Antisocialites

Last updated
Antisocialites
Antisocialites - Alvvays (Band) Album Cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2017 (2017-09-08)
Studio
Genre Indie pop
Length32:36
Label
Producer Alec O'Hanley, John Congleton
Alvvays chronology
Alvvays
(2014)
Antisocialites
(2017)
Blue Rev
(2022)
Singles from Antisocialites
  1. "In Undertow"
    Released: June 6, 2017
  2. "Dreams Tonite"
    Released: July 25, 2017
  3. "Plimsoll Punks"
    Released: August 18, 2017

Antisocialites is the second studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on September 8, 2017, through Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain, Transgressive and Inertia.

Contents

Recording and production

According to frontwoman Molly Rankin, Antisocialites was recorded using a combination of Pro Tools and a TASCAM 488 8-track recorder. [1]

Musical style

The music is described by fans as having a more focused and radio-friendly sound than their self-titled album, [2] while incorporating their original fuzzy styled guitars with catchy indie rock hooks.

Critical reception

Antisocialites received positive reviews from critics. In a review from Pitchfork , critic Marc Hogan praised the album as being "thoroughly accomplished". [3] Several critics noted that the album was darker than the band's 2014 debut -- Paste Magazine writer Steven Edelstone found the band's comparatively more serious lyrical content as "uneasy", but still a "record that begs to be blasted on road trips and at rooftop parties", [4] while Mike Katzif of NPR interpreted the album's lead track "In Undertow" as a "darker spiritual sequel" to their 2014 breakthrough single "Archie, Marry Me". [5] Canadian music magazine Exclaim ranked Antisocialites as their #1 album in their 2017 year-end list of pop and rock albums, drawing attention to the album's songwriting and "plain and simple" approach. [6]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.3/10 [7]
Metacritic 77/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The A.V. Club B+ [10]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
Exclaim! 9/10 [12]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [3]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Uncut 7/10 [16]
Vice A− [17]

Accolades

Antisocialites won the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year in 2018. [18] The album was also a shortlisted finalist for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize. [19]

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Exclaim Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums of 2017
1
[6]
The Guardian The best albums of 2017
29
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2017
17
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2017
31
The Ringer The Best Albums of 2017
3

Track listing

All tracks are written by Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley

No.TitleLength
1."In Undertow"3:17
2."Dreams Tonite"3:16
3."Plimsoll Punks"4:50
4."Your Type"2:04
5."Not My Baby"4:16
6."Hey"2:49
7."Lollipop (Ode to Jim)"3:18
8."Already Gone"3:04
9."Saved by a Waif"2:59
10."Forget About Life"2:43
Total length:32:36
B-sides
No.TitleLength
1."Pecking Order"2:47
2."Echolalia"1:16
3."Supine Equine"1:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes. [24]

Alvvays

Additional musicians

Technical and artwork

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [25] 36
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ) [26] 8
Scottish Albums (OCC) [27] 22
UK Albums (OCC) [28] 28
US Billboard 200 [29] 82
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [30] 9
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [31] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [32] 14

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Two Hours Traffic</span> Canadian indie rock band

Two Hours Traffic was a Canadian indie rock band, based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. They are named after a line in the prologue to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Critics have drawn comparisons to 1970s power pop band Big Star, but the band members tend to cite Nick Lowe as a prime influence. The band was nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2008 for the album Little Jabs. In 2013, the band performed on their final tour, disbanding afterward.

<i>Barragán</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Blonde Redhead

Barragán is the ninth studio album by American alternative rock band Blonde Redhead. It was released on September 2, 2014 by Kobalt Label Services. The album was produced, engineered and mixed by Drew Brown, and was recorded at Key Club Recording in Benton Harbor, Michigan and the Magic Shop in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvvays</span> Canadian indie pop band

Alvvays is a Canadian indie pop band formed in 2011, originating from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and subsequently based in Toronto, Ontario. It consists of Molly Rankin, Kerri MacLellan (keyboards), Alec O'Hanley (guitars), Abbey Blackwell (bass), and Sheridan Riley (drums). Their self-titled debut studio album, released in 2014, topped the US college charts. Their second studio album, Antisocialites, was released on September 8, 2017. Their third studio album, Blue Rev, was released on October 7, 2022.

<i>Alvvays</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Alvvays

Alvvays is the debut studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on July 22, 2014, by Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain and Transgressive.

<i>The Impossible Kid</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Aesop Rock

The Impossible Kid is the seventh studio album by American hip hop artist Aesop Rock. It was released on April 29, 2016, through Rhymesayers Entertainment. The production was handled by Aesop Rock himself. The cover art was created by Alex Pardee.

<i>Pleasure</i> (Feist album) 2017 studio album by Feist

Pleasure is the fifth studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Feist, released on 28 April 2017, through Universal Music Canada. Thematically, the album is said to explore "emotional limits ... loneliness, private ritual, secrets, shame, mounting pressures, disconnect, tenderness, rejection, care and the lack thereof." All of the songs on the album are actually raw takes, as Feist explained on her Twitter: "Our desire was to record that state without guile or go-to's and to pin the songs down with conviction and our straight up human bodies."

<i>A Deeper Understanding</i> 2017 studio album by the War on Drugs

A Deeper Understanding is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band The War on Drugs. It was released on August 25, 2017 through Atlantic Records. The album was mixed by engineer Shawn Everett. The album won Best Rock Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Everybody Works</i> 2017 studio album by Jay Som

Everybody Works is the second studio album by indie music artist Jay Som, released on March 10, 2017 by Double Denim Records and Polyvinyl Record Co. Everybody Works has received acclaim from music critics.

