| Escape from Rubbish Island | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 27 September 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2004 | |||
| Studio | Vada, Stratford-upon-Avon | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 37:49 | |||
| Label | IRL | |||
| Producer | Matt Terry | |||
| The Wonder Stuff chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Escape from Rubbish Island | ||||
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Escape from Rubbish Island is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Wonder Stuff, released on 27 September 2004, through the IRL record label. The band had broken up in 1994; they reformed in 2000 and had been playing shows sporadically over the next few years. Frontman Miles Hunt began making drum loops in his home studio, and his flatmate, former Radical Dance Faction member Mark McCarthy, added bass over them. An argument between Hunt and bandmate Martin Gilks resulted in the latter leaving, followed by violinist Martin Bell soon after. Hunt continued working on the tracks, recording at Vada Studios in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2004 with Matt Terry producing. The album saw a return to the band's rock sound of their early albums.
Escape from Rubbish Island received generally favourable reviews from critics, some of whom were mixed on Hunt's lyrics, but were receptive to the music. "Better Get Ready for a Fist Fight" was released as the lead single in January 2005, and reached number 95 in the UK Singles Chart. The following month saw the joint release of "Bile Chant" and "Escape from Rubbish Island" as the next single. To promote the album, the Wonder Stuff embarked on tours of the United Kingdom and the United States. The US release of the album, which coincided with the tour in that territory, featured alternate mixes and additional guitar parts.