Pickin' Up the Pieces (Fitz and the Tantrums album)

Pickin' Up the Pieces
Studio album by
Fitz and the Tantrums
ReleasedAugust 24, 2010 (2010-08-24)
StudioCulver City Music Factory, Dillon Street Studios, Los Angeles[1]
Genre
Length36:13
LabelDangerbird
ProducerChris Seefried, Michael Fitzpatrick
Fitz and the Tantrums chronology
Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1
(2009) 		Pickin' Up the Pieces
(2010) 		Santa Stole My Lady
(2010)
Singles from Pickin' Up the Pieces
  1. "Winds of Change"
    Released: June 3, 2010 (2010-06-03)
  2. "L.O.V."
    Released: October 15, 2010 (2010-10-15)
  3. "Breakin' the Chains of Love"
    Released: December 17, 2010 (2010-12-17)
  4. "MoneyGrabber"
    Released: August 15, 2011 (2011-08-15)
  5. "Don't Gotta Work It Out"
    Released: September 23, 2011 (2011-09-23)

Pickin' Up the Pieces is the debut studio album by American band Fitz and the Tantrums, released on August 24, 2010, by Dangerbird Records. After the success of their home-recorded debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1 and touring, Dangerbird signed the group, who immediately began work on Pieces.

The band drew inspiration from various musical tastes, including Motown records and soul music, and recorded the album in vocalist Michael Fitzpatrick's living room, which he dubbed Dillon Street Studios. It was produced by Fitzpatrick and Chris Seefried.

Upon its release, Pickin' Up the Pieces charted at number one on Billboard's Top Heatseekers and received generally positive reviews from music critics.

Background

Michael Fitzpatrick, vocalist, founded the group shortly after a break-up.[3] Having a hard time after the breakup, Fitzpatrick came to the conclusion that he needed to release the energy through creativity and get a focus and direction, for the sole purpose of distracting him from the discomfort.[4] In late 2008, he received a call from the same ex-girlfriend, who demanded a rigid "no-talking" policy, to tell him about a neighbor who needed to unload a church organ for $50.[3][4] Thanks to some "shady Russian piano movers," Fitzpatrick had the organ installed in his apartment that night.[3] By morning, he had already written "Breakin' the Chains of Love". "I immediately knew it was the best song I'd written," said Fitzpatrick in 2011. "I could astral plane out and hear myself, like, 'wow!' Not bad!"[3] Fitzpatrick knew he wanted a horn section, and he called college friend and saxophonist James King, and the two immediately began working on early versions of the songs.[5] Fitzpatrick envisioned a full band, in suits, with a female vocalist.[3] King recommended vocalist Noelle Scaggs.[6] Five phone calls later, the Tantrums were assembled, out of college contacts of Fitzpatrick and King.[3][4] They played their first rehearsal a week later, and instantly clicked.[5] "We could have played a show that same night," recalled Fitzpatrick.[3]

They performed their first show at Hollywood's Hotel Café in December 2008, which Fitzpatrick booked one week after their first rehearsal.[6] The group recorded their debut EP, Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1, at Fitzpatrick's home in Los Angeles, which he dubbed Dillon Street Studios.[3] Fitzpatrick used his technical skills he honed to engineer the EP himself.[4] Formerly a studio engineer, Fitzpatrick spent the bulk of his professional career behind the scenes, working with producer Mickey Petralia, who produced Beck, Ladytron, Flight of the Conchords, and The Dandy Warhols.[6] The band began to constant airplay on Los Angeles public radio station KCRW.[5] The group had many notable early promoters. "Adam Levine from Maroon 5 was in New York to get a tattoo and his favorite tattoo artist had downloaded the record after hearing us on KCRW," explained Fitzpatrick. "He told Adam, 'you gotta hear this band.'" A week and a half later, Fitz & The Tantrums were opening for Maroon 5 on their college tour.[3] Daryl Hall, of Hall & Oates fame, invited the band to perform on his popular web-series Live from Daryl's House. "I walked back into the kitchen of his big old house in upstate New York and his mother was there," recalled Fitzpatrick. "She said, 'Fitz, come over here. You sound just like my son!'"[3]

