Metropolis (The Church song)

"Metropolis" is a song by Australian alternative rock band The Church. It was released as the lead single on their 1990 album, Gold Afternoon Fix, and the songwriting credits were given to all four members of the band.

"Metropolis"
Single by The Church
from the album Gold Afternoon Fix
Released1990
GenreAlternative rock
Length4:47
LabelArista Records
Songwriter(s)Marty Willson-Piper / Peter Koppes / Richard Ploog / Steve Kilbey
Producer(s)Waddy Wachtel and The Church
The Church singles chronology
"Destination"
(1988)		 "Metropolis"
(1990)		 "Russian Autumn Heart"
(1990)

Background and composition

Marty Willson-Piper, Peter Koppes, Richard Ploog, and Steve Kilbey were all credited with writing the song. The lead guitar produced a quickly falling then softly ascending melody, with slight commercial influence. A complicated web of guitar overdubs appears later in the song, and a soft, mandolin-sounding melody was added as an additional hook.[1]

Release and reception

"Metropolis" peaked at number one on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks and number 11 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in 1990.[2] The song was well received by critics upon its release. Ned Raggett of Allmusic praised "the almost desperate edge in Steve Kilbey's vocals" as a testament to the song's quality. Raggett added that the Church's "ear for a triumphant yet somehow downbeat ending [makes] this an underrated gem in the band's body of work."[1]

Personnel

Chart performance
Chart (1990) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart[2] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart[2] 11

Acoustic versions

The band performed the song, as well as "Under the Milky Way", for MTV Unplugged on 30 January 1990 at the National Video Center in New York City.  The episode aired 18 March 1990.[3]

An acoustic version was included on the 2004 album El Momento Descuidado.

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References
  1. Raggett, Ned. "Metropolis review". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  2. "The Church Awards". Allmusic. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. "Sinead O'Connor with The Church". tv.com. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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