Cutouts
Cutouts is the third studio album by the English rock band the Smile, set for release on 4 October 2024 through XL Recordings. It was recorded in Oxford and Abbey Road Studios, London, with the producer Sam Petts-Davies, in the same sessions as the Smile's previous album, Wall of Eyes. It was promoted with the singles "Don't Get Me Started", "The Slip", "Foreign Spies" and "Zero Sum", music videos by the digital artist Weirdcore, and a series of cryptic messages on social media.

 Background 
The Smile comprise the Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood with the drummer Tom Skinner. They performed several songs from Cutouts in their early live performances in 2021 and 2022. The Smile recorded Cutouts in Oxford and Abbey Road Studios, London, with the producer Sam Petts-Davies, in the same sessions as their previous album, Wall of Eyes. The song "Tiptoe" was played as a hidden track at global promotional listening parties for Wall of Eyes. 

In January 2024, the Smile began a European tour, including a performance at 6 Music Festival in Manchester with the London Contemporary Orchestra. The shows included performances of Cutouts songs. The Smile's August tour was canceled after the guitarist Jonny Greenwood was temporarily hospitalised with a serious infection.

 Release 
On 2 August 2024, the Smile released a vinyl double single, "Don't Get Me Started" and "The Slip". The vinyl was released without promotion and was only available in stores. "Don't Get Me Started" was added to digital services on 8 August. Uproxx described it as "synth-heavy" and "propulsive". It was accompanied by a video directed by the audiovisual artist Weirdcore, with "glitchy" computer graphics. Later in August, the Smile released the track list in a series of ciphered messages on social media.  

On 28 August, the Smile announced Cutouts, due for release on 4 October, in digital, CD, cassette and vinyl formats. On the same day, they released "Foreign Spies" and "Zero Sum" on streaming services, accompanied by more videos by Weirdcore.

Track list

 Personnel 
The Smile

 Jonny Greenwood
 Tom Skinner
 Thom Yorke

Production

 Sam Petts-Davies

References

Category:2024 albums
Category:The Smile albums
Category:XL Recordings albums