Puzzle [US Version]

• Artist: Biffy Clyro
• Rating:
• Release Date: May 25, 2007
• Type: Contains explicit content
• Genre: Rock

Review

Although emo is often thought of as a direct descendent of punk and alternative, the genre's tricky song structures oftentimes teeter toward prog territory. Case in point: Puzzle, the fourth full-length by Ayrshire, Scotland's favorite sons, Biffy Clyro. While the riffs and singalong choruses bear a resemblance to Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, it's no secret that the members of this trio obviously know the ins and outs of their respective instruments -- this is certainly not the sound of a band still finding its footing. "Saturday Superhouse" somehow manages to not sound far removed from all the fresh-faced MTV darlings, while also including enough interesting bits to not sound like a mere mainstream rock rehash. Harder to pin down tracks such as "Who's Got a Match?" bring to mind the quirky pop of Supergrass, and "Semi-Mental" is comparable to Weezer -- if they spent more time studying their Rush records instead of Cheap Trick ones. Released in the U.K. several months ahead of the U.S., Puzzle already has a head start in the buzz sweepstakes -- it's a certified smash overseas (nearly topping the album charts at number two, while "Saturday Superhouse" almost reached the Top Ten on the singles charts). [This U.S. version of Puzzle splits the first track, "Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies," into two parts to provide for a separate "Intro."] ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Intro	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(1:25)
Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:53)
Saturday Superhouse (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:19)
Who's Got a Match? (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(2:23)
As Just Dances 2/15ths	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(5:36)
A Whole Child Ago	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:07)
The Conversation Is...	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:40)
Now I'm Everyone (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:50)
Semi-Mental 4/15ths	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(4:07)
Love Has a Diameter (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:53)
Get Fucked Stud (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:37)
Folding Stars (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(4:15)
9/15ths (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(2:46)
Machines (Lyrics)	Biffy Clyro, Simon Neil	Biffy Clyro	(3:56)

Credits

Sam Hofstedt (Assistant), Sue Jane Bryant (Viola), Steve Bryant (Violin), Reed Ruddy (Engineer), Deborah Stephens (Choir, Chorus), Graeme Revell (Conductor), Ron Burman (A&R), Howie Weinberg (Mastering), Simon Neil (Group Member), Ben Kaplan (Digital Editing), Mike Norman (Saxophone), Quentin Gauthier "Nacho" (Assistant), Scott Ligocki (Viola), Simon James (Violin), Graeme Revell (Orchestration), Ben Kaplan (Keyboards), Ben Kaplan (Engineer), Dorothy Lawson (Cello), John Pilskog (Violin), Mike Norman (Keyboards), Clark Story (Violin), Maria Johnson (Choir, Chorus), Robin Nash (Drum Technician), Jan Petrov (Assistant), Rajan Krishnaswami (Cello), Lara Papadakis (Choir, Chorus), Charles Stevens (Choir, Chorus), Conor O'Mahony (Coordination), Mike Fraser (Engineer), Sam Koop (Studio Assistant), Andy Wallace (Mixing), Andy VanDette (Digital Editing), Jennifer Ivester (Choir, Chorus), Roger Lian (Digital Editing), Becky Scott (Production Coordination), Tim Garland (Violin), Graeme Revell (Choir Arrangement)