# Some Cities

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Some_Cities.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Cities
> Source revision: 1346309841
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Some Cities
| type       = studio
| artist     = [Doves](/source/Doves_(band))
| cover      = SomeCities.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = {{start date|df=yes|2005|2|21}}
| recorded   = 2004–2005
| studio     = {{flatlist|
*Moolah Rouge, [Stockport](/source/Stockport)
*Parr Street Studios, Liverpool
*The Old School House, [Fort Augustus](/source/Fort_Augustus)
*[Fort Augustus Abbey](/source/Fort_Augustus_Abbey)
*2 kHz, [Shepherd's Bush](/source/Shepherd's_Bush)
*The Dairy, [Brixton](/source/Brixton)
*[Angel Recording Studios](/source/Angel_Recording_Studios), [Islington](/source/Islington), London
*Whitfield Street Studios, [Soho](/source/Soho)
*Panarific
*Andy Williams' house}}
| genre      = [Indie rock](/source/Indie_rock)
| length     = 46:50
| label      = [Heavenly](/source/Heavenly_Recordings)
| producer   = [Doves](/source/Doves_(band)) and [Ben Hillier](/source/Ben_Hillier)
| prev_title = [Lost Sides](/source/Lost_Sides)
| prev_year  = 2003
| next_title = [Kingdom of Rust](/source/Kingdom_of_Rust)
| next_year  = 2009
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Some Cities
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [Black and White Town](/source/Black_and_White_Town)
 | single1date = 7 February 2005
 | single2     = [Snowden](/source/Snowden_(song))
 | single2date = 9 May 2005
 | single3     = [Sky Starts Falling](/source/Sky_Starts_Falling)
 | single3date = 12 September 2005
}}
}}

'''''Some Cities''''' is the third [studio album](/source/studio_album) by the British [indie rock](/source/indie_rock) band [Doves](/source/Doves_(band)). The album was released by [Heavenly Recordings](/source/Heavenly_Recordings) on 21 February 2005, and became the band's second consecutive album to top the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) at number 1. ''Some Cities'' was conceived as a rawer, stripped-down record, and conceptually touches upon the physical changes of the band's hometown of [Manchester](/source/Manchester), as well as emotional transformations.

The album features the band's second-highest charting single, "[Black and White Town](/source/Black_and_White_Town)", which peaked at number 6 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart). Two further singles from the album—"[Snowden](/source/Snowden_(song))" and "[Sky Starts Falling](/source/Sky_Starts_Falling)"—also fared moderately well on the chart, peaking at number 17 and 45, respectively.

==Background and recording==
After the worldwide success of Doves' second album ''[The Last Broadcast](/source/The_Last_Broadcast_(album))'', [Jez Williams](/source/Jez_Williams) recalled, in a 2010 interview with ''[Under the Radar](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine))'' following the release of the band's compilation album ''[The Places Between: The Best of Doves](/source/The_Places_Between%3A_The_Best_of_Doves)'', that the band decided to take a more "stripped-down" approach to recording ''Some Cities'', which included decamping to rural locations in [England](/source/England), [Scotland](/source/Scotland), and [Wales](/source/Wales). "With [''Some Cities''] we were also wanting to make a few social comments about the area we lived in. There's a lot of subject matter on that album dealing with change. Buildings get ripped down and replaced by more generic ones. It kind of gave ourselves a bit of purpose to write about it. We also listened to a lot of [Motown](/source/Motown) and [Northern soul](/source/Northern_soul), and I think that came out in that album. It was a definite change. Our albums do tend to change character and personality with every release."<ref name="UtR">{{cite magazine |first=Hays |last=Davis |title=Doves: This Bird Has Flown |magazine=[Under the Radar](/source/Under_the_Radar_(magazine))}}</ref>

