{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = Checkmate Savage | type = Studio | artist = The Phantom Band | cover = Checkmatesavage.jpg | alt = | released = 26 January 2009 | recorded = Chem 19, Blantyre | venue = | studio = | genre = Indie,<ref name="List"/> folk,<ref name="List"/> pop,<ref name="List"/> blues,<ref name="List"/> post-rock<ref name="List"/> folktronica,<ref name="Skinny"/> krautrock<ref name="Skinny">{{cite magazine|first= Chris |last= Chris McCall |title= Emma Pollock on Record Labels and Solo Careers |magazine= The Skinny |date= 21 April 2016 |accessdate= 3 October 2016 |url= http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/interviews/emma-pollock-interview-in-search-of-harperfield}}</ref> | length = 55:01 | label = Chemikal Underground | producer = Paul Savage | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = The Wants | next_year = 2010 }} {{Album ratings |rev1 = Allmusic |rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first=Ned |last=Raggett |title=Review: ''Checkmate Savage'' |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1473643|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=24 December 2009}}</ref> |rev2 = Drowned in Sound |rev2score = (7/10)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.drownedinsound.com/releases/13938/reviews/4136150 |title=Drowned in Sound review |access-date=2009-02-03 |archive-date=2009-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205091628/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13938/reviews/4136150 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |rev3 = ''The Guardian'' |rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Phantom Band: Checkmate Savage |date=2009-01-23 |website=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305012536/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/23/phantom-band-checkmate-savage-review |archive-date=2017-03-05 |url-status=live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jan/23/phantom-band-checkmate-savage-review}}</ref> |rev4 = ''The List'' |rev4score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="List">[http://www.list.co.uk/article/15204-the-phantom-band-checkmate-savage/ The List review]</ref> |rev5 = ''Mojo'' |rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[Feb. Mojo review]</ref> |rev6 = ''NME'' |rev6score = (8/10)<ref>[24 NME review]</ref> |rev7 = ''Pitchfork'' |rev7score = (7.3/10)<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12838-checkmate-savage/ Pitchfork Media review]</ref> |rev8 = ''Q'' |rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[Feb. Q review]</ref> |rev9 = ''Scotland on Sunday'' |rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/music/Album-review-The-Phantom-Band.4886103.jp Scotland on Sunday review]</ref> |rev10 = ''The Times'' |rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article5559416.ece The Times review]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
'''''Checkmate Savage''''' is the debut studio album by Scottish indie rock band The Phantom Band, released on 26 January 2009 through Chemikal Underground Records to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chemikal.co.uk/ |title=Chemikal Underground Records - Glasgow, Scotland |publisher=Chemikal.co.uk |date=2011-05-12 |accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref>
The album was produced by Paul Savage, formerly of The Delgados.
On 25 January 2019 Chemikal Underground released a deluxe double vinyl gatefold edition of the album to celebrate its 10th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chemikal Underground |title=Checkmate Savage |url=http://www.chemikal.co.uk/news/the-phantom-band-checkmate-savage/ |accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref>
==Title== According to the band, the album's title refers to: "over-population, dwindling natural resources and the yawning void within every one of us caused by society's unnatural social contracts, and mass sexual repression, means one thing: it's checkmate for the human animal."<ref>[http://www.chemikal.co.uk/checkmate-savage.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129195940/http://www.chemikal.co.uk/checkmate-savage.htm|date=January 29, 2009}}</ref>
==Accolades== In December 2009, ''Checkmate Savage'' entered The Skinny's "Scottish Albums of the Decade" list at #28.<ref name="The Skinny, Dec 2009, pg 10">The Skinny, Dec 2009, pg 10</ref>
{|class="wikitable" |- ! Publication ! Country ! Accolade ! Year ! Rank |- | ''The Skinny'' | Scotland | Scottish Albums of the Decade | 2009 | 28<ref name="The Skinny, Dec 2009, pg 10"/> |}
The album placed at number 17 in MOJO magazine's top 50 albums of 2009.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
In January 2010 the album was given the inaugural "Soundcheck Award" for album of 2009 by Radioeins and Der Tagesspiegel in Berlin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/pop/the-phantom-band-gewinnt-soundcheck-award/1673104.html |title=Musikpreis: The Phantom Band gewinnt Soundcheck Award - Pop - Kultur - Tagesspiegel |language=de |publisher=Tagesspiegel.de |date=2010-01-29 |accessdate=2012-02-09}}</ref>
==Track listing== # "The Howling" - 6:35 # "Burial Sounds" - 4:47 # "Folk Song Oblivion - 4:14 # "Crocodile" - 7:42 # "Halfhound" - 4:11 # "Left Hand Wave" - 5:40 # "Island" - 8:51 # "Throwing Bones" - 5:01 # "The Whole is on My Side" - 7:53
==Personnel== * Duncan Marquiss – guitar, vocals, percussion, fx, artwork * Gerry Hart – bass, vocals, percussion, fx, artwork * Andy Wake – synthesizers, vocals, samples, percussion, fx, artwork * Rick Anthony – guitar, vocals, percussion, fx, artwork * Damien Tonner – drums, percussion, fx, artwork * James SK Wān – bamboo flute * Greg Sinclair – guitar, pedals/fx, percussion, artwork * Paul Savage – producer * Jamie Savage – engineer * Kenny MacLeod – mastering * Christopher O'Donnell – flexatone ("Throwing Bones") * Aztext – design
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
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Category:The Phantom Band albums Category:2009 albums Category:Albums produced by Paul Savage (musician) Category:Chemikal Underground albums