"The Unutterable" is the 21st studio album by the English rock band The Fall, released in 2000. The album features a lineup that had appeared on their previous release, The Marshall Suite (1999), although with Kazuko Hohki, the singer from the English-based Japanese band Frank Chickens, contributing additional vocals on one track. By the time they recorded The Unutterable, the band had spent a year developing more cohesion as a unit, which resulted in a more consistent sound compared to their previous album. While both albums share some sonic similarities, The Unutterable was praised for its sharper production and more focused songwriting.
Critically, the album was well received and marked what some described as a "career peak" for The Fall. Dave Simpson of The Guardian lauded it, and Piers Martin from NME called it "as vital and relevant as The Fall have sounded for a considerable length of time." These reviews reflected the album's blend of innovation and the band's ability to remain fresh and challenging even after decades in the music industry.
Lyrically, The Unutterable touches on a wide array of topics. On "Dr Bucks' Letter," Mark E. Smith, the band's ever-controversial frontman, critiques superficial modernity and materialism, referencing DJ Pete Tong in the line "I was in the realm of the essence of Tong." The song humorously lists the five things Smith—or Tong—cannot leave home without: sunglasses, music, PalmPilot, mobile phone, and American Express card. The album also covers themes like drug culture in "Ketamine Sun," and on the more whimsical side, Smith details his favorite meal in the jazz-influenced "Pumpkin Soup and Mashed Potatoes."
One of the more notable aspects of The Unutterable is that it is the first Fall studio album since Bend Sinister (1986) not to feature a cover song. Although "Ketamine Sun" is rumored to have started as a cover of Lou Reed's "Kill Your Sons," the final version bears little resemblance to Reed's track, making it unique in the band's catalog for its entirely original material.
This album also stands out for being the first and only official Fall studio release issued exclusively on CD, without a corresponding vinyl version. However, in 2014, a double-LP version of The Unutterable was released through Let Them Eat Vinyl, preserving the original tracklisting. The album represents a crucial moment in The Fall's discography, combining their trademark irreverence with a more polished sound and reaffirming their position as one of the most distinctive and enduring acts in British rock.
