Difference between revisions of "Artificial Heart"

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(jocoserious is the best word)
 
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|tracks=18
 
|tracks=18
 
|release=September 2, 2011
 
|release=September 2, 2011
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|catalog=JOCO 001 [vinyl]
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Artificial Heart''''' is [[Jonathan Coulton]]'s eighth studio album, produced by [[John Flansburgh]] of [[They Might Be Giants]]. The CD packaging and related merchandise were designed by graphic designer [[Sam Potts]].
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'''''Artificial Heart''''' is [[Jonathan Coulton]]'s eighth studio album, produced by [[John Flansburgh]] of [[They Might Be Giants]]. The CD packaging and related merchandise—including the [[Diagnostic Metrics]] series—were designed by graphic designer [[Sam Potts]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
In 2010, Jonathan Coulton announced that his long hiatus from recording new material was ending. After Coulton opened for They Might Be Giants earlier that year, John Flansburgh suggested working together on Coulton's new material. The collaboration helped push Coulton outside his comfort zone, and he frequently commented on being excited and terrified by the process. As a result, ''Artificial Heart'' represents a significant departure from Coulton's earlier albums. Not only is it the first Coulton album to be produced by someone besides Coulton himself, it's the first to be recorded in an "actual studio" (owned by They Might Be Giants' long time producer, [[Patrick Dillett]]), and the first to be written for a full band. In addition to the drummer and bassist who frequently appear in Coulton's live shows, ''Artificial Heart'' features over a dozen guest musicians and several tracks with guest lead vocals.
+
In 2010, Jonathan Coulton announced that his long hiatus from recording new material was ending. After he opened for [[They Might Be Giants]] earlier that year, [[John Flansburgh]] suggested working together on Coulton's new material. The collaboration helped push Coulton outside his comfort zone, and he frequently commented on being both excited and terrified by the process. As a result, ''Artificial Heart'' represents a significant departure from Coulton's earlier albums. Not only is it the first JoCo album to be produced by someone besides Coulton himself, it's the first to be recorded in an "actual studio" (owned by They Might Be Giants' long time producer, Patrick Dillett), and the first to be written and arranged for a full band. In addition to the [[band|drummer and bassist]] who frequently appear in Coulton's [[:Category:Shows|live shows]], ''Artificial Heart'' features over a dozen guest musicians and several tracks with guests performing lead vocals.
  
 
Coulton and his collaborators recorded ''Artificial Heart'' between September 2010 and June 2011. The album was released in late August 2011, with an official release party on September 2.
 
Coulton and his collaborators recorded ''Artificial Heart'' between September 2010 and June 2011. The album was released in late August 2011, with an official release party on September 2.
  
 
Live versions of some tracks debuted as early as July 2010, so there are many concert recordings that predate the official release date. Fans on the JoCo Forums compiled some of the best bootlegs into a project called [http://www.jonathancoulton.com/forums/index.php?p=/discussion/1703/artificial-artificial-heart ''Artificial Artificial Heart''] while waiting for the studio version to be released.
 
Live versions of some tracks debuted as early as July 2010, so there are many concert recordings that predate the official release date. Fans on the JoCo Forums compiled some of the best bootlegs into a project called [http://www.jonathancoulton.com/forums/index.php?p=/discussion/1703/artificial-artificial-heart ''Artificial Artificial Heart''] while waiting for the studio version to be released.
 +
 +
==Availability==
 +
[[File:Artificial Heart LP.png|thumb|LP cover art]]
 +
''Artificial Heart'' CDs were first made available to the public at PAX Prime 2011, but the official release party was September 2, 2011, at a [[Atlanta, GA: 2011-09-02|show in Atlanta]]. Online pre-orders and digital downloads of the album are [https://secure.jonathancoulton.com/ArtificialHeart available from his website] as of August 30, 2011, though it temporarily became unavailable at midnight PST on October 5, 2011.
 +
 +
In addition to the album itself, the pre-order page offers several merchandise packages featuring t-shirts, posters, USB keys and other extras. The ordering experience features graphics and copy text to match the album's theme.
 +
 +
A limited vinyl edition of the album was available for subscribers to the Level 4 ''Artificial Heart'' merchandise package. The LP was released under the imprint "JoCoserious Records" (a play on the "JoCo" nickname and the words ''jocose'' and ''serious''). Signed copies of the LP were also sold at live shows. Though the artwork uses the same elements as the CD art, its design differs greatly. Consistent with the chromatic themes of the art surrounding ''Artificial Heart'', the album is pressed on gold translucent wax.
 +
 +
== The Diagnostic Metrics ==
 +
 +
The artwork for the content and promotional materials for ''Artificial Heart'' prominently features a collection of symbols called the [[Diagnostic Metrics]] designed by [[Sam Potts]].
 +
 +
The interpretation of the graphics is not given, but it may be possible to infer their meaning from context. For possible interpretations of the meaning of the symbols, see the [[Interpretation of the Diagnostic Metrics]] page.
  
