29:
287:
stated, "'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." Bob
Stanley of
280:
springing to mind. Melodic and mature with a neat sense of drama, they're a touch astute to be dismissed as twee, jangling guitar music. A plusher sound should see them embellish the charts some day." Tim
Southwell of
319:
picked it as one of the magazine's "singles of the week" and described the EP as a "four-song miracle of human life" and "overwhelming winsome and winning". He wrote, "Aztec Camera, the
Housemartins,
800:
821:
368:, Carlene Bauer commented: "'Obscurity Knocks,' a high-spirited grouse about fickle fame and fleeting youth, is the best - and eeriest - number." Colin Larkin, in his 1995 book
657:
276:
described "Obscurity Knocks" as "pleasantly-strummed, inoffensive pop" and commented, "This lot keep up
Scotland's fine tradition for producing guitar pop, with the likes of
843:
927:
329:
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
323:
and the La's – all very special groups, and now you can listen to them all at once! Perfect. Crystalline. Divine. Confident..." Penny Kiley of the
302:, some neat xylophone to touch up the chorus, and a singer not afraid to sound Scottish without resorting to the porridge gargling antics of
364:
described the song, along with the album's other singles, as the "tastiest pieces of pure pop pleasure". In a 1999 review of the album by
853:
661:
28:
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1078:
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253:. The EP reached No. 86 in the UK and remained on the chart for four weeks. In 1991, the song reached No. 12 on the
1083:
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997:
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333:
and felt the song musically had "hints of the
Housemartins and a bit of the Smiths". Jennifer Grant of the
236:
192:
40:
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1013:
785:
352:
335:
1039:
894:
569:
306:". He added that "everything's dandy except the lyrics which are 90 per cent gruesome puns that even
255:
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said that beyond the band's "dreadful name", "Obscurity Knocks" has a "strong melody reminiscent of
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315:
635:
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described the song as one of the "standouts" on "this fine debut". In a retrospective review of
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Kiley, Penny (10 February 1990). "Penny Kiley's Rock and Pop - New releases: Penny's verdict".
936:
849:
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described it as an "excellent single" and one that has a "sprinkle of the Smiths, a touch of
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36:
636:"TRASH CAN SINATRAS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company"
1062:
709:
684:
340:
283:
272:
240:
845:
The
Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Threepenny Opera-Z.Z. Top - Google Books
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245:
125:
49:
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243:(and promotional single in the United States) from their debut studio album
133:
361:
95:
905:
909:
615:"Cake - The Trash Can Sinatras | Songs, Reviews, Credits"
365:
783:
Grant, Jennifer (20 March 1990). "Discover: Single
Reviews".
891:"The Trash Can Sinatras Chart History (Alternative Airplay)"
597:"The Trash Can Sinatras - Obscurity Knocks E.P. on Discogs)"
249:. It was written by all five band members and produced by
707:
Southwell, Tim (24 February 1990). "Dustbins, Frankly".
682:
Murphy, Kevin (17 February 1990). "Dustbins, Frankly".
658:"The Trashcan Sinatras Obscurity Knocks Chart History"
1024:
981:
191:
177:
147:
124:
105:
85:
77:
56:
46:
35:
21:
875:"The Trash Can Sinatras: Artist Chart History"
921:
8:
749:Collins, Andrew (10 March 1990). "Singles".
732:Stanley, Bob (10 February 1990). "Singles".
608:
606:
928:
914:
906:
534:
371:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
343:and just a hint of Roddy Frame about it".
27:
18:
504:Peter Rose – assistant producer, engineer
461:"Obscurity Knocks (Album Version)" - 4:10
588:
45:
34:
801:"Orange Coast Magazine - Google Books"
822:"CMJ New Music Report - Google Books"
374:, described the song as "plaintive".
16:1990 single by The Trash Can Sinatras
7:
526:Porterhouse Management – management
239:, which was released in 1990 as an
14:
523:Ben Argueta – design (US release)
458:"Obscurity Knocks (Edit)" - 3:35
270:On its release, Kevin Murphy of
513:– mixing on "Obscurity Knocks"
1:
479:Paul Livingston – lead guitar
235:" is a song by Scottish band
842:Larkin, Colin (2010-09-28).
482:John Douglas – rhythm guitar
442:"The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
429:"The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
407:"The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
394:"The Best Man's Fall" – 3:39
899:. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
881:. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
660:. Billboard. Archived from
1100:
310:would think twice about".
