{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Famous Graves | type = Studio | artist = Cheap Girls | cover = CheapGirlsFamousGraves.jpg | alt = | released = May 13, 2014 | recorded = 2013 | venue = | studio = | genre = Power pop<br>Indie rock<br>Punk rock<br>Pop punk | length = 35:38 | label = Xtra Mile | producer = Cheap Girls | prev_title = BARELY ALIVE in Grand Rapids, Michigan 12/30/12 | prev_year = 2013 | next_title = | next_year = }}

'''''Famous Graves''''' is the fourth and final full-length studio album by rock group Cheap Girls, released on May 12, 2014, in the United Kingdom and on May 13, 2014, in the United States through Xtra Mile Recordings. It is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.<ref name="itunes">{{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - Famous Graves by Cheap Girls|website=iTunes |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/famous-graves/id826135431|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325013823/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/famous-graves/id826135431|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Amazon">{{cite web|title=Amazon.com - Famous Graves - Music|website=Amazon |url=https://www.amazon.com/Famous-Graves-Cheap-Girls/dp/B00JBAE4PC}}</ref><ref name="AmazonUK">{{cite web|title=Famous Graves - Amazon.co.uk - Music|website=Amazon UK |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Famous-Graves-Cheap-Girls/dp/B00INK0EP0}}</ref> The album was recorded over three months in Chicago, Illinois and Grand Rapids, Michigan with Rick Johnson and Jeff Dean. It was self-produced by the band and mixed with the help of Dean.<ref name="3-24-2014xtramile">{{cite web|url=http://www.1.xtramilerecordings.com/ |title= XTRA MILE RECORDINGS |publisher=Xtra Mile Recordings |accessdate=March 24, 2014}}</ref>

==Recording== On February 19, 2013, the band posted a picture on their Facebook page from a studio in Grand Rapids, MI stating it was "day one" of demoing for their next album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Day one of demoing for our next record in Grand Rapids. Feels great to be back in the studio, moving quick.|url=https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151519548545820&set=a.10150414673090820.415734.132762340819&type=1|work=Cheap Girls on Facebook|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=February 20, 2013|author=Cheap Girls|date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>

The album was recorded in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Singer Ian Graham told ''Metro Canada'' that "it seemed like the right kind of environment for what we wanted to do. It’s the most amount of time we’ve ever taken (on an album).”<ref name="3-27-2014mc">{{cite web |url=http://metronews.ca/voices/backstage-pass-regina/984802/cheap-girls-releasing-new-album-with-influences-from-favourite-artists-personal-experience/ |last=Morgan |first=Jacob |title=Cheap Girls releasing new album with influences from favourite artists, personal experience |publisher=Metro Canada |date=March 26, 2014 |accessdate=March 27, 2014 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327045342/http://metronews.ca/voices/backstage-pass-regina/984802/cheap-girls-releasing-new-album-with-influences-from-favourite-artists-personal-experience/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In an interview with BeatRoute Magazine, Ian Graham described the recording process different from previous albums in that the band "learned that it’s good to record an idea that we liked, even if we didn’t use it. We were more ambitious this time.”<ref name="3-26-2014br">{{cite web |url=http://beatroute.ca/2014/03/24/cheap-girls/ |last=Lahure |first=Brittany |title=GOOD, SOLID ROCK AND ROLL IS TIMELESS |publisher=BeatRoute Magazine |date=March 24, 2014 |accessdate=March 26, 2014 |archive-date=March 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326163829/http://beatroute.ca/2014/03/24/cheap-girls/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The band decided to produce the album on their own. In an interview with CMJ published May 6, 2014, Ian Graham says they discussed the album with producers and liked the direction some were going, but when scheduling and location conflicts arose they ultimately decided to self-produce it. They also felt that they could then "dissect things a little more" than they did on previous albums.<ref name="5-6-2014cmj">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmj.com/feature/cheap-girls-qa/ |last=Moore |first=Shannon |title=Q&A: Cheap Girls - Features - CMJ |publisher=CMJ |date=May 6, 2014 |accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref>

==Promotion== In support of the album, the band toured with Against Me! and The Hold Steady in the spring of 2014.<ref name="avclub2-22-2014">{{cite web|last=Anthony|first=David|title=Cheap Girls announce Famous Graves, debut new song|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/cheap-girls-announce-famous-graves-debut-new-song-201241|publisher=The A.V. Club|accessdate=February 22, 2014|date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> A tour with Andrew Jackson Jihad and Dogbreth then took place in June 2014, followed by another stint with The Hold Steady throughout July and August.<ref name="vice4-16-2014">{{cite web|title=Noisey Presents: Andrew Jackson Jihad Tour with Cheap Girls, Hard Girls, and Dogbreth|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/noisey-presents-andrew-jackson-jihad-tour-with-cheap-girls-hard-girls-dogbreth/|publisher=Noisey.Vice.com|access-date=April 16, 2014|date=April 15, 2014}}</ref> The band returned to Europe for a tour with Joyce Manor and Great Cynics in November 2014. Following a spring 2015 tour of the US with Restorations and Chris Farren of Fake Problems, the band posted on Twitter that it was time to write another record.<ref name="3-13-2015twitter">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Cheap_Girls/status/576444721607884800|title=Twitter / Cheap Girls: Another fun tour in the books!|date=March 13, 2015|publisher=Twitter|accessdate=March 13, 2015}}</ref>

