Dear Tommy

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Dear Tommy
Studio album by
Chromatics
LabelItalians Do It Better

Dear Tommy is the unreleased sixth studio album by Chromatics, originally scheduled for release on Valentine's Day 2015, then 2018.[1][2][3] The album had not been released by the time the group disbanded in 2021, although 11 songs that were at one point intended for Dear Tommy were released between 2014 and 2020.[4]

Background[edit]

Dear Tommy was said to be completed[5] and Chromatics announced the LP in December 2014.[3] The single "Shadow" was released in 2015, including physical copies on vinyl, ahead of the album.[6] By 2015 Chromatics had also shared the tracks "In Films",[7] "Just Like You"[8] and "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" on the Internet.[9][10] However, it was reported in 2017 that Johnny Jewel had destroyed all physical copies of the album in January 2016[11]—15,000 CDs and 10,000 vinyl copies—following a near-death experience while swimming in 2015[2][3][5][12][13] and his subsequent desire to improve the songs before release.[2] Those songs already made available from the first version of the record were eventually removed from Internet sources.[3][12] It is believed that the album was then re-recorded,[3][12] including previously released songs. A representative for Chromatics has said that the Camera EP (2018) relates to the album Dear Tommy.[14]

The group's intervening fifth album, Closer to Grey, was released on October 2, 2019, having only been announced the day before.[15][16] The album's artwork features the Roman numeral VII. Despite having not been released, the band also labeled Dear Tommy with the numeral 'VI' on their social media.[17] Another song from the unreleased album, "Teacher", was made available in April 2020 along with an updated track listing for the album.[18] On August 10, 2021, the band announced their break-up.[19]

In December 2021, following the band's split, Pitchfork reported that Jewel's story of the destruction of the entire print run of Dear Tommy in 2016 was disputed by multiple parties close to the band, including by the CD and vinyl pressing plants that would have been contracted by Italians Do It Better to print those copies at the time.[4]

The album has been described as having a "mythic" and cult status among fans of the band.[20][21][22][23] In 2019, Phoenix New Times wrote that it was "as if its anticipation has made it just as real and tangible as its predecessors."[24] In a 2021 article about delayed albums, 34th Street Magazine wrote that the band's "constant balancing act of disappointment and reassurance keeps fans hooked into the masochism of Dear Tommy's delayed release cycle. But they also must come to terms with the fact that the album may never even come out at all."[25] Rolling Stone concluded "it's possible that the band may one day release a completed Dear Tommy. Or maybe it will go down in history as the Smile of the 2010s."[26]

Track listing[edit]

Dear Tommy track listing[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Fresh Blood" 
2."Glitter" 
3."Never Tell" 
4."Just Like You" 
5."She Says" 
6."The Moment" 
7."Time Rider" 
8."White Fences" 
9."Teacher" 
10."Between the Lines" 
11."Too Late" 
12."Dear Tommy" 
13."Melodrama" 
14."Ultra Vivid" 
15."Colorblind" 
16."Sometimes" 
17."Dream Sequence" 
18."Endless Sleep" 

The following songs from this final tracklist were released by Chromatics as singles:

  • "Just Like You" (February 2015)[27]
  • "Dear Tommy" (video released in August 2016, but was later pulled from YouTube)[28]
  • "Time Rider" (February 2019)[29]
  • "Teacher" (April 2020)[30]
  • "Endless Sleep" (October 2020, from After Dark 3; released as both the final single of the album and the final material from the band overall)[citation needed]

Other songs once intended for Dear Tommy[edit]

