Razzmatazz_(album)
Razzmatazz (album)
2020 studio album by I Dont Know How But They Found Me
Razzmatazz (stylized in all caps; sometimes as RΛZZMΛTΛZZ) is the debut studio album by American musical duo I Dont Know How But They Found Me (often shortened to iDKHOW). It was originally set to be released by Fearless Records on October 16, 2020, but was pushed back to October 23, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6][7] It is the band's only studio album to feature Ryan Seaman before his departure in 2023.
| Razzmatazz | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 23, 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2020[lower-alpha 1] | |||
| Studio | Pagzilla Sound (North Hollywood, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:15 (digital) 41:59 (physical) | |||
| Label | Fearless | |||
| Producer |
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| I Dont Know How But They Found Me chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Razzmatazz | ||||
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Over two years prior to the album's release, the song "Nobody Likes The Opening Band" was released as a free download on their website on March 14, 2018, accompanied with a music video.[8] On August 5, 2020, the band released a lyric video for the album's lead single "Leave Me Alone" along with the announcement of the album's title and release date.[9] On September 16, the title track "Razzmatazz" and accompanying lyric video were released.[10] Following a video on October 1 explaining the need to push back the album, the band released the third single "New Invention" the next day alongside a lyric video.[7][11]
The band continued promoting the album long after release and performed "Leave Me Alone" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the following January[12][13] and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February.[14][15] For Record Store Day 2021, the band released Razzmatazz B-Sides as an exclusive picture disc. This EP included one new track: "Mx. Sinister", a cover of "Debra" by Beck, and reimagined versions of "Leave Me Alone" and "Modern Day Cain".[16]
On November 19, the band released Razzmatazz: Deluxe Edition. Included in the bonus tracks were a cover of "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure, a revision of "New Invention" featuring Tessa Violet, various live performances of tracks from Razzmatazz, and material previously only found on their limited B-Side release.
Starting in mid-2021 the band toured internationally to support the album and were featured in various festivals. The tour was split into two parts: the "Razzmatazzmatour" (late 2021) and "The Thought Reform Tour" (early 2022).[17][18]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[19] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [20] |
| DIY | [21] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[22] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8.5/10[23] |
Razzmatazz received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from reviews from critics, the album has an average score of 84, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 4 reviews.[19] DIY described the album as "melding together '80s synths, baroque piano and pithy, self-deprecating choruses", while adding that it is "fun, flamboyant, and entirely of its time".[21] The Line of Best Fit praised frontman Dallon Weekes' lyricism in the songs "Mad IQs" and "Clusterhug", as well as his bass guitar work in "Sugar Pills" and "New Invention".[23]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Leave Me Alone" | Dallon Weekes | Tim Pagnotta | 3:35 |
| 2. | "Mad IQs" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 3. | "Nobody Likes the Opening Band" | Weekes | Weekes | 2:15 |
| 4. | "New Invention" |
| Pagnotta | 3:11 |
| 5. | "From the Gallows" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 2:42 |
| 6. | "Clusterhug" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:12 |
| 7. | "Sugar Pills" |
| Pagnotta | 3:07 |
| 8. | "Kiss Goodnight" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:50 |
| 9. | "Lights Go Down" |
| Pagnotta | 3:24 |
| 10. | "Need You Here" |
| Pagnotta | 3:07 |
| 11. | "Door" | Weekes | Weekes | 1:32 |
| 12. | "Razzmatazz" |
| Pagnotta | 4:18 |
| Total length: | 37:15 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Leave Me Alone" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:44 |
| 2. | "Indoctrination" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 1:11 |
| 3. | "Mad IQs" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 4. | "Nobody Likes the Opening Band" | Weekes | Weekes | 2:15 |
| 5. | "New Invention" |
| Pagnotta | 3:51 |
| 6. | "From the Gallows" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 2:42 |
| 7. | "Clusterhug" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:35 |
| 8. | "Sugar Pills" |
| Pagnotta | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Kiss Goodnight" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Lights Go Down" |
| Pagnotta | 3:43 |
| 11. | "Need You Here" |
| Pagnotta | 3:29 |
| 12. | "Door" | Weekes | Weekes | 1:29 |
