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Stranger Things (Yuck album)

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Stranger Things
Studio album by
Yuck
Released26 February 2016
Recorded2015 (London)
GenreIndie rock,[1] alternative rock[2]
Length46:10
LanguageEnglish
LabelMamé Records
ProducerMax Bloom
Yuck chronology
Southern Skies
(2014) 		Stranger Things
(2016)
Singles from Stranger Things
  1. "Hold Me Closer"
    Released: 8 July 2015
  2. "Hearts in Motion"
    Released: 12 January 2016
  3. "Cannonball"
    Released: 2 February 2016

Stranger Things is the third and final studio album by UK-based indie rock band Yuck, released on Mamé Records on 26 February 2016.[3][4][5] The album was produced by frontman Max Bloom over a period of several months in 2015 in his parents' house in London.[2][6][7] The album's release was preceded by three singles: "Hold Me Closer";[8][9][10] "Hearts in Motion";[4][11] and "Cannonball".[1][12]

Background and recording

[edit]

In April 2013, original lead singer and guitarist Daniel Blumberg left the band.[13] Guitarist Max Bloom subsequently took over duties as frontman and the band was joined by guitarist Ed Hayes as an official member that August.[14][15] Yuck released its sophomore studio album Glow & Behold on Fat Possum Records on 30 September 2013 to mixed reviews.[16]

After touring in support of Glow & Behold,[17] the band self-released the Southern Skies EP in April 2014.[18] Yuck signed with indie label Mamé Records in 2015 and released the single "Hold Me Closer" on 8 July via SoundCloud the same year.[8]

On 12 January 2016, Yuck announced the album title as Stranger Things[3] and release date of 26 February.[4][5] The same day, Yuck revealed the album artwork, released the second single, "Hearts in Motion", and announced a North American spring tour.[3] In an accompanying press release, Bloom stated: "[The band] basically spent no money on the record and it was a really relaxed way of doing things[.]"[6] The album was recorded in London primarily in Bloom's parents' house[7] where Yuck had previously recorded its 2011 self-titled debut album.[6] The band recorded the drum tracks at a nearby rehearsal studio.[5] The band posted a video announcing pre-orders for the album on its official YouTube channel three days later.[19]

On 2 February 2016, "Cannonball" was released as the third single from the album.[1][12]

Composition

[edit]

‘Hearts In Motion’ is a song about how we deal with relationships. We’re all just blasting through space on a huge rock, so what’s the point in maintaining a relationship? Is it all just doomed to failure, or is it the one thing that we should be holding on to the most in this world? Who knows!

— Max Bloom, regarding the lyrical content of the second single[7]

Stranger Things is a departure from the softer, shoegaze-esque sound of the Southern Skies EP.[20] The album was inspired by "UK postpunk"[2] and 90's alternative rock bands such as Dinosaur Jr. and Built to Spill.[6] Max Bloom described the songs "Swirling", "Like a Moth", and "I'm OK" as "remarkably gentle"[21] and referred to the latter as "a very personal song because it's just about the anxiety I've been feeling over the last couple of years[.]"[6] Bassist Mariko Doi performs lead vocals on the song "As I Walk Away", which, according to Bloom, was "quite influenced" by her solo work.[2] Chris DeVille from Stereogum favorably compared "Hearts in Motion" to Transmissions from the Satellite Heart-era Flaming Lips,[22] while Tom Breihan from the same website described "Cannonball" as "a blazing, amped-up blast of fuzz-guitar tunefulness[.]"[12] Writing for the webzine Overblown, Jamie Coughlan referred to the lead single "Hold Me Closer" as "euphoric".[9][11]

Release and promotion

[edit]

On 17 February 2016, about a week before the album's official release, Stranger Things became available for streaming via NPR.[23][24] The previous day, Yuck uploaded a live performance of "Hearts in Motion", with James Thomas from Parakeet (Mariko Doi's side-project) temporarily filling in for Jonny Rogoff on drums.[25] The band announced spring tour dates in the United Kingdom in support of the album[24] and uploaded a short promotional comedic video on YouTube of the band member's fathers recommending purchasing the album.[26]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[27]
Consequence of SoundC+[28]
DIY[29]
Exclaim!6/10[30]
Paste8.2/10[31]
Pitchfork5.2/10[32]
PopMatters6/10[33]
Slant[34]

Stranger Things has received mixed to positive reviews. On Metacritic, the album has a normalized score of 62 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[35] El Hunt from DIY gave Stranger Things four out of five stars, writing "Yuck craft their most immediate, and inescapable record to date[.]"[29] Jesse Nee-Vogelman from Slant gave the album a negative review, calling the album "often little more than a poor imitation of [Yuck's] earlier sound."[34] In a mixed review for Exclaim!, Pierre John Felcenloben cited an "overemphasis on influences" that made the record "more recognizably likeable than imaginative."[30]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Yuck