Initially, the band set out to record their third album with producer [William Orbit](/source/William_Orbit). In a February 2005 interview with ''[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)'', vocalist/bassist [Jimi Goodwin](/source/Jimi_Goodwin) said, "Jeff Barrett from our label, [Heavenly](/source/Heavenly_Recordings), suggested we work with William and we were fine with that, we're always up for trying new stuff. But I think we expected too much from him. He was happy just to be in the studio with us because he hadn't worked with a band since [Blur](/source/Blur_(band)). His point was he was just recording what he was hearing. He wasn't doing anything that we wouldn't do ourselves normally and we put a lot of pressure on him almost to subvert us. He's a top guy, but it just didn't work."<ref name="IrishTimes">{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Carroll |title=HOME TO ROOST |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/home-to-roost-1.414301?mode=amp |date=11 February 2005 |access-date=23 November 2020 |newspaper=[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)}}</ref> The band subsequently co-produced ''Some Cities'' with [Ben Hillier](/source/Ben_Hillier), who also mixed the album (except for "Some Cities" and "Walk in Fire", which were mixed by [Rich Costey](/source/Rich_Costey)). Much of the recording occurred at a farmhouse in the English countryside over the course of 2004, except for closing track "Ambition", which was recorded in an empty Benedictine [monastery](/source/monastery) in Scotland, which the band had found while doing a photo shoot for the album. The huge reverb effect was achieved using the acoustics of the main hall. The recording process is shown in the mini-documentary ''Cities Under Construction'', featured on the bonus DVD included with the special edition of the album.

In a 2010 interview with [Spinner.com](/source/Spinner_(website)), [Jimi Goodwin](/source/Jimi_Goodwin) stated, "I look back fondly at the ''Some Cities'' period, going to this old schoolhouse in Scotland with [Ben Nevis](/source/Ben_Nevis) out the window. I spent six weeks up there and didn't want to come home; my mum had just died and I just wanted to be away."<ref name="Spinner">{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Mugan |title=Doves Wipe the Slate Clean With Best-Of |url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/04/07/doves-interview-best-of/ |publisher=[Spinner.com](/source/Spinner_(website)) |access-date=10 May 2010}}</ref>

==Release==
''Some Cities'' was released in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom) on 21 February 2005, where it entered the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) at number 1.<ref name="UK">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/|title=Artists|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> The album was released on several different formats in the UK: the standard CD and double 12" vinyl LP, and also as a special edition with a bonus DVD containing a short documentary entitled ''Cities Under Construction'', featuring the making of the album inside a purple-coloured [digipak](/source/digipak).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/507633-Doves-Some-Cities-Special-Edition|title=Doves - Some Cities|date=21 February 2005|access-date=1 March 2025|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> In addition, a limited-edition version, packaged inside a [hessian cloth](/source/Hessian_(cloth))-covered box with fold-out poster and bonus DVD, was also released.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/821611-Doves-Some-Cities-Special-Limited-Edition|title=Doves - Some Cities|date=21 February 2005|access-date=1 March 2025|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> The album was released in [Japan](/source/Japan) on 23 February 2005 and included two bonus tracks, "Eleven Miles Out" and "At the Tower" (which had been released as B-sides to "Black and White Town"). On 1 March 2005, the album was released in [North America](/source/North_America) by [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records).

In late December 2004, the album's first single "[Black and White Town](/source/Black_and_White_Town)" was issued to radio stations; two weeks prior to the album's release, the single was released commercially and entered the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) at number 6,<ref name="UK"/> the band's second-highest charting single to date. In May 2005, the album's second single "[Snowden](/source/Snowden_(song))" was released and peaked at number 17.<ref name="UK"/> The third and final single "[Sky Starts Falling](/source/Sky_Starts_Falling)" was released in September 2005 and peaked at number 45.<ref name="UK"/> Throughout 2005, Doves rigorously toured the world, including [England](/source/England), the [United States](/source/United_States), and [Australia](/source/Australia);<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.doves.net/gigs.php?y=2005|title=Doves — Gigography 2005|date=26 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426181237/http://www.doves.net/gigs.php?y=2005 |access-date=1 March 2025 |archive-date=26 April 2010 }}</ref> in April 2006, a special [download](/source/music_download)-only EP entitled ''[Some Cities Live EP](/source/Some_Cities_Live_EP)'', featuring select recordings from various dates on the ''Some Cities'' tour, was released to online digital outlets.

