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Apollo XXI

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Apollo XXI
Studio album by
Steve Lacy
ReleasedMay 24, 2019
Recorded2017–2019[1][2][3]
StudioParamore Palace[1]
Genre
Length43:00
Label
ProducerSteve Lacy
Steve Lacy chronology
Steve Lacy's Demo
(2017) 		Apollo XXI
(2019) 		The Lo-Fis
(2020)
Singles from Apollo XXI
  1. "N Side"
    Released: April 8, 2019[7][8]
  2. "Playground"
    Released: May 21, 2019[9][10]
  3. "Hate CD"
    Released: May 23, 2019[11]

Apollo XXI (21) is the debut studio album by American musician Steve Lacy. It was released on May 24, 2019, by Three Quarter (3Qtr) and AWAL.[12] It was preceded by the singles "N Side", "Playground", and "Hate CD".[7][8][9][10][11]

Apollo XXI garnered widespread critical acclaim. Named as one of the best releases of 2019, critics praised its originality, cohesiveness and introspective lyricism. Thematically, the album explores Lacy’s sexuality and coming out.[13] Apollo XXI was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Lacy's first Grammy nomination as a solo artist.[14]

Background

[edit]

Lacy started working on the album in 2017, recording in his younger sister's bedroom (which he named Paramore Palace) after she left for college, in between sessions he had with other artists, as well as touring with his band, the Internet.[15][1] He also stated that he recorded much of the album using other methods than an iPod or iPhone.[1] The song, "Like Me", was written and recorded in July 2017, after a period in which Lacy said he hadn't written any music because of the emotions and fears he had expressing his sexuality.[1] The song features Daisy Hamel-Buffa who says they connected talking about their sexuality together in 2017 and Lacy came back later to ask that she sing on the track.[16]

Singles and promotion

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On April 8, 2019, Lacy released the lead single from Apollo XXI, "N Side". The song was released after the Internet announced that two solo albums from unnamed band members had been completed.[8] On May 16, he announced the title and revealed the cover art of the album.[17] On May 21, he released the second single titled "Playground" and revealed the track list of the album.[18] A final single, "Hate CD", was released hours before the album debuted.[11]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic81/100[19]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[5]
NME[20]
Exclaim!9/10[21]
Pitchfork6.9/10[22]

Apollo XXI received critical acclaim from reviewers. Donna-Claire Chesman of DJ Booth states, "... Steve Lacy, in all his funk and R&B glory, is here to satisfy—and satisfy he does. Lacy's astral cool vocals are splashed against a bevy of tugging instrumentals; you're pulled into his orbit, at first struggling to hear him, and then, struggling to imagine ever not hearing his themes... Apollo XXI is a fabulous clinic in mood."[6] Natty Kasambala for NME felt that "[Lacy] balances wistful musical throwbacks with authentic lyricism and attitude... From the get-go, [Apollo XXI] delivers exactly what it promises with its stylish, nostalgic artwork: a distinct world filled with hazy strings, warped synths and vocals that range from a flawless '70s-style falsetto to laid-back speech. It's retro-inspired through a modern lens."[20] Salvatore Maicki of The Fader wrote, "Apollo XXI isn't just his debut album — it's his first definitive statement. Loosely tied together as an intergalactic mission, the album moves with the viscosity of a lava lamp... it's an impressively cohesive introduction to an artist coming into his own."[23]

Ben Beaumont-Thomas, of The Guardian, compared certain songs to the likes of Prince, D'Angelo, Maxwell, and Sly and the Family Stone.[5] Nathan Smith of Pitchfork stated, "The singer and guitarist's debut solo album offers an introspective blend of R&B, hip-hop, & lo-fi pop but feels reluctant to claim the spotlight... For an album whose highlight is a song about the urge to extend beyond the limits of your own experience and find solace in collective acceptance, it all feels surprisingly timid. Apollo XXI is centered on the interior self, but it's not self-centered".[22] August Brown of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "With Apollo XXI, Lacy's finally come into his own as a solo artist, one straddling R&B, indie rock and his own idiosyncrasies. [Apollo XXI] has a relaxed, lived-in skillfulness that shows the handiwork of a veteran player... it's quintessentially L.A. in its mix of retro funk, twitchy beat music and even occasional canyon-rock vibes."[24]

