"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. 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. Critically, 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-CD single "Metropolis" "Much Too Much" "Ride into the Sunset"
UK 7-inch single A. "Metropolis" B. "Monday Morning"
UK and European maxi-CD single "Metropolis" – 4:44 "Monday Morning" – 2:44 "Much Too Much" – 3:50
Credits and personnel Credits are lifted from the Australian 7-inch single and Gold Afternoon Fix liner notes.
Studios Recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studios (Los Angeles) Pre-produced at S.I.R. (Los Angeles) and Fat Boy Studios (Sydney, Australia) Mastered at Artisan Sound Recorders (Los Angeles)
Personnel
The Church – production Steve Kilbey – writing, vocals, bass, keyboards Marty Willson-Piper – writing, guitar Peter Koppes – writing, guitar Richard Ploog – writing, drums Waddy Wachtel – production, mixing Shep Lonsdale – mixing, engineering Joe Schiff – assistant engineering Greg Fulginiti – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990)PeakpositionUS Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)11US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)1
Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionUS Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)4
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United States26 February 1990CDAristaAustralia19 March 1990Mushroom
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