Helioself
Helioself is the second album by Papas Fritas, released in 1997.[6][7] According to the band's website, "Helioself is the name of the mythical Sun-Ra sessions that were so powerful ... they were sealed away in a lost vault by request of the Ra himself because the world was not ready for such harmonic energy."[8]
Helioself | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 22, 1997 | |||
Genre | indie rock, pop music | |||
Length | 35:01 | |||
Label | Minty Fresh[1] | |||
Producer | Papas Fritas | |||
Papas Fritas chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[4] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [5] |
Ivy covered Helioself's third track, "Say Goodbye," on their 2002 album Guestroom.[9]
Production
The album was recorded at frontman Tony Goddess's home studio, in Gloucester, Massachusetts.[10]
Critical reception
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide wrote that the album "catalogs a whole crateful of airy pop influences to create an organic, indie-pop masterpiece."[5] Trouser Press wrote that "it flows like a well- programmed jukebox: unified by a rustic disposition, the album’s stylistic diversity feels comfortably natural, the songs instantly familiar without being selfconscious or specifically derivative."[11] The Chicago Reader wrote that "the band's musical cataloging of its forebears can get annoying at times, but for the most part the sheer sunniness of the melodies diminishes these shortcomings."[12]
Track listing
All songs written by Papas Fritas (Shivika Asthana, Keith Gendel, and Tony Goddess).
- "Hey Hey You Say" – 3:14
- "We've Got All Night" – 3:04
- "Say Goodbye" – 4:04
- "Small Rooms" – 2:23
- "Rolling in the Sand" – 1:48
- "Live by the Water" – 2:45
- "Words to Sing" – 2:48
- "Sing About Me" – 2:28
- "Just to See You" – 3:54
- "Captain of the City" – 3:50
- "Weight" – 1:49
- "Starting to Be It" – 2:54
Personnel
- Shivika Asthana: drums, vocals
- Keith Gendel: bass, vocals
- Tony Goddess: guitar, piano, vocals
- Shivika Asthana, Maria Le Rossow: tapping ("Weight")
- Bryan Hanna: additional percussion ("Hey Hey You Say," "Weight")
Production notes
Engineered by Bryan Hanna at the Columnated Ruins (Gloucester, Mass.). Mixed by Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade at Fort Apache (Cambridge, Mass). Mastered by Roger Siebel at SAE (Phoenix, Ariz.). Protection by Michael Hafitz. Direction by Peter Leak for the New York End Ltd. Special thanks to Jim Powers and Anthony Musiala.
References
- "Papas Fritas".
- Erlewine, Stephen. Helioself at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Volume 6: MUZE. p. 403.CS1 maint: location (link)
- Romero, Michele (May 2, 1997). "Music Review: Helioself". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 856.
- "Papas Fritas | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- "Papas Fritas". NPR.org.
- "Papas Fritas: Discography". Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- Wilson, MacKenzie. "Guestroom review". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
- "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. CMJ Network, Inc. June 9, 1997 – via Google Books.
- "Papas Fritas". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Margasak, Peter. "Papas Fritas". Chicago Reader.