| 13. | "Tomorrow People" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 1:19 |
| 14. | "Razzmatazz" |
| Pagnotta | 4:18 |
| Total length: | 41:59 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "New Invention" (featuring Tessa Violet) |
| Pagnotta | 3:11 |
| 14. | "Boys Don't Cry" (The Cure cover) | Weekes | 3:15 | |
| 15. | "Leave Me Alone" (Live From A TV Studio) | Weekes | Weekes | 3:40 |
| 16. | "New Invention" (Fisch Loops Remix) |
| Fisch Loops | 3:06 |
| 17. | "From the Gallows" (Demo) | Weekes | Weekes | 2:29 |
| 18. | "Modern Day Cain" (Slow Jam version) | Weekes | Weekes | 2:58 |
| 19. | "Sugar Pills" (Live From London / 2021) |
| Weekes | 3:57 |
| Total length: | 59:51 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mx. Sinister" | Weekes | Weekes | 3:02 |
| 2. | "Modern Day Cain" (Slow Jam version) | Weekes | Weekes | 2:58 |
| 3. | "Leave Me Alone" | Weekes | Pagnotta | 3:44 |
| 4. | "Debra" (Beck cover) |
| Weekes | 4:36 |
| 5. | "From the Gallows" (Demo) | Weekes | Weekes | 2:31 |
| 6. | "Leave Me Alone" (Piano version) | Weekes | Weekes | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 20:23 | |||
I Dont Know How But They Found Me
- Dallon Weekes – vocals and bass (all tracks), synthesizer (1, 2, 4–10, 12); piano (3, 9, 10, 12), ukulele (11), production
- Ryan Seaman – drums (except tracks 3 and 11), percussion
Additional personnel
- Ian Walsh – guitar (except tracks 3, 7 and 11)
- Stu Maxfield – guitar (track 7)
- Alex Nauth – trumpet (track 5)
- Matt Appleton – saxophone (track 12)
Production
- Tim Pagnotta – engineering and production
- Brian Phillips – engineering and production
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC)[25] | 87 |
| US Billboard 200[26] | 122 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[27] | 2 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[28] | 26 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[29] | 11 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[30] | 22 |
| US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[31] | 23 |
- "Razzmatazz by I Don't Know How But They Found Me". Rate Your Music. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- "I Don't Know How But They Found Me - RAZZMATAZZ - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- Trevan, Kelsey (2020-10-21). "iDKHOW – Razzmatazz (Album Review)". Wall of Sound AU. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- Speter, Tiana (2020-10-11). "Album Review: Razzmatazz (iDKHOW)". The Soundcheck. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me". Fearless Records. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- "In cooperation with TELLEXX, we here at iDKHOW are proud to present 'Razzmatazz'..." 5 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-23 – via Twitter.
- "iDKHOW presents: BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS with DW". 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-03 – via Twitter.
- "Hear IDKHBTFM's dreamy new song, "Nobody Likes The Opening Band"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- "I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME – Leave Me Alone (Lyric Video)". Youtube. 5 August 2020.
- "'Razzmatazz' (the song) is now available..." 16 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-03 – via Twitter.
- iDKHOW Presents: Bad News / Good News with DW, retrieved 2022-03-02
- Dowd, Rachael (26 January 2021). "iDKHOW just made their late-night TV debut with "Leave Me Alone"—watch: They appeared on Monday's episode of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'". Alternative Press. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (26 January 2021). "Leave Me Alone". Jimmy Kimmel Live. youtube. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- Lew, Audrey (February 22, 2021). "News Flashes 02.22.21: The Irregulars, iDKHow on Ellen, HFPA Ethics". idobi.com. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME Rocks Out!, retrieved 2021-09-21
- "I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME - RAZZMATAZZ (B-Sides)". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- "iDKHOW announce summer shows in London and Glasgow". NME. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
- "iDKHOW announce 2022 The Thought Reform Tour". Kerrang!. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
- "Reviews for Razzmatazz by I Don't Know How but They Found Me". Metacritic. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- Yeung, Neil Z. "Razzmatazz – I Don't Know How but They Found Me | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- Jamieson, Sarah (22 October 2020). "I Dont Know How But They Found Me – Razzmatazz". DIY. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- McLaughlin, David (October 22, 2020). "Album Review: iDKHOW – Razzmatazz". Kerrang!. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- Simon-Bashall, Sophia (October 20, 2020). "I Don't Know How But They Found Me's debut is a brightly lit, dance-ready time machine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- "RAZZMATAZZ (Deluxe Edition)". Spotify. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.