Savage Hills Ballroom
| Savage Hills Ballroom | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2015 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:47 | |||
| Label | Fat Possum | |||
| Producer | Trevor Powers, Ali Chant | |||
| Youth Lagoon chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Savage Hills Ballroom | ||||
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Savage Hills Ballroom is the third studio album by Boise, Idaho-based musician Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project. The album was recorded in Bristol, England, and released on September 25, 2015 by Fat Possum Records.
Background[edit]
Powers alluded to the fact that the album addressed breaking down barriers and acknowledging personal flaws.[1] He stated in an interview that the album was not named for an actual ballroom: “It’s a mystical place. I think of things in mental images, and while I was working on the album, I pictured this [ballroom]…a place that’s ominous but still inviting. And I needed an appropriate name for that, and ‘Savage Hills Ballroom’ fit," he said.[2]
Release[edit]
On July 13, 2015, "The Knower" became the first track to be distributed prior to the album's release; it was issued as a free single-sided 7" single. "Highway Patrol Stun Gun" was subsequently released on August 10 as a music video.[3]
Critical reception[edit]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Consequence of Sound | B−[6] |
| DIY | [7] |
| NOW | [8] |
| Pitchfork | 7.2/10[9] |
| Q | |
| Slant |  [10] |
| Uncut | |
| Under the Radar | 7.5/10 |
Savage Hills Ballroom received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[11]
Ian Cohen of Pitchfork gave the album a positive review, stating, "Regardless of the subject matter or the production or the arrangements, the most truly self-searching Youth Lagoon album has Powers realizing he perhaps knew his position of strength all along—the inner child set adrift in the adult world, left to figure it out on his own."[9]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Trevor Powers
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Officer Telephone" | 3:02 |
| 2. | "Highway Patrol Stun Gun" | 4:10 |
| 3. | "The Knower" | 3:26 |
| 4. | "No One Can Tell" | 3:51 |
| 5. | "Doll's Estate" | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Rotten Human" | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Kerry" | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Again" | 3:45 |
| 9. | "Free Me" | 3:35 |
| 10. | "X-Ray" | 2:42 |
| Total length: | 36:47 | |
References[edit]
- ^ Gordon, Jeremy (13 July 2015). "Youth Lagoon Details Savage Hills Ballroom, Shares "The Knower"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ Marketti, Anna (28 October 2015). "Interview: Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon". Sound of Boston. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew. "Youth Lagoon shares new song; Yvette added to Rough Trade". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- ^ "Critic Reviews for Savage Hills Ballroom". Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ James Christopher Monger (2015-09-25). "Savage Hills Ballroom - Youth Lagoon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ Henry, Dusty (2015-09-21). "Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom | DIY". Diymag.com. 2015-09-25. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ Edwards, Samantha (2015-09-16). "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom". Nowtoronto.com. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
- ^ a b "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Review". Slant Magazine. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-11-20.
- ^ "Savage Hills Ballroom – Youth Lagoon". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