Track listing

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All songs written and produced by Lacy, unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Only If"1:40
2."Like Me" (featuring DAISY WORLD)9:04
3."Playground"3:33
4."Basement Jack"1:49
5."Guide"2:21
6."Lay Me Down"3:03
7."Hate CD"2:40
8."In Lust We Trust"2:00
9."Love 2 Fast"3:42
10."Amandla's Interlude"3:10
11."N Side"3:44
12."Outro Freestyle/4ever"6:14
Total length:43:00
Note
  • "Playground" (Track 3) has a writing credit for Steve Lacy as well as Jesse Boykins III.[25][26]
  • "Amandla's Interlude" (Track 10) Contains additional vocals from ABRA.
  • "Outro Freestyle" (Track 12) has vocal credits from Valerie Lacy

Charts

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Chart (2019) Peak
position
France Downloads Albums (SNEP)[27] 115
US Billboard 200[28] 160
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[29] 19
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[30] 15

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "The Steve Lacy Interview | Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio". Apple Music. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  2. ^ Singh, Surej (February 11, 2019). "The Internet's Steve Lacy provides promising update on solo album". bandwagon. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Maine, Samantha (February 10, 2019). "The Internet's Steve Lacy gives exciting update about his debut solo album". NME. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "Apollo XXI by Steve Lacy on Apple Music". Itunes. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (May 24, 2019). "Steve Lacy: Apollo XXI review – a casually confident kaleidoscope". The Guardian. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Chesman, Donna-Claire. "Steve Lacy Delivers a Clinic in Mood on 'Apollo XXI': Review". DJ Booth. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Steve Lacy - N Side -Single". ITunes. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c Pierre, Alphonse (April 8, 2019). "The Internet's Steve Lacy Shares New Song 'N Side': Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Zidel, Alex. "Steve Lacy Hits The "Playground" For Another New Song". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Darville, Jordan. "Steve Lacy enters his "Prince phase" in new song 'Playground'". FADER. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Rettig, James (May 23, 2019). "Steve Lacy – "Hate CD"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  12. ^ "Steve Lacy's debut album Apollo XXI has dropped". The Fader. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Steve Lacy: Apollo XXI". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Grammy.com, 22 November 2019
  15. ^ White, Ryan (May 2, 2019). "Steve Lacy discusses his debut album, life and love - i-D". iD. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  16. ^ "L.A. band DAISY is a family of friends making loud, jazzy jams". The FADER. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "Steve Lacy Announces Debut Solo Album 'Apollo XXI'". Hypebeast. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  18. ^ "Steve Lacy Debuts Prince-Influenced 'Apollo XXI' Single 'Playground'". Hypebeast. May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  19. ^ "Apollo XXI by Steve Lacy". Metacritic. May 24, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  20. ^ a b Kasambala, Natty (May 24, 2019). "Steve Lacy – 'Apollo XXI' review". NME. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  21. ^ Harmony, A. (May 27, 2019). "Steve Lacy, Apollo XXI". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Smith, Nathan. "Steve Lacy Apollo XXI". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  23. ^ Maicki, Salvatore. "The future of sex sounds like Steve Lacy's Apollo XXI". The Fader. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  24. ^ Brown, August (May 29, 2019). "Steve Lacy, co-pilot for hip-hop's elite, takes his first solo flight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  25. ^ Schatz, Lake (May 21, 2019). "Steve Lacy teases debut album with new songs 'Outro Freestyle' and 'Playground': Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  26. ^ Montes, Patrick (May 21, 2019). "Steve Lacy Debuts Prince-Influenced 'Apollo XXI' Single 'Playground'". Hypebeast. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  27. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 22, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  28. ^ "Steve Lacy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  29. ^ "Steve Lacy Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "Steve Lacy Chart History (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
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