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Metropolis (The Church song)

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Wikipedia article




"'Metropolis'" is a song by Australian alternative rock band the Church. It was released as the lead single from their sixth album, 'Gold Afternoon Fix' (1990), and the songwriting credits were given to all four members of the band. The song topped the US 'Billboard' Modern Rock Tracks chart and reached number 19 in Australia. A music video directed by David Hogan and produced by Chris O'Brien was made for the song.

Background and composition



Marty Willson-Piper, Peter Koppes, Richard Ploog, and Steve Kilbey were all credited with writing the song. The lead guitar produced a quickly falling then softly ascending melody, with slight commercial influence. A complicated web of guitar overdubs appears later in the song, and a soft, mandolin-sounding melody was added as an additional hook.

Release and reception



"Metropolis" peaked at number one on the US 'Billboard' Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 11 on the Album Rock Tracks chart in 1990. In addition, it peaked at number 19 in Australia and number 41 in New Zealand. The song was well received by critics upon its release. Ned Raggett of Allmusic praised "the almost desperate edge in Steve Kilbey's vocals" as a testament to the song's quality. Raggett added that the Church's "ear for a triumphant yet somehow downbeat ending [makes] this an underrated gem in the band's body of work."

Track listings



'Australian and US 7-inch single'

:A. "Metropolis" 4:44

:B. "Much Too Much" 4:46

'Australian maxi-single'

# "Metropolis"

# "Much Too Much"

# "Ride into the Sunset"

'UK 7-inch single'

:A. "Metropolis"

:B. "Monday Morning"

'UK and European maxi-single'

# "Metropolis" 4:44

# "Monday Morning" 2:44

# "Much Too Much" 3:50

Personnel



Credits are lifted from the Australian 7-inch single liner notes.

* Steve Kilbey: vocals, bass, keyboards

* Marty Willson-Piper: guitar

* Peter Koppes: guitar

* Richard Ploog: drums

Charts



Acoustic versions



The band performed the song, as well as "Under the Milky Way", for 'MTV Unplugged' on 30 January 1990 at the National Video Center in New York City. The episode aired 18 March 1990. An acoustic version was included on the 2004 album 'El Momento Descuidado'.

References



Category:1990 singles

Category:1990 songs

Category:Arista Records singles

Category:The Church (band) songs

Category:Mushroom Records singles

Category:Songs written by Steve Kilbey

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