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 72/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/some-cities/doves |title=Doves: Some Cities (2005): Reviews |publisher=[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)|access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AMG">{{cite web |first=MacKenzie |last=Wilson |title=Some Cities - Overview |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r734038|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[Austin Chronicle](/source/Austin_Chronicle)''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="austin">{{cite web |last=Savlov |first=Marc |title=Doves - Some Cities (Capitol) |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2005-03-18/music_phases17.html |work=[Austin Chronicle](/source/Austin_Chronicle) |date=18 March 2005 |access-date=30 March 2026 |archive-date=8 November 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108104726/http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2005-03-18/music_phases17.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[Drowned in Sound](/source/Drowned_in_Sound)''
| rev3Score = 9/10<ref name="DiS">{{cite web |first=Michaela |last=Annot |title=Doves - Some Cities - Drowned in Sound |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3927/reviews/11418-doves-some-cities |work=[Drowned in Sound](/source/Drowned_in_Sound) |date=22 February 2005 |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-date=8 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008045813/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3927/reviews/11418-doves-some-cities |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)''
| rev4Score = A−<ref>''Entertainment Weekly'', 4 March 2005 issue, p.73</ref>
| rev5 = ''[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |first=Betty |last=Clarke |title=CD: Doves, Some Cities - Music - The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/feb/18/popandrock.shopping7 |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |date=18 February 2005 |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))''
| rev6Score = 7.8/10<ref name="PM">{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Ubl |title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Doves: Some Cities  |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/2432-some-cities/ |work=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))|date=28 February 2005 |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)''
| rev7Score = 7/10<ref name="Pop">{{cite magazine |first=Adrien |last=Begrand |title=Doves: Some Cities - PopMatters Music Review |url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/doves-somecities.shtml |magazine=[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters) |date=1 March 2005 |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[Q](/source/Q_(magazine))''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>''Q'' magazine, March 2005 issue, p.97</ref>
| rev9 = ''[Stylus Magazine](/source/Stylus_Magazine)''
| rev9Score = D+<ref name="SM">{{cite magazine |first=Ian |last=Mathers |title=Doves - Some Cities - Review - Stylus Magazine |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/doves/some-cities.htm |magazine=[Stylus Magazine](/source/Stylus_Magazine) |date=1 March 2005 |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))''
| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>''Uncut'' magazine, March 2005 issue, p.94</ref>
}}

''Some Cities'' was released to generally positive reviews. ''[Drowned in Sound](/source/Drowned_in_Sound)'' awarded the album a 9 out of 10 rating, saying, "Though it may be gentle and frequently maudlin, it is no doubt a release to spend 50 minutes with this record. ''Some Cities'' may not be a summer record, but it might quite possibly be the record that gets you through it."<ref name="DiS"/> [MusicOMH](/source/MusicOMH) praised the album, calling it "an ethereal outpouring of emotion; melancholic madness meeting soul-soaring serendipity head on," and noted that, "Gone is the [prog](/source/progressive_rock)-like polished production of ''The Last Broadcast'', it's more akin to debut ''[Lost Souls](/source/Lost_Souls_(Doves_album))'' in timbre. Yet while those were records that sounded like they were conceived in wide open countryside or of the rolling sea this is an ode to the industrial heartland of their childhood; at turns crunching and urban, desolate and apocalyptic."<ref name="musicOMH">{{cite web |first=Catherine |last=Turner |title=Doves - Some Cities - album reviews - musicOMH |url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/doves-3.htm |publisher=[MusicOMH](/source/MusicOMH) |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref> [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media) gave ''Some Cities'' a 7.8 out of 10 rating, and concluded that, "In the three years since ''Last Broadcast'', Doves have cultivated a better understanding of their strengths and limitations, and ''Some Cities'' beams with a revivified looseness."<ref name="PM"/>

