Chemicrazy

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}

{{Infobox album|

| name = Chemicrazy

| type = Album

| artist = That Petrol Emotion

| cover = Chemicrazy.jpg

| alt =

| released = April 1990

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative rock

| length = 44:32

| label = Virgin

| producer = Scott Litt

| prev_title = End of the Millennium Psychosis Blues

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = Fireproof

| next_year = 1993

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Chemicrazy

| type = album

| single1 = Abandon

| single1date = March 1990

| single2 = Hey Venus

| single2date = September 1990

| single3 = Tingle

| single3date = February 1991

| single4 = Sensitize

| single4date = April 1991

}}

}}

Chemicrazy is the fourth album by Irish alternative rockers That Petrol Emotion.{{cite news |last1=Jarvey |first1=Paul |title=That Petrol Emotion revs up |work=Telegram & Gazette |date=14 June 1990 |page=D3}} The album was released in April 1990.{{cite news|title='Chemicrazy' Lust: That Petrol Additive|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/06/22/chemicrazy-lust-that-petrol-additive/a9ccc308-f50e-44b2-9160-3620f2a1a2ba/|access-date=7 August 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=22 June 1990}} It was produced by Scott Litt.High Fidelity News and Record Review p. 109

Release and commercial performance

Four singles were taken from the album: "Abandon", "Hey Venus", "Sensitize" and "Tingle". Chemicrazy peaked at No. 62 on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |title=That Petrol Emotion |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24102/that-petrol-emotion/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=17 March 2023}} It was a hit on Billboard{{'}}s College/Alternative Albums chart.{{cite news |title=Record/radio hits |work=Austin American-Statesman |agency=Billboard |date=17 May 1990 |department=Onward |page=21}} The band supported the album with a North American tour.{{cite news |last1=Mayes |first1=Alison |title=Vox Pop |work=Calgary Herald |date=21 June 1990 |page=G2}}

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r19941|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

|rev2 = Los Angeles Times

|rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news |last1=Hochman |first1=Steve |title=In Brief |work=Los Angeles Times |date=6 May 1990 |department=Calendar |page=76}}

|rev3 = Orlando Sentinel

|rev3score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last1=Fields |first1=Curt |title=That Petrol Emotion |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=22 June 1990 |department=Calendar |page=24}}

}}

The Los Angeles Times noted that, "after two albums of all groove and no song, the thrill is back at the incendiary level you'd expect from a band that descended from Northern Ireland's melodic punk boy wonders the Undertones." The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "Tingle" "is a breezy love song that lopes along and is pure pop at its best." The Houston Chronicle called the album "a strong, no-nonsense, uncompromising rock 'n' roll record from one of music's bright new bands."{{cite news |last1=Racine |first1=Marty |title=Records |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 22, 1990 |department=Zest |page=10}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| extra_column = Written by

| title1 = Hey Venus

| extra1 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length1 = 3:18

| title2 = Blue to Black

| extra2 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length2 = 3:47

| title3 = Mess of Words

| extra3 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length3 = 3:36

| title4 = Sensitize

| extra4 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length4 = 4:05

| title5 = Another Day

| extra5 = Damian O'Neill

| length5 = 3:51

| title6 = Gnaw Mark

| extra6 = Damian O'Neill

| length6 = 4:13

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| extra_column = Written by

| title1 = Scum Surfin{{'-}}

| extra1 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length1 = 4:31

| title2 = Compulsion

| extra2 = Damian O'Neill

| length2 = 2:22

| title3 = Tingle

| extra3 = Raymond O'Gorman

| length3 = 3:30

| title4 = Head Staggered

| extra4 = Ciaran McLaughlin

| length4 = 4:01

| title5 = Abandon

| extra5 = Raymond O'Gorman

| length5 = 4:00

| title6 = Sweet Shiver Burn

| extra6 = Raymond O'Gorman, Ciaran McLaughlin

| length6 = 3:25

}}

Personnel

;That Petrol Emotion

  • Steve Mack – vocals, booklet design, arranger
  • Raymond O'Gorman – guitar
  • Damian O'Neill – guitar
  • John Marchini – bass
  • Ciaran McLaughlin – drums

with:

  • Scott Litt – producer, engineer
  • David Russo – programming, production assistant, piano on "Tingle", background vocals on "Sensitize"
  • Hahn Rowe – violin on "Abandon", "Head Staggered" and "Sweet Shiver Burn"
  • Joan Jones – trumpet on "Tingle"
  • Steve Deutsch – bass on "Sweet Shiver Burn" and Help
  • Clif Norrell – engineer
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Gary Panter – cover painting
  • Charles Peterson – photography

References