==Release== ''Famous Graves'' was released on May 13, 2014, through Xtra Mile Recordings. It marks the band's first album on Xtra Mile and the label's first international release.<ref name="3-25-2014iw">{{cite web |url=http://innocentwords.com/cheap-girls-make-famous-graves-record-out-51314-av-club-debuts-new-track-tour-w-against-me-the-hold-steady/ |last=Michael |first=Troy |title=Cheap Girls Make "Famous Graves", Record Out 5/13/14, AV Club Debuts New Track, Tour w/ Against Me! & The Hold Steady |publisher=Innocent Words |date=February 20, 2014 |accessdate=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325190618/http://innocentwords.com/cheap-girls-make-famous-graves-record-out-51314-av-club-debuts-new-track-tour-w-against-me-the-hold-steady/ |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On January 15, 2014, it was announced that the band had signed to the independent UK-based label Xtra Mile Recordings for a worldwide release of the album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cheap Girls announce signing to Xtra Mile Recordings|url=https://www.facebook.com/CheapGirlsMusic/posts/580503098691290|work=Cheap Girls on Facebook|publisher=Facebook|accessdate=16 January 2014|author=Cheap Girls|date=15 January 2014}}</ref> In a March 2014 interview with BrooklynVegan, singer Ian Graham stated: "Xtra Mile...had some really refreshing ideas as to how we could go about the release, and we really just saw eye-to-eye from the beginning."<ref name="3-24-2014bv">{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/03/cheap_girls_tal.html |last=Sacher| first=Andrew |title=Cheap Girls talk new album, new label, favorite NYC shows & more, playing BV-SXSW (tour dates & in-studio pics) |publisher=BrooklynVegan |date=March 5, 2014 |accessdate=March 24, 2014}}</ref>

On April 8, 2014, the band premiered the song "Man In Question" from the album. The track features guest vocals from Craig Finn of The Hold Steady.<ref name="4-8-2014paste">{{cite web |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2014/04/song-premiere-cheap-girls---man-in-question.html |last=Orr |first=Dacey |title=Song Premiere: Cheap Girls - "Man In Question" |publisher=Paste |date=April 8, 2014 |accessdate=April 10, 2014 |archive-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410184358/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2014/04/song-premiere-cheap-girls---man-in-question.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On April 24, 2014, the band premiered the song "Amazing Grace" from the album.<ref name="4-24-2014iw">{{cite web |url=http://innocentwords.com/cheap-girls-shares-grace-single-famous-graves-out-may-13-june-tour-w-andrew-jackson-jihad/ |last=Michael |first=Troy |title=Cheap Girls Shares "Grace" Single; 'Famous Graves' Out May 13; June Tour w/ Andrew Jackson Jihad |publisher=Innocent Words |date=April 24, 2014 |accessdate=April 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425042623/http://innocentwords.com/cheap-girls-shares-grace-single-famous-graves-out-may-13-june-tour-w-andrew-jackson-jihad/ |archive-date=April 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On May 8, 2014, "Famous Graves" was made available for streaming online via Consequence of Sound.<ref name="5-8-2014cos">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/stream-cheap-girls-new-album-famous-graves/ |last=Henry |first=Dusty |title=Stream: Cheap Girls' new album Famous Graves - Consequence of Sound |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date=May 8, 2014 |accessdate=May 9, 2014}}</ref>

==Singles== The first single from the album, "Knock Me Over," was released on February 19, 2014.<ref name="avclub2-22-2014" /> Singer Ian Graham states the song was written "after one of my last (knee) surgeries (and is) about being frustrated from being in a lot of pain."<ref name="3-27-2014mc" />