==Track listing==
{{track listing
| headline        = 
| extra_column    = Lead vocals
| all_writing     = [Jez Williams](/source/Jez_Williams), [Jimi Goodwin](/source/Jimi_Goodwin), and [Andy Williams](/source/Andy_Williams_(drummer)), except where noted
| title1          = Some Cities
| length1         = 3:22
| extra1          = Goodwin
| title2          = [Black and White Town](/source/Black_and_White_Town)
| length2         = 4:15
| extra2          = Goodwin
| title3          = Almost Forgot Myself
| length3         = 4:42
| extra3          = Goodwin
| title4          = [Snowden](/source/Snowden_(song))
| length4         = 4:12
| extra4          = Goodwin
| title5          = The Storm
| writer5         = Williams, Goodwin, Williams, [Ryuichi Sakamoto](/source/Ryuichi_Sakamoto){{efn|group=upper-alpha|Contains elements of ''[Snake Eyes](/source/Snake_Eyes_(1998_film))'' score, composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto.}}
| length5         = 4:52
| extra5          = J. Williams
| title6          = Walk in Fire
| length6         = 5:34
| extra6          = Goodwin
| title7          = One of These Days
| length7         = 4:50
| extra7          = Goodwin
| title8          = Someday Soon
| length8         = 4:08
| extra8          = Goodwin
| title9          = Shadows of Salford
| length9         = 2:44
| extra9          = A. Williams
| title10         = [Sky Starts Falling](/source/Sky_Starts_Falling)
| length10        = 4:11
| extra10         = Goodwin
| title11         = Ambition
| length11        = 4:00
| extra11         = Goodwin
}}
{{track listing
| headline        = Japan bonus tracks
| extra_column    = Lead vocals
| title12         = Eleven Miles Out
| length12        = 4:32
| extra12         = Goodwin
| title13         = At the Tower
| writer13        = Williams, Goodwin, Williams, [Lee Hazlewood](/source/Lee_Hazlewood){{efn|group=upper-alpha|Contains elements of "Come on Home to Me", written by Lee Hazlewood.}}
| length13        = 4:37
| extra13         = Goodwin (verses), A. Williams (chorus)
}}

==Bonus DVD==
# ''Cities Under Construction'' – a short film, edited by Matthew Norman
# Photo gallery (set to an instrumental version of "Ambition")
# "Black and White Town" video (director's cut, directed by [Lynne Ramsay](/source/Lynne_Ramsay))

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable"
! width="150px"|Country
! width="130px"|Date
! width="120px"|Label
! Format
! Catalogue #
|-
| rowspan="4"|United Kingdom
| rowspan="4"|21 February 2005
| rowspan="4"|[Heavenly Recordings](/source/Heavenly_Recordings)
| CD
| HVNLP50CD
|-
| Special edition CD/DVD in purple [digipak](/source/digipak)
| HVNLP50CDS
|-
| Limited edition CD/DVD in [hessian cloth](/source/Hessian_(cloth))-covered box
| HVNLP50CDX
|-
| Double LP (heavyweight vinyl; gatefold sleeve)
| HVNLP50
|-
| Japan
| 23 February 2005
| [Toshiba-EMI](/source/Toshiba-EMI)
| CD (2 bonus tracks)
| TOCP-66327
|-
| United States
| 1 March 2005
| [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records)/[EMI](/source/EMI)
| CD
| 724387460928
|-
| Europe
| 31 May 2019
| rowspan="3"|Universal Strategic Marketing/Virgin EMI
| Double LP (limited/numbered edition on white-coloured vinyl)<ref name="Colour">{{cite web |title=The uDiscover Music Store - Some Cities: White Coloured Vinyl |url=https://store.udiscovermusic.com/*/*/Some-Cities-White-Coloured-Vinyl/64LI0000000|website=Store.udiscovermusic.com |date=17 April 2019 |access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>
| 7748265
|-
| United Kingdom
| 27 November 2020
| rowspan="2"|Double LP (black vinyl)
| rowspan="2"|856872
|-
| United States
| 15 January 2021
|}