The entire foundation of the band from the start was a do it yourself approach. "Nobody was really giving us the time of day in any shape or form," recalled Fitzpatrick. "We just honed our own road, started playing before we even had songs to play, and developed our own fan base organically."[7] The ethic was running out of steam by the time they became one of the major buzz bands at 2010's SXSW, where they ran out of money and resources amid congratulations from fans. However, their last SXSW gig was a show for Dangerbird Records. The following morning, the label's president called a meeting.[7] In April 2010, Dangerbird signed the group, who immediately announced the album title, Pickin' Up the Pieces, and a promise that it would deliver "a burst of effervescent swingers."[8] "The label is literally around the block from my house," Fitzpatrick said.[9]

Recording

The band recorded the entire debut in Fitzpatrick's living room, as they couldn't afford to go into a studio. The band did not soundproof the room, instead desiring to "just go with it," which produced a sense of familiarity. "It let us have this more family, laid-back approach, and to be able to really take the time to do what we wanted in the way that we wanted," said Fitzpatrick.[10]

Focusing on strong songwriting as his influences did, Fitzpatrick desired to achieve a collective energy with the new group, and set a goal to capture "even just a little bit" of the magic of Motown and Stax recordings.[5] He also credits the organ's esoteric properties for the band's sound.[9] Fitzpatrick has described Motown as "the greatest period of songwriting in music ever," but used it as a jumping off point.[5] The band's eclectic musical tastes are reflected in the music of the album. Fitzpatrick, also a fan of Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, desired not to make a "carbon copy" of the soul sound, but instead give it their own spin.[10] "We wanted to see if we could capture the way those records sounded and at the same time push it forward," said Fitzpatrick. Many of the arrangements and instrument choices are "possibly out of the norm," and the group wanted to give some tracks hip hop feel.[10] Also weaved into the music are 1980s influences, from The Jam to Talking Heads to The Style Council.[6] Fitzpatrick wanted to create a juxtaposition between the fun sound of the music and angry, biting lyrics.[4]

Music and lyrics

Pickin' Up the Pieces features soul and pop styles.[2] Its sound mostly comprises vintage organ, crisp drums, handclaps,[11] saxophone, which the band used as a substitute for guitar,[10] and aggressive vocals,[12] including passionate exhortations by Fitzpatrick.[13] Mark Deming of Allmusic views that the album's music gravitates toward the "refined sounds of classic-era Motown, and the East Coast and Chicago styles that informed Northern soul," writing that, "while these songs show a strong and obvious influence of classic '60s soul, there's more than a dash of contemporary pop in the way the hooks make themselves felt, the stylish layers of backing vocals, and the occasional use of drum loops."[14] BBC Music's Paul Lester finds both the song titles and "the lyrics (with their allusions to holdin’ on and walking on by)" to be "steeped in the lexicon of classic R&B."[13] Jay Trachtenberg of The Austin Chronicle characterizes Fitzpatrick as a "blue-eyed soul" singer and adds that Noelle Scaggs "provides vocal fortification up front."[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
Alternative Press[16]
The A.V. ClubC[17]
Boston Phoenix[18]
The Guardian[19]
Q[2]
Spin7/10[11]
Under the Radar7/10[20]

Pickin' Up the Pieces received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 10 reviews.[21] AllMusic's Mark Deming called it a "solid album" and commended the band for "cut[ting] an impressive groove without cluttering up the arrangements or depending too strongly on their influences to convincingly conjure the sound of the classic era of soul."[14] Q observed "enough retro fizz to get any party started."[2] Jonathan Donaldson of the Boston Phoenix commented that "Fitz[patrick] and dynamic co-vocalist Noelle Scaggs inject life and fun into the Tantrums' retro temptations".[18] Ann Powers of the Los Angeles Times felt that Fitzpatrick's "punky attitude ... makes the sound fresh" and stated, "There's a certain sameness to the songs' tempos and arrangements here, but in general the hooks catch and the energy feels genuine."[12] Alternative Press praised the "recording expertise" and "deceptively analog sound", writing that, "Sonically and lyrically, this is a pristine, soulful pop resurgence, without a moment of filler."[16]