 
==Track Listing==
 
==Track Listing==
# [[Sticking It To Myself]]
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# [[Sticking It To Myself]] (2:19)
# [[Artificial Heart (song)|Artificial Heart]]
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# [[Artificial Heart (song)|Artificial Heart]] (2:33)
# [[Nemeses]]
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# [[Nemeses]] (3:01)
# [[The World Belongs to You]]
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# [[The World Belongs to You]] (2:11)
# [[Today With Your Wife]]
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# [[Today With Your Wife]] (2:57)
# [[Sucker Punch]]
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# [[Sucker Punch]] (1:42)
# [[Glasses]]
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# [[Glasses]] (2:47)
# [[Je Suis Rick Springfield]]
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# [[Je Suis Rick Springfield]] (2:28)
# [[Alone at Home]]
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# [[Alone at Home]] (2:02)
# [[Fraud]]
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# [[Fraud]] (3:00)
# [[Good Morning Tucson]]
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# [[Good Morning Tucson]] (2:27)
# [[Now I Am An Arsonist]]
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# [[Now I Am An Arsonist]] (2:53)
# [[Down Today]]
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# [[Down Today]] (2:22)
# [[Dissolve]]
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# [[Dissolve]] (2:58)
# [[Nobody Loves You Like Me]]
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# [[Nobody Loves You Like Me]] (2:19)
# [[Still Alive]]
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# [[Still Alive]] (4:15)
# [[Want You Gone]]
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# [[Want You Gone]] (2:22)
# [[The Stache]]
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# [[The Stache]] (3:00)
  
 
==Credits==
 
==Credits==
Line 41: Line 56:
 
=== Production ===
 
=== Production ===
 
* Produced by [[John Flansburgh]]
 
* Produced by [[John Flansburgh]]
* Engineered and mixed by [[Patrick Dillett]]
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* Engineered and mixed by Patrick Dillett
* Assistant engineer [[Joe Altschuler]]
+
* Assistant engineer Joe Altschuler
 
* Mastered by UE Nastasi at Sterling Sound
 
* Mastered by UE Nastasi at Sterling Sound
* Tracks 4, 8, 10, 15 and 16 mixed by [[Ron Allaire]]
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* Tracks 4, 8, 10, 15 and 16 mixed by Ron Allaire
* "[[Want You Gone]]" remix by [[The Elegant Too]]
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* "[[Want You Gone]]" remix by The Elegant Too
  
 
===Additional musicians===
 
===Additional musicians===
* "[[Sticking It To Myself]]" - guitars: [[Dan Miller]]; saxophones and horn arrangement: [[Stan Harrison]]
+
* "[[Sticking It To Myself]]" - guitars: [[Dan Miller]]; saxophones and horn arrangement: Stan Harrison
 
* "[[Artificial Heart (song)|Artificial Heart]]" - piano: [[Dan Miller]]; handclap crew: [[Marty Beller]], [[Jonathan Coulton]], [[John Flansburgh]]
 
* "[[Artificial Heart (song)|Artificial Heart]]" - piano: [[Dan Miller]]; handclap crew: [[Marty Beller]], [[Jonathan Coulton]], [[John Flansburgh]]
 
* "[[Nemeses]]" - lead vocal: [[John Roderick]]
 