==Credits==

=== Doves ===

* Jimi Goodwin – lead vocals (except tracks 5 and 9), bass, acoustic guitar
* Jez Williams – guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Storm", synthesiser
* Andy Williams – drums, backing vocals, lead vocals and piano on "Shadows of Salford", harmonica on "The Storm"

===Additional musicians===
* Ben Hillier – percussion on "Some Cities," glockenspiel on "Snowden," and piano and percussion on "The Storm"
* [Guy Garvey](/source/Guy_Garvey) – backing vocals on "Almost Forgot Myself" and "Snowden"
* Strings on "Snowden" and "The Storm" performed by Millennia Strings; arranged by Ian Burdge, contracted by Jonathan Brigden at Knifedge
* Andrea Wright – additional footsteps and street noise on "The Storm"
* Janet Remus – backing vocals on "Walk in Fire"
* [Martin Rebelski](/source/Martin_Rebelski) – piano on "Black and White Town," and accordion on "Shadows of Salford"

=== Technical ===
* Produced by Doves and Ben Hillier.
* Mixed by Ben Hillier and Doves, except "Some Cities" and "Walk in Fire" mixed by [Rich Costey](/source/Rich_Costey).
* Recorded and mixed at: Moolah Rouge, [Stockport](/source/Stockport); Parr Street Studios, [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool); The Old School House, [Fort Augustus](/source/Fort_Augustus); [Fort Augustus Abbey](/source/Fort_Augustus_Abbey); 2&nbsp;kHz, [Shepherd's Bush](/source/Shepherd's_Bush); The Dairy, [Brixton](/source/Brixton); [Angel Recording Studios](/source/Angel_Recording_Studios); Whitfield Street Studios, [Soho](/source/Soho); Panarific; and Andy's house.
* Engineering and programming by Ben Hillier and Richard Morris.
* Assistant engineering by Andrea Wright.
* Engineering at 2&nbsp;kHz by Dan Austin.
* Debris wording by Doves, Jemma Kennedy, and Rick Myers.

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2005)
!align="left"|Peak<br/>position
|-
|align="left"|[Australian Albums Chart](/source/Australian_Albums_Chart)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|title=DISCOGRAPHY DOVES|website=Australian-charts.com|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|23
|-
|align="left"|[Belgium Ultratop](/source/Ultratop)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|title=Discografie Doves|website=Ultratop.be|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|45
|-
|align="left"|[French Chart](/source/France)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|title=DISCOGRAPHIE DOVES|website=Lescharts.com|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|149
|-
|align="left"|[Irish Albums Chart](/source/Irish_Albums_Chart)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217165055/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2012|title=DISCOGRAPHY DOVES|website=Irish-charts.com|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|-
|align="left"|[Japan Oricon](/source/Oricon)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/release/dvd/|title=DVD リリース情報|website=Oricon.co.jp|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|149
|-
|align="left"|[MegaCharts Netherlands](/source/MegaCharts)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Doves|title=DOVES|website=Dutchcharts.com|access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>
|align="center"|62
|-
|align="left"|[UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart)<ref name="UK"/>
|align="center"|1
|-
|align="left"|US [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200)<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=doves|chart=all}} Billboard - Artist Chart History - Doves]</ref>
|align="center"|111
|}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|type=album|artist=Doves|title=Some Cities|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|access-date=9 August 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Doves|title=Some Cities|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2005|id=6062-1944-2|access-date=9 August 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Notes==
{{notelist-ua}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Doves}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Doves (band) albums
Category:2005 albums
Category:Heavenly Recordings albums
Category:Albums produced by Ben Hillier

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Some Cities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Cities) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Some_Cities?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.