''Not Thinking Straight'' is the debut studio album by British singer, songwriter and recording artist

Matt Fishel Matt Fishel is a British singer, songwriter, music producer and record label owner. He plays guitar, piano, bass and keyboards. He grew up in Nottingham in the East Midlands in the late 1990s, going on to study Music and Performing Arts at Paul ...

. It was released internationally on 8 April 2013"This week's new releases 08-04-2013"
''

Official Charts Company The Official Charts (legal name: The Official UK Charts Company Limited) is a British inter-professional organization that compiles various "official" record charts in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. In the United Kingdom, its charts inc ...

'', UK, 8 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. through Fishel's own record label Young Lust Records.

Formats

''Not Thinking Straight'' was released as both a physical CD (on

Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California, US. On March 2, 2022, Bandcamp ...

and Fishel's website store) and a digital download (on

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...

and

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon (company), an American multinational technolog ...

worldwide).

Style and themes

Musically, the album incorporates elements of

alternative rock Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commercial ...

, punk rock,

pop punk Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...

and rock. It has been described as "a blend of heavy guitars, big vocal harmonies and anthemic choruses".Hopps, Gordon
"Songs In The Key Of Gay – Matt Fishel"
'' Bent Magazine'', UK, 15 March 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. Fishel is openly gayWatts, Laurence
"Interview: Matt Fishel on his new album Not Thinking Straight"
''

Pink News ''PinkNews'' is a UK-based online newspaper marketed to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community ( LGBT) in the UK and worldwide. It was founded by Benjamin Cohen in 2005. It closely follows political progress on LGBT rights ar ...

'', UK, 21 April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. and many of the songs and lyrics on ''Not Thinking Straight'' deal candidly with the "joys, pains and experiences of growing up as a gay teenager and young man". The album showcases Fishel's "unique style of songwriting and production""Matt Fishel is Not Thinking Straight"
, ''RightOut TV'', Canada. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. and comprises thirteen tracks that explore love, lust, education, sexuality and "themes and issues surrounding gay life, relationships and experiences". In an interview with RightOutTV, Fishel said of the album: "Some songs are loud, angry and full of energy; some are fun, celebratory or tongue-in-cheek and others are quieter, more reflective and nostalgic." He told Jon Roth of

Out Magazine ''Out'' is an American LGBTQ news, fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any LGBTQ monthly publication in the United States. It presents itself in an editorial manner similar to '' Details'', ''Esquire' ...

: "There are songs on the album about boyfriends and relationships, coming out and the places I’ve lived, religion, hypocrisy, sexuality and education."Roth, Jon
"Matt Fishel's First Time"
''

'', United States, 16 December 2011. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.

Artwork and album booklet

The artwork for ''Not Thinking Straight'' was created by

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

comic book artist and illustrator

Joe Phillips Joe Phillips is an American artist, known for his gay-themed illustration, erotic animation, and his earlier work on superhero comic books. Early life Phillips was born in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1960s. He attended Northside School of the Arts ...

. The album cover depicts Fishel as a superhero in cartoon form, with a guitar on his back and piano keys around his hands. The words 'Super Fishel Comics' and '#1 First Issue' are also written on the cover. The CD version of the album comes with a sixteen-page colour booklet and the

release comes with a digital eighteen-page colour booklet, each containing full artwork, lyrics, credits and thank yous. Both versions of the album booklet are presented in a comic book format. Each contains eighteen original illustrations by Phillips, with each illustration representing a different song's lyrics and showing images of young gay life and relationships."Out Radio: April 2013, Part 1 – JD Doyle Interviews Matt Fishel"
, ''

JD Doyle JD Doyle (born September 24, 1947) is an American LGBT music and history archivist/historian and radio producer. He is a staff member of the weekly radio show Queer Voices and produces the monthly radio shows ''Queer Music Heritage'' and ''OutR ...

, Out Radio'', United States, April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.