* "[[Nemeses]]" - lead vocal: [[John Roderick]]
* "[[The World Belongs to You]]" - mandolin: [[Jon Graboff]]; keyboards: [[Joe McGinty]]
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* "[[The World Belongs to You]]" - mandolin: Jon Graboff; keyboards: [[Joe McGinty]]
* "[[Today With Your Wife]]" - piano: [[Jon Spurney]]; trombones and horn arrangement: [[Dan Levine]]
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* "[[Today With Your Wife]]" - piano: Jon Spurney; trombones and horn arrangement: Dan Levine
 
* "[[Glasses]]" -  guitars: [[Dan Miller]]
 
* "[[Glasses]]" -  guitars: [[Dan Miller]]
* "[[Je Suis Rick Springfield]]" - sequencing: [[John Flansburgh]]; bass: [[Hal Cragin]]; marimba: [[Mauro Refosco]]; keyboards: [[Joe McGinty]]
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* "[[Je Suis Rick Springfield]]" - sequencing: [[John Flansburgh]]; bass: Hal Cragin; marimba: Mauro Refosco; keyboards: [[Joe McGinty]]
* "[[Alone at Home]]" - guitars: [[Smokey Hormel]]
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* "[[Alone at Home]]" - guitars: Smokey Hormel
* "[[Fraud]]" - Nylon guitar: [[Jon Graboff]]
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* "[[Fraud]]" - Nylon guitar: Jon Graboff
* "[[Good Morning Tucson]]" - keyboards: [[Jon Spurney]]; guitar solo: [[Dan Miller]]
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* "[[Good Morning Tucson]]" - keyboards: Jon Spurney; guitar solo: [[Dan Miller]]
* "[[Now I Am An Arsonist]]" - vocal: [[Suzanne Vega]]
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* "[[Now I Am An Arsonist]]" - vocal: Suzanne Vega
* "[[Down Today]]" - Fender Rhodes bass: [[Jon Spurney]]; percussion programming: [[John Flansburgh]]
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* "[[Down Today]]" - Fender Rhodes bass: Jon Spurney; percussion programming: [[John Flansburgh]]
* "[[Dissolve]]" - clavinet: [[Joe McGinty]]; bass: [[Hal Cragin]]; keyboards: [[Jon Spurney]]
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* "[[Dissolve]]" - clavinet: [[Joe McGinty]]; bass: Hal Cragin; keyboards: Jon Spurney
* "[[Still Alive]]" - theremin: [[Dorit Chrysler]]; keyboards/celeste: [[Joe McGinty]]; lead vocal: [[Sara Quin]]; guitar: [[Dan Miller]]
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* "[[Still Alive]]" - theremin: Dorit Chrysler; keyboards/celeste: [[Joe McGinty]]; lead vocal: [[Sara Quin]]; guitar: [[Dan Miller]]
* "[[The Stache]]" - electric guitar: [[Smokey Hormel]]; keyboards: [[Jon Spurney]]
+
* "[[The Stache]]" - electric guitar: Smokey Hormel; keyboards: Jon Spurney
 
 
==Availability==
 
''Artificial Heart'' CDs were first made available to the public at PAX Prime 2011, but the official release party was September 2, 2011, at a [[Atlanta, GA: 2011-09-02|show in Atlanta]]. Online pre-orders and digital downloads of the album are [https://secure.jonathancoulton.com/ArtificialHeart available from his website] as of August 30, 2011, though it temporarily became unavailable at midnight PST on October 5, 2011.
 
 
 
In addition to the album itself, the pre-order page offers several merchandise packages featuring t-shirts, posters, USB keys and other extras. The ordering experience features graphics and copy text to match the album's theme, likely designed by [[Sam Potts]].
 
