Simple Things (Zero 7 album) explained

Simple Things
Type:	studio
Artist:	Zero 7
Cover:	Zero_7_-_Simple_Things_-_Album_Cover_(front).jpg
Released:	^[1]
Label:	Ultimate Dilemma
Producer:	Zero 7
Prev Title:	EP 2
Prev Year:	2000
Next Year:	2002

Simple Things is the debut studio album by Zero 7, released on 23 April 2001. It peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the chart for 56 weeks. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize.^[2]

Critical reception

Tim DiGravina of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, calling it "an accomplished slice of soulful genius that rewards frequent spins." He said, "the duo of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker mix a number of musical elements, such as soul-influenced diva vocals, gurgling and ringing keyboards, and classical string arrangements, into a relaxing, potent wave of sounds." Matt Diehl of Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, saying, "More like jazz on acid than acid jazz, Simple Things can be hallucinatory yet eminently listenable; it's chill-out music with a little something for your mind as well." For Rob Mitchum, writing for Pitchfork, the album was too similar to Air's Moon Safari.

Track listing

Source:^[3]

In popular culture

• "In the Waiting Line" appeared in the season 6 episode, "The Domino Effect" on Sex and the City, in the season 3 episode of House "Needle in a Haystack", and in the 2004 film Garden State.
• "Destiny" appeared in the 2002 film Blue Crush, as well as the 2009 film Obsessed.
• “Give It Away” was used as a background track on the CBBC show SMart when sharing viewers artwork that had been sent in, the previous week.

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Zero 7 – production, mixing
• Demus – mixing (3, 5)
• Mozez – vocals (1, 5, 10)
• Sia Furler – vocals (3, 7)
• Sophie Barker – vocals (3, 8, 14)
• Philani Mothers - vocals (11)
• Dedi Madden – guitar (1, 7, 8)
• Allan Simpson – guitar (3, 4, 6)
• Phil Thornalley – guitar (9), bass guitar (9)
• Pete Trotman – bass guitar (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12)
• Max Beesley – Rhodes piano (5)
• The Brilliant Strings – strings (1, 4, 5, 6, 12)
• Sally Herbert – violin (1, 7, 10, 11)
• Graeme Stewart – trumpet (4, 6)
• Simon Elms – trumpet (9)
• Dan Litman – flute (6)
• Jeremy Stacey – drums (1, 8, 12)
• Miggi Barradas – drums (4)
• Ollie Savill – percussion (2)
• Jenny Arrel – percussion (11)
• House – design

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)^[4]	28
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)^[5]	4
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)^[6]	20
US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[7]	21

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)^[8]	119
Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[9]	101
UK Albums (OCC)^[10]	123

Notes and References

1. New Releases – For Week Starting April 23, 2001: Albums. Music Week. 22. 21 April 2001.
2. Web site: Who the hell are... The Mercury nominees?. The Guardian. Dave. Simpson. 27 July 2001. 8 March 2018.
3. Simple Things . . 2001 . booklet . Ultimate Dilemma Records.
4. Web site: Zero 7. Official Charts Company. 8 March 2018.
5. Zero 7: Top Dance/Electronic Albums. https://web.archive.org/web/20180520204453/https://www.billboard.com/music/zero-7/chart-history/dance-electronic-albums. dead. 20 May 2018. Billboard. 8 March 2018.
6. Zero 7: Heatseekers Albums. https://web.archive.org/web/20180521032215/https://www.billboard.com/music/zero-7/chart-history/heatseekers-albums. dead. 21 May 2018. Billboard. 8 March 2018.
7. Zero 7: Independent Albums. https://web.archive.org/web/20180520202428/https://www.billboard.com/music/zero-7/chart-history/independent-albums. dead. 20 May 2018. Billboard. 8 March 2018.
8. Web site: The Official UK Albums Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. 10 April 2021.
9. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20040902000408/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_alt2.html. September 2, 2004. Canada's Top 200 Alternative albums of 2002. Jam!. March 28, 2022.
10. Web site: UK Year-End Charts 2002. UKChartsPlus. 10 April 2021.