Bloom (Troye Sivan album)
Bloom | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 31 August 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2017-18 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:47 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Troye Sivan chronology | ||||
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Singles from Bloom | ||||
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Bloom is the second studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Troye Sivan, released on 31 August 2018 through EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records. The album follows up his 2015 debut studio album, Blue Neighbourhood, and features guest appearances from Gordi and Ariana Grande. It was preceded by the release of the singles "My My My!", "The Good Side", title track, "Dance to This" and "Animal".
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, the album was nominated for three awards; Album of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release.[3]
Composition
Bloom has been called Sivan's "sex album",[4] as well as "darker", "more guitar-driven" and "more danceable" than his previous material.[5][6] It has also been described as containing material about defiant gay expression;[5] the first song, "Seventeen", is about a sexual experience Sivan had with a man he met on Grindr.[5] Sivan wrote most of the album with American musician Leland and Canadian musician Allie X.[4] The album's production was primarily handled by Bram Inscore, Oscar Görres, Oscar Holter and Ariel Rechtshaid.
Release and promotion
"My My My!" was released as the lead single from the album on 10 January 2018, and was accompanied by a music video directed by Grant Singer.[7] The second single "The Good Side", was released nine days later. It is an acoustic track about a breakup, with Sivan explaining that the song is an open letter to an ex-boyfriend.[8] The title track "Bloom", a song about anal sex, which was promoted by the hashtag ‘#BopsBoutBottoming’ that was trending on Twitter,[9] was released on 2 May as the third single.[10] "Dance to This", featuring American singer Ariana Grande, was released on 13 June as the album's fourth single.[11] The fifth single, "Animal", was released on 9 August.[12] On 14 June, Sivan announced a Target special edition would be released featuring two new songs, "This This" and "Running Shoes".[13] The album was released on 31 August 2018 by EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records.[14]
Sivan promoted the album via the Bloom Tour, which began on 21 September in Irving, Texas,[15] and ended on 30 November 2019 in Chengdu, China.
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.2/10[16] |
Metacritic | 85/100[17] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B[19] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.5/10[25] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bloom received critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album has an average score of 85, based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17] Giving the album a perfect score, The Independent's Douglas Greenwood wrote, "Making perfect pop isn't easy, but Troye Sivan is a star who's done his homework. With one foot in pop's past and another in its present, Bloom is a record that could turn its considerate maker into one of mainstream music's most revered and fascinating talents."[21] AllMusic critic Neil Z. Yeung stated that "Bloom is an unambiguous statement from Sivan, clear in its intent to celebrate the highs and lows of queer love through the eyes of a proud pop star in the making."[18] Annie Zaleski from The A.V. Club opined that "Bloom's beauty and gifts reveal themselves gradually over time."[19]
Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis stated that "the results are characterful", elaborating: "Bloom is done and dusted in 35 crisp minutes – a time at which some pop albums are reaching their mid-point – and feels like a coherent, artist-led album rather than a bet-spreading collection of songs designed to hit every popular musical base."[20] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone said, "Well beyond the already stellar dismissal of heteronormative storylines in pop love stories, Sivan finds a wealth of ways to bring about fresh reflections on age-old themes with undeniable charisma."[27] The Line of Best Fit writer Claire Biddles stated, "Bloom is an exceptional pop album, but maybe more importantly it's a beacon for queer people who struggle to reconcile our neuroses – societal and personal – with our potential for joy and love."[28]
Year-end lists
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Clash | The 40 Best Albums of 2018 | 29 | [29] |
The Guardian | The 50 Best Albums of 2018 | 37 | [30] |
The Independent | The 40 Best Albums of 2018 | 12 | [31] |
NME | Albums of the Year 2018 | 29
|
|
Paper | Top 20 Albums of 2018 | 14
|
|
Rolling Stone | The 20 Best Pop Albums of 2018 | 7
|
|
Slant | The 25 Best Albums of 2018 | 4
|
|
Time | The 10 Best Albums of 2018 | 7 | [36] |
USA Today | The Best Albums of 2018 | — |
Commercial performance
Bloom debuted at number three in Australia, making it Sivan's highest-charting studio album in his home country.[38] It opened at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 72,000 album-equivalent units, including 59,000 pure album sales.[39] It is his highest-charting release and best sales week to date on the Billboard 200.[39]
Track listing
Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Qobuz.[40][41]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Seventeen" |
|
| 3:38 |
2. | "My My My!" |
| Görres | 3:25 |
3. | "The Good Side" |
| 4:29 | |
4. | "Bloom" |
| Holter | 3:42 |
5. | "Postcard" (featuring Gordi) |
|
| 3:36 |
6. | "Dance to This" (featuring Ariana Grande) |
| Holter | 3:51 |
7. | "Plum" |
| Görres | 3:06 |
8. | "What a Heavenly Way to Die" |
|
| 3:07 |
9. | "Lucky Strike" |
| Hope | 3:28 |
10. | "Animal" |
| 4:25 | |
Total length: | 36:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
11. | "This This" |
| Inscore | 3:33 |
12. | "Running Shoes" |
|
| 3:46 |
Total length: | 44:07 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "Seventeen (Reprise)" | 1:11 |
Total length: | 37:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "My My My!" |
| Görres | 3:25 |
2. | "Bloom" |
| Holter | 3:42 |
3. | "Lucky Strike" |
| Hope | 3:28 |
4. | "Seventeen" |
|
| 3:38 |
5. | "The Good Side" |
| 4:29 | |
6. | "Dance to This" (featuring Ariana Grande) |
| Holter | 3:51 |
7. | "Plum" |
| Görres | 3:06 |
8. | "Postcard" (featuring Gordi) |
|
| 3:36 |
9. | "What a Heavenly Way to Die" |
|
| 3:07 |
10. | "Animal" |
| 4:25 | |
Total length: | 36:47 |
Notes
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications and Sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[75] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Edition | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | 31 August 2018 | Standard | EMI Music Australia | ||
United States | Urban Outfitters limited | LP | Capitol Records | ||
Target exclusive | CD | ||||
Japan | Japan deluxe | Universal Music Japan |
References
- ^ Breihan, Tom (28 August 2018). "Troye Sivan 'Bloom' Review: Rich, Confident, Important Pop Music". Stereogum. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ Kheraj, Alim (2 September 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – thrillingly honest dance pop". The Observer. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (28 November 2018). "And the ARIA Award Goes To..." Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 28 November 2018.
