Lycanthropy (album)

Lycanthropy
Studio album by Patrick Wolf
Released July 28, 2003
Genre Folktronica, indietronica
Length 51:30
Label Tomlab
Producer Patrick Wolf
Patrick Wolf chronology
The Patrick Wolf EP
(2002)		 Lycanthropy
(2003)		 Wind in the Wires
(2005)

Lycanthropy is the first studio album by English-Irish singer-songwriter Patrick Wolf and was recorded over the eight years between 1994 and 2002. It was critically acclaimed at the time of its release, as was his next effort, Wind in the Wires.[1]

Track listing

  1. "Prelude" – 1:31
  2. "Wolf Song" – 3:28
  3. "Bloodbeat" – 3:51
  4. "To the Lighthouse" – 4:04
  5. "Pigeon Song" – 3:34
  6. "Don't Say No" – 4:02
  7. "The Childcatcher" – 4:30
  8. "Demolition" – 6:06
  9. "London" – 3:54
  10. "Paris" – 4:44
  11. "Peter Pan" – 1:53
  12. "Lycanthropy" – 4:10
  13. "A Boy Like Me" – 3:28
  14. "Epilogue" – 2:06

Sound

The album has more sampling and distortion than Wolf's subsequent albums. Also, the album features acoustic guitar on a number of the tracks, an instrument Patrick would practically abandon on his later albums in favour of the baritone ukulele.

Lyrical content

Some of the songs have a connection to wolves or werewolves, although not all are immediately apparent. A number of the songs have dark or "mature" undertones, such as the song "The Childcatcher", which tells the story of a boy targeted by a paedophile, and "Lycanthropy", which examines gender dysphoria through abstract lyrics.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Pitchfork Media(8.2/10)[3]
PlayLouder[4]
Sputnik Music[5]
Stylus MagazineB—[6]
Almost Cool Music Reviews[7]

The album was met with positive reviews. Kenyon Hopkin describes the debut as "relentlessly resourceful, never failing to reveal a new instrument."[2] Dan Lett of Pitchfork Media praises the album, describing it as "folk-pop musings in lush blankets of violin, viola, harp and harpsichord, and tricks out the mix with aggressive electronic textures."[3] Lett compliments Wolf's vocals and "A Boy Like Me" as a thoughtful pop songs "for the ubiquitous dissolute youth."[3] Although Lett praises much of the album overall, he notes that the only complaint against the album is its lack of subtlety, "as it's possessed by a heady, pubescent intoxication that can result in some indiscriminate vocalizing."[3] Christopher Kenrick from Sputnik Music also praises the album overall, but offers criticism of "The Childcatcher", which he bills as "depressing"; "Peter Pan", for its short length; and "A Boy Like Me" for the poor electronic sounds.[5] Kenrick compliments the album for crossing genres and the overall strong sounds, especially for "London" and "Paris."[5] Nick Southall from Stylus Magazine offers the most critical evaluation of the album with tongue-in-cheek references to Wolf's canine inspiration, but describes the album in general as "Bizarre and whimsical and freakish and compelling in equal measure."[6] A reviewer at Almost Cool Music reviews offers a similar interpretation of the album, citing it as "both literary and pretentious," but also describes it as one of the best debuts.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Patrick Wolf". Allmusic. Retrieved April 5, 2006.
  2. 1 2 Hopkin, Kenyon. "Lycanthropy – Patrick Wolf". Allmusic. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lett, Dan (April 28, 2004). "Patrick Wolf: Lycanthrophy". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ PlayLouder review Archived November 18, 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 Kenrick, Christopher (1 July 2008). "Patrick Wolf: Lycanthropy". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 Southall, Nick (March 2, 2004). "Patrick Wolf – Lycanthropy – Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Patrick Wolf: Lycanthrophy". Almost Cool Music Reviews. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
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