In a mixed review, Michael Hann of The Guardian felt that the album's "expert pastiche of classic soul" lacks a "sense of passionate involvement ... the very thing that lifts retro soul beyond pastiche."[19] Chris Martins of The A.V. Club found its songs formulaic and criticized the band as "bathetic and actorly".[17] Barry Walters of Spin also found it "less finessed" lyrically, but praised Fitzpatrick and Scaggs' singing and stated, "what sets Michael Fitzpatrick and his L.A. crew apart is their mastery of Motown-esque melodies."[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael Fitzpatrick and Chris Seefried, unless noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Breakin' the Chains of Love"Michael Fitzpatrick2:51
2."Dear Mr. President" 2:59
3."Pickin' Up the Pieces"Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Scaggs2:45
4."MoneyGrabber" 3:09
5."L.O.V." 3:40
6."News 4 U"Michael Fitzpatrick, Chris Seefried, Jeremy Ruzumna3:57
7."Don't Gotta Work It Out" 4:09
8."Rich Girls" 3:14
9."Winds of Change" 4:09
10."Tighter"Michael Fitzpatrick, Chris Seefried, Jeremy Ruzumna, James King, John Wicks, Ethan Philips4:56
Total length:36:16

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
US Billboard Top Heatseekers[22] 1

Release history

Region Date Label Format
United States August 24, 2010 Dangerbird CD, LP[1]
January 5, 2011 digital download[23]
United Kingdom August 22, 2011 CD[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "Fitz & The Tantrums - Pickin Up the Pieces CD Album". CD Universe. Muze. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Review: Pickin' Up the Pieces". Q. London: 130. October 2011. Their debut...has all the right soul/pop/early Motown moves, plus enough retro fizz to get any party started.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Andy Greenwald (April 12, 2011). "Band to Watch: Fitz and the Tantrums Put a Modern Spin on Motown". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tony Sclafani (December 31, 2009). "Dance Dance Resolution: Fitz & the Tantrums". Express Night Out. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e Matthew Wikening (March 12, 2010). "Fitz and the Tantrums Interview: SXSW 2010". Spinner. Archived from the original on September 16, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d Korina Lopez (February 13, 2011). "On the verge: Fitz & the Tantrums channel the Motown spirit". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  7. ^ a b Andrea Warner (April 6, 2011). "Fitz and the Tantrums dig the retro vibe". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  8. ^ Chris Martins (April 27, 2010). "Fitz and the Tantrums Sign to Dangerbird, Tour with Dap-Kings, Plan Spaceland Residency". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Fitz and the Tantrums want to get the crowd moving". Press-Register. April 14, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  10. ^ a b c d Melissa Breor (December 9, 2010). "Skipping a few decades, Fitz and the Tantrums bring soul-infused music to Northampton". The Smith College Sophian. Retrieved April 18, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ a b c Walters, Barry (August 9, 2010). "Fitz & the Tantrums, 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' (Dangerbird)". Spin. New York. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Powers, Ann (August 9, 2010). "Album review: Fitz & the Tantrums' 'Pickin' Up the Pieces'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Lester, Paul (August 16, 2011). "Review of Fitz and The Tantrums - Pickin' Up the Pieces". BBC Music. BBC. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  14. ^ a b c Deming, Mark. "Pickin Up the Pieces - Fitz & the Tantrums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  15. ^ Trachtenberg, Jay (March 18, 2011). "Review: Fitz & the Tantrums". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Review: Pickin' Up the Pieces". Alternative Press. Cleveland: 109. September 2010.
  17. ^ a b Martins, Chris (August 24, 2010). "Fitz And The Tantrums: Pickin' Up The Pieces". The A.V. Club. Chicago. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Donaldson, Jonathan (August 31, 2010). "Review: Fitz and the Tantrums". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Hann, Michael (August 18, 2011). "Fitz and the Tantrums: Pickin' Up the Pieces – review". The Guardian. Film & music section, p. 15. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  20. ^ "Review: Pickin' Up the Pieces". Under the Radar (Summer 2010). Los Angeles: 79.
  21. ^ "Pickin' Up The Pieces Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  22. ^ Pickin' Up the Pieces at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
  23. ^ "Pickin' Up The Pieces: Fitz & The Tantrums: Official Music". Amazon. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  24. ^ "Fitz & The Tantrums: Pickin Up The Pieces (2011): CD". HMV. Retrieved November 30, 2012.

Read other articles:

Jouhatsu

Para Jouhatsu terkadang menghilang dari kehidupan mereka untuk menghindari tekanan dari masyarakat Jouhatsu (Jepang: 蒸発code: ja is deprecated , Hepburn: Jōhatsu, secara harfiah penguapan) atau johatsu merujuk pada orang-orang di Jepang yang dengan sengaja menghilang dari kehidupan mapan mereka tanpa jejak.[1] Fenomena ini dapat dilihat di seluruh dunia, seperti Amerika Serikat, Britania Raya, dan Jerman.[1][2] Namun, tampaknya lebih umum di Jepang mengingat f...

