The State of Things (album)

{{refimprove|date=March 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Use British English|date=June 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = The State of Things | type = studio | artist = Reverend and the Makers | cover = TheStateOfThingsAlbumCover.JPG | alt = | released = 17 September 2007 | recorded = 2006–2007, Sheffield, England | venue = | studio = | genre = Alternative rock, electronic | length = 41:43 | label = Wall of Sound | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = A French Kiss in the Chaos | next_year = 2009 | misc = {{Singles | name = The State of Things | type = studio | single1 = Heavyweight Champion of the World | single1date = 2007 | single2 = He Said He Loved Me | single2date = 2007 | single3 = Open Your Window | single3date = 2007 | single4 = Sundown on the Empire / 18-30 / The Machine – Remixes | single4date = 2008 }} }} {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}} [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1184017|pure_url=yes}} link] |rev2= ''Drowned in Sound'' |rev2Score=4/10 [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2414544 link] |rev3= ''The Guardian'' |rev3Score= {{Rating|4|5}} [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/sep/14/popandrock.shopping5 link] |rev4= stv.tv |rev4Score= {{Rating|3|5}} [http://www.stv.tv/content/out/music/album_reviews/display.html?id=opencms:/out/music/album_reviews/Reverend_and_the_Makersxbrx_The_State_Of_Things link] |rev5= ''Uncut'' |rev5Score= {{Rating|3|5}} [http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/reverend_and_the_makers/reviews/10267 link] |rev6=''NME'' |rev6Score=5/10 }} '''''The State of Things''''' is the debut studio album by English alternative rock band Reverend and The Makers. It reached number 5 in the UK Albums Chart, selling just over 25,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=50839|title=Music forums focusing on chart music with chart and entertainment discussion|website=Buzzjack}}{{rs|date=March 2021}} {{dead link|date=March 2021}}</ref>

==Critical reception== The album received positive reviews, with ''Uncut'' saying "the record is a tribute to McClure's charisma and unswerving self-belief".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/reverend_and_the_makers/reviews/10267 |title=Music Reviews |work=Uncut |accessdate=10 March 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927150708/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/reverend_and_the_makers/reviews/10267 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first single, "Heavyweight Champion of the World", reached the top ten and was played on BBC Radio 1's ''Live Lounge''. Other songs on the album, notably "He Said He Loved Me" and "The Machine" become fan favourites and were played in their concerts, including the band's three night run at Wembley Stadium supporting Oasis.

The album includes seven songs that were previously released as free downloads, in a collection of demos entitled ''Ten Songs'' produced by Alan Smyth.

The single "Open Your Window" was featured on the soundtrack to the football video game ''FIFA 09''.

==Track listing== {{tracklist | all_writing = Jon McClure, co-writers noted | extra_column = Additional musicians | title1 = The State of Things | length1 = 3:01 | note1 = Hampton | title2 = The Machine | length2 = 3:50 | note2 = Turner | extra2 = Vocals – Alex Turner | title3 = Heavyweight Champion of the World | length3 = 3:25 | note3 = Cosens/Smyth | extra3 = Congas – Bert 'Bongo Bert' Rogers | title4 = Bandits | length4 = 2:37 | note4 = Rowley/Smith | extra4 = Vocals – Tim Hampton and James O'Hara | title5 = Open Your Window | length5 = 4:03 | note5 = Cosens/Smyth | extra5 = Vocals – Steve Edwards; Guitar – Alan Smyth | title6 = Sex with the Ex | length6 = 4:07 | title7 = 18-30 | length7 = 3:15 | note7 = Cosens | title8 = He Said He Loved Me | length8 = 2:54 | note8 = Turner/Smyth | extra8 = Chewing – Alan Smyth; Guitar – Alex Turner; Co-lead Vocals – Laura Manuel | title9 = What the Milkman Saw | length9 = 2:56 | note9 = Cosens/Smyth | title10 = Sundown on the Empire | length10 = 4:00 | note10 = Cosens | extra10 = Recorder – Tia Coakley | title11 = Miss Brown | length11 = 3:27 | note11 = Rowley | extra11 = Vocals – Steve Edwards | title12 = Armchair Detective | length12 = 4:13 | note12 = Turner/Smyth | extra12 = Vocals – Mike Hughes<br>Violin – Stephen Rocheford }}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''The State of Things'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Dutch Alternative Albums (MegaCharts)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Reverend+And+The+Makers&titel=The+State+Of+Things&cat=a|title=Reverend And The Makers - The State Of Things - dutchcharts.nl|language=Dutch|publisher=MegaCharts|access-date=27 May 2026}}</ref> | 21 |- {{album chart|Scotland|8|date=20070923|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2023}} |- {{album chart|UK2|5|date=20070923|rowheader=true|access-date=3 May 2023}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=20070923|rowheader=true|access-date=27 May 2026}} |}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''The State of Things''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|artist=Reverend & The Makers|title=The State of Things|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2008|id=7339-927-2|access-date=19 April 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:State of Things, The}} Category:2007 debut albums Category:Wall of Sound (record label) albums Category:Reverend and The Makers albums