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In These Times (Makaya McCraven album)

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In These Times
A photo of a line of trees with white leaves in a small circle inside an off-white background. The album's name is type in block letters at the top-middle, and the artist's is at the bottom-middle.
Studio album by
Makaya McCraven
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)
Length41:12
Label
Makaya McCraven chronology
Deciphering The Message
(2020) 		In These Times
(2022)
Singles from In These Times
  1. "Seventh String"
    Released: June 21, 2022[1]
  2. "Dream Another"
    Released: July 19, 2022[2]
  3. "The Fours"
    Released: September 13, 2022[3]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[4]
Metacritic87/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Clash8/10[7]
Exclaim!9/10[8]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[9]
Pitchfork8/10[10]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5[11]

In These Times is the sixth studio album by American musician Makaya McCraven. It was released on September 23, 2022, by International Anthem Recording Company, Nonesuch Records and XL Recordings.[12] The release features collaborations with Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Macie Stewart, Junius Paul, Marta Sofia Honer and Lia Kohl.[13]

Production

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The album tracks were completed over a period of seven years, and constructed in five different studios and four live performance spaces.[14][1]

Background

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On June 23, 2022, Makaya McCraven announced the release of the new album.[14] The first single "Seventh String" was released alongside the announcement.[1]

The second single "Dream Another" was released on July 19, 2022.[2] The music video for the single, which is directed by Nik Arthur, features photographic animations in the style of a zoopraxiscope.[15]

McCraven released the third single "The Fours" on September 13, 2022.[3]

Critical reception

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In These Times was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87, based on 11 reviews.[5] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the release a 7.9 out of 10 based on a critical consensus of 7 reviews.[4]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic described the album as its "own jazz labyrinth, and as such is destined for repeated listening and startling discovery."[6] At Clash, Robin Murray wrote: "A challenging yet continually beautiful project, In These Times contains a terrific sense of unity, one that belies the lengthy manner of its gestation."[7]

Stereogum made the album as their "Album of the Week" on September 20, 2022.[16]

Accolades

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Publications' year-end list appearances for In These Times
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref
Loud and Quiet Loud and Quiet's Top 40 Albums of 2022 14 [17]
Norman Records Norman Records' Top 50 Albums of 2022 12 [18]
NPR Music NPR Music's Top 50 Albums of 2022 7 [19]
Passion of the Weiss Passion of the Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2022 3 [20]
Stereogum Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2022 37 [21]
Stereogum's Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2022 1 [22]

Commercial performance

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In These Times ranked at number 85 in Scotland,[23] number 56 in Germany,[24] and number 92 in Switzerland.[25]

Track listing

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In These Times track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In These Times"7:09
2."The Fours"3:26
3."High Fives"3:39
4."Dream Another"3:12
5."Lullaby"3:33
6."This Place That Place"3:56
7."The Calling"1:47
8."Seventh String"3:05
9."So Ubuji"3:01
10."The Knew Untitled"4:27
11."The Title"3:57

Charts

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Chart performance for In These Times
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 56
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[27] 48
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 85
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 92
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[28] 23

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kenneally, Cerys (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven announces new album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kenneally, Cerys (July 19, 2022). "Makaya McCraven shares new cut 'Dream Another'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Rettig, James (September 13, 2022). "Makaya McCraven – The Fours". Stereogum. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "AnyDecentMusic? Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Murray, Robin (October 6, 2022). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Ranta, Alan (September 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven's Illuminating 'In These Times' Is a Crate Digger's Paradise". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Lily, Evan (October 7, 2022). "The Line of Best Fit Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Cush, Andy (September 27, 2022). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sputnikmusic Review". Sputnikmusic. October 30, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Slingerland, Calum (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Returns with New Album 'In These Times'". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Hussey, Allison (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Seventh String"". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Makaya McCraven Launches New Album". Clash. June 23, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Makaya McCraven Releases "Dream Another," From Upcoming Album, 'In These Times'". Nonesuch Records. July 19, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Leas, Ryan (September 20, 2022). "Makaya McCraven is Album of the Week". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Loud and Quiet Albums of the Year". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Norman Records' Best Albums". Norman Records. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "NPR Music's 50 Best Albums of 2022". NPR Music. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "The Best Albums of 2022". Passion of the Weiss. December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Best Albums of 2022". Stereogum. December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  22. ^ Freeman, Phil (December 13, 2022). "Best Jazz Albums of 2022". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
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