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{{short description|2008 single by Beck}}
{{About|the Beck song|the Lizzy McAlpine song|Five Seconds Flat}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Chemtrails
| name = Chemtrails
Line 9: Line 11:
| B-side = Vampire Voltage No. 6
| B-side = Vampire Voltage No. 6
| released = June 22, 2008
| released = June 22, 2008
| format = [[Music download|Digital download]], [[7"]]
| recorded =
| recorded =
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[dream pop]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[dream pop]]}}
| length = 4:39
| length = 4:39
| label = [[DGC Records]]
| label = [[DGC Records]]
Line 24: Line 25:
}}
}}


"'''Chemtrails'''" is a 2008 [[single (music)|single]] by [[United States|American]] musician [[Beck]]. The song, taken from his eighth studio album, ''[[Modern Guilt]]'', was released digitally on June 22, 2008.
"'''Chemtrails'''" is a 2008 [[single (music)|single]] by [[United States|American]] musician [[Beck]]. The song, taken from his eleventh studio album, ''[[Modern Guilt]]'', was released digitally on June 22, 2008.


The artwork for the single uses a design based on [[Houndstooth]] patterning.
The artwork for the single uses a design based on [[Houndstooth]] patterning.


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
"Chemtrails" was premiered by [[Zane Lowe]] on [[BBC Radio 1]] on May 19, 2008.<ref name="billboardbits">{{ cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045349/billboard-bits-beck-liz-phair-bonnaroo | title=Billboard Bits: Beck, Liz Phair, Bonnaroo | work=[[Billboard.com]] | publisher=[[Nielsen Company]] | author=Jonathan Cohen | date=2008-05-19 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song was made available to stream from Beck's official website and his MySpace.<ref name="billboardbits"/><ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/beck/37306 | title=Beck announces new album tracklisting | work=[[NME]] | publisher=[[IPC Media]] | date=2008-06-12 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song was available to download on June 22, 2008, or a day later in the United States, as well as a pre-order of ''Modern Guilt''.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/june/30Beck_Spreading_Across_The_Web_Like_A_Virus.shtml | title=Beck spreading across the web like a virus | work=antiMUSIC.com | date=2008-06-30 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.nme.com/news/beck/37672 | title=Beck streams new tracks online | work=[[NME]] | publisher=[[IPC Media]] | date=2008-06-27 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song's title refers to the [[chemtrail conspiracy theory]], as do the lyrics: "I can't believe/What we've seen outside/You and me/Watching the jets go by".<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/chemtrails_beck_is_back_but_is.html | title=Beck is back, but what's the conspiracy about chemtrails? | author=Alex Rayner | work=[[guardian.co.uk]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | date=2008-06-23 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref>
"Chemtrails" was premiered by [[Zane Lowe]] on [[BBC Radio 1]] on May 19, 2008.<ref name="billboardbits">{{ cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045349/billboard-bits-beck-liz-phair-bonnaroo | title=Billboard Bits: Beck, Liz Phair, Bonnaroo | work=[[Billboard.com]] | publisher=[[Nielsen Company]] | author=Jonathan Cohen | date=2008-05-19 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song was made available to stream from Beck's official website and his MySpace.<ref name="billboardbits"/><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/beck/37306 | title=Beck announces new album tracklisting | work=[[NME]] | publisher=[[IPC Media]] | date=2008-06-12 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song was available to download on June 22, 2008, or a day later in the United States, as well as a pre-order of ''Modern Guilt''.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/june/30Beck_Spreading_Across_The_Web_Like_A_Virus.shtml | title=Beck spreading across the web like a virus | work=antiMUSIC.com | date=2008-06-30 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/beck/37672 | title=Beck streams new tracks online | work=[[NME]] | publisher=[[IPC Media]] | date=2008-06-27 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> The song's title refers to the [[chemtrail conspiracy theory]], as do the lyrics: "I can't believe/What we've seen outside/You and me/Watching the jets go by".<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/chemtrails_beck_is_back_but_is.html | title=Beck is back, but what's the conspiracy about chemtrails? | author=Alex Rayner | work=[[guardian.co.uk]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | date=2008-06-23 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref>


