Muzz (album)

Muzz is the eponymous studio album by American rock supergroup Muzz. The album was released on June 5, 2020, through Matador Records.

Muzz
Studio album by
Muzz
ReleasedJune 5, 2020 (2020-06-05)
LabelMatador
Singles from Muzz
  1. "Bad Feeling"
    Released: March 5, 2020[1]
  2. "Broken Tambourine"
    Released: March 24, 2020[2]
  3. "Red Western Sky"
    Released: April 15, 2020[3]
  4. "Knuckleduster"
    Released: May 28, 2020[4]

Four singles were released ahead of the album: "Bad Feeling", "Red Western Sky", "Broken Tambourine", and "Knuckleduster".

The album was met with positive critical reception, with contemporary music journalists praising Paul Banks' vocals in a softer setting.

Background

The members of Muzz: Paul Banks, Josh Kaufman, and Matt Barrick, have been friends since the early 2000s, during the height of the New York City post-punk revival scene. The three began recording demos, which laid the foundation for Muzz as far back as 2015. In late 2019 into early 2020, the band began recording material for a studio album under the name "Muzz".[5]

On April 15, 2020, the album was announced, corresponding with their third single, "Red Western Sky".[6]

Release and promotion

Singles

Muzz releases four singles prior to their self-titled album. The first single, "Bad Feeling", was released on March 5, 2020.[1] "Broken Tambourine", the first official single through Matador,[7] came out a few weeks later, on March 24.[5][2]

On April 15, 2020, the third single "Red Western Sky" was released,[8] along with an accompanying music video.[9]

"Knuckleduster" was the fourth and final single released. The single was released on May 28, 2020, a week ahead of the album's release.[10][11]

Music videos

The first music video released was for "Broken Tambourine", on March 24, 2020.[2] The music video was produced by Banks, while Griffin Frazen provided creative direction and animation.[12] The music video features an astronaut traveling and fall through outer space.[13]

On April 15, 2020, the music video for "Red Western Sky" was released.[14] The music video features the band performing in the American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks, Pennsylvania.[15] The video was directed by Derek Sexton Horani and Michael Andrade.[16]

On May 28, 2020, the music video for "Knuckleduster" debuted. The music video, directed by Horani, features the band playing in a loading bay basement underneath an arena.[11]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
Clash9/10[19]
DIY[20]
Exclaim!8/10[21]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[22]
Loud and Quiet4/10[23]
NME[24]
Pitchfork6.5/10[25]
Under the Radar8/10[26]

Muzz was met with "generally favorable" 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 75, based on 12 reviews.[17] Aggregator Album of the Year gave the album a score of 74 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of 15 reviews.[27]

Track listing
Muzz track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Bad Feeling"2:38
2."Evergreen"4:43
3."Red Western Sky"3:13
4."Patchouli"3:29
5."Everything Like It Used To Be"3:53
6."Broken Tambourine"5:21
7."Knuckleduster"4:28
8."Chubby Checker"2:43
9."How Many Days"3:05
10."Summer Love"4:03
11."All Is Dead To Me"3:36
12."Trinidad"2:08

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] 140
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 119
Scottish Albums (OCC)[30] 41
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[31] 19
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[32] 96

References
  1. Lavin, Will (March 5, 2020). "Interpol's Paul Banks forms new band Muzz – listen to first single 'Bad Feeling'". NME. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. Trendell, Andrew (March 24, 2020). "Paul Banks of Interpol's new supergroup Muzz share new single 'Broken Tambourine'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  3. Kenneally, Cerys (April 15, 2020). "Muzz announce self-titled debut album with lead cut "Red Western Sky"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  4. "Muzz share new track 'Knuckleduster'". DIY. May 28, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  5. Bloom, Madison. "Paul Banks' New Band Muzz Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  6. Hussey, Allison (April 15, 2020). "Muzz Announce Debut Album, Share New Song "Red Western Sky": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  7. Enis, Eli (March 24, 2020). "Paul Banks' New Band Muzz Shares First Official Single "Broken Tambourine": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  8. Kaye, Ben (April 15, 2020). "Muzz (Paul Banks, Josh Kaufman, Matt Barrick) Announce Debut Album". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  9. Trendell, Andrew (April 15, 2020). "New indie supergroup Muzz drop new single 'Red Western Sky' and tell us about their "classic" debut album". NME. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  10. Seah, Daniel (May 28, 2020). "Listen: Knuckleduster by Muzz, a Trio Fronted by Interpol's Paul Banks". Guitar.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  11. Shaffer, Claire (May 28, 2020). "Paul Banks' New Band Muzz Play a Museum Gig in 'Knuckleduster' Clip". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  12. "VIDEO : MUZZ – "Broken Tambourine"". Newsbreak.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  13. Kenneally, Cerys (March 24, 2020). "Muzz return with fresh cut "Broken Tambourine"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  14. DeLeo, Isabella (April 15, 2020). "Muzz Announce New Self-Titled Album and Share Single, "Red Western Sky"". Paste. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  15. Helman, Peter (April 15, 2020). "Muzz Announce Debut Album, Share "Red Western Sky"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  16. Pearis, Bill (April 15, 2020). "Interpol offshoot Muzz announce debut album, share "Red Western Sky"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  17. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  18. Phares, Heather. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  19. Smith, Mat (June 3, 2020). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  20. Tousssaint, Martin. "DIY Magazine Review". DIY. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  21. Augustine, Anthony (June 4, 2020). "Interpol/Walkmen Supergroup Muzz Assert Their Own Unique Identity on Self-Titled Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  22. Kuscher, Oliver (June 5, 2020). "Pedigree indie trio Muzz prove why they're masters of their craft on a spacious and cinematic debut". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  23. Walton, Sam (June 1, 2020). "Loud and Quiet Review". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  24. Trendell, Andrew (June 5, 2020). "Muzz – 'Muzz' review: cinematic and stately Americana from members of Interpol and The Walkmen". NME. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  25. Schonfeld, Zach (June 4, 2020). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  26. Raven, Matt the (June 4, 2020). "Muzz: Muzz". Under the Radar. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  28. "Ultratop.be – Muzz – Muzz" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  29. "Ultratop.be – Muzz – Muzz" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  30. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  31. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  32. "Muzz Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
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