 
 
==Diagnostic Metrics==
 
 
 
On the back of the ''Artificial Heart'' CD, the track listing also includes [[Diagnostic Metrics]] symbols from [[Tucson Diagnostics]]. The track listing and diagnostic metrics are:
 
 
 
{|
 
! Track
 
! Title
 
!   Metric A  
 
!   Metric B  
 
!   Metrics C, D, and E  
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|1|[[Sticking It To Myself]]|Control|Chaos|Ruin|Rebirth|Freedom}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|2|[[Artificial Heart (song)|Artificial Heart]]|Rebirth|Nostalgia|Freedom|Confidence|Oblivion}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|3|[[Nemeses]]|Destiny|Possibility|Control|Distrust|Commitment}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|4|[[The World Belongs to You]]|Glory|Oblivion|Commitment|Destiny|Ruin}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|5|[[Today With Your Wife]]|Betrayal|Commitment|Nostalgia|Surrender|Ruin}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|6|[[Sucker Punch]]|Possibility|Destiny|Chaos|Ruin|Freedom}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|7|[[Glasses]]|Commitment|Betrayal|Struggle|Glory|Chaos}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|8|[[Je Suis Rick Springfield]]|Nostalgia|Rebirth|Glory|Struggle|Captivity}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|9|[[Alone at Home]]|Captivity|Freedom|Commitment|Surrender|Ruin}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|10|[[Fraud]]|Struggle|Surrender|Captivity|Possibility|Betrayal}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|11|[[Good Morning Tucson]]|Chaos|Control|Captivity|Struggle|Destiny}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|12|[[Now I Am An Arsonist]]|Oblivion|Glory|Nostalgia|Surrender|Freedom}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|13|[[Down Today]]|Freedom|Captivity|Rebirth|Control|Glory}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|14|[[Dissolve]]|Ruin|Success|Captivity|Betrayal|Glory}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|15|[[Nobody Loves You Like Me]]|Surrender|Struggle|Distrust|Oblivion|Control}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|16|[[Still Alive]]|Success|Ruin|Betrayal|Rebirth|Confidence}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|17|[[Want You Gone]]|Distrust|Confidence|Freedom|Surrender|Nostalgia}}
 
{{ArtificialHeartSongSymbols|18|[[The Stache]]|Confidence|Distrust|Success|Glory|Control}}
 
|}
 
The titles of the columns of diagnostic metrics are not specified on the CD cover or in the liner notes. The names used above for the Metric columns are arbitrary and only for reference here.
 
 
 
==Interpretation of the Diagnostic Metrics==
 
 
 
There are 18 symbols in the [[Diagnostic Metrics]] and 18 songs on the album. In the track listing, each symbol appears exactly once in the Metric A and Metric B columns.
 
 
 
The relationship between the Metric A and Metric B columns is symmetric. That is, if a song has a Metric A symbol of X and a Metric B symbol of Y, then the song with Metric A symbol of Y has a Metric B symbol of X.
 
 
 
Using the names of the [[Diagnostic Metrics]] symbols, one possible interpretation is that Metric A represents the primary theme of the song, Metric B represesnts the opposite of the primary theme, and Metrics C, D, and E represent secondary themes.
 
 
 
For example, consider the symbols for the song [[Still Alive]]:
 
 
 
* Its Metric A symbol, or primary theme, is [[Success]] ("This was a triumph / I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.")
 
* Its Metric B symbol, or opposite theme, is [[Ruin]] (which is the Metric A symbol for [[Dissolve]])
 
* Its Metric C, D, and E symbols, or secondary themes, are [[Betrayal]], [[Rebirth]], and [[Confidence]]
 
 
 
Consider also the artwork on the front of the Level 4 Participant shirt, which shows arrows between several symbols:
 
 
 
* From [[Freedom]] to [[Glory]]
 
* From [[Freedom]] to [[Control]]
 
* From [[Control]] to [[Success]]
 
* Bi-directional arrows between [[Glory]] and [[Possibility]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 128: Line 86:
  
 
{{AHnav}}
 
{{AHnav}}
 +
[[Category:Diagnostic Metrics]]

Latest revision as of 21:36, 8 November 2012

Artificial Heart
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Artist: Jonathan Coulton
Tracks: 18
Release date: September 2, 2011
Catalog: JOCO 001 [vinyl]

Artificial Heart is Jonathan Coulton's eighth studio album, produced by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants. The CD packaging and related merchandise—including the Diagnostic Metrics series—were designed by graphic designer Sam Potts.

