Editing Something for Kate (section)

===2003–2008: ''The Official Fiction'', ''Desert Lights'', and hiatus===
On 15 August 2003 Something for Kate issued their fourth studio album, ''[[The Official Fiction]]'', which is their first number-one album.<ref name="AusCharts"/> It was produced by Shoemaker at Mangrove Studios, again.<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> Lawrence opined that it "is the perfect soundtrack to the inevitable self-indulgent melancholy I'll be suffering/enjoying for the next few days/weeks/months. The precisely structured chord progressions, creative arrangements and insightful lyrics are already weaving their magic and cultivating the warm gloom of loss."<ref name="Lawrence"/> He noticed that "[Dempsey's] voice is instantly recognisable and familiar as he tells the stories that have become a feature of SFK's unique lyrical content" while "Hyndman's drumming is far from conservative, offering oddly but deftly placed accents and a beat that fights the sugar-sweet melodies to provide a much-needed edge."<ref name="Lawrence"/>

The first two singles from the album were "[[Deja Vu (Something For Kate song)|Déjà Vu]]" (July 2003), which peaked at No.&nbsp;19, and "[[Song for a Sleepwalker]]" (October), which reached the top&nbsp;40.<ref name="AusCharts"/> At the [[ARIA Music Awards of 2003]] SFK received four nominations: Album of the Year, Best Group, [[ARIA Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] and Best Cover Art (by Ashworth and Dave Horner) for ''The Official Fiction''.<ref name="ARIA List"/> It was certified gold by the end of that year.<ref name="ARIA Cert 03 Albs">{{Cite certification|region=Australia|type=album|certyear=2003}}</ref> On the [[Triple J Hottest 100, 2003]], "Déjà Vu" was listed at No.&nbsp;11 and "Song for a Sleepwalker" at No.&nbsp;63;<ref name="Triple J 03">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/archive/archive.htm?year=2003&alltime=0 | title = Hottest 100 2003 | publisher = Triple J Hottest 100. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref> ''Official Fiction'' was listed at No.&nbsp;6 on the Top&nbsp;10 Albums of 2003. Ashworth described the group, "We're an album band not a singles band. We write albums and then the record company picks whatever they want to be the single. That's what's really difficult. So for you, you might get a very one-sided idea of what a band's like and then you put the album on and you go: 'Oh, I didn't realize they had this side.' That's where I think singles are a real fucker. I don't like it."<ref name="Lawrence"/>

''[[Desert Lights]]'', their fifth studio album (1 June 2006) also topped the charts – their second number-one album.<ref name="AusCharts"/> It was certified gold status within a month of its release.<ref name="ARIA Cert 06 Albs">{{Cite certification|region=Australia|type=album|certyear=2006}}</ref> They had recorded it over four months in Los Angeles with [[Brad Wood]] ([[Ben Lee]], [[the Smashing Pumpkins]], [[Liz Phair]]).<ref name="Amazon Desert">{{cite web | url = https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Lights-Something-Kate/dp/B000G6H40M | title = Something for Kate – Desert Lights | work = [[Amazon.com]] | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref> Dempsey had started working on lyrics for it in the previous year, "Writing this record was difficult. But at the end of it, I've never been happier."<ref name="Triple J Desert">{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/album/s1670034.htm | title = Music Reviews: Something for Kate: ''Desert Lights'' | publisher = Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) | date = 23 June 2006 | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref> Stephanie McDonald of [[Junkee Media|FasterLouder]] felt its "sound has moved from one of raw, hard rock to something a lot more melodic with pop appeal... [the group] combines both those elements into something truly inspirational."<ref name="MacDonald">{{cite web | url = http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/something-for-kate-desert-lights/777817 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160804060400/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/something-for-kate-desert-lights/777817 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 August 2016 | title = Something for Kate – ''Desert Lights'' | last = McDonald | first = Stephanie | work = FasterLouder | publisher = [[Junkee Media]] | date = 27 June 2006 | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref>

"Cigarettes and Suitcases", the lead single, was released in May 2006, which reached No.&nbsp;23, while the follow-up single, "Oh Kamikaze", appeared in September and reached the top&nbsp;40.<ref name="AusCharts"/> Rob Smith of ''The Dwarf'' felt that the first single "is SFK at their typical alternative rock best, blending a catchy and melodious chorus with constant beats and a use of light and heavy guitar work. The second single 'Oh, Kamikaze' is a more upbeat number one might almost be able to dance to, if one could dance that is."<ref name="Smith">{{cite web | url = http://thedwarf.com.au/album_review/desert-lights | title = ''Desert Lights'' by Something for Kate reviewed | last = Smith | first = Rob | work = The Dwarf | date = 29 July 2006 | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref>

A compilation 2×CD album, ''[[The Murmur Years]]'', was released on 18 August 2007 with one new song, "The Futurist". According to Nimmervoll "Notwithstanding a couple of one-off reunion shows for their ever-loyal following Something for Kate went into hiatus while their leader concentrated on writing for a solo album."<ref name="Nimmervoll"/> They issued a limited edition 16-track live album, ''[[Live at the Corner (Something for Kate album)|Live at the Corner]]'', as an "artist-controlled bootleg", capturing the sound of the band on stage on 23 February 2008 at the [[Corner Hotel]] in [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]].<ref name="Cleghorn">{{cite web | url = http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/something-for-kates-live-at-the-corner/789987 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160804063840/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/something-for-kates-live-at-the-corner/789987 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 4 August 2016 | title = Something for Kate's ''Live at the Corner'' | last = Cleghorn | first = Justine | work = FasterLouder | publisher = Junkee Media | date = 24 January 2008 | access-date = 25 May 2016 }}</ref>