Greetings from Imrie House

Greetings from Imrie House
The cover features the band wearing suits against a blue background. The band's logo appears above them and the album title is below them, colored in white.
Studio album by
the Click Five
ReleasedAugust 8, 2005
Recorded2005
Genres
Length39:10
Labels
ProducerMike Denneen
The Click Five chronology
Greetings from Imrie House
(2005)		 Modern Minds and Pastimes
(2007)
Singles from Greetings from Imrie House
  1. "Angel to You (Devil to Me)"
    Released: April 25, 2005 (EP)[1][notes 1]
  2. "Just the Girl"
    Released: May 31, 2005
  3. "Catch Your Wave"
    Released: November 8, 2005

Greetings from Imrie House is the debut studio album by American pop rock band the Click Five. It was released on August 8, 2005 and reached #15 on the U.S. Billboard 200. It contains the band's two biggest domestic chart hits, "Just the Girl" and "Catch Your Wave". Also included are "Angel to You (Devil to Me)", "Pop Princess", and "Say Goodnight", three songs that originally appeared on an EP named after the former song. It is the only album by the band to feature lead vocalist & rhythm guitarist Eric Dill, who left the band in 2007 prior to the production of their second studio album, Modern Minds and Pastimes.[2]

Background

Signing with Lava Records in late 2004, the band began recording their debut album with producer Mike Denneen.[3][4] Along with the signing, they released "Just the Girl" for streaming via their website and "Pop Princess" for a free download.[5] The album's title refers to the band's Boston house on Imrie Street where they lived while writing the album and attending Berklee School of Music.[6] The album's musical style of "retro new wave and power pop" was inspired by Cheap Trick, the Beach Boys, and the Knack.[6] Keyboardist Ben Romans described the record as "the love album" and said "We want to make people feel like they are falling in love and being heartbroken with us all at the same time."[7] Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Paul Stanley of Kiss worked the band and helped co-write some tracks on the album.[8] The album also features a cover of "Lies" by UK new wave band Thompson Twins. According to lead guitarist Joe Guese, the cover was recorded after the album was completed and was intended only for the Sky High soundtrack. However, the song was added at the last minute as the record label "thought it came out so cool."[9] The song "Angel to You (Devil to Me)" features a guitar solo from Elliot Easton of the Cars.[10] On June 7, 2005, the group announced the release date for the album, announcing it for release on August 16, 2005.[11] However, its release date was pushed up for August 8, made available for digital download via iTunes.[12] A month before the album's release, the group released E-cards online of each member,[13] which was later packaged with the album.[14] The band spent late 2005 and early 2006 touring with Ashlee Simpson, Alanis Morissette, the Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney and Big City Rock in support of the album.[14]

Singles

"Angel to You (Devil to Me)" was released on April 25, 2005, as the band's debut single. Originally released on the EP of the same name, it later appears on the album as the sixth track.[15] The song peaked at number seven on the US Hot Singles Sales chart.[16]

"Just the Girl" was released on May 31, 2005, as the album's lead single.[17] The song became a commercial success, peaking at number 11.[18] It also reached number one on the Digital Song Sales chart.[19] The song received a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales of 500,000 copies in the United States.[20] The music video premiered on June 21, 2005, via MTV,[21] and reached number three on Total Request Live.[22]

"Catch Your Wave" was released on November 8, 2005, as the album's second and final single.[23] The song peaked at number eight on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 and at number 37 on the US Pop Airplay charts.[24][25] The music video premiered on November 7, 2005.[26]

Though it was not released as a single, a music video for "Say Goodnight" was released on April 19, 2006.[27]

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 15 on September 3, 2005, marking the highest-ranking debut for any pop or rock band that year, selling 51,541 copies.[6] It was also the best debut in Lava Records' history.[28] Billboard's Melinda Newman opined that the grassroots following the band had developed online responsible for the high debut.[29] In its second week, the album dropped to number 28.[29]

In an era of declining album sales, the band moved 268,000 copies of the album by January 2006, considered disappointing in comparison to the sales of lead single "Just the Girl". "Part of me likes the idea of being a singles band," said Joe Guese to Rolling Stone at the time.[30] As of March 2009, the album has sold 350,000 copies in the United States.[31]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.comStarStarStarStar[32]
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[33]
BlenderStarStarStar[34]
Entertainment Weekly(B)[35]
IGN(0.2/10)[36]
MelodicStarStarStarStarHalf star[37]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[10]
USA TodayStarStarHalf star[38]

