| All Born Screaming | ||||
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| Released | April 26, 2024 | |||
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| Length | 41:14 | |||
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| Producer | St. Vincent | |||
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| Singles from All Born Screaming | ||||
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All Born Screaming is the seventh studio album by American musician St. Vincent, released on April 26, 2024, through Total Pleasure Records and Virgin Music Group. Described as "post-plague pop",[3] the album was self-produced by Vincent and features musical contributions from several artists. It was preceded by the singles: "Broken Man", "Flea" and "Big Time Nothing".
Background and promotion
On February 16, 2024, the musician first spoke about the record, saying how she "needed to go deeper in finding [her] own sonic vocabulary" and likes to refer to the album as "post-plague pop".[4] All Born Screaming marks the first studio album entirely produced by Clark herself, alongside additional mixing by Cian Riordan. The record features contributions from Dave Grohl, Cate Le Bon, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Josh Freese, Stella Mozgawa, Rachel Eckroth, Mark Guiliana, and David Ralicke of Dengue Fever.[5] Trying to explain the sound of the album, Clark compared it to "taking the long walk into the woods alone" in order to find the messages of your heart. As a result, she opined that it "sounds real because it is real".[6]
Clark shared the lead single "Broken Man", an "industrial menacing rock" piece, on February 29, 2024, along with a music video directed by Alex Da Corte.[7] During the video, she bursts into flames, an image that is also depicted as the album artwork.[8] A second single, "Flea", was released on March 28, the same day the All Born Screaming Tour was officially announced.[9]
Writing and recording
As soon as St Vincent's previous studio album, Daddy's Home (2021), was released, Clark immediately began writing for its follow-up.[10] Clark began experimenting with drum machines and modular synths where she said she ended up making "hours and hours of esoteric post-industrial dance music" on her own.[11] During this experimentation period, Clark got into microdosing on psychedelics.[11]
All Born Screaming was recorded at six studios in three cities, including Clark's own Compound Fracture studio in Los Angeles, Electric Lady Studios in New York and Electrical Audio in Chicago.[12] It is Clark's self-produced first album. Clark felt a need to self-produce the album as there "were sounds in my head that, really, only I could render" and wanting to be seen as a singular artist with greater control over her own work.[12] Paste described All Born Screaming as "career-spanning time capsule harboring the flourishes of her greatest eras" that incorporates elements of lounge, noise rock, baroque, funk, chamber pop and electronica.[12]
Regarding the album's title, Clark noted: "We’re all born in some ways against our will. But at the same time, if you’re born screaming, it’s a great sign – it’s a sign you’re alive. We’re all born in protest, so screaming is what it means to be alive."[13] Clark elaborated: "I've known I was going to make a record called All Born Screaming since I was 23, but I just wasn’t ready. I wasn’t really worthy of the title, ’cause you have to live a lot to be worthy of a title that really says it all. It’s the beauty, it’s the brutality, and it’s all part of the same continuum."[14]
"Big Time Nothing" is synth and bass-driven funky dance-pop track that Clark says reminds her of the "early '90s London … The Prodigy, sort of, like, rave moment". The track's verse, which is delivered in a spoken-word style, came from Clark's own "constant inner monologue of depression and anxiety".[15] The track "Sweetest Fruit" includes an ode to Sophie, a music producer whom Clark admired and who died in 2021, and is about "people trying for transcendence, and at least they were taking a big swing or trying for something beautiful".[16]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10[18] |
| Metacritic | 89/100[17] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [19] |
| Clash | 9/10[20] |
| Financial Times |  [21] |
| The Guardian | [22] |
| The Independent | [23] |
| iNews | [24] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[25] |
| NME | [26] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[27] |
| Rolling Stone | [28] |
All Born Screaming received a score of 89 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 17 critics' reviews, which the website categorized as "universal acclaim".[17] In a five-star review, Alexis Petridis of The Guardian praised Clark's "beautifully honed skill as a songwriter" and the "personality she imprints across the album".[22] Petridis highlights how Clark takes inspiration from the music of her youth such as Tori Amos and Nine Inch Nails while adding her own unique ideas to avoid swerving into "90s revivialism".[22] The Independent in their four-star review praised the album's runtime and cohesion as a "tight and digestible affair" with Clark allowing herself "a bit of indulgence" on the seven-minute album closing track that builds over time.[23] Some reviews noted how All Born Screaming departs from the 1970s rock of Clark's previous work Daddy's Home. iNews called it a "striking departure" with praise for the album's lyrical themes that draw on "experiences of death and loss, and references to mortality abound".[24] Similarly, the Financial Times commended Clark's ability to undergo a Bowie-esque reinvention with a "rebirth" that focusses less on taking on a persona and more on writing songs that cut "very close to the bone".[21] Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork felt that the two singles that preceded the album, "Flea" and "Broken Man", do not accurately represent the album's "sensitive and introspective" moments. The Line of Best Fit concurred with this sentiment.[25] D'Souza called All Born Screaming Clark's "most hopeful record to date".[27] Jordan Bassett, in a four-star review for NME, praised the vulnerability displayed by Clark with lyrics "besieged by loss", making the album her "most generous and open statement yet".[26]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Annie Clark, except "Big Time Nothing", written by Clark and Cate Le Bon.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hell Is Near" | 4:09 |
