El Rey is the eighth studio album by The Wedding Present

The Wedding Present

The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...

. It was released in the US on May 20, 2008, by Manifesto Records

Manifesto Records

Manifesto Records is the name of an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California that has released records by The Wedding Present, Dead Kennedys, Tom Waits, Tim Buckley, Lilys, Concrete Blonde, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and others. Manifesto released the entire catalogue of Dead Kennedys...

, and on May 26, 2008, in the UK by Vibrant Records/Pinnacle Records. The album is the band's first album since 2005's Take Fountain

Take Fountain

Take Fountain is the seventh studio album by The Wedding Present. It was released in the UK on February 14, 2005, through Scopitones Records, and a day later in the US through Manifesto Records....

. El Rey was preceded by the first single "The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend" as a digital download

Music download

A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...

 only.

Track listing

1. "Santa Ana Winds" (Gedge/de Casto) - 3:56
2. "Spider-Man on Hollywood" (Gedge/McConville) - 3:30
3. "I Lost the Monkey" (Gedge/Cleave) - 3:50
4. "Soup" (Gedge/Ramsay) - 3:49
5. "Palisades" (Gedge/de Casto) - 3:51
6. "The Trouble with Men" (Gedge/Ramsay) - 5:22
7. "Model, Actress, Whatever..." (Gedge/de Casto) - 3:58
8. "Don't Take Me Home Until I'm Drunk" (Gedge / McConville) - 3:07
9. "The Thing I Like Best About Him Is His Girlfriend" (Santa Monica and La Brea Version)(Gedge/de Casto) - 4:34
10. "Boo Boo" (Gedge / de Casto) - 6:23
11. "Swingers" (Gedge/Cleave) - 3:05
12. "Back for Good (Exclusive Bonus Track)" - 4:41 - iTunes store only, cover of a Take That
    Take That
    Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
    
     track

Personnel

The Wedding Present is:

• David Gedge - lead vocals, guitars, mellotron
• Terry de Castro - bass guitar, vocals, Hammond organ, lead vocals on #11
• Christopher McConville - guitars, Hammond organ, mellotron
• Graeme Ramsay - drums, percussion, mellotron

Recorded and mixed by Steve Albini

Steve Albini

Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...

Southern California references

• Santa Ana Winds
• Hollywood Boulevard
  Hollywood Boulevard
  -Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
  
  
• Pacific Palisades
• Santa Monica Boulevard
• La Brea Avenue
  La Brea Avenue
  La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Several museums are located along La Brea, and it is known for having many stores and eateries.-Description:...