''Suburban Light'' is the debut
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by English
indie pop
Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...
band
The Clientele
The Clientele is a London-based indie pop band, formed in 1991. The band is currently composed of lead singer/guitarist Alasdair MacLean, drummer Mark Keen and bassist James Hornsey. Since its inception, the Clientele has released eight full-l ...
. The album was released on 28 November 2000 by
Pointy Records
Pointy Records is a London-based independent record label, founded in 1998 by Andy Macleod. Largely focusing on new music, Pointy Records have been releasing albums and singles of cult indie bands, most notably The Clientele, Flotation Toy War ...
in the United Kingdom. In 2001, it was released by
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expande ...
in the United States. ''Suburban Light'' contains several tracks originally released on singles and compilations from 1997 through 2000, causing some websites such as ''Pitchfork'' to label it a compilation album.
Release
The track "We Could Walk Together" first appeared on the
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass. Fierc ...
compilation ''Cry Me a Liver'' in November 1997.
Several other tracks were issued as
7-inch
In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...
singles across various labels: "What Goes Up" / "Five Day Morning" on Pointy Records in June 1998, "Reflections After Jane" / "An Hour Before the Light" on Johnny Kane Records in March 1999, "Lacewings" / "Saturday" on Motorway Records in September 1999, "I Had to Say This" / "Monday's Rain" on Pointy Records in December 1999, and "(I Want You) More Than Ever" / "6AM Morningside" on Elefant Records in February 2000.
"Bicycles" first appeared on the March Records
EP ''
A Fading Summer'' in May 2000.
Critical reception
In 2009, ''Suburban Light'' was ranked at number 80 on ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
''s list of the best albums of the 2000s. In 2018, ''Pitchfork'' listed it at number 21 on its list of the 30 best
dream pop
Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as ...
albums.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for ''Suburban Light'' adapted from album liner notes.
The Clientele
* Alasdair MacLean – vocals, guitar
* James Hornsey – bass
* Mark Keen – drums
Additional musicians
* Daniel Evans – drums
* Howard Monk – drums
Artwork and design
* Seonad MacLean – photography
* Marianna Parker – photography
* Basia Taboda – sleeve design
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
2000 debut albums
The Clientele albums
Merge Records albums