Reuben’s debut album Racecar is Racecar Backwards turned 10 on 21st June 2014 and to celebrate a decade of its joyful existence, Xtra Mile Recordings is releasing a two disc deluxe edition of the album later this year.
Disc one contains the original 16 song album, while disc two is crammed full of completely unreleased radio sessions, demos, and interviews. They will be packaged together with new artwork, photographs and a booklet all commemorating this acclaimed debut album. Tracklisting and artwork will be revealed nearer the release date.
The album was originally released on 21 June 2004, and the very first album Xtra Mile Recordings solely released with the catalogue number XMR001CD. Its impact within the ever brewing UK rock trenches was significant. Along with albums by label mates Million Dead and other bands like Hell Is For Heroes, Jarcrew and mclusky, it helped form a nascent stream of heavy music that was melodic and aggressive yet sieved with wry British humour. Reuben became a cult band with a fanatical following that still remains to this day. The album helped earn Reuben a Kerrang! Award nomination for Best British Newcomer and spawned such classic singles as ‘Freddy Kreuger’, ‘Moving To Blackwater’, ‘Stuck In My Throat’ and ‘Let’s Stop Hanging Out’.
Check out this video Jamie put together of footage filmed round the release of the album ten years ago:
Speaking about the album, Reuben’s three members reminisce:
“When I hear the album now I’m always surprised how full of energy it sounds, since we were so exhausted when we made it. I know some people say the production is scrappy but I thought and still think it’s pretty slick! I remember desperately not wanting our first album to be swept under the carpet, to be just a practice run for the second one. I wanted it to stand on its own and I think it does.” says guitarist and vocalist Jamie Lenman
Drummer Guy Davies adds: “I'm incredibly proud of Racecar, and it's loaded with hits. I can feel the adrenaline running through me when I listen to that album up nice and loud - Those songs make me feel fucking great. I am one proud owner.”
Jon Pearce, bassist says: “We knew how we wanted it to sound…we found someone who could record what we wanted and we nestled into a dark and dingy former shed in Surrey. Both Jamie and Guy are such awesome musicians, and the songs were so well shaped after years of touring, you can still hear that when you listen back to it today.”
Charlie Caplowe, MD of Xtra Mile Recordings concludes: “I remember vividly the day the album was finally finished and being able to put a plan together to release it. We knew it was a great album and when the positive reviews started pouring in it was nice that others realised how special it was too. The success spurred us on as a label to do more, and the rest, as they say, is history. We’re thrilled to celebrate its tenth anniversary.”
Tracklisting
DISK 1
01 No-One Wins The War
02 Horror Show
03 Stuck In My Throat
04 Oh The Shame
05 Fall Of The Bastille
06 Freddy Kreuger
07 Tonight My Wife Is Your Wife
08 Eating Only Apples
09 Our Song
10 Lets Stop Hanging Out
11 Missing Fingers
12 Song For Saturday
13 Moving To Blackwater
14 Wrong And Sorry
15 Parties Break Hearts
16 Dusk
DISK 2
1. No One Wins T’War (BBC Mike Davies)
2. Horrorshow (XFM Lauren Laverne)
3. Stuck in My Throat (RIRB Demos)
4. Oh The Shame (Echo Session)
5. Fall Of The Bastille (XFM Claire Sturgess)
6. Freddy Kreuger (Stakeout demos)
7. Tonight My Wife (Rupay Christay)
8. Eating Only Apples (BBC Steve Lamaq)
9. Our Song (RIRB demos)
10. Let’s stop hanging out (XFM Live at the Barfly)
11. Missing Fingers (XFM Ian Camfield)
12. Song For Saturday (XFM Lauren Laverne)
13. Moving To Blackwater (BBC Mike Davies)
14. Wrong And Sorry (BBC Mike Davies)
15. Parties Break Hearts (Stakeout Demos)
16. Dusk (RIRB Demos)
17. Alpha Signal Seven (BBC Steve Lamaq)
18. Banner Held High (RIRB demos)
19. Stux (RIRB Demos)
20. Fuzz’s Birthday Song (Surrey Uni Demos)
21. Naked interview (XFM Ian Camfield)