Social Dancing is the second studio album by the Scottish musical trio Bis, released in 1999.[5]

Social Dancing
Studio album by
Released22 March 1999 (Scotland)
10 August 1999 (US)
RecordedApollo (Glasgow)
GenrePost-britpop, indie rock, indie pop, pop punk, electropop
Length42:30
LabelWiiija
ProducerAndy Gill
Bis chronology
Intendo
(1998)
Social Dancing
(1999)
Play Some Real Songs: the Live Album
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[2]
Pitchfork5.1/10[3]
Spin6/10[4]

Critical reception

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The Austin Chronicle thought that "while Social Dancing is enjoyable as a hyperactive whirl through Brit-pop forms of the Eighties and early Nineties, this homage to the material world lacks the rebel edge of the band's earlier work."[6] Rolling Stone noted that "this time the guitars are tuned, the drum-machine beats are smoother, and the pep-rally yelps are more determinedly melodic."[7]

AllMusic wrote that Bis "tried a whole bunch of different stuff, from more punky rave-ups to slinky trip-hop, and if the end result is a little scattered, it's also an enjoyable mess."[1]

Track listing

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All songs written by Bis unless otherwise indicated.

  1. "Making People Normal" – 2:28
  2. "I'm a Slut" – 2:44
  3. "Eurodisco" – 4:41
  4. "Action and Drama" – 2:29
  5. "Theme from Tokyo" (Bis, Virgin Stigma) – 2:40
  6. "The Hit Girl" – 3:01
  7. "Am I Loud Enough?" – 3:12
  8. "Shopaholic" – 2:41
  9. "Young Alien Types" – 3:11
  10. "Detour" (Bis, Lois Maffeo) – 4:58
  11. "Sale or Return" (Bis, John Cacavas) – 2:58
  12. "It's All New" – 3:21
  13. "Listen Up" – 2:20
  • This is the UK/US CD release and matches the UK/US 12-inch release.
  • The Japanese release adds the songs "Germfree Adolescents" (originally by X-Ray Spex) and "Famous (Andy Gill Version)" to the end.
  • "Action and Drama" contains a sample of "New Breed" by the Mackenzies.
  • "Theme from Tokyo" contains a sample of "Groupie Girl" by Virgin Stigma.
  • "Sale or Return" contains a sample of "Agent Who" by John Cacavas.

Personnel

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Bis

Additional musicians
  • Lois Maffeo – vocals on "Detour"
  • Vincent Flaming – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Alan Mason – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Helen Mosherry – cello on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Martin Wiggins – viola on "Theme from Tokyo"
  • Andy Gill – occasional guitar and keyboards
  • Rik Flick – occasional guitar and keyboards
  • Richie Dempsey – drum kit sample
Technical
  • Andy Gill – producer
  • Rik Flick – engineer
  • Jason Famous – additional engineering
  • Bob Kraushaar – mixing
  • Joe Dilworth – photography
  • Manda Rin – artwork
  • Alison Fielding – artwork

Charts

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Chart (1999) Peak
position
Japan Oricon Album Chart[8] 60
UK Albums Chart[9] 161

References

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  1. ^ a b "Social Dancing - bis | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Bis". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ "Bis: Social Dancing". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ Dolan, Jon (October 1999). "Reviews". Spin. 15 (10): 166.
  5. ^ "bis Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  6. ^ "BIS: Social Dancing". www.austinchronicle.com.
  7. ^ Chonin, Neva (16 September 1999). "Social Dancing". Rolling Stone. No. 821. p. 117.
  8. ^ "Japan: Album positions". oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  9. ^ "UK Chartlog". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2 January 2011.