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings |MC = 61/100<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/famous-graves/cheap-girls|title=Critic Reviews for Famous Graves|author=Metacritic| publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=June 12, 2014}}</ref> | rev1= ''Alternative Press'' | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="altpressreview">{{cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/cheap_girls_famous_graves |title=Cheap Girls – Famous Graves - Alternative Press |last=Kraus |first=Brian |date=May 24, 2014 |publisher=Alternative Press |accessdate=May 24, 2014 }}</ref> | rev2 = ''Consequence of Sound'' | rev2Score = C+<ref name="cosreview">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/05/album-review-cheap-girls-famous-graves/ |title=Album Review- Cheap Girls – Famous Graves |work=Consequence of Sound |last=Colburn |first=Randall |date=May 20, 2014 |accessdate=May 20, 2014}}</ref> | rev3 = [http://www.thefourohfive.com/ The 405] | rev3Score = 6.5/10<ref name="405review">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/cheap-girls-famous-graves-139|title=Cheap Girls - Famous Graves - Album Review - The 405|publisher=The 405|last=Korman|first=Matt|date=April 30, 2014|accessdate=May 7, 2014|archive-date=May 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061930/http://www.thefourohfive.com/review/article/cheap-girls-famous-graves-139|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev4 = Los Angeles Daily News | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="lanewsreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20140509/cheap-girls-hits-all-the-right-notes-with-gusto-on-famous-graves|title=Cheap Girls hits all the right notes with gusto on 'Famous Graves'|publisher=Los Angeles Daily News|last=Gnerre|first=Sam|date=May 9, 2014|accessdate=May 9, 2014}}</ref> | rev5 = The Fire Note | rev5Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="thefirenotereview">{{cite web|url=http://thefirenote.com/2014/05/12/cheap-girls-famous-graves-album-review/|title=Cheap Girls: Famous Graves [Album Review]|publisher=The Fire Note|last=Anthony|first=Christopher|date=May 12, 2014|accessdate=May 12, 2014}}</ref> | rev6 = PopMatters | rev6score = 6/10<ref name="popmattersreview">{{cite web|last=Browning|first=Rob|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/182034-cheap-girls-famous-graves/|title=Cheap Girls: Famous Graves|publisher=PopMatters|date=June 5, 2014|accessdate=August 13, 2014}}</ref> }}

''Famous Graves'' received generally positive feedback from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 61, based on 5 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" feedback.<ref name="mc" /> At ''Alternative Press'', Brian Kraus rated the album three stars out of five, writing how "Cheap Girls' songs blur together–hell, so do their ''albums''–but it's something to take a deeper look at."<ref name="altpressreview" /> Writing for BeatRoute Magazine, Brittany Lahure describes ''Famous Graves'' as "a love letter written to what is the core of rock and roll, an album that displays the band’s ability to create compelling textures and lyrics using their barebone instruments. The album is a music experience that any rock fan would hold close to their hearts."<ref name="3-26-2014br" /> Matt Korman of [http://www.thefourohfive.com/ The 405] gave the album a 6.5/10 rating, writing that "there aren't too many moments on the band's fourth studio LP that are going to reach out and steal you away," and the album "doesn't really sway from Cheap Girls' lovable comfort zone, for better or worse. Walking through a listen again and again and it's hard to say how the beginning really differs from the end."<ref name="405review" /> Sam Gnerre of the Los Angeles Daily News gave the album four stars out of five, calling it "one of the best rock ’n’ roll records of the year."<ref name="lanewsreview" />

==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = Standard edition with bonus track<ref name="itunes" /> | title1 = Slow Nod | writer1 = | length1 = 3:26 | title2 = Short Cut Days | writer2 = | length2 = 3:47 | title3 = Knock Me Over | writer3 = | length3 = 3:31 | title4 = Amazing Grace | writer4 = | length4 = 1:57 | title5 = Pure Hate | writer5 = | length5 = 3:54 | title6 = Man In Question | writer6 = | length6 = 3:18 | title7 = Second Floor | writer7 = | length7 = 2:27 | title8 = Splintered | writer8 = | length8 = 3:14 | title9 = Thought Senseless | writer9 = | length9 = 4:03 | title10 = Turns | writer10 = | length10 = 3:02 | title11 = 7-8 Years (Bonus Track) | writer11 = | length11 = 2:59 |total_length = 35:38 }}

==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label |- !scope="row"|United States<ref name="Amazon"/> |rowspan="1"|May 13, 2014 |rowspan="1"|{{flatlist| *CD *Digital download *Vinyl}} |rowspan="1"|Xtra Mile Recordings |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom<ref name="AmazonUK"/> |rowspan="1"|May 12, 2014 |rowspan="1"|{{flatlist| *CD *Digital download *Vinyl}} |rowspan="1"|Xtra Mile Recordings |}

==Credits== Credits are adapted from AllMusic.<ref name="allmusiccredits">{{cite journal|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/famous-graves-mw0002623341/credits|title=Famous Graves - Cheap Girls - Credits - AllMusic |journal=AllMusic |publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=May 12, 2014}}</ref>

{{col-begin}} {{col-3}} ;Major credits *Cheap Girls&nbsp;– Arranger, Primary Artist, Producer *Rick Johnson&nbsp;– Bass, Engineer, Organ, Synthesizer

;Production credits *Jeff Dean&nbsp;– Engineer, Mixing *Jon Drew&nbsp;– Mastering

{{col-3}} ;Music credits *Ben Graham&nbsp;— Drums, Group Member, Percussion, Vocals *Ian Graham&nbsp;— Bass, Composer, Group Member, Guitar, Vocals *Adam Aymor&nbsp;— Group Member, Guitar *Craig Finn&nbsp;— Vocals

{{col-3}} ;Misc credits *Jeff Rosenstock&nbsp;— Artwork

{{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2014 albums Category:Cheap Girls albums Category:Xtra Mile Recordings albums