No.TitleLength
1."Hold Me Closer"3:49
2."Cannonball"2:25
3."Like a Moth"2:52
4."Only Silence"3:52
5."Stranger Things"5:07
6."I'm OK"4:30
7."As I Walk Away"4:17
8."Hearts in Motion"3:22
9."Swirling"5:29
10."Down"4:09
11."Yr Face"6:18
Total length:46:10

[3][36]

Personnel

[edit]
Yuck[21]
  • Max Bloom – lead vocals, guitar
  • Mariko Doi – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "As I Walk Away"[2]
  • Ed Hayes – guitar
  • Jonny Rogoff – drums

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Kaye, Ben (2 February 2016). "Yuck share new track 'Cannonball' – listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wiseman, Stewart (22 January 2016). "Interview with Max Bloom from Yuck." Northern Transmissions. Retrieved 6 February 2016
  3. ^ a b c d Minsker, Evan (12 January 2016). "Yuck Announce Stranger Things, Share "Hearts in Motion", Plot Tour". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Kaye, Ben (12 January 2016). "Yuck announce new album, Stranger Things, share lead single "Hearts in Motion" – listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Murray, Robin (13 January 2016). "Yuck Announce New Album 'Stranger Things'". Clash. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e Adams, Gregory (12 January 2016). "Yuck Detail 'Stranger Things' LP, Premiere New Single". Exclaim!. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Hunt, El (13 January 2016). "Yuck Announce New Album 'Stranger Things'". DIY. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b Hudson, Alex (8 July 2015). "Yuck "Hold Me Closer"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b Coughlan, Jamie (9 July 2015). "Yuck Share Euphoric New Single "Hold Me Closer"". Overblown Webzine. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  10. ^ Yuck. "Hold Me Closer by Yuck". SoundCloud. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  11. ^ a b Coughlin, Jamie (12 January 2016). "Yuck Share 'Hearts In Motion', Announce New Album". Overblown Webzine. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (2 February 2016). "Yuck -"Cannonball"". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  13. ^ Battan, Carrie (15 April 2013). "Yuck Frontman Daniel Blumberg Leaves Band". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Yuck find a new guitarist". YouTube. Yuck. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  15. ^ Hunt, El (7 October 2013). "Yuck: 'There Was Some Weird Shit Going On'". DIY. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Glow & Behold at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  17. ^ Bychawski, Adam (29 August 2013). "Yuck to unveil new member at London gig residency – ticket details". NME. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  18. ^ Cohen, Ian (29 April 2014). "Yuck: Southern Skies EP". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  19. ^ Yuck (15 January 2016). "Yuck Introduces Stranger Things (pre-order now!)". YouTube. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  20. ^ DeVille, Chris (16 April 2014). "Yuck – "Southern Skies" Video & Southern Skies Stream". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  21. ^ a b Oliver, Ben (12 January 2016). "Yuck Announce New Album and US Tour". Listen Hear. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  22. ^ DeVille, Chris (12 January 2016). "Yuck – "Hearts in Motion"". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  23. ^ Mosurock, Doug (17 February 2016). "First Listen: Yuck 'Stranger Things'". NPR. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  24. ^ a b Taylor, Sam (18 February 2016). "Yuck share new live video, stream album 'Stranger Things' in full". Upset. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  25. ^ Yuck (16 February 2016). "YUCK – "Hearts In Motion (Official Live)"". YouTube. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  26. ^ Yuck (25 February 2016). "Yuck's Dads Recommend Stranger Things – Yuck Official YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  27. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Stranger Things – Yuck". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  28. ^ Brennan, Collin (22 February 2016). "Yuck – Stranger Things Album Review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  29. ^ a b Hunt, El (18 February 2016). "Yuck – Stranger Things album review". DIY. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  30. ^ a b Felcenloben, Pierre John (24 February 2016). "Yuck – Stranger Things". Exclaim!. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  31. ^ Hayden, Mack (1 March 2016). "Yuck: Stranger Things Review". Paste. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  32. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (29 February 2016). "Yuck: Stranger Things Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  33. ^ Korber, Kevin (2 March 2016). "Yuck: Stranger Things". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  34. ^ a b Nee-Vogelman, Jesse (30 January 2016). "Yuck: Stranger Things". Slant. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  35. ^ "Reviews for Stranger Things by Yuck – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  36. ^ "Stranger Things by Yuck on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
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