The critical reception for "Chemtrails" was generally positive. [[Kitty Empire]] of [[The Observer]] compared the "beautiful" song to a clash between [[The Beatles]] and [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2288038,00.html | title=Dangerous times with Beck and the Mouse | author=Kitty Empire | work=[[The Observer]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | date=2008-06-29 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> [[USA Today]] featured the song on its weekly playlist, complimenting Beck's "eerie falsetto over slow-building industrialized Radiohead-like ambience."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2008-06-02-playlist_N.htm | title=This week's playist | author=Edna Gundersen | work=[[USA Today]] | publisher=[[Gannett Company]] | date=2008-06-02 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said that "Beck's falsetto singing rides along a bouncing bassline and crashing drums, with Danger Mouse's trademark production touches filing [sic] the crannies."<ref name="billboardbits"/> The song was described as "trippy" by [[MTV News]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/06/12/for-the-record-beck-motley-crue-michael-jackson-more/ | title=For The Record: Beck, Motley Crue, Michael Jackson & More | work=[[MTV News]] | publisher=[[MTV]] | date=2008-06-12 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> "Chemtrails" received high praise for "its woozy textures ... with Beck's distracted vocal and a busy drum track complementing each other perfectly."<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/beck-5_0608.htm |title=Beck&nbsp;— Chemtrails (XL) |author=Ben Hogwood |work=[[MusicOMH]].com |date=2008-06-08 |accessdate=2008-06-30 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714170635/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/beck-5_0608.htm |archivedate=2008-07-14 |df= }}</ref> James Lawrenson, writing for ClickMusic, said the song was "like a more electrified ''[[Sea Change (album)|Sea Change]]'', ambient and slightly sombre, but beautiful nonetheless." The review described the song's "synth washes and sparse instrumentation" as creating "an airy, atmospheric feel."<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.clickmusic.com/articles/8444/Beck---Chemtrails.html | title=Chemtrails | author=James Lawrenson | work=ClickMusic.com | date=2008-06-23 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref>
The critical reception for "Chemtrails" was highly positive. [[Kitty Empire]] of ''[[The Observer]]'' compared the "beautiful" song to a clash between [[The Beatles]] and [[My Bloody Valentine (band)|My Bloody Valentine]].<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/reviews/story/0,,2288038,00.html | title=Dangerous times with Beck and the Mouse | author=Kitty Empire | work=[[The Observer]] | publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] | date=2008-06-29 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> [[USA Today]] featured the song on its weekly playlist, complimenting Beck's "eerie falsetto over slow-building industrialized Radiohead-like ambience."<ref>{{ cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2008-06-02-playlist_N.htm | title=This week's playist | author=[[Edna Gundersen]] | work=[[USA Today]] | publisher=[[Gannett Company]] | date=2008-06-02 | accessdate=2008-06-30 }}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' said that "Beck's falsetto singing rides along a bouncing bassline and crashing drums, with Danger Mouse's trademark production touches filing [sic] the crannies."<ref name="billboardbits"/> [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'s Ryan Dombal called it "the record's best psych-rock showing" and the song featured "a wicked drum exhibition"<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beck: Modern Guilt|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11977-modern-guilt/|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}</ref> The song was described as "trippy" by [[MTV News]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/06/12/for-the-record-beck-motley-crue-michael-jackson-more/ | title=For The Record: Beck, Motley Crue, Michael Jackson & More | work=[[MTV News]] | publisher=[[MTV]] | date=2008-06-12 | accessdate=2008-06-30 | archive-date=2008-10-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004205735/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/06/12/for-the-record-beck-motley-crue-michael-jackson-more/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> "Chemtrails" received high praise for "its woozy textures ... with Beck's distracted vocal and a busy drum track complementing each other perfectly."<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/beck-5_0608.htm |title=Beck&nbsp;— Chemtrails (XL) |author=Ben Hogwood |work=[[MusicOMH]].com |date=2008-06-08 |accessdate=2008-06-30 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080714170635/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/beck-5_0608.htm |archivedate=2008-07-14 }}</ref> James Lawrenson, writing for ClickMusic, said the song was "like a more electrified ''[[Sea Change (album)|Sea Change]]'', ambient and slightly sombre, but beautiful nonetheless." The review described the song's "synth washes and sparse instrumentation" as creating "an airy, atmospheric feel."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clickmusic.com/articles/8444/Beck---Chemtrails.html | title=Chemtrails | author=James Lawrenson | work=ClickMusic.com | date=2008-06-23 | accessdate=2008-06-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627115518/http://www.clickmusic.com/articles/8444/Beck---Chemtrails.html | archive-date=2008-06-27 | url-status=dead }}</ref>