- ^ a b Lamphier, Jason (17 May 2018). "To Sir, With Love: Troye Sivan Meets Elton John (Cover Exclusive)". Out. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Schneier, Matthew (10 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Is a New Kind of Pop Star: Here, Queer and Used to It". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Puckett, Lily (28 May 2018). "Troye Sivan announces the Bloom Tour". The Fader. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Cox, Jamieson (11 January 2018). ""My My My!" by Troye Sivan Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ McNeilage, Ross (18 January 2018). "Troye Sivan Releases Heartbreakingly Gorgeous 'The Good Side'". MTV UK. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Geffen, Sasha (4 May 2018). ""Bloom" by Troye Sivan Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Hunt, El (3 May 2018). "Troye Sivan shares new single 'Bloom'". NME. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (13 June 2018). "Troye Sivan – "Dance To This" (Feat. Ariana Grande)". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ Daw, Stephen (8 August 2018). "Troye Sivan Teases Final 'Bloom' Single 'Animal' With Help From Boyfriend Jacob Bixenman". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Troye Sivan – Bloom (Target Exclusive)". Target. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
- ^ Downing, Megan (29 August 2018). "troye sivan 'bloom': track by track album review". MTV. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
Bloom is released on 31st August on EMI Australia, Capitol.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (31 May 2018). "Troye Sivan Announces North American 'Bloom' Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Bloom by Troye Sivan reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Bloom by Troye Sivan Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Bloom – Troye Sivan". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan, Bloom". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (30 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – out and proud pop in full flower". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ a b Greenwood, Douglas (30 August 2018). "Troye Sivan, Bloom album review: A harmonious and vital pop record". The Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Bruton, Louise (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – The sweet and sour of a gay man's formative years". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ Hunt, El (29 August 2018). "Troye Sivan – 'Bloom' review". NME. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ Kheraj, Alim (2 September 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom review – thrillingly honest dance pop". The Observer. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ Cox, Jamieson (31 August 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Solomon, Kate (October 2018). "Troye Sivan: Bloom". Q. No. 390. p. 116.
- ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (29 August 2018). "Review: Troye Sivan Explores Innocence and Experience on 'Bloom'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Biddles, Claire (29 August 2018). "Troye Sivan's Bloom is a queer pop triumph". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "The 40 Best Albums of 2018". Clash. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "The 50 best albums of 2018". The Guardian. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ^ "The 40 best albums of 2018". The Independent. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "NME's Albums Of The Year 2018". NME. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Best Albums of 2018". Paper. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Sheffield, Brittany Spanos,Rob; Sheffield, Rob (14 December 2018). "20 Best Pop Albums of 2018". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "The 25 Best Albums of 2018 - Feature". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Bruner, Raisa (16 November 2018). "The 10 Best Albums of 2018". Time. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ McDermott, Maeve; Ryan, Patrick. "Best Albums of 2018". USA Today. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (9 September 2018). "Eminem Earns Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Kamikaze'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ Bloom (booklet). Troye Sivan. Hollywood: Capitol Records. 2018. B002871402. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Bloom | Troye Sivan – Download and listen to the album". Qobuz. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Troye Sivan - Bloom (Target Exclusive)". Target. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ "Troye Sivan Bloom (Hmv exclusive)". HMV. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ a b "ブルーム - トロイ・シヴァン". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Troye Sivan – Bloom (Limited Edition)". Urban Outfitters. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
- ^ "Bloom by Troye Sivan on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Troye Sivan – Bloom" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Troye Sivan – Bloom" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Troye Sivan – Bloom" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Troye Sivan Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 36.Týden 2018 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 36, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Troye Sivan – Bloom" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Troye Sivan: Bloom" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Troye Sivan – Bloom" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 36. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Troye Sivan". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "トロイ・シヴァン" [Troye Sivan] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 6 September 2018.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "SK - Albums - Top 100 - Troye Sivan - Bloom". SNS IFPI. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 36, 2018" (in Korean). Gaon. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Australian Artist (ARIA) End of Year Albums Chart 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Australian Artist (ARIA) End of Year Albums Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Troye Sivan - Bloom CD". Troye Sivan Official Store. Retrieved 7 July 2018.