Hand Built by Robots
Encyclopedia
Hand Built by Robots is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner
, released on July 30, 2007 on Ugly Truth Records. Preceded by the single "Dream Catch Me
", the album initially charted at #3 in the UK album chart, and subsequently reached #1 in its fourth week. Regarding the album's success, Faulkner stated. "I don't think anyone involved in Hand Built by Robots actually thought it would do that at all."
" was actually released before we finished the album, so we had to move really fast to complete Hand Built By Robots. The album wasn't the culmination of ten years worth of writing, but was a few months of panic, and a couple of things I had lying around - a couple of older songs that were still good enough to be used. [...] A lot of Hand Built By Robots songs were written in the last few months leading up to recording, as I became better at writing."
Four tracks on the album were co-written with former Longpigs vocalist Crispin Hunt and two were co-written by Adam Argyle, who is perhaps best-known for writing "Next Best Superstar
" for Melanie C.
, and was the twentieth best-selling album of 2007, selling 444,000 copies.
The album debuted at at #26 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
in March 2008. It subsequently ascended fifteen places the following week to #11, and then to #8. The album eventually peeked at #5 the week after. It has since been certified Gold on the ARIA charts.
The album was released in Germany
on 18 April 2008, and in the United States
(it did not have massive success in the U.S. but did manage to reach #42 on the Billboard
Top Heatseekers
chart) and Canada
on 29 April 2008, with the first single being "Dream Catch Me
".
Newton Faulkner
Sam Newton Battenberg Faulkner is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Reigate, Surrey. Known for his guitar playing, which involves rhythmically tapping and hitting his guitar's body, Faulkner came to prominence in 2007, with the release of his debut studio album, Hand Built by Robots...
, released on July 30, 2007 on Ugly Truth Records. Preceded by the single "Dream Catch Me
Dream Catch Me
"Dream Catch Me" is a song written by Crispin Hunt, Newton Faulkner and Gordon Mills, produced by Mike Spencer and performed by Faulkner. It is the third single to be released from his debut album Hand Built by Robots...
", the album initially charted at #3 in the UK album chart, and subsequently reached #1 in its fourth week. Regarding the album's success, Faulkner stated. "I don't think anyone involved in Hand Built by Robots actually thought it would do that at all."
Writing and composition
Regarding the album's composition, Faulkner stated, in 2009, that the album was "actually quite rushed in a lot of ways. "Dream Catch MeDream Catch Me
"Dream Catch Me" is a song written by Crispin Hunt, Newton Faulkner and Gordon Mills, produced by Mike Spencer and performed by Faulkner. It is the third single to be released from his debut album Hand Built by Robots...
" was actually released before we finished the album, so we had to move really fast to complete Hand Built By Robots. The album wasn't the culmination of ten years worth of writing, but was a few months of panic, and a couple of things I had lying around - a couple of older songs that were still good enough to be used. [...] A lot of Hand Built By Robots songs were written in the last few months leading up to recording, as I became better at writing."
Four tracks on the album were co-written with former Longpigs vocalist Crispin Hunt and two were co-written by Adam Argyle, who is perhaps best-known for writing "Next Best Superstar
Next Best Superstar
"Next Best Superstar" was the first single from Melanie C's third solo album, "Beautiful Intentions". Released on 4 April 2005, this was first single that Melanie released where she didn't have a writing credit, as this song was penned by Adam Argyle...
" for Melanie C.
Track listing
All tracks written by Newton Faulkner, unless stated.- "Intro" – 0:34
- "To the Light" – 2:40
- "I Need SomethingI Need Something"I Need Something" is a song written and performed by Newton Faulkner. It was the first single to be released from his debut album Hand Built by Robots. It reached #107 in the UK Charts in May 2007....
" – 2.57 - "All I Got" (Newton Faulkner/Crispin Hunt) – 3.21
- "Dream Catch MeDream Catch Me"Dream Catch Me" is a song written by Crispin Hunt, Newton Faulkner and Gordon Mills, produced by Mike Spencer and performed by Faulkner. It is the third single to be released from his debut album Hand Built by Robots...
" (Crispin Hunt/Newton Faulkner/Gordon Mills) – 3.56 - "Feels Like Home" – 3:12
- "TeardropTeardrop (song)"Teardrop" is a song by Massive Attack, which was first released on their 1998 album Mezzanine. It was released as a single on 27 April 1998. The song became another UK hit for the group, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart...
" (Originally by Massive AttackMassive AttackMassive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
: Robert Del Naja/Grantley Marshall/Andrew Vowles/Elizabeth Fraser) – 3:09 - "Gone in the Morning" (Newton Faulkner/Toby Faulkner) – 2:21
- "Sitar-y Thing" – 1:19
- "Uncomfortably Slow" (Newton Faulkner/Adam Argyle) – 3:28
- "Straight Towards the Sun" (Newton Faulkner/Crispin Hunt) – 3:39
- "People Should Smile More" (Newton Faulkner/Adam Argyle/Crispin Hunt) – 3:29
- "She's Got the Time" (Newton Faulkner/Toby Faulkner) – 1:20
- "U.F.O" (Newton Faulkner/Toby Faulkner) – 2:36
- "Face (Her)" – 0:39
- "Ageing Superhero" – 3:22
- "Lullaby" – 1:37
- "Full Fat" (exclusive to iTunes) – 2:50
- "Dream Catch Me" (instrumental) - 4:09
Chart performance
Hand Built by Robots was certified platinum and later double platinum, in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and was the twentieth best-selling album of 2007, selling 444,000 copies.
The album debuted at at #26 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
in March 2008. It subsequently ascended fifteen places the following week to #11, and then to #8. The album eventually peeked at #5 the week after. It has since been certified Gold on the ARIA charts.
The album was released in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on 18 April 2008, and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(it did not have massive success in the U.S. but did manage to reach #42 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers
Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical...
chart) and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on 29 April 2008, with the first single being "Dream Catch Me
Dream Catch Me
"Dream Catch Me" is a song written by Crispin Hunt, Newton Faulkner and Gordon Mills, produced by Mike Spencer and performed by Faulkner. It is the third single to be released from his debut album Hand Built by Robots...
".