Philophobia is the second studio album by Scottish indie rock band Arab Strap. It was released on 20 April 1998 on Chemikal Underground.[1]

Philophobia
Studio album by
Released20 April 1998 (1998-04-20)
Recorded1998
Studio
Genre
Length65:44
LabelChemikal Underground
Producer
Arab Strap chronology
The Week Never Starts Round Here
(1996)
Philophobia
(1998)
Mad for Sadness
(1999)
Singles from Philophobia
  1. "Here We Go" / "Trippy"
    Released: 1998 (1998)
  2. "(Afternoon) Soaps"
    Released: 1998 (1998)

Philophobia peaked at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart,[2] as well as number 3 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[3]

The 2010 reissue edition of the album comes with an additional bonus disc.[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Drowned in Sound10/10[6]
The Guardian     [7]
NME8/10[8]
Pitchfork7.7/10[9]
PopMatters8/10[10]
Rolling Stone     [11]

NME named Philophobia the 17th best album of 1998.[12] In 2012, Fact placed the album at number 91 on its "100 Best Albums of the 1990s" list.[13]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Malcolm Middleton and Aidan Moffat, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Packs of Three" 3:23
2."Soaps" 4:16
3."Here We Go" 5:04
4."New Birds" 6:27
5."One Day, After School" 5:01
6."Islands" 3:42
7."The Night Before the Funeral" 4:51
8."Not Quite a Yes" 3:42
9."Piglet" 6:48
10."Afterwards"
  • Middleton
  • Moffat
  • Adele Bethel
4:23
11."My Favourite Muse" 5:03
12."I Would've Liked Me a Lot Last Night" 7:26
13."The First Time You're Unfaithful" 5:38
Total length:65:44
2010 reissue edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Packs of Three" (Peel Session 2) 3:46
2."Piglet" (Peel Session 2) 6:44
3."The Night Before the Funeral" (Peel Session 2) 5:05
4."Blood" (Peel Session 2) 6:12
5."Girls of Summer" (Live at T in the Park) 7:56
6."New Birds" (Live at T in the Park) 6:27
7."Here We Go" (Live at T in the Park) 5:32
8."Soaps" (Live at T in the Park) 5:30
9."Afterwards" (Live at T in the Park)
  • Middleton
  • Moffat
  • Bethel
5:40
10."I Would've Liked Me a Lot Last Night" (Live at T in the Park) 6:56
Total length:59:48

Personnel

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Credits for Philophobia adapted from album liner notes.[14]

Arab Strap

Additional musicians

  • Alan Barr – cello (1)
  • Chris Geddes – Wurlitzer electric piano (1), Hammond organ (2)
  • Stuart Murdoch – piano (2)
  • Sarah Martin – violin (2)
  • Gary Miller – bass guitar (2)
  • David Gow – drums (2), organ (5)
  • Alan Wylie – trumpet (7)
  • Adele Bethel – lyrics (10), vocals (10)
  • Cora Bissett – cello (12)

Production

  • Geoff Allan – recording (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13), engineering (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13), production
  • Paul Savage – recording (4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12), engineering (4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12), production

Artwork and design

  • Adam Piggot – graphics
  • Marianne Greated – painting

Charts

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Chart (1998) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 34
UK Albums (OCC)[2] 37
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[3] 3

References

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  1. ^ ""Philophobia" by Arab Strap". shop.chemikal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  4. ^ Breihan, Tom (9 July 2010). "Arab Strap's First Albums Reissued". Pitchfork. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  5. ^ Raggett, Ned. "Philophobia – Arab Strap". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ^ Thomas, Sean (27 August 2010). "Album Review: Arab Strap – Philophobia (special edition)". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  7. ^ O'Reilly, John (10 April 1998). "Arab Strap: Philophobia (Chemikal Underground)". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Williams, Simon (18 April 1998). "Arab Strap – Philophobia". NME. Archived from the original on 10 October 2000. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ^ Tangari, Joe (19 August 2010). "Arab Strap: The Week Never Starts Round Here [Deluxe Edition] / Philophobia [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  10. ^ Beasley, Corey (23 September 2010). "Arab Strap: The Week Never Starts Round Here / Philophobia (Deluxe Reissues)". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  11. ^ Gross, Joe (12 August 1998). "Arab Strap: Philophobia". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Albums And Tracks Of The Year: 1998". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  13. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1990s". Fact. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  14. ^ Philophobia (liner notes). Arab Strap. Chemikal Underground. 1998. CHEM21CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
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