 

École nationale supérieure agronomique de Montpellier

Pour les articles homonymes, voir ENSAM. École nationale supérieure agronomique de MontpellierHistoireFondation 1842StatutType École nationale supérieure agronomiqueSite web www.montpellier-supagro.frLocalisationPays FranceCampus Montpellier SupAgroVille MontpellierLocalisation sur la carte de FranceLocalisation sur la carte de Hérault (département)Localisation sur la carte de Montpelliermodifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata L’École nationale supérieure agronomique de Mon...

 

Revolver

Firearm with a cylinder holding cartridges This article is about the firearm. For other uses, see Revolver (disambiguation). Six Gun and six shooter redirect here. For other uses, see Six Guns and Six shooter (disambiguation). Colt Single Action Army Firing a Smith & Wesson Model 686 .357 Magnum A revolver is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models...

Syria at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships

Sporting event delegationSyria at the2015 World Aquatics ChampionshipsFlag of SyriaFINA codeSYRNational federationSyrian Arab Swimming and Aquatic Sports Federationin Kazan, RussiaCompetitors4 in 2 sportsMedals Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0 World Aquatics Championships appearances197319751978198219861991199419982001200320052007200920112013201520172019202220232024 Syria competed at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships in Kazan, Russia from 24 July to 9 August 2015. Open water swimming Main...

 

Bendigo South East College

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Bendigo South East College – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Secondary college in Bendigo, Victoria, AustraliaBendigo South East CollegeLocationBendigo, VictoriaAustraliaCoordinat...

 

McCann (company)

Advertising agency This article needs to be updated. Please help update this to reflect recent events or newly available information. (August 2020) McCannCompany typeSubsidiaryIndustryAdvertising, MarketingFounded1902 (1902) (Erickson) 1912 (1912) (H. K. McCann) 1930 (1930) (merger)HeadquartersUnited StatesParentInterpublic GroupWebsiteMcCann.com McCann, formerly McCann Erickson, is an American global advertising agency network, with offices in 120 countries. McCann is part of ...

Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto

Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto7th Spanish Governor of New MexicoIn office1 May 1629 – March 1632Preceded byFelipe de Sotelo OsorioSucceeded byFrancisco de la Mora Ceballos Personal detailsDied1632 Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto (died 1632) was Governor of New Mexico at a time when it was a province of New Spain.[1] Biography Captain Don Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto left Mexico City on 4 September 1628, reaching Santa Fe on 1 May 1629, when he took office as Governor of...

 

趙家驤

追晉陸軍二級上將趙家驤將軍个人资料出生1910年 大清河南省衛輝府汲縣逝世1958年8月23日(1958歲—08—23)（47—48歲） † 中華民國福建省金門縣国籍 中華民國政党 中國國民黨获奖 青天白日勳章（追贈）军事背景效忠 中華民國服役 國民革命軍 中華民國陸軍服役时间1924年－1958年军衔 二級上將 （追晉）部队四十七師指挥東北剿匪總司令部參謀長陸軍�...

 

728 هـ

قرن: قرن 7 - قرن 8 - قرن 9 عقد: 690  700  710  720  730  740  750  سنة: 725 726 727 - 728 - 729 730 731 728 هـ هي سنة في التقويم الهجري امتدت مقابلةً في التقويم الميلادي بين سنتي 1327 و1328.[1][2] [3] أحداث بدء حصار نيقية من قبل السلطان عثمان الأول وفيات سعد بن ثابت طفيل بن جماز طفيل بن م�...

Jon Kabat-Zinn

American professor emeritus of medicine Jon Kabat-ZinnKabat-Zinn in 2018BornJon Kabat (1944-06-05) June 5, 1944 (age 79)New York City, New York, U.S.NationalityAmericanAlma materMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyHaverford CollegeKnown forFounder of Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionParent(s)Elvin KabatSally Kabat Jon Kabat-Zinn (born Jon Kabat, June 5, 1944) is an American professor emeritus of medicine and the creator of the 'Stress Reduction Clinic' and the 'Center for Min...

 

State Duma

Lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia This article is about the modern Russian assembly. For the historical body, see State Duma (Russian Empire). For other assemblies, see Duma. For other uses, see State Duma (disambiguation) and Duma (disambiguation). State Duma Государственная думаGosudarstvennaya duma8th State DumaTypeTypeLower house HistoryEstablished12 December 1993; 30 years ago (1993-12-12)Preceded bySoviet of the RepublicConstitutiona...