Singles, remixes and B-sides

Six singles have been released from ''Not Thinking Straight'': " Football Song" (released 7 June 2010), " The First Time" (released 7 November 2011), " Behind Closed Doors" (released 9 April 2012), " Testament" (released 28 May 2012), " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" (released 18 March 2013) and " When Boy Meets Boy" (released 3 June 2013). An

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

version of album track "Armitage Shanks (Jamie)" was released as a

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

to the " Football Song" single;

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

remixer/producer Matt Pop provided two remixes of " The First Time" for its single release; the " Behind Closed Doors" single includes both a remix of the song by J Stax and an

version of the song performed by Fishel and the " When Boy Meets Boy" single includes an acoustic version of the song and another remix by Matt Pop.

Music videos

Official music videos were released for singles " Football Song" (directed by Dan Shipton),, YouTube. 11 October 2009. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. " The First Time" (directed by

Alexis Dos Santos Alexis Dos Santos (born 1974) is an Argentine film director and producer, screenwriter and editor. He has also shot a number of short and directed music videos. He is considered part of the New Queer Cinema movement. Dos Santos studied in Buenos ...

),, YouTube. 30 October 2011. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. " Testament" (directed by Arno),, YouTube. 20 May 2012. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. " Radio-Friendly Pop Song" (produced by Tyjens Media and animated by Kenneth Wilcox), YouTube. 10 March 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. and " When Boy Meets Boy" (directed and animated by

)., YouTube. 2 June 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.

Critical reception

Howard Stump of music blog Soundtrack to mMy Day said ''Not Thinking Straight'' was: "smart, funny, and still remains honest and very real. And when you pair honesty and smart up so well, it can't help but be kinda sexy, too. Stylistically here isa wonderfully eclectic feeling to ishel'smusic. And while he tells universal stories of love, loss and life, Matt doesn't shy away from the fact he is a gay man, using that experience to enrich the lyrics.... t'sa wonderful journey, touching on aspects of life from teen to adult. The album touches my heart in so many ways, at times making me smile, or give a sigh, or even drop a tear or two. It speaks to our shared histories of love, hurt, and confusion, all part of growing up."Stump, Howard
"Matt Fishel * Not Thinking Straight"
''Soundtrack To My Day'', United States, 2 May 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013. Music journalist and broadcaster

Queer Music Heritage JD Doyle (born September 24, 1947) is an American LGBT music and history archivist/historian and radio producer. He is a staff member of the weekly radio show Queer Voices and produces the monthly radio shows ''Queer Music Heritage'' and ''Out ...

said of ''Not Thinking Straight'': "I just love the new Matt Fishel CD! I've been calling his music 'Political Power Pop'...it's music that never even thought about being in the closet.""JD Doyle Interviews Matt Fishel April 2013 The Script"
, ''

–

'', United States, April 2013. Retrieved on 9 December 2013.

Awards and nominations

''Not Thinking Straight'' won the Album of the Year award at the 2013 Co-operative Respect 'Loved By You' Awards, voted for by the public.

Co-operative Respect 'Loved By You' Awards

, - , 2013 , , ''Not Thinking Straight'' , , Album of the Year , ,

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Credits for ''Not Thinking Straight'' are adapted from the album's

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes. Origin Liner notes are des ...

. *Album executive producer:

*All songs written and arranged by

– All lead and background vocals, guitars, piano, keyboards, synths and programming *Mark Crew – Keyboards and programming *Jonas Jalhay – Guitars and Bass *Siri Steinmo – Additional background vocals on " Testament" and " Behind Closed Doors" *

Marcus Bonfanti Marcus Bonfanti is a British blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released three albums and one EP, and works both as a solo musician and, since 2014, as the frontman for the British blues rock group Ten Years After. His most recent so ...

– Additional guitars on " Football Song" *All songs (except " Football Song") – Produced by

and Mark Crew / Recorded, engineered and mixed by Mark Crew at Unit 24, London UK / Additional instruments and all background vocals performed, arranged, recorded and engineered by

at Superfishel Studios, London UK *" Football Song" – Produced, arranged, performed, engineered and mixed by

at Superfishel Studios, London UK / Additional mixing by Jos Jorgensen *All songs mastered by Streaky for Streaky Mastering *Album artwork by

*" Football Song" illustration by Jacopo Camagni *Matt Fishel photograph by Claire Newman-Williams

References

External links

Official website

Matt Fishel's YouTube channel
{{Authority control Matt Fishel albums 2013 albums