Lost in Alphaville
Lost in Alphaville | ||||
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Studio album by The Rentals | ||||
Released |
August 22, 2014 (digital) August 25, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2013 in Los Angeles, Nashville and New Orleans[1] | |||
Genre | Alternative rock | |||
Length | 40:19 | |||
Label | Polyvinyl Records | |||
Producer | Matt Sharp, The Rentals[2] | |||
The Rentals chronology | ||||
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Singles from Lost in Alphaville | ||||
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Lost in Alphaville is the third full-length studio album by The Rentals, released on August 25, 2014, through Polyvinyl Records. The album is available on CD, vinyl, cassette and as a digital download.[3] It marks the band's first full-length album since their 1999 release Seven More Minutes and their first-ever release through Polyvinyl, who they signed with in December 2013.[1]
Background and recording
After The Rentals disbanded following the tour for 1999's Seven More Minutes, the band reunited in 2005 and released The Last Little Life EP as well as four mini-albums as part of their multimedia project Songs About Time throughout 2009.[1]
On December 5, 2013, Matt Sharp announced that The Rentals had signed with Polyvinyl Records for the release of their forthcoming studio album, which would be their first full-length in 15 years.[1][2] The album, recorded in Los Angeles, Nashville and New Orleans, is mostly made up of newly rerecorded songs from Songs About Time and features The Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney, Lucius' Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig on vocals, Ozma's guitarist Ryen Slegr and Lauren Chipman of The Section Quartet on viola and piano.[1] Sharp and the band are credited with producing the album and it was mixed by Grammy-winning producer Dave Sardy.[2]
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100[4] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [5] |
The A.V. Club | C+[6] |
Consequence of Sound | C[7] |
DIY | [8] |
NME | 7/10[9] |
Paste | 8/10[10] |
Pitchfork Media | 6.9/10[11] |
Popmatters | [12] |
Sputnikmusic | [13] |
Under the Radar | [14] |
Lost in Alphaville has received mostly positive feedback from music critics. At Metacritic, they assign a "weighted average" rating out of 100 to selected independent ratings and reviews from mainstream critics, and the album has received an Metascore of a 69, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[4]
Tim Sendra of AllMusic calls the album "a huge-sounding modern indie rock album with a glossy sheen on the surface, but all kinds of heart beating just below."[5] Giving the album an eight out of ten rating, Jeff Milo of Paste writes, "It’s far from the slapped-together shambolic style of ‘90s power-pop; no, this sounds much more arranged, almost like tightened chamber pop if it were clouded by the murk of shoegaze."[10]
Chart performance
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[15] | 200 |
US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[16] | 7 |
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Matt Sharp.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "It's Time to Come Home" | 4:00 |
2. | "Traces of Our Tears" | 3:25 |
3. | "Stardust" | 2:48 |
4. | "1000 Seasons" | 3:15 |
5. | "Damaris" | 4:54 |
6. | "Irrational Things" | 4:14 |
7. | "Thought of Sound" | 3:44 |
8. | "Song of Remembering" | 3:37 |
9. | "Seven Years" | 4:34 |
10. | "The Future" | 5:48 |
Total length: |
40:19 |
Japanese edition with bonus track | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
11. | "Thought of Sound" (Outtake) | 3:22 |
Total length: |
43:41 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic:[17]
The Rentals
- Matt Sharp - Vocals, Bass, Synthesizers
- Jess Wolfe - Vocals
- Holly Laessig - Vocals
- Ryen Slegr - Guitars, Lap Steel Guitar
- Patrick Carney - Drums, Percussion
- Lauren Chipman - Fender Rhodes, Organ, Piano, Viola, Violin
Additional musicians
- Joey Santiago - Guitar
- Danielle Belén - Violin
- Jamie Blake - Breathing, Vocal Effect
- Roger Moutenot - Percussion
- Dan Joeright - Drum Loop, Percussion
- The West Los Angeles Children's Choir
Production
- The Rentals - Producer
- Matt Sharp - Engineer, Producer
- Roger Moutenot - Engineer
- Adam Bednarik - Engineer
- Dave Sardy - Mixing
- Patrick Doyle - Engineer, Preparation Engineer
- Andy Brohard - Mixing
- Cameron Barton - Mixing Assistant
- Ryan Smith - Mastering
- Lauren Chipman - Choir Director
- Bryan Bos - Artwork, Design
- Tim Reynolds - Artwork, Design
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States | August 25, 2014 | Polyvinyl |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "The Rentals Sign to Polyvinyl for First Album in 15 Years". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media LLC. December 5, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "The Rentals Set First Album in 15 Years, With Black Keys' Patrick Carney on Drums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 5, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ↑ "Lost in Alphaville: The Rentals: Music". Amazon.com. ASIN B00LPQXXQ6. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- 1 2 Metacritic. "Reviews for Lost in Alphaville by The Rentals". CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- 1 2 Sendra, Tim. "Lost in Alphaville - The Rentals - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Mincher, Chris (August 26, 2014). "The Rentals’ latest is a mismatched patchwork of their past". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ Gerber, Justin (August 14, 2014). "The Rentals - Lost In Alphaville". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ↑ Walters, Tom (August 29, 2014). "The Rentals – Lost in Alphaville". DIY. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ Beaumont, Mark (September 7, 2014). "The Rentals – 'Lost In Alphaville'". NME. Inspire. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- 1 2 Milo, Jeff (August 26, 2014). "The Rentals: Lost In Alphaville Review". Paste. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ↑ Berman, Stuart (August 13, 2014). "Album Review: The Rentals: Lost in Alphaville". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
- ↑ Korber, Kevin (August 27, 2014). "The Rentals: Lost In Alphaville". Popmatters. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Review: The Rentals - Lost In Alphaville". Sputnikmusic. August 26, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
- ↑ Passman, Aaron (August 29, 2014). "The Rentals: Lost in Alphaville (Polyviny) Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
- ↑ "The Rentals – Chart history" Billboard 200 for The Rentals.
- ↑ "The Rentals – Chart history" Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for The Rentals.
- ↑ "Lost in Alphaville - The Rentals - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
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