Obscurity Knocks

"Obscurity Knocks" is a song by Scottish band The Trash Can Sinatras, which was released in 1990 as an extended play[1] (and promotional single in the United States) from their debut studio album Cake. It was written by all five band members and produced by Roger Béchirian.[2] The EP reached No. 86 in the UK and remained on the chart for four weeks.[3] In 1991, the song reached No. 12 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[4]

"Obscurity Knocks"
Single by The Trash Can Sinatras
from the album Cake
B-side
  • "Who's He?"
  • "The Best Man's Fall"
ReleasedFebruary 1990 (UK)
GenreRock, pop rock, indie rock
Length3:36 (7" edit)
4:13 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Frank Reader
  • Paul Livingston
  • John Douglas
  • George McDaid
  • Stephen Douglas
Producer(s)Roger Béchirian
The Trash Can Sinatras singles chronology
"Obscurity Knocks"
(1990)		 "Only Tongue Can Tell"
(1990)

Critical reception

On its release, Tim Southwell of Record Mirror wrote, "'Obscurity Knocks' is an absolute howitzer of a single with one eye firmly on the Top 40, jangly guitars, a snappy beat and some marvellously intriguing lyrics providing the ideal backdrop for Frank's love-torn vocals."[5] Bob Stanley of Melody Maker said that beyond the band's "dreadful name", "Obscurity Knocks" has a "strong melody reminiscent of the Housemartins and the La's, some neat xylophone to touch up the chorus, and a singer not afraid to sound Scottish without resorting to the porridge gargling antics of the Proclaimers". He added that "everything's dandy except the lyrics which are 90 per cent gruesome puns that even Elvis Costello would think twice about".[6]

Penny Kiley of the Liverpool Echo praised the song as being a "beautifully melodic guitar jangle that lifts the spirits straight away". She noted how Reader's vocals were reminiscent of Roddy Frame and felt the song musically had "hints of the Housemartins and a bit of the Smiths".[7] Jennifer Grant of the Perthshire Advertiser described it as an "excellent single" and one that has a "sprinkle of the Smiths, a touch of the Bluebells and just a hint of Roddy Frame about it".[8]

In a review of Cake, Orange Coast Magazine described the song as one of the "standouts" on "this fine debut".[9] In a retrospective review of Cake, Norm Elrod of AllMusic described the song, along with the album's other singles, as the "tastiest pieces of pure pop pleasure".[2] In a 1999 review of the album by CMJ New Music Report, Carlene Bauer commented: "'Obscurity Knocks,' a high-spirited grouse about fickle fame and fleeting youth, is the best - and eeriest - number."[10] Colin Larkin, in his 1995 book The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, described the song as "plaintive".[11]

Track listing

7-inch EP

  1. "Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
  2. "Who's He?" – 2:58
  3. "The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39

12-inch EP

  1. "Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
  2. "The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
  3. "Drunken Chorus" – 4:11
  4. "Who's He?" – 2:58

Cassette EP

  1. "Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
  2. "Who's He?" – 2:58
  3. "The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39

CD EP

  1. "Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
  2. "The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
  3. "Drunken Chorus" – 4:11
  4. "Who's He?" – 2:58

'CD single (US promo)

  1. "Obscurity Knocks (Edit)" - 3:35
  2. "Obscurity Knocks (Album Version)" - 4:10

Personnel

The Trash Can Sinatras

  • Frank Reader – vocals
  • Paul Livingston – lead guitar
  • John Douglas – rhythm guitar
  • George McDaid – bass
  • Stephen Douglas – drums

Production

  • Roger Béchirian – producer
  • Peter Rose – assistant producer, engineer
  • Tony Harris – engineer
  • John Leckie – mixing on "Obscurity Knocks"

Other

  • Ben Argueta – design (US release)
  • Porterhouse Management – management

Charts
Chart (1990–91) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[12] 86
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13] 12

References
  1. "The Trash Can Sinatras - Obscurity Knocks E.P. on Discogs)".
  2. AllMusic Review by Norm Elrod. "Cake - The Trash Can Sinatras | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  3. "TRASH CAN SINATRAS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  4. Billboard. "The Trashcan Sinatras Obscurity Knocks Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 15, 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  5. Southwell, Tim (24 February 1990). "Dustbins, Frankly". Record Mirror. p. 5.
  6. Stanley, Bob (10 February 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 36.
  7. Kiley, Penny (10 February 1990). "Penny Kiley's Rock and Pop - New releases: Penny's verdict". Liverpool Echo. p. 7.
  8. Grant, Jennifer (20 March 1990). "Discover: Single Reviews". Perthshire Advertiser.
  9. "Orange Coast Magazine - Google Books". March 1991. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  10. "CMJ New Music Report - Google Books". 1999-10-11. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  11. Larkin, Colin (2010-09-28). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Threepenny Opera-Z.Z. Top - Google Books. ISBN 9781561591763. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  12. "The Trash Can Sinatras: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  13. "The Trash Can Sinatras Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
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