Life with You is the seventh studio album by Scottish band the Proclaimers. Released in September 2007, it appeared on W14, a joint venture label between Universal Records and John Williams, the man who gave the Proclaimers their first recording contract on Chrysalis Records. The album reached number 13 in the UK Albums Chart, and No. 1 in the duo's native Scotland where it spent 17 weeks on chart. The album attracted a generally favourable reception, and has been certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
The album's lyrics focused strongly on emotive topics including war, racism and politics, Life With You'''s political slant being compared to Elvis Costello and The Specials, with some songs relating to relationships and heartbreak.
Background The album was recorded in Wales at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire.The liner notes describe Life with You as having been recorded at Rockfield Studios. The album was produced by Steve Evans, who had worked with Siouxsie Sioux and with Robert Plant on "Shine It All Around" (2005). It was supported by its lead single – the title track – which reached number 3 on the Scottish Singles Charts, whilst reaching number 58 in the United Kingdom.
Themes and style The lyrics of Life with You covered a variety of emotionally charged topics, including consumerism, racism, political leaders and war. "Here it Comes Again" condemned misogynistic attitudes in pop music, York Press opined "The Long Haul" to "lacerate" US President George Bush, while "S-O-R-R-Y" was a disgusted reflection on Tony Blair and warmongering media during the Iraq War. Other themes on the record surrounded love and relationships, such as "Harness Pain" which Charles Hutchinson described as "[embracing] heartbreak like R.E.M.".
Critical reception Life with You received an aggregate score of 65/100 from Metacritic, suggesting "generally favorable reviews" according to 7 critics. Linda Gaban of the Boston Globe was praising of the political nature of the album, commenting "as in-you-face as [the band's hits] are, the Proclaimers are at their best when, well, proclaiming and protesting vehemently over simple melodies", declaring the political ballad "S-O-R-R-Y" to be an "essential" cut.
Regardless, Maura Walz of PopMatters was dismissive of the record, opining that "the production feels mostly flat and the album as a whole never comes alive", and that the lyrics, while "heartfelt", were "nimble as a steamroller".
Charles Hutchinson of York Press gave a lauding, 4-out-of-5-star review of Life with You'', opining the band's melodies to "still roll like Scottish mist", and praising the Proclaimers' lyrics to "nail political folly in a manner feared lost since the peak of The Specials and Elvis Costello".
Track listing
Charts
Chart (2007) Peakposition
Certifications
References