The Fine Art of Surfacing
| The Fine Art of Surfacing | ||||
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| Studio album by The Boomtown Rats | ||||
| Released | 9 October 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 40:13 | |||
| Label |
Mulligan Records (Ireland) Ensign Records (UK) Columbia Records (USA) |
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| Producer | Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Phil Wainman | |||
| The Boomtown Rats chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | (B-) |
| Rolling Stone | (not rated) |
| Smash Hits | 3/10 |
The Fine Art of Surfacing was The Boomtown Rats' third album and contained the hit-single releases, "I Don't Like Mondays", "Diamond Smiles" and "Someone's Looking at You". The album peaked at No. 7 in the UK Albums Chart in 1979.
"I Don't Like Mondays" b/w "It's All the Rage" was released in June 1979, and reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in late July in the UK in the same year. The song refers to Brenda Ann Spencer's killing spree on Monday, 29 January 1979 in San Diego, California.
Bob Geldof also went around America leading up to The Fine Art of Surfacing, drumming up publicity for the band in the States. During this time the Rats learned much about both American life and breaking into the American music market. This is a recurring theme on the album, sometimes taking a serious approach in looking at American society, in songs like "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Diamond Smiles," while other times looking at it in a downright silly and mocking manner in songs like "Nothing Happened Today" and "Having My Picture Taken," the album takes aim at 1979 life in classic punk style.
Musically, this album was, for the most part, quite a departure from the Rats' punk influences that came across so clearly in their debut album and A Tonic For The Troops. The Rats display many styles in this album from a wide range of influences.
In 2005, this album was re-released (it had previously been released but fell out of print quickly), digitally remastered by Bob Geldof and Pete Briquette with bonus tracks, mostly B-sides from various eras, that delve more deeply into the Rats' musical influences.
All songs written by Bob Geldof unless otherwise indicated.
Album
Singles
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