Greetings from Imrie House received mixed to positive reviews. Rolling Stone's Barry Walters deemed the album and group "Simultaneously retro, current, mainstream-minded and knowing."[10] Gary Susman of Entertainment Weekly called it "insanely catchy blend," combining "guitar crunch, pop hooks, and Queen-worthy vocal harmonies."[35] John D. Luerssen of AllMusic predicted the band would be considered "disposable," while also attracting "instant acclaim" from other quarters.[33] Bill Lamb of About.com stated, "Some tunes are indeed more catchy than others, but when the band really hits its stride on a Ben Romans original like 'Pop Princess', the world is a tuneful, happy place."[32] Kaj Roth of Melodic said of the album, "Pop like the one on Greetings from Imrie house will always be timeless."[37] Edna Gundersen of USA Today remarked, "this power-pop outfit's squeaky-clean production, catchy melodies and creamy harmonies can be deliciously addictive. Click may click with adolescent tastes, but ultimately the soulless grooves will leave musically mature palates craving something with more substance and bite."[38] Writing for Today.com, journalist Nekesa Mumbi Moody criticized the album for its lack of distinctiveness, stating the songs "seem designed for teens with high-school crushes and breakups" and "is trip down memory lane that isn't worth taking."[39]

Spin's Jessica Grose found the album "unbelievably derivative and banal," commenting, "The thought of the Click Five catering to legions of swooning tweens may be inevitable considering their tour partners, but you don't have to be part of the Click Five problem. You can be part of the solution."[40] A reviewer for IGN was explicitly negative, describing the record at times "an aborted fetus" and "nauseatingly acrimonious," while also suggesting readers should instead download music from Leonard Cohen (misattributed as Joel Cohen), A Tribe Called Quest, and Can.[36] Many music critics also criticized the group's cover of "Lies". Lamb described their cover as "uninspired" and "a glaring miscalculation."[32] Heather Phares of AllMusic remarked, "the Click Five's remake of 'Lies' might be louder than the original, but it's not any better."[41]

In 2015, MTV listed Greetings From Imrie House as one of six albums that "Perfectly Capture the State of Pop in 2005."[42]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Good Day"
  • Ben Romans
  • Ethan Mentzer
3:09
2."Just the Girl"Adam Schlesinger3:54
3."Catch Your Wave"
  • Romans
  • Mentzer
  • Joe Guese
2:52
4."I'll Take My Chances"
  • Schlesinger
  • D. Scott
3:49
5."Friday Night"
  • Romans
  • Mentzer
3:31
6."Angel to You (Devil to Me)"
3:29
7."Resign"
3:06
8."Pop Princess"Romans4:18
9."Time Machine"Romans3:14
10."Lies"
2:58
11."Say Goodnight"
  • Romans
  • N. Campany
4:50
Total length:39:10
iTunes edition[43]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Catch Your Wave" (live version)
  • Romans
  • Mentzer
  • Guese
4:25
Total length:43:35
United Kingdom edition[44]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."I Think We're Alone Now"Ritchie Cordell2:55
11."Say Goodnight"
  • Romans
  • N. Campany
4:50
Total length:39:07
Japanese edition[45]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."I Think We're Alone Now"Ritchie Cordell2:55
13."Just the Girl" (acoustic live version)Schlesinger3:52
14."Just the Girl" (music video)  
15."Catch Your Wave" (music video)  
Total length:45:29

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[46]

Charts

Chart performance for Greetings from Imrie House
Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[47] 15

Release history

Release history and formats for Greetings from Imrie House
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States August 8, 2005 Digital download [12]
Various August 16, 2005
  • CD
  • digital download
 [46]
Japan June 21, 2006 CD [48]
United Kingdom October 9, 2006 [44]

Notes

  1. ↑ This release also included "Pop Princess" and "Say Goodnight", two songs that also appeared on the album.