History[edit]

In 2010, Jonathan Coulton announced that his long hiatus from recording new material was ending. After he opened for They Might Be Giants earlier that year, John Flansburgh suggested working together on Coulton's new material. The collaboration helped push Coulton outside his comfort zone, and he frequently commented on being both excited and terrified by the process. As a result, Artificial Heart represents a significant departure from Coulton's earlier albums. Not only is it the first JoCo album to be produced by someone besides Coulton himself, it's the first to be recorded in an "actual studio" (owned by They Might Be Giants' long time producer, Patrick Dillett), and the first to be written and arranged for a full band. In addition to the drummer and bassist who frequently appear in Coulton's live shows, Artificial Heart features over a dozen guest musicians and several tracks with guests performing lead vocals.

Coulton and his collaborators recorded Artificial Heart between September 2010 and June 2011. The album was released in late August 2011, with an official release party on September 2.

Live versions of some tracks debuted as early as July 2010, so there are many concert recordings that predate the official release date. Fans on the JoCo Forums compiled some of the best bootlegs into a project called Artificial Artificial Heart while waiting for the studio version to be released.

Availability[edit]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
LP cover art

Artificial Heart CDs were first made available to the public at PAX Prime 2011, but the official release party was September 2, 2011, at a show in Atlanta. Online pre-orders and digital downloads of the album are available from his website as of August 30, 2011, though it temporarily became unavailable at midnight PST on October 5, 2011.

In addition to the album itself, the pre-order page offers several merchandise packages featuring t-shirts, posters, USB keys and other extras. The ordering experience features graphics and copy text to match the album's theme.

A limited vinyl edition of the album was available for subscribers to the Level 4 Artificial Heart merchandise package. The LP was released under the imprint "JoCoserious Records" (a play on the "JoCo" nickname and the words jocose and serious). Signed copies of the LP were also sold at live shows. Though the artwork uses the same elements as the CD art, its design differs greatly. Consistent with the chromatic themes of the art surrounding Artificial Heart, the album is pressed on gold translucent wax.

The Diagnostic Metrics[edit]

The artwork for the content and promotional materials for Artificial Heart prominently features a collection of symbols called the Diagnostic Metrics designed by Sam Potts.

The interpretation of the graphics is not given, but it may be possible to infer their meaning from context. For possible interpretations of the meaning of the symbols, see the Interpretation of the Diagnostic Metrics page.

Track Listing[edit]

  1. Sticking It To Myself (2:19)
  2. Artificial Heart (2:33)
  3. Nemeses (3:01)
  4. The World Belongs to You (2:11)
  5. Today With Your Wife (2:57)
  6. Sucker Punch (1:42)
  7. Glasses (2:47)
  8. Je Suis Rick Springfield (2:28)
  9. Alone at Home (2:02)
  10. Fraud (3:00)
  11. Good Morning Tucson (2:27)
  12. Now I Am An Arsonist (2:53)
  13. Down Today (2:22)
  14. Dissolve (2:58)
  15. Nobody Loves You Like Me (2:19)
  16. Still Alive (4:15)
  17. Want You Gone (2:22)
  18. The Stache (3:00)

Credits[edit]

Production[edit]

  • Produced by John Flansburgh
  • Engineered and mixed by Patrick Dillett
  • Assistant engineer Joe Altschuler
  • Mastered by UE Nastasi at Sterling Sound
  • Tracks 4, 8, 10, 15 and 16 mixed by Ron Allaire
  • "Want You Gone" remix by The Elegant Too

Additional musicians[edit]

References[edit]

Artificial Heart
1. Sticking It To Myself · 2. Artificial Heart · 3. Nemeses · 4. The World Belongs to You · 5. Today With Your Wife · 6. Sucker Punch · 7. Glasses · 8. Je Suis Rick Springfield · 9. Alone at Home · 10. Fraud · 11. Good Morning Tucson · 12. Now I Am An Arsonist · 13. Down Today · 14. Dissolve · 15. Nobody Loves You Like Me · 16. Still Alive · 17. Want You Gone · 18. The Stache