial performance
editLet It Come Down is the band's most successful album on the UK Albums Chart, where it peaked at number three. As of 2005 it has sold 55,000 copies in United States,[17] and as of 2003 it has shipped 250,000 units across Europe.[18]
Personnel
editSpiritualized
- Spaceman – Fender Thinline, Fender Jaguar, Epiphone Olympic, Vox Starstreamer XII, Martin acoustic, banjo, Vox Continental, Farfisa Compact, piano, harmonica, vocals
- Thighpaulsandra – Hammond C3, Vox Continental, Farfisa Compact, VK7, Kurzweil K2000, Minimoog, Fender Rhodes, piano
- Doggen Foster – Gibson Les Paul Gold Top, Gibson Les Paul Custom, Fender Telecaster, Vox Bulldog, Martin acoustic, harmonica
- John Coxon – Fender Telecaster, Fender Jaguar, Gibson Firebird, Vox Continental, Farfisa Compact, piano, Juno 106, Martin acoustic
- Martin Schellard – Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Musicmaster, Fender Bass VI, Burns Bass, Fender Telecaster, banjo, piano
- Tom Edwards – vibraphone, marimba, timpani, tubular bells, percussion
- Kevin Bales – Gretsch drum kit
- Raymond Dickaty – soprano and baritone saxophone
Additional musicians
- Pete Whyman – saxophones, clarinet
- Mimi Parker – vocals
- Chris Clark – piano
- David O'Carroll – tuba
- Ben Edwards – trumpet
- Nick Smart – trumpet
- James Adams – trombone
- Tamar Osborn – saxophone, clarinet
- David Temple – saxophone, clarinet
- First Violins: Edmund Coxon (leader), Cathy Thompson, Jackie Shave, Everton Nelson, Patrick Kiernan, Steve Morris, Ian Humphries, Christina Emanuel, Laura Malhuish
- Second Violins: Jonathan Rees, Dai Emanuel, Sonia Slaney, Perry Montague-Mason, Miffy Hirsch, Jeremy Morris, Ann Morfee
- Viola: Roger Chase, Philip Dukes, Bruce White, Kate Musker
- Cello: David Daniels, Tony Pleeth, Cathy Giles, Jonathan Tunnell
- Double Bass: Mary Scully, Diane Clarke
- Cor Anglais: Jane Marshall
- Bassoon: Gavin McNaughton, Celia Birkenshaw
- French Horn: Hugh Seenan, Richard Bissel, Nigel Black, Paul Gardham, Dave Lee, Martin Owen, Richard Ashton, Michaela Betts
- Trumpet: Andy Crowley, Ian Balmain, Bob Farley, Paul Archibald, Paul Beniston
- Trombone: Graham Lee, Colin Sheen, Peter Davies, Mike Hext, Roger Brenner
- Bass Trombone: David Stewart, Roger Argente, Andy Waddicor
- Flute/Alto flute and Bass flute: Dave Health, Andy Findon
- Contra-bass flute: Andy Findon
- Oboe: Chris Cowie, Margaret Tindal
- Clarinet: Anthony Pike, Richard Addison
- Bass Clarinet: David Fuest
- Harp: Helen Tunstall
Additional vocals
- Nigel Short – counter tenor
- Emer McParland – alto
- Sarah Eyden – soprano
- Simon Grant – bass
- Andrew Busher – tenor
- Michael Dore – bass
- Heather Cairncross – alto
- Andrew Gray – tenor
- Jacqueline Barron – soprano
- Rachel Weston – alto
- Gerard O'Beirne – tenor
- London Community Gospel Choir: Wendi Rose, Wayne Hernandez, Jenny Graham, Donovan Keith Lawrence, Vernetta Meade, Jenny La Touche, Aaron Paul Sokell, Travis Jae Cole, Vimbai Shire, Samantha Smith, Irene Forrester, Carmen Smart, Michelle John-Douglas, Jasette Barratt
- Choir Director: Daniel Thomas
References
edit- ^ Barker, Emily (21 October 2013). "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 500-401". NME. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ a b Browne, David (5 October 2001). "Let It Come Down". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Let It Come Down – Spiritualized". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Spiritualized: Let It Come Down". Pitchfork. 19 November 2001. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Reviews for Let It Come Down by Spiritualized". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Long, Alex (October–November 2001). "Spiritualized: Let It Come Down". Blender (3): 112. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (14 September 2001). "Heaven can wait". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Hochman, Steve (30 September 2001). "Spiritualized, 'Let It Come Down,' Arista". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Oldham, James (15 September 2001). "Spiritualized : Let It Come Down". NME: 39. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Kearney, Ryan (19 November 2001). "Spiritualized: Let It Come Down". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Spiritualized: Let It Come Down". Q (182): 132–33. October 2001.
- ^ Sheffield, Rob (8 November 2001). "Spiritualized: Let It Come Down". Rolling Stone. No. 881. Archived from the original on 10 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ Wolk, Douglas (October 2001). "Space Rock 2001". Spin. 17 (10): 127. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "The Best 50 Albums of 2001". Q. December 2001. pp. 60–65.
- ^ "The Best Albums of 2001". Paste. 21 April 2021.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark; O'Connor, Roisin (19 October 2024). "The 20 most underrated albums ever". The Independent. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Spiritualized Summons Up Rare Tracks". Billboard. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Howorth, Adam (13 September 2003). "U.K.'s Spiritualised Still Innovating". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2018.