 

Sauter (pianos)

Cet article est une ébauche concernant la facture instrumentale. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Piano Sauter Sauter (raison sociale complète : Carl Sauter Pianofortemanufaktur GmbH & Co KG) est un facteur allemand de pianos créé en 1819 par Johann Grimm à Spaichingen (Wurtemberg), en Allemagne. Natif de Spaichingen, le jeune compagnon menuisier Johann Grimm se rend en 1813 à Vienn...

大字 (数字)

この項目には、一部のコンピュータや閲覧ソフトで表示できない文字が含まれています（詳細）。 数字の大字（だいじ）は、漢数字の一種。通常用いる単純な字形の漢数字（小字）の代わりに同じ音の別の漢字を用いるものである。 概要 壱万円日本銀行券（「壱」が大字） 弐千円日本銀行券（「弐」が大字） 漢数字には「一」「二」「三」と続く小字と、「壱」「�...

 

羅德島州

本條目存在以下問題，請協助改善本條目或在討論頁針對議題發表看法。 此條目需要擴充。 (2013年1月1日)请協助改善这篇條目，更進一步的信息可能會在討論頁或扩充请求中找到。请在擴充條目後將此模板移除。 此條目需要补充更多来源。 (2013年1月1日)请协助補充多方面可靠来源以改善这篇条目，无法查证的内容可能會因為异议提出而被移除。致使用者：请搜索一下条目的...

 

1920 in the United States

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: 1920 in the United States – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) List of events ← 1919 1918 1917 1920 in the United States → 1921 1922 1923 Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s See ...

Malinao, Albay

Peta menunjukan lokasi Malinao Malinao adalah munisipalitas yang terletak di provinsi Albay, Filipina. Pada tahun 2011, munisipalitas ini memiliki populasi sebesar 42.525 jiwa atau 8.505 rumah tangga.[1] Pembagian wilayah Malinao terbagi menjadi 29 barangay, yaitu: No. Barangay BarangayCaptain SKChairperson 1 Awang Yolanda C. Matias Shiela Marie S. Marudo 2 Bagatangki Ramon B. San Juan Rosaly C. Coralde 3 Bagumbayan Marita E. Cansilao Mariejoy A. Cano 4 Balading Ofelia C. Bigata Henri...

 

2018 Thurrock Council election

2018 UK local government election 2018 Thurrock Council election ← 2016 3 May 2018 2019 → 16 of the 49 seats to Thurrock Council25 seats needed for a majority   First party Second party Third party   Leader Rob Gledhill Oliver Gerrish Graham Snell Party Conservative Labour Thurrock Ind. Leader's seat Little Thurrock Rectory West Thurrock & South Stifford Stifford Clays (lost re-election) Seats before 19 14 16 Seats won 6 9 1 Seats after ...

 

Daftar Wali Kota Cilegon

Wali Kota CilegonPetahanaHelldy Agustiansejak 26 Februari 2021Masa jabatan5 tahun dan dapat dipilih kembali untuk satu kali masa jabatanDibentuk29 Juli 1987; 36 tahun lalu (1987-07-29)Pejabat pertamaNurman SuriadintaSitus webSitus web resmi Berikut adalah daftar Wali Kota Cilegon secara definitif sejak tahun 1999 di bawah Pemerintah Republik Indonesia. Nomor urut Wali Kota Potret Partai Awal Akhir Masa jabatan Periode Wakil Ref. 1   Aat Syafaat(tidak diketahui–2016) Golkar 7 ...

1992 CIS Indoor Athletics Championships

International athletics championship event1992 CIS Indoor Athletics ChampionshipsDates1–2 FebruaryHost cityMoscow, RussiaVenueCSKA Palace of SportsEvents37← 1991 The 1992 CIS Indoor Athletics Championships was an international outdoor track and field competition for athletes from countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States. It was held on 1–2 February at CSKA Palace of Sports in Moscow, Russia. A total of 29 events were contested over two days. Women competed in the stee...

 

Elections in Zimbabwe

Politics of Zimbabwe Constitution Constitutional history Human rights Government President Emmerson Mnangagwa Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga Kembo Mohadi Cabinet Legislature Parliament Senate President National Assembly Speaker Constituencies Judiciary Supreme Court Elections General 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2008 2013 2018 2023 Referendums 2000 2013 Electoral Commission Political parties Administrative divisions Provinces Districts Wards Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affair...