Slowdive (album)
Slowdive is the fourth studio album by English rock band Slowdive. It was released on 5 May 2017 on record label Dead Oceans. The album is their first since Pygmalion in 1995.[1] The album was preceded by the single "Star Roving", which was released on 12 January 2017.[2][3] This is also the first Slowdive album in 24 years since Souvlaki (1993) to feature the classic line-up as Simon Scott rejoined the band for their reunion.
Slowdive | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 May 2017 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Shoegazing | |||
Length | 45:58 | |||
Label | Dead Oceans | |||
Producer | Neil Halstead | |||
Slowdive chronology | ||||
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Singles from Slowdive | ||||
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Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10[4] |
Metacritic | 82/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B[7] |
Consequence of Sound | A−[8] |
Financial Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.6/10[13] |
The Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10[15] |
Slowdive received acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 30 reviews.[5] Consequence of Sound said that "Slowdive delivers nearly everything their fans desire in a return: familiarity, innovation, and vast atmospheres to get lost in".[8] The Skinny stated that "Slowdive represents an awareness of legacy, and the importance of not pissing all over it; to that extent, it's an essential addition to canon".[16] Drowned in Sound called the album a "majestic return that doesn't just fill in the gaps, but points unflinchingly towards future horizons".[17] Pitchfork said that the album "offers maximum-volume shoegaze too, better than the band ever has before".[13] Exclaim! praised the album, saying that it "certainly was a long wait, but finally Slowdive have given us the album that we have been dreaming about for the last 22 years".[18]
Accolades
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Crack Magazine | The 100 Best Albums of 2017 | 13 |
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Exclaim | Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums of 2017 | 3 |
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Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 30 |
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The 20 Best Rock Albums of 2017 | 8 |
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Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 15 |
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A2IM Libera Awards 2018 | Album of the Year 2018 | 1 |
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Opinion Police | The Best Song of the 2010s (Star Roving) | 1 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Neil Halstead, except where stated.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Slomo" |
| 6:53 |
2. | "Star Roving" | 5:39 | |
3. | "Don't Know Why" | 4:36 | |
4. | "Sugar for the Pill" |
| 4:31 |
5. | "Everyone Knows" | 4:22 | |
6. | "No Longer Making Time" | 5:48 | |
7. | "Go Get It" |
| 6:09 |
8. | "Falling Ashes" |
| 8:00 |
Total length: | 45:58 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
9. | "30 June" | 7:25 |
Personnel
Slowdive
- Neil Halstead – vocals, guitars, keys and editing, production
- Rachel Goswell – vocals
- Christian Savill – guitars
- Nick Chaplin – bass guitar
- Simon Scott – drums, guitar and electronics
Additional personnel
- Ian Davenport – engineering
- Duncan Chave – additional engineering
- Martin Nichols – additional engineering
- Gareth Stuart – additional engineering
- Steve Clarke – additional vocal engineering
- Chris Coady – mixing
- Sarah Tudzin – mixing assistant
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Josh Bonati – vinyl cut
- Harry Smith – cover art
- Ingrid Pop – inner sleeve photo and art direction
Charts
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 64 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] | 29 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] | 53 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[30] | 72 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[31] | 38 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] | 49 |
French Albums (SNEP)[33] | 122 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] | 33 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[35] | 45 |
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[36] | 7 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[37] | 26 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[38] | 12 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[39] | 36 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] | 79 |
UK Albums (OCC)[41] | 16 |
US Billboard 200[42] | 50 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[43] | 3 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[44] | 5 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[45] | 11 |
References
- Pearce, Sheldon (28 March 2017). "Slowdive Announce First New Album in 22 Years, Share 'Sugar for the Pill' Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- Minsker, Evan (12 January 2017). "Listen to Slowdive's First New Track in 22 Years, 'Star Roving'". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
- Blistein, John. "Hear Slowdive's Celestial First Song in 22 Years 'Star Roving'". Rolling Stone. 2018 Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "Slowdive by Slowdive reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
- "Reviews and Tracks for Slowdive by Slowdive". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- Sendra, Tim. "Slowdive – Slowdive". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- Fredette, Meagan (5 May 2017). "Slowdive returns after 22 years with a tentative step toward pop". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- Kliebhan, TJ (4 May 2017). "Slowdive – Slowdive". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (12 May 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive — 'shoegaze nostalgia'". Financial Times. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- Gibsone, Harriet (4 May 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive review – jewel-like, spacious return by shoegaze originals". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- Male, Andrew (5 May 2017). "Slowdive – Slowdive". Mojo. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- Morris, Damien (7 May 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive review – the band they always wanted to be". The Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- Collins, Sean T. (8 May 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Hodgkinson, Will (5 May 2017). "Pop: Slowdive: Slowdive". The Times. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- Bonner, Michael (June 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive". Uncut (241): 27.
- Harman, Duncan (2 May 2017). "Slowdive – Slowdive". The Skinny. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- Gourlay, Dom (5 May 2017). "Album Review: Slowdive – Slowdive". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- Lindsay, Cam (3 May 2017). "Slowdive: Slowdive". Exclaim!. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- Crack Staff (December 2017). "The 100 Best Albums of 2017". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- Exclaim Staff (29 November 2017). "Exclaim!'s Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums, 10 to 1". Exclaim. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- Sodomsky, Sam (13 December 2017). "The 20 Best Rock Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- Stereogum Staff (5 December 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- "Nominees". A2IM LIBERA AWARDS. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- "The Best 100 Songs of the 2010s". Opinion Police. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
- https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/workID/893078169
- "ARIA Chart Watch #420". auspOp. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Slowdive – Slowdive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Ultratop.be – Slowdive – Slowdive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Slowdive Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Slowdive – Slowdive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Slowdive: Slowdive" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
- "Lescharts.com – Slowdive – Slowdive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Slowdive – Slowdive" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Irish Albums Chart: 12 May 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Portuguesecharts.com – Slowdive – Slowdive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- "Swedishcharts.com – Slowdive – Slowdive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
- "Swisscharts.com – Slowdive – Slowdive". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- "Slowdive Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- "Slowdive Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- "Slowdive Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- "Slowdive Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 August 2019.