References

  1. ↑ "Angel to You (Devil to Me) - The Click Five". Allmusic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Click Five returns to its roots for new fifth member". Chicago Tribune. May 29, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  3. ↑ Wood, Mikael (January 11, 2006). "Manifest Destiny". Baltimore City Paper. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  4. ↑ George Lang (October 21, 2005). "The Click Five brings 'Greetings' This Boston-based rock band has found opportunity and inspiration in unlikely places". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Kaj Roth (April 1, 2005). "Powerpop Euphoria With The Click Five". Melodic. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "The Click Five's Debut Album "Greetings From Imrie House" Debuts at #15 on the Billboard Top 200" (Press release). New York: Marketwired. August 24, 2005. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  7. ↑ Chris Harris. "You Hear It First: Click Five". MTV. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  8. ↑ Kaj Roth (June 22, 2005). "The Click Five Collaborated With Paul Stanley and Elliot Easton Of The Cars". Melodic. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ Jay S. Jacobs (September 15, 2005). "The Click Five Interview". Pop Entertainment. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 Barry Walters (August 25, 2005). "The Click Five – Greetings from Imrie House". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ Kaj Roth (June 7, 2005). "Powerpop Guru's The Click Five Releases Debut In Aug". Melodic. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Greetings From Imrie House (U.S. Version) - Album by The Click Five". Apple Music. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ Kaj Roth (July 7, 2005). "New E-card Added With The Click Five". Melodic. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Gott, Gabe (March 2, 2006). "ALL about... The Click Five". KentWired. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  15. ↑ "KISS Frontman Paul Stanley Collaborates With Power-Pop Outfit The Click Five". Blabbermouth.net. April 18, 2005. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hot 100 Singles Sales: Week of April 30, 2005" (PDF). Billboard. April 30, 2005. p. 94. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Just the Girl - The Click Five". Allmusic. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  18. ↑ Jeckell, Barry (August 25, 2005). "No Budging Mariah's 'Together' At No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Digital Song Sales: Week of September 3, 2005". Billboard. September 3, 2005. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ "American certifications – The Click Five". Recording Industry Association of America.
  21. ↑ "The Click Five - 'Just the Girl'". MTV. June 21, 2005. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Take Five". The Boston Globe. August 7, 2005. Archived from the original on August 9, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Available For Airplay: CHR". fmqb.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of January 14, 2006". Billboard. January 14, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Pop Airplay: Week of January 14, 2006". Billboard. January 14, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
  26. ↑ "The Click Five - 'Catch Your Wave'". MTV. November 7, 2005. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  27. ↑ "The Click Five 'Say Goodnight' Video". Rockdirt.com. April 19, 2006. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  28. ↑ "The Hot Box". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 36. September 3, 2005. p. 85. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  29. 1 2 Melinda Newman (September 10, 2005). "Don't Call Them 'Boy Bands'". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 37. p. 64. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  30. ↑ Steve Baltin (January 20, 2006). "Stefani, Peas Lead Singles Boom". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  31. ↑ Anderman, Joan (March 7, 2009). "Catch the fallen stars". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  32. 1 2 3 "Review of The Click Five' Greetings from Imrie House". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  33. 1 2 John D. Luerssen. "The Click Five – Greetings from Imrie House". AllMusic. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  34. ↑ Stephanie Zacharek. "The Click Five - Greetings from Imrie House". Blender. Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  35. 1 2 Gary Susman (August 15, 2005). "Greetings from Imrie House". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  36. 1 2 "The Click Five - The House of Imrie". IGN. September 19, 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  37. 1 2 Kaj Roth (August 5, 2005). "Review: The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie House". Melodic. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  38. 1 2 Gunderson, Edna (August 22, 2005). "'Greetings' from Click Five; 'Meteors' via Veirs". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  39. ↑ "I Wayne brings reggae back to its roots". Today.com. August 23, 2005. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  40. ↑ Jessica Grose (August 17, 2005). "The Click Five, 'Greetings From Imrie House' Review". Spin. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  41. ↑ Heather Phares. "Sky High [Original Soundtrack] - AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  42. ↑ Kate Drozynski (August 15, 2015). "6 Albums From 10 Years Ago That Perfectly Capture The State Of Pop In 2005". MTV. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Greetings From Imrie House (iTunes Edition) - Album by the Click Five". Apple Music. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  44. 1 2 "The Long Awaited United Kingdom 'Greetings From Imrie House' Debut! In Stores Oct. 9th!". theclickfive.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  45. ↑ Greetings From Imrie House (Japanese CD album liner notes). The Click Five. Lava Records. 2005.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. 1 2 Greetings from Imrie House (album liner notes). Atlantic Records. 2005. 93826-2.
  47. ↑ "The Click Five - Awards & Charts". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  48. ↑ Greetings from Imrie House (Japan booklet). Lava Records. 2006. WPCR-12330.
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