As promotion for the album, limited edition copies of a "Chemtrails" 7" were distributed to independent record stores and were given to customers upon purchase of the album. The [[B-side]] is a song entitled "Vampire Voltage No. 6". Copies made in the UK were pressed on glow-in-the-dark white vinyl, while copies made for the US were pressed on standard black vinyl.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://whiskeyclone.net/disco/releaseinfo.php?discoID=314 | title=Disco Quebrado&nbsp;— Beck Discography&nbsp;— Chemtrails | author=unknown | work=[[Whiskeyclone.net]] | publisher= | date=2008-07-08 | accessdate=2008-07-08 }}</ref>
As promotion for the album, limited edition copies of a "Chemtrails" 7" were distributed to independent record stores and were given to customers upon purchase of the album. The [[B-side]] is a song entitled "Vampire Voltage No. 6". Copies made in the UK were pressed on glow-in-the-dark white vinyl, while copies made for the US were pressed on standard black vinyl.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://whiskeyclone.net/disco/releaseinfo.php?discoID=314 | title=Disco Quebrado&nbsp;— Beck Discography&nbsp;— Chemtrails | author=unknown | work=[[Whiskeyclone.net]] | publisher= | date=2008-07-08 | accessdate=2008-07-08 }}</ref>


In Italy, this song is used as the [[theme song]] to ''L'era glaciale'' ("The Ice Age", not to be confused with the film ''[[Ice Age (2002 film)|Ice Age]]''), a talk show hosted by Italian TV personality Daria Bignardi on [[Rai 2]], which was aired between 20 March and 4 December 2009.
In Italy, this song is used as the [[theme song]] to ''L'era glaciale'' ("The Ice Age", not to be confused with the film ''[[Ice Age (2002 film)|Ice Age]]''), a talk show hosted by Italian TV personality Daria Bignardi on [[Rai 2]], which was aired between 20 March and 4 December 2009.

"Chemtrails" was likely influenced by [[Aphrodite's Child]]'s song [[The Four Horsemen (Aphrodite's Child song)|The Four Horsemen]], which has a similar structure,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Burrows|first1=Tim|title=Beck – Modern Guilt|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/00157-beck|website=The Quietus|accessdate=12 April 2016|quote=A most probably intentional homage to "The Four Horsemen".}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
:;Digital download<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=283314459&s=143444 | title=Chemtrails&nbsp;— Single | work=[[iTunes Store]] | publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] | date=2008-06-22 | accessdate=2008-07-10 }}</ref>
:;Digital download<ref>{{cite web | url=http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=283314459&s=143444 | title=Chemtrails&nbsp;— Single | work=[[iTunes Store]] | publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] | date=2008-06-22 | accessdate=2008-07-10 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
# "Chemtrails" – 4:39
# "Chemtrails" – 4:39


:;7"<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=440000 |title=Chemtrails UK 7 |work=EIL.com |accessdate=2008-07-10 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909105645/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=440000 |archivedate=2009-09-09 |df= }}</ref>
:;7"<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=440000 |title=Chemtrails UK 7 |work=EIL.com |accessdate=2008-07-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909105645/http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=440000 |archivedate=2009-09-09 }}</ref>
# "Chemtrails" – 4:39
# "Chemtrails" – 4:39
# "Vampire Voltage No. 6" – 2:19
# "Vampire Voltage No. 6" – 2:19


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
* Beck – vocals
* [[Beck]] – [[Singing|vocals]]
* Greg Kurstin – organ & piano
* [[Greg Kurstin]] – [[Organ (music)|organ]], [[piano]]
* Joey Waronker – drums
* [[Joey Waronker]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]
* Jason Falkner – bass & electric guitar
* [[Jason Falkner]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]], [[electric guitar]]
* David Campbell – string arrangement
* [[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]] – [[String section|string arrangement]]


==References==
==References==
Line 56: Line 59:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.beck.com/ Official Beck website]
* [http://www.beck.com/ Official Beck website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821023229/http://www.beck.com/ |date=2007-08-21 }}
* {{MetroLyrics song|Beck|Chemtrails}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider. -->


{{Beck}}
{{Beck}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:2008 singles]]

Latest revision as of 06:56, 30 November 2023

This article is about the Beck song. For the Lizzy McAlpine song, see Five Seconds Flat.
"Chemtrails"
Single by Beck
from the album Modern Guilt
B-side"Vampire Voltage No. 6"
ReleasedJune 22, 2008
Genre
Length4:39
LabelDGC Records
Songwriter(s)Beck Hansen
Producer(s)Danger Mouse
Beck singles chronology
"Timebomb"
(2007) 		"Chemtrails"
(2008) 		"Gamma Ray"
(2008)

"Chemtrails" is a 2008 single by American musician Beck. The song, taken from his eleventh studio album, Modern Guilt, was released digitally on June 22, 2008.

