Sparkle Hard

Sparkle Hard is the seventh studio album by American rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on May 18, 2018 by Matador Records and Domino Records.[1] It reached #174 on the Billboard 200 charts,[2] and peaked at #64 on the Official UK Charts.[3]

Sparkle Hard
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 18, 2018
StudioHalfling Studios, Portland, Oregon
Length43:41
Label
ProducerChris Funk
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks chronology
Wig Out at Jagbags
(2014)
Sparkle Hard
(2018)
Singles from Sparkle Hard
  1. "Middle America"
    Released: February 7, 2018
  2. "Shiggy"
    Released: March 26, 2018
  3. "Refute"
    Released: April 25, 2018

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[4]
Metacritic84/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
The A.V. ClubB+[7]
Financial Times[8]
The Guardian[9]
Mojo[10]
The Observer[11]
Pitchfork8.0/10[12]
Q[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
Uncut8/10[15]

Sparkle Hard has received acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on 26 reviews.[5] Jem Aswad of Variety said, "With nary a weak track, Sparkle Hard finds Malkmus hitting a new peak nearly 30 years into his career."[16]

Several publications ended up naming it one of the best albums of 2018, including Rolling Stone,[17] Spin,[18] Q,[19] Uncut,[20] Mojo,[21] Under the Radar,[22] Consequence of Sound,[23] and many others.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Stephen Malkmus.

No.TitleLength
1."Cast Off"2:54
2."Future Suite"2:43
3."Solid Silk"4:37
4."Bike Lane"3:34
5."Middle America"3:31
6."Rattler"3:08
7."Shiggy"3:16
8."Kite"6:40
9."Brethren"2:51
10."Refute"3:24
11."Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels"7:03
Total length:43:41

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[24]

  • Stephen Malkmus – vocals, songwriting, guitar, mellotron, piano, Memorymoog, bass
  • Joanna Bolme – bass, backing vocals
  • Mike Clark – keyboards, JUNO synthesizer
  • Jake Morris – drums, backing vocals, percussion
  • Chris Funk – production, acoustic slide guitar (10)
  • Kim Gordon – vocals (10)
  • Kyleen King – strings (3, 9)
  • Luke Price – fiddle (10)
  • JJ Golden – lacquer cut
  • Adam Lee – recording, mixing
  • Orion Landau – design
  • James Rexroad – photography

References

  1. Cook-Wilson, Winston (March 26, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Announce New Album Sparkle Hard, Release "Shiggy"". Spin. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  2. "Stephen Malkmus". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  3. "sparkle hard | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  4. "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  5. "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  6. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sparkle Hard – Stephen Malkmus / Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. Williams, Matt (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Sparkle Hard". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks: Sparkle Hard — 'disheveled rock songs'". Financial Times. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  9. Simpson, Dave (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – fuzzy logic and killer tunes". The Guardian. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  10. Cameron, Keith (June 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Mojo. No. 295. p. 94.
  11. Mardles, Paul (May 20, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – a reanimated rock eccentric". The Observer. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  12. Rytlewski, Evan (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  13. Oldham, James (July 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Q. No. 386. p. 115.
  14. Dolan, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard' Is Full of Golden Guitars and Warm Vibes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  15. Anderson, Jason (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Sparkle Hard". Uncut. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  16. Aswad, Jem (May 18, 2018). "Album Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard'". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  17. Shteamer, Jon Dolan,Brendan Klinkenberg,Maura Johnston,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Christian Hoard,Christopher R. Weingarten,Charles Holmes,Elias Leight,Suzy Exposito,Rob Sheffield,Jonathan Bernstein,Brittany Spanos,Will Hermes,Kory Grow,Hank; Dolan, Jon; Klinkenberg, Brendan; Johnston, Maura; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Hoard, Christian; Weingarten, Christopher R.; Holmes, Charles; Leight, Elias (2018-12-13). "50 Best Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  18. "51 Best Albums of 2018: Staff Picks". Spin. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  19. "Albums Of The Year 2018".
  20. "Introducing the new Uncut... and our Review Of The Year!". UNCUT. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  21. "Kate Bush Heads Up MOJO's Best Of 2018 Issue". Mojo. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  22. "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2018 | Under the Radar - Music Magazine". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  23. "Top 50 Albums of 2018". Consequence of Sound. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  24. Sparkle Hard (Liner notes). Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Matador Records. 2018. OLE-1328-1.CS1 maint: others (link)
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