Further Complications
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Further Complications
| type = Studio album
| artist = Jarvis Cocker
| cover = Jarvis cocker further complications.jpg
| alt =
| released = 19 May 2009
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| length =
| label = Rough Trade Records
| producer = Steve Albini
| prev_title = Jarvis
| prev_year = 2006
}}
Further Complications (stylized as "Further complications.") is the second solo album by British musician Jarvis Cocker, released in the UK on 19 May 2009.
Background and production
In July 2008, Cocker met Steve Albini in Chicago at the Pitchfork Music Festival.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/34783-jarvis-cocker-returns-with-steve-albini-produced-lp/ |title=Jarvis Cocker Returns With Steve Albini-Produced LP |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=6 March 2009 |accessdate=15 April 2009}} Together they tested some songs, liked the sound, and agreed to record an album together.{{cite web |last=Saba |first=Michael |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/jarvis-cocker-diagnosed-with-further-complications.html |title=Jarvis Cocker diagnosed with Further Complications :: Music News :: Articles :: Paste |publisher=Pastemagazine.com |date=13 March 2009 |accessdate=15 April 2009 |archive-date=16 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416202152/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/jarvis-cocker-diagnosed-with-further-complications.html |url-status=dead }} Chicago performer Daniel Knox sings backing vocals on "Angela" and "Hold Still". The album has a heavier sound than debut Jarvis, something that Cocker attributes to realising his band "could rock", which led to him choosing to write with them. He told BBC 6 Music: "What I've tried to do with the new stuff, rather than me just sit there and wait for inspiration to come at some point – which takes ages – instead we've written stuff together. And it's a bit louder."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/jarvis-cocker/38171 |title=Jarvis Cocker gets ready to 'rock' on second solo album |publisher=NME.com |date=15 July 2008 |accessdate=25 May 2009}}
Promotion
On the day of the album's release, Cocker spent two hours working in HMV in London, selling and signing copies over the counter and giving customers his own personal advice and recommendations on their purchases.{{cite web|url=http://londonist.com/2009/05/jarvis_cocker_working_at_hmv.php |title=Jarvis Cocker Working at HMV |publisher=Londonist.com |date=18 May 2009 |accessdate=25 May 2009}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating| 4.5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1549913|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]
|rev2 = Drowned in Sound
|rev3 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev3score = (B+){{Cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278646,00.html |title=Entertainment Weekly review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=21 April 2020 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010214928/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278646,00.html |url-status=dead }}
|rev4 = The Guardian
|rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |title=Pop review: Jarvis Cocker, Further Complications |date=2009-05-14 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829092137/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/14/jarvis-cocker-further-complications |archive-date=2019-08-29 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/14/jarvis-cocker-further-complications}}
|rev5 = Pitchfork Media
|rev5score = (6.5/10)[https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13151-further-complications/ Pitchfork Media review]
|rev6 = NME
|rev6score = (8/10)[https://www.nme.com/reviews/jarvis-cocker/10447 NME review]
|rev7 = Pop Matters
|rev7score = (8/10)[https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/92848-jarvis-cocker-further-complications Pop Matters review]
|rev8 = The Observer
|rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |title=CD: Pop review: Jarvis Cocker, Further Complications |date=2009-05-16 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129095611/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/17/jarvis-cocker-further-complications |archive-date=2021-11-29 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/17/jarvis-cocker-further-complications}}
|rev9 = Rolling Stone
|rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20090522101223/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/28082684/review/28123937/further_complications Rolling Stone review]
|rev10 = Spin
|rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}[http://www.spin.com/reviews/jarvis-cocker-further-complications-rough-trade Spin review]
|rev11 = The Sunday Times
|rev11score = {{Rating|3|5}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20090521151131/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article6280240.ece The Sunday Times review]
|rev12 = Uncut
}}
The album attracted a positive response from critics, with AllMusic saying "the songs here pulsate with perversion, a middle-aged man making damn sure he's going to get with a tight 23-year-old body yet again," and declared it "impossible not to happily wallow in the flood of filth unleashed by Further Complications",{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1549913/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=Further Complications, Jarvis Cocker, review |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=25 May 2009}} whilst NME praised the album's "heavy-but-breathable fuzz-guitars and a granite-hard rock aesthetic, but with bluster bolted outside the studio door" and called the result "an absolute pleasure."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/10447 |title=Album review: Jarvis Cocker |publisher=NME.com |date=13 May 2009 |accessdate=25 May 2009}}
The Guardian highlighted other attributes, saying that "Further Complications is best when the music quietens, allowing the singer's glorious one-liners to be savoured",{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/14/jarvis-cocker-further-complications |title=Pop review: Jarvis Cocker, Further Complications |publisher=Guardian.co.uk |date=15 May 2009 |accessdate=25 May 2009 | location=London | first=Dave | last=Simpson}} and Entertainment Weekly picked out Homewrecker! and "Further Complications" claiming that they "will come as a definite surprise to longtime Cocker watchers, though not necessarily a bad one", whilst deciding that Cocker's "droll wordplay" is "still the dominating factor" on such tracks as "I Never Said I Was Deep" and "Fuckingsong".{{cite web |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278646,00.html |title=Further Complications, Music Review |publisher=EW.com |date=13 May 2009 |accessdate=25 May 2009 |archive-date=19 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519121320/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20278646,00.html |url-status=dead }}
Track listing
The added quotation marks around "Further Complications." are purposefully there, as featured on the album's sleeve.{{cite web |url=http://jarviscocker.net/music/further-complications |title=Further Complications |publisher=Jarvis Cocker |date= |accessdate=17 February 2012 |archive-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220165831/http://jarviscocker.net/music/further-complications |url-status=dead }}
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Cocker, except where noted
| title1 = "Further Complications."
| length1 = 3:16
| title2 = Angela
| length2 = 2:56
| title3 = Pilchard
| length3 = 4:01
| title4 = Leftovers
| length4 = 6:06
| title5 = I Never Said I Was Deep
| length5 = 4:43
| title6 = Homewrecker!
| length6 = 3:18
| title7 = Hold Still
| length7 = 3:36
| title8 = Fuckingsong
| length8 = 3:00
| title9 = Caucasian Blues
| length9 = 3:08
| title10 = Slush
| length10 = 6:28
| title11 = You're in My Eyes (Discosong)
| length11 = 8:45
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks
| title12 = Apparently
| length12 = 3:36
| title13 = I Found Myself Looking for God
| note13 = B-side to "Angela" single
| length13 = 4:52
}}
Personnel
- Jarvis Cocker – vocals, guitar (tracks 3, 10), synthesiser (tracks 6, 8, 11), fire bell (track 4), bass guitar (track 6), electric mandolin (track 9)
- Steve Mackey – bass guitar
- Ross Orton – drums, timpani
- Simon Stafford – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, synthesiser
- Tim McCall – guitar
- Martin Craft – guitar, Vox Continental, piano
- Steve Mackay – saxophone (track 6)
Chart positions
| class="wikitable"
!Peak |
| UK Albums Chart
|style="text-align: center;"|19 |
| US Billboard 200
|style="text-align: center;"|155 |
In 2009. It was awarded a silver certification from the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 30,000 copies throughout Europe.{{Cite web |url=http://www.impalamusic.org/arc_static/docum/04-press/2009/PR%20-%2020091006.htm |title=Color |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=24 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824175720/http://www.impalamusic.org/arc_static/docum/04-press/2009/PR%20-%2020091006.htm |url-status=dead }}