Philophobia (album)

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 Arab Strap
Released	20 April 1998 (1998-04-20)
Recorded	1998
Studio	CaVa Studios (Glasgow, Scotland) Chem19 (Glasgow, Scotland)
Genre	Indie rock slowcore alternative rock
Length	65:44
Label	Chemikal Underground
Producer	Geoff Allan Paul Savage
Arab Strap chronology
The Week Never Starts Round Here (1996) Philophobia (1998) Mad for Sadness (1999)
Singles from Philophobia
"Here We Go" / "Trippy" Released: 1998 (1998) "(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

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Drowned in Sound	10/10[6]
The Guardian	[7]
NME	8/10[8]
Pitchfork	7.7/10[9]
PopMatters	8/10[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

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

No.	Title	Writer(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.	Title	Writer(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

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

Arab Strap

• Malcolm Middleton
• Aidan Moffat

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

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

References

1. http://shop.chemikal.co.uk/acatalog/CHEM021.html
2. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
3. "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. 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.CS1 maint: others (link)
15. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2018.

External links

• Philophobia at Discogs (list of releases)