| 2. | "Reckless" | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Broken Man" | 3:21 |
| 4. | "Flea" | 3:47 |
| 5. | "Big Time Nothing" | 2:59 |
| 6. | "Violent Times" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "The Power's Out" | 4:38 |
| 8. | "Sweetest Fruit" | 3:56 |
| 9. | "So Many Planets" | 3:35 |
| 10. | "All Born Screaming" (featuring Cate Le Bon) | 6:55 |
| Total length: | 41:14 | |
Personnel
Musicians
- Annie Clark – lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (tracks 1–3, 5–8, 10), bass (1, 4–8); 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, electric piano (1); drum programming (2–10), guitar (3–10), modular synthesizer (3, 6), background vocals (4), organ (4), contrabass (6), theremin (9)
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass (tracks 1–4, 6, 8–10), synthesizer (1, 9); drum programming, guitar (2, 10); electric upright bass (2), background vocals (4), contrabass (6), percussion (7), effects (9), tambourine (10)
- Rachel Eckroth – upright piano (track 1), keyboards (2, 9); organ, piano (2)
- Josh Freese – drums (tracks 1, 9)
- Dave Grohl – drums (tracks 3, 4)
- Cian Riordan – drums (tracks 3, 5), bass (6–8)
- Mark Guiliana – drums (tracks 3, 6)
- David Ralicke – saxophone (track 3), horns (5, 6, 8, 9)
- Cate Le Bon – bass (tracks 7, 10), background vocals (10)
- Stella Mozgawa – drums (track 10)
Technical
- St. Vincent – production, engineering
- Ruairi O'Flaherty – mastering
- Cian Riordan – mixing, engineering
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 7–10)
References
- ^ McCormick, Neil (April 26, 2024). "Pet Shop Boys are as lively as ever, St Vincent makes an art-rock classic – the week's best albums". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ D'Souza, Shaad. "St. Vincent: All Born Screaming Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Hatfield, Amanda (February 16, 2024). "St. Vincent talks "darker" new album ft. Dave Grohl & Cate Le Bon". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Hatfield, Amanda (February 16, 2024). "St. Vincent talks "darker" new album ft. Dave Grohl & Cate Le Bon". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (February 29, 2024). "St. Vincent Enlists Dave Grohl, Cate Le Bon, and More for New Album, Shares Song and Video: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Vito, Jo (February 29, 2024). "St. Vincent Announces New Album All Born Screaming, Unveils Single "Broken Man": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (February 29, 2024). "St Vincent shares "gnarly" "Broken Man" with Dave Grohl and tells us about "agony and ecstasy" of new album All Born Screaming". NME. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (February 29, 2024). "St. Vincent Returns With Fiery Single "Broken Man" From Upcoming Album All Born Screaming". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 28, 2024). "St. Vincent Announces Tour, Shares New Song "Flea": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (February 29, 2024). "St Vincent unveils details of her first self-produced album, All Born Screaming". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Wright, Lisa (April 22, 2024). "St Vincent dives into her fiery seventh record 'All Born Screaming'". DIY. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Mitchell, Matt (April 24, 2024). "St. Vincent Crawls Through the Fire". Paste. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Levine, Nick (April 26, 2024). "St. Vincent: "When I think about music that I love, I don't give a shit what the artist was thinking"". NME. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Hiatt, Brian (April 27, 2024). "How St. Vincent Unlocked Her Realest Album Yet". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Curley, John (April 25, 2024). "'All Born Screaming' is peak St. Vincent". Goldmine. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Cragg, Michael (March 2, 2024). "'I'd rather people scratch their heads than yawn': St Vincent on death, Dave Grohl and dividing her fans". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "All Born Screaming by St. Vincent". Metacritic. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "All Born Screaming by St. Vincent reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "All Born Screaming – St. Vincent | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ Walker-Smart, Sam (April 18, 2024). "St. Vincent - All Born Screaming". Clash. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (April 24, 2024). "St Vincent balances rawness and artifice on All Born Screaming — album review". Financial Times. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Petridis, Alexis (April 25, 2024). "St Vincent: All Born Screaming review – the unmasking of a great American songwriter". The Guardian. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Chilton, Louis (April 25, 2024). "St Vincent, All Born Screaming review: Lush and ethereal pop music that thrills in bursts". The Independent. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Power, Ed (April 24, 2024). "St Vincent, All Born Screaming review: A scorching rumination on mortality". i. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Williams, Tom (April 25, 2024). "St Vincent tackles terrifying internal depths on All Born Screaming". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Bassett, Jordan (April 24, 2024). "St. Vincent – All Born Screaming review: life, death and Dave Grohl on drums". NME. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ a b D'Souza, Shaad (April 25, 2024). "St. Vincent: All Born Screaming Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Dolan, Jon (April 26, 2024). "St. Vincent Gets Primal on All Born Screaming". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
External links
- All Born Screaming at Discogs (list of releases)