943:
562:
547:
439:"Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
423:"Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
404:"Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
388:"Obscurity Knocks" – 3:36
199:
26:
879:Official Charts Company
488:Stephen Douglas – drums
445:"Drunken Chorus" – 4:11
410:"Drunken Chorus" – 4:11
507:Tony Harris – engineer
471:The Trash Can Sinatras
237:The Trash Can Sinatras
193:The Trash Can Sinatras
41:The Trash Can Sinatras
786:Perthshire Advertiser
664:on September 15, 2018
476:Frank Reader – vocals
353:Orange Coast Magazine
336:Perthshire Advertiser
70:"The Best Man's Fall"
1040:Only Tongue Can Tell
998:I've Seen Everything
638:. Officialcharts.com
485:George McDaid – bass
453:CD single (US promo)
366:CMJ New Music Report
217:Only Tongue Can Tell
120:4:13 (album version)
752:New Musical Express
565:Alternative Airplay
316:New Musical Express
1079:London Records EPs
448:"Who's He?" – 2:58
426:"Who's He?" – 2:58
413:"Who's He?" – 2:58
391:"Who's He?" – 2:58
313:Andrew Collins of
266:Critical reception
260:Modern Rock Tracks
195:singles chronology
81:February 1990 (UK)
22:"Obscurity Knocks"
1084:Go! Discs singles
1056:
1055:
937:Trashcan Sinatras
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1033:Obscurity Knocks
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538:Chart (1990–91)
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360:, Norm Elrod of
296:the Housemartins
233:Obscurity Knocks
208:Obscurity Knocks
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499:Roger BĂ©chirian
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346:In a review of
304:the Proclaimers
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251:Roger BĂ©chirian
220:
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186:Roger BĂ©chirian
178:
173:
170:Stephen Douglas
161:Paul Livingston
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47:from the album
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1006:A Happy Pocket
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769:Liverpool Echo
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688:. p. 14.
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326:Liverpool Echo
308:Elvis Costello
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139:London Records
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974:George McDaid
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855:9781561591763
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755:. p. 12.
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738:. p. 36.
737:
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713:. p. 5.
712:
711:
710:Record Mirror
703:
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695:
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685:Record Mirror
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378:Track listing
377:
375:
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367:
363:
359:
355:
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349:
344:
342:
341:the Bluebells
338:
337:
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284:Record Mirror
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273:Record Mirror
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247:
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241:extended play
238:
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181:
176:
169:
167:George McDaid
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156:
154:
151:
150:Songwriter(s)
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55:
52:
51:
42:
38:
30:
25:
20:
1074:1990 singles
1032:
1012:
1004:
996:
988:
967:
962:
958:John Douglas
957:
952:
948:Frank Reader
947:
895:
886:
870:
859:. Retrieved
844:
837:
826:. Retrieved
824:. 1999-10-11
816:
805:. Retrieved
803:. March 1991
795:
784:
778:
772:. p. 7.
767:
761:
750:
744:
735:Melody Maker
733:
727:
708:
702:
683:
677:
666:. Retrieved
662:the original
651:
640:. Retrieved
630:
619:. Retrieved
613:Norm Elrod.
591:
568:
517:
516:
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416:
398:
397:
382:
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347:
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324:
314:
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291:Melody Maker
289:
282:
278:Aztec Camera
271:
269:
254:
244:
232:
230:
207:
164:John Douglas
158:Frank Reader
48:
968:Davy Hughes
656:Billboard.
511:John Leckie
418:Cassette EP
331:Roddy Frame
180:Producer(s)
67:"Who's He?"
1069:1990 songs
1063:Categories
861:2018-09-15
828:2018-09-15
807:2018-09-15
668:2018-09-15
642:2018-09-15
621:2018-09-15
617:. AllMusic
583:References
549:UK Singles
501:– producer
493:Production
399:12-inch EP
321:the Smiths
100:indie rock
896:Billboard
719:0144-5804
694:0144-5804
570:Billboard
543:position
466:Personnel
383:7-inch EP
256:Billboard
134:Go! Discs
118:(7" edit)
1047:Hayfever
362:AllMusic
300:the La's
96:pop rock
78:Released
1025:Singles
262:chart.
221:(1990)
212:(1990)
1017:(2004)
1009:(1996)
1001:(1993)
993:(1990)
982:Albums
852:
717:
692:
531:Charts
106:Length
59:B-side
37:Single
518:Other
434:CD EP
126:Label
87:Genre
990:Cake
850:ISBN
715:ISSN
690:ISSN
541:Peak
358:Cake
348:Cake
298:and
246:Cake
92:Rock
50:Cake
576:12
563:US
558:86
553:OCC
39:by
1065::
893:.
877:.
848:.
605:^
573:)
555:)
350:,
219:"
210:"
115:36
98:,
94:,
1049:"
1045:"
1042:"
1038:"
1035:"
1031:"
929:e
922:t
915:v
864:.
831:.
810:.
789:.
721:.
696:.
671:.
645:.
624:.
599:.
567:(
551:(
231:"
215:"
206:"
113::
111:3
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