The artwork for the single uses a design based on Houndstooth patterning.

Release and reception

[edit]

"Chemtrails" was premiered by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1 on May 19, 2008.[1] The song was made available to stream from Beck's official website and his MySpace.[1][2] The song was available to download on June 22, 2008, or a day later in the United States, as well as a pre-order of Modern Guilt.[3][4] The song's title refers to the chemtrail conspiracy theory, as do the lyrics: "I can't believe/What we've seen outside/You and me/Watching the jets go by".[5]

The critical reception for "Chemtrails" was highly positive. Kitty Empire of The Observer compared the "beautiful" song to a clash between The Beatles and My Bloody Valentine.[6] USA Today featured the song on its weekly playlist, complimenting Beck's "eerie falsetto over slow-building industrialized Radiohead-like ambience."[7] Billboard said that "Beck's falsetto singing rides along a bouncing bassline and crashing drums, with Danger Mouse's trademark production touches filing [sic] the crannies."[1] Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal called it "the record's best psych-rock showing" and the song featured "a wicked drum exhibition"[8] The song was described as "trippy" by MTV News.[9] "Chemtrails" received high praise for "its woozy textures ... with Beck's distracted vocal and a busy drum track complementing each other perfectly."[10] James Lawrenson, writing for ClickMusic, said the song was "like a more electrified Sea Change, ambient and slightly sombre, but beautiful nonetheless." The review described the song's "synth washes and sparse instrumentation" as creating "an airy, atmospheric feel."[11]

As promotion for the album, limited edition copies of a "Chemtrails" 7" were distributed to independent record stores and were given to customers upon purchase of the album. The B-side is a song entitled "Vampire Voltage No. 6". Copies made in the UK were pressed on glow-in-the-dark white vinyl, while copies made for the US were pressed on standard black vinyl.[12]

In Italy, this song is used as the theme song to L'era glaciale ("The Ice Age", not to be confused with the film Ice Age), a talk show hosted by Italian TV personality Daria Bignardi on Rai 2, which was aired between 20 March and 4 December 2009.

"Chemtrails" was likely influenced by Aphrodite's Child's song The Four Horsemen, which has a similar structure,[13]

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download[14]
  1. "Chemtrails" – 4:39
7"[15]
  1. "Chemtrails" – 4:39
  2. "Vampire Voltage No. 6" – 2:19

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Jonathan Cohen (2008-05-19). "Billboard Bits: Beck, Liz Phair, Bonnaroo". Billboard.com. Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  2. ^ "Beck announces new album tracklisting". NME. IPC Media. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  3. ^ "Beck spreading across the web like a virus". antiMUSIC.com. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  4. ^ "Beck streams new tracks online". NME. IPC Media. 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  5. ^ Alex Rayner (2008-06-23). "Beck is back, but what's the conspiracy about chemtrails?". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  6. ^ Kitty Empire (2008-06-29). "Dangerous times with Beck and the Mouse". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  7. ^ Edna Gundersen (2008-06-02). "This week's playist". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  8. ^ "Beck: Modern Guilt". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  9. ^ "For The Record: Beck, Motley Crue, Michael Jackson & More". MTV News. MTV. 2008-06-12. Archived from the original on 2008-10-04. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  10. ^ Ben Hogwood (2008-06-08). "Beck — Chemtrails (XL)". MusicOMH.com. Archived from the original on 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  11. ^ James Lawrenson (2008-06-23). "Chemtrails". ClickMusic.com. Archived from the original on 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  12. ^ unknown (2008-07-08). "Disco Quebrado — Beck Discography — Chemtrails". Whiskeyclone.net. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  13. ^ Burrows, Tim. "Beck – Modern Guilt". The Quietus. Retrieved 12 April 2016. A most probably intentional homage to "The Four Horsemen".
  14. ^ "Chemtrails — Single". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. 2008-06-22. Retrieved 2008-07-10.[permanent dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Chemtrails UK 7". EIL.com. Archived from the original on 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
[edit]
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