  • "Camera" (originally released on the After Dark 2 compilation in 2013; A different recording possibly intended for Dear Tommy was released as a vinyl-only EP in 2018)[1]
  • "Cherry" (originally released on the After Dark 2 compilation in 2013)[1]
  • "4 A.M." (appeared on the original Dear Tommy tracklist in 2014; Never released)[1]
  • "After Hours" (appeared on the original Dear Tommy tracklist in 2014; Never released)[1]
  • "In Silence" (appeared on the original Dear Tommy tracklist in 2014; Never released, may have become "Whispers in the Hall" off Closer to Grey[1])
  • "Touch Blue" (appeared on the original Dear Tommy tracklist in 2014; Never released, may have become "Touch Red" off Closer to Grey[1])
  • "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" (issued as a single in 2015)[9]
  • "In Films" (issued as a single in 2015)[7]
  • "Shadow" (issued as a single in 2015 and performed by Chromatics on an episode of Twin Peaks in 2017)[31][32]
  • "Black Walls" (issued as a single in 2018)[33]
  • "Blue Girl" (issued as a single in 2018)[34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Chromatics Announce New Album Dear Tommy". Pitchfork. December 4, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Johnny Jewel of Chromatics Talks Surprise Solo Album and 'Dear Tommy' Delays: 'In My Dream Reality, I'd Release an Album a Day'". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Chromatics Say Dear Tommy Is Out This Year, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. May 16, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hogan, Marc (December 15, 2021). "Did Chromatics' Album Dear Tommy Ever Exist in the First Place?". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Is 'Dear Tommy' Finally Coming Out? Chromatics' 'Black Walls' Video Offers Hope". NPR. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Chromatics Release Another New 'Dear Tommy' Single, "Blue Girl"". Noisey. June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Chromatics share new single 'In Films' from Dear Tommy". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. April 8, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "Johnny Jewel unveils 'Just Like You', the first single from Chromatics' Dear Tommy - FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Fact. February 12, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Watch Chromatics' New "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" Video". Pitchfork. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "Chromatics Release "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around" Video as Dear Tommy Wait Continues". Spin. September 13, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  11. ^ "Chromatics' Dear Tommy Hasn't Come Out Yet Because Johnny Jewel Destroyed Every Copy". Spin. May 3, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  12. ^ a b c "Chromatics unveil atmospheric track 'Black Walls', finally confirm release of new album 'Dear Tommy'". NME. May 16, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "Chromatics' Dear Tommy Still Isn't Out Because Johnny Jewel Destroyed Every Copy". Stereogum. May 3, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  14. ^ "Chromatics Release New Vinyl-Only Camera EP". Pitchfork. June 5, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  15. ^ Skinner, Tom (October 1, 2019). "Chromatics to release surprise new album 'Closer To Grey' tomorrow". NME. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  16. ^ Breihan, Tom (October 1, 2019). "A New Chromatics Album Is Out At Midnight — But Not Dear Tommy". Stereogum. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Hughes, Josiah; Thiessen, Brock (October 1, 2019). "Chromatics Release New Album 'Closer to Grey'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Minsker, Evan (April 17, 2020). "Chromatics Reveal New Dear Tommy Tracklist, Share New Song "Teacher": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "Chromatics Coming to an End, Band Members Say". Pitchfork. August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  20. ^ Jones, Austin (April 17, 2020). "Chromatics Unveil Long-Awaited Dear Tommy Tracklist, Share New Track "Teacher"". Paste. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  21. ^ Fallon, Patric (October 12, 2019). "Chromatics: Closer to Grey Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  22. ^ "5 new releases we love: Wilco gets positive, Chromatics return, and more". The A.V. Club. October 4, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  23. ^ Cook, Cameron; Whiteley, Caroline; Bernard, Jesse; Lhooq, Michelle (May 22, 2018). "Singles Club: The elusive Andre 3000 comes out of hiding just to stun us again". Fact. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  24. ^ Feenstra, Gerrit (April 30, 2019). "Chromatics' and Desire's First Tour in Nearly a Decade Comes to Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  25. ^ Green, Walden (March 2, 2021). "When Do We Give Up On Delayed Albums?". 34th Street Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  26. ^ Shaffer, Claire (October 2, 2019). "Hear Chromatics' Surprise Album 'Closer to Grey'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  27. ^ Rettig, James (February 12, 2015). "Chromatics – "Just Like You"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  28. ^ Strauss, Matthew (August 25, 2016). "Watch Chromatics' New "Dear Tommy" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  29. ^ Gottsegen, William (February 19, 2019). "Listen to Chromatics' New Single "Time Rider"". SPIN. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  30. ^ Rettig, James (April 17, 2020). "Chromatics - "Teacher"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  31. ^ Beauchemin, Molly (September 8, 2015). "Chromatics Share New Dear Tommy Song "Shadow"". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  32. ^ Yoo, Noah (May 22, 2017). "Chromatics Perform "Shadow" On "Twin Peaks," Share New Music Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  33. ^ "Chromatics Release New Single "Black Walls" From New Album Dear Tommy". SPIN. May 16, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  34. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (June 12, 2018). "Listen to Chromatics' New Song "Blue Girl"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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