Brave Words
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''Brave Words'' is the debut studio album by
New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
band
the Chills The Chills are a New Zealand indie rock band that formed in Dunedin in 1980. The band were fronted by founding mainstay singer-songwriter, guitarist Martin Phillipps (singer), Martin Phillipps (2 July 1963 – 28 July 2024). During the mid-1 ...
, released in 1987. It was produced by
Mayo Thompson Mayo Thompson (born February 26, 1944) is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the experimental rock band Red Krayola. Background Mayo Thompson’s formal education includes Garden of Arts Kindergarten until Holy ...
.


Background

After the break-up of the Same, vocalist and guitarist Martin Phillipps started a new band, the Chills, in
Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...
in 1980. Over the next few years, they would go through extensive line-up changes, with the public believing that the Chills are solely a backing band for Phillipps, as he was the only constant member. "Pink Frost", recorded two years earlier, was released in 1984 and became a hit in New Zealand, followed by '' The Lost EP'' (1985), which reached number 31 on the
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. They played a few shows in London, England towards the end of 1985, and by October 1986, the line-up shifted again: Phillipps, Justin Harwood of Coconut Rough on bass, Caroline Easther of the Verlaines on drums and Andrew Todd of Smart Russians on keyboard. The Chills recorded another single, "I Love My Leather Jacket", reaching number 25 on the UK Independent Singles Chart and number four in New Zealand. Spurred on by this, the band moved to London in February 1987, prior to a five-week trek across Europe. After returning to London, they began working with
Mayo Thompson Mayo Thompson (born February 26, 1944) is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the experimental rock band Red Krayola. Background Mayo Thompson’s formal education includes Garden of Arts Kindergarten until Holy ...
of
Red Krayola Red Krayola (originally Red Crayola) is an American avant rock band from Houston, Texas formed in 1966 by the trio of singer/guitarist Mayo Thompson, drummer Frederick Barthelme, and bassist Steve Cunningham. The group were part of the 1960s ...
on their debut studio album, ''Brave Words''.


Release

To promote ''Brave Words'', the Chills appeared at the
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in June 1987, performing to over 60,000 people. Two months after this, they went to New York City to play at the
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, and when they returned to London, embarked on tours of the UK and mainland Europe. Following a
John Peel John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), better known as John Peel, was an English radio presenter and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original disc jockeys on BBC Radio 1, broadcasting regularly from ...
radio session, "House with 100 Rooms" was released as a single. In November 1987, they went on tours of Australia and New Zealand, both of which sold out. In the New Years, Easther left the band, citing issues with her ears. Her role was filled by James Stephenson, formerly of Bygone Era; his first tour saw the band tour across the US.


Critical reception

The ''
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'' wrote that "songs such as 'Push' and 'Wet Blanket' derive most of their power from the clever spins that
artin Artin may refer to: * Artin (name), a surname and given name, including a list of people with the name ** Artin, a variant of Harutyun Harutyun ( and in Western Armenian Յարութիւն) also spelled Haroutioun, Harutiun and its variants Har ...
Phillips puts on typical romantic dilemmas." Author Dave Thompson, in his book ''Alternative Rock'' (2000), wrote that after "so many killer singles and EPs ... the first full blast of the Chills was disappointing", adding that "Wet Blanket" and "16 Heart Throbs" could "dignify any best-of the band."


Track listing

All songs written by Martin Phillips, except for where noted. LP version
Side 1: #"Push" #"Rain" #"Speak for Yourself" #"Look for the Good in Others and They'll See the Good in You" #"Wet Blanket" #"Ghosts" Side 2: #"Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn" #"Night of Chill Blue" #"16 Heart-Throbs" #"Brave Words" #"Dark Carnival" #"Creep" (Phillips, Idaho) CD version #"Push" #"Rain" #"Speak for Yourself" #"Look for the Good in Others and They'll See the Good in You" #"Wet Blanket" #"Ghosts" #"House With 100 Rooms" #"Party in My Heart" #"Living in a Jungle" #"Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn" #"Night of Chill Blue" #"16 Heart-Throbs" #"Brave Words" #"Dark Carnival" #"Creep"


References


External links


''Brave Words''
at
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(streamed copy where licensed) {{Authority control The Chills albums 1987 albums Flying Nun Records albums