Social Dancing is the second studio album by the Scottish musical trio Bis.[5]

Social Dancing
Studio album by Bis
Released	22 March 1999 (Scotland) 10 August 1999 (US)
Recorded	Apollo (Glasgow)
Genre	Post-britpop, indie rock, indie pop, pop punk, electropop
Length	42:30
Label	Wiiija
Producer	Andy Gill
Bis chronology
Intendo (1998) Social Dancing (1999) Play Some Real Songs: the Live Album (2001)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	[2]
Pitchfork	5.1/10[3]
Spin	6/10[4]

Critical reception

The Austin Chronicle thought that "while Social Dancing is enjoyable as a hyperactive whirl through Brit-pop forms of the Eighties and early Nineties, this homage to the material world lacks the rebel edge of the band's earlier work."[6] Rolling Stone noted that "this time the guitars are tuned, the drum-machine beats are smoother, and the pep-rally yelps are more determinedly melodic."[7]

AllMusic wrote that Bis "tried a whole bunch of different stuff, from more punky rave-ups to slinky trip-hop, and if the end result is a little scattered, it's also an enjoyable mess."[1]

Track listing

All songs written by Bis unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Making People Normal" – 2:28
2. "I'm a Slut" – 2:44
3. "Eurodisco" – 4:41
4. "Action and Drama" – 2:29
5. "Theme from Tokyo" (Bis, Virgin Stigma) – 2:40
6. "The Hit Girl" – 3:01
7. "Am I Loud Enough?" – 3:12
8. "Shopaholic" – 2:41
9. "Young Alien Types" – 3:11
10. "Detour" (Bis, Lois Maffeo) – 4:58
11. "Sale or Return" (Bis, John Cacavas) – 2:58
12. "It's All New" – 3:21
13. "Listen Up" – 2:20

• This is the UK/US CD release and matches the UK/US 12-inch release.
• The Japanese release adds the songs "Germfree Adolescents" (originally by X-Ray Spex) and "Famous (Andy Gill Version)" to the end.
• "Action and Drama" contains a sample of "New Breed" by the Mackenzies.
• "Theme from Tokyo" contains a sample of "Groupie Girl" by Virgin Stigma.
• "Sale or Return" contains a sample of "Agent Who" by John Cacavas.

Personnel

Bis

• John Disco
• Manda Rin
• Sci-Fi Steven

Additional musicians

• Lois Maffeo – vocals on "Detour"
• Vincent Flaming – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
• Alan Mason – violin on "Theme from Tokyo"
• Helen Mosherry – cello on "Theme from Tokyo"
• Martin Wiggins – viola on "Theme from Tokyo"
• Andy Gill – occasional guitar and keyboards
• Rik Flick – occasional guitar and keyboards
• Richie Dempsey – drum kit sample

Technical

• Andy Gill – producer
• Rik Flick – engineer
• Jason Famous – additional engineering
• Bob Kraushaar – mixing
• Joe Dilworth – photography
• Manda Rin – artwork
• Alison Fielding – artwork

Charts

References