Razzmatazz (album)

For the Paolo Conte album, see Razmataz.

Razzmatazz (stylized in all caps; sometimes as RΛZZMΛTΛZZ) is the debut studio album by American musical duo I Dont Know How But They Found Me (often shortened to iDKHOW). It was originally set to be released by Fearless Records on October 16, 2020, but was pushed back to October 23, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5][6][7] It is the band's only studio album to feature Ryan Seaman before his departure in 2023.

Razzmatazz
Studio album by I Dont Know How But They Found Me
Released	October 23, 2020
Recorded	2020[a]
Studio	Pagzilla Sound (North Hollywood, California)
Genre	Indie pop[1] new wave[1] synth-pop[2][3] pop rock[4] alternative rock[2]
Length	37:15 (digital) 41:59 (physical)
Label	Fearless
Producer	Tim Pagnotta Dallon Weekes Brian Phillips
I Dont Know How But They Found Me chronology
Christmas Drag (2019) Razzmatazz (2020) Razzmatazz B-Sides (2021)
Singles from Razzmatazz
"Leave Me Alone" Released: August 5, 2020 "Razzmatazz" Released: September 16, 2020 "New Invention" Released: October 2, 2020 "Lights Go Down" Released: October 14, 2020

Promotion

Over two years prior to the album's release, the song "Nobody Likes The Opening Band" was released as a free download on their website on March 14, 2018, accompanied with a music video.^[8] On August 5, 2020, the band released a lyric video for the album's lead single "Leave Me Alone" along with the announcement of the album's title and release date.^[9] On September 16, the title track "Razzmatazz" and accompanying lyric video were released.^[10] Following a video on October 1 explaining the need to push back the album, the band released the third single "New Invention" the next day alongside a lyric video.^[7][11]

The band continued promoting the album long after release and performed "Leave Me Alone" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the following January^[12][13] and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in February.^[14][15] For Record Store Day 2021, the band released Razzmatazz B-Sides as an exclusive picture disc. This EP included one new track: "Mx. Sinister", a cover of "Debra" by Beck, and reimagined versions of "Leave Me Alone" and "Modern Day Cain".^[16]

On November 19, the band released Razzmatazz: Deluxe Edition. Included in the bonus tracks were a cover of "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure, a revision of "New Invention" featuring Tessa Violet, various live performances of tracks from Razzmatazz, and material previously only found on their limited B-Side release.

Starting in mid-2021 the band toured internationally to support the album and were featured in various festivals. The tour was split into two parts: the "Razzmatazzmatour" (late 2021) and "The Thought Reform Tour" (early 2022).^[17][18]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	84/100[19]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[20]
DIY	[21]
Kerrang!	4/5[22]
The Line of Best Fit	8.5/10[23]

Razzmatazz received positive reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from reviews from critics, the album has an average score of 84, which indicates "universal acclaim" based on 4 reviews.^[19] DIY described the album as "melding together '80s synths, baroque piano and pithy, self-deprecating choruses", while adding that it is "fun, flamboyant, and entirely of its time".^[21] The Line of Best Fit praised frontman Dallon Weekes' lyricism in the songs "Mad IQs" and "Clusterhug", as well as his bass guitar work in "Sugar Pills" and "New Invention".^[23]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dallon Weekes and produced by Tim Pagnotta, except where noted.

Razzmatazz – Digital edition No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Leave Me Alone"     3:35 2. "Mad IQs" Weekes Pagnotta Brian Phillips Pagnotta Phillips 3:02 3. "Nobody Likes the Opening Band"   Weekes 2:15 4. "New Invention" Weekes Pagnotta Chad Walsh David Walsh   3:11 5. "From the Gallows"     2:42 6. "Clusterhug"     3:12 7. "Sugar Pills" Weekes Stu Maxfield   3:07 8. "Kiss Goodnight"     3:50 9. "Lights Go Down" Weekes Jason Hill   3:24 10. "Need You Here" Weekes Andrew Goldstein   3:07 11. "Door"   Weekes 1:32 12. "Razzmatazz" Weekes Pagnotta Phillips   4:18 Total length: 37:15 Razzmatazz – Digital deluxe edition bonus tracks[24] No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 13. "New Invention" (featuring Tessa Violet) Weekes Pagnotta C. Walsh D. Walsh Pagnotta 3:11 14. "Boys Don't Cry" (The Cure cover) Robert Smith Lol Tolhurst Michael Dempsey Weekes 3:15 15. "Leave Me Alone" (Live From A TV Studio) Weekes Weekes 3:40 16. "New Invention" (Fisch Loops Remix) Weekes Pagnotta C. Walsh D. Walsh Fisch Loops 3:06 17. "From the Gallows" (Demo) Weekes Weekes 2:29 18. "Modern Day Cain" (Slow Jam version) Weekes Weekes 2:58 19. "Sugar Pills" (Live From London / 2021) Weekes Maxfield Weekes 3:57 Total length: 59:51

Razzmatazz – Physical edition (CD and Vinyl) No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Leave Me Alone"     3:44 2. "Indoctrination"     1:11 3. "Mad IQs" Weekes Pagnotta Phillips Pagnotta Phillips 3:02 4. "Nobody Likes the Opening Band"   Weekes 2:15 5. "New Invention" Weekes Pagnotta C. Walsh D. Walsh   3:51 6. "From the Gallows"     2:42 7. "Clusterhug"     3:35 8. "Sugar Pills" Weekes Maxfield   3:33 9. "Kiss Goodnight"     3:50 10. "Lights Go Down" Weekes Hill   3:43 11. "Need You Here" Weekes Goldstein   3:29 12. "Door"   Weekes 1:29 13. "Tomorrow People"     1:19 14. "Razzmatazz" Weekes Pagnotta Phillips   4:18 Total length: 41:59

Personnel

I Dont Know How But They Found Me

• Dallon Weekes – vocals and bass (all tracks), synthesizer (1, 2, 4–10, 12); piano (3, 9, 10, 12), ukulele (11), production
• Ryan Seaman – drums (except tracks 3 and 11), percussion

Additional personnel

• Ian Walsh – guitar (except tracks 3, 7 and 11)
• Stu Maxfield – guitar (track 7)
• Alex Nauth – trumpet (track 5)
• Matt Appleton – saxophone (track 12)

Production

• Tim Pagnotta – engineering and production
• Brian Phillips – engineering and production

Charts

Chart performance for Razzmatazz

Chart (2020)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[25]	87
US Billboard 200[26]	122
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[27]	2
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[28]	26
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[29]	11
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[30]	22
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[31]	23

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
Various	October 23, 2020	Fearless	CD, LP, digital download, streaming	FEAR01397

Notes

1. All tracks except for "Nobody Likes the Opening Band"