<i>Freudian</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Daniel Caesar

Freudian is the debut studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Daniel Caesar. It was released independently on August 25, 2017, by Golden Child Recordings, with distribution from TuneCore. It includes guest appearances from Kali Uchis, H.E.R., Syd, Charlotte Day Wilson and Sean Leon. Production derives from Caesar, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans, BadBadNotGood, Alex Ernewein, Riley Bell and Jordon Manswell. The album succeeds the 2015 EP Pilgrim's Paradise. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the Best R&B Album Category, alongside a nomination for Best R&B Performance with "Get You" at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, with "Best Part" with H.E.R. winning Best R&B Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Corcoran</span> Musical artist

Liam Corcoran is a Canadian singer-songwriter based in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Formerly the front-man of Two Hours Traffic, he is now an established solo artist.

"In Undertow" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on June 6, 2017 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Antisocialites.

"Dreams Tonite" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on July 25, 2017 as the second single from the band's second studio album, Antisocialites.

<i>Guppy</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Charly Bliss

Guppy is the debut album of Brooklyn power pop group Charly Bliss, consisting of Eva Hendricks, Spencer Fox, Sam Hendricks (drums), and Dan Shure. The group wrote it over the course of four years and recorded two versions of it: one tracked in 2015, which they rejected because it was not "fun", and a more pop-infused version recorded in early 2016 that was released by Barsuk Records in April 2017. The album contains a harsh 1990s-esque alternative rock sound with lyrics that deal with emotional vulnerability.

<i>Lush</i> (Snail Mail album) 2018 studio album by Snail Mail

Lush is the debut studio album by American indie rock musician Snail Mail, released on June 8, 2018 through Matador Records. The album was produced by Jake Aron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archie, Marry Me</span> 2013 song by indie pop band Alvvays

"Archie, Marry Me" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. It was released on April 6, 2013, as the lead single from the band's eponymous debut album (2014). "Archie, Marry Me" examines modern romance and traditional marriage, and touches on themes of commitment and financial stability. It was written by vocalist and guitarist Molly Rankin with guitarist Alec O'Hanley as a critique of the standard societal expectation that one is to marry upon entering adulthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adult Diversion</span> 2013 single by Alvvays

"Adult Diversion" is a song by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays. The song was released on October 28, 2013 as the second single from their eponymous debut album. Written by vocalist and guitarist Molly Rankin, guitarist Alec O'Hanley, and bassist Brian Murphy, it is sung from the perspective a lover who develops an "unhealthy fixation" on their partner.

<i>Digital Garbage</i> 2018 studio album by Mudhoney

Digital Garbage is the tenth studio album by American rock band Mudhoney. It was released on September 28, 2018. This is their seventh studio album release on Sub Pop.

<i>Blue Rev</i> 2022 studio album by Alvvays

Blue Rev is the third studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on October 7, 2022, via Polyvinyl, Transgressive, and Celsius Girls. The album expands on the shoegaze influences from their previous albums, and received universal acclaim from critics.

"Pharmacist" is a single by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on July 6, 2022 via Polyvinyl. The song is the first single from the band's 2022 album, Blue Rev. The single is the band's first release since 2017's Antisocialites. "Pharmacist" is the opener track to Blue Rev.

"Easy On Your Own?" is a single by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on August 10, 2022 via Polyvinyl. The song is the second single and second track from Blue Rev (2022).

References

  1. "molly from alvvays here, ready & willing to field your AMA-zingers! • r/indieheads". reddit. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. Antisocialites - Alvvays | User Reviews | AllMusic , retrieved 2022-01-13
  3. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (September 7, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. "Alvvays: Anitsocialites Album Review". Paste. 6 September 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. Katzif, Mike (31 August 2017). "Review: Alvvays, 'Antisocialites'". NPR. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Exclaim Staff (November 29, 2017). "Exclaim!'s Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums, 10 to 1". Exclaim . Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  7. "Antisocialites by Alvvays reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. "Reviews and Tracks for Antisocialites by Alvvays". Metacritic . Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. Sendra, Tim. "Antisocialites – Alvvays". AllMusic . Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. Gerardi, Matt (September 8, 2017). "Alvvays lives up to its promise on the wonderfully contradictory Antisocialites". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  11. Hunt, El (September 8, 2017). "Alvvays – Antisocialites". DIY . Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  12. Hudson, Alex (September 6, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  13. Empire, Kitty (September 10, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites review – alluring, nuanced jangle pop". The Observer . Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. Solomon, Kate (October 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Q (377): 100.
  15. Dolan, Jon (September 11, 2017). "Review: Alvvays Offer Noise Candy, Pretty Visions of Escape on Second LP". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  16. Anderson, Jason (October 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Uncut (245): 24.
  17. Christgau, Robert (April 7, 2018). "Robert Christgau on Superorganism's Shot at Stardom". Vice . Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  18. "Junos 2018: the complete list of winners". CBC News, March 25, 2018
  19. "Polaris Music Prize Reveals 2018 Short List". Exclaim! , July 17, 2018.
  20. "The best albums of 2017: 50-21". The Guardian. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  21. "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  22. Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum . Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  23. "The Best Albums of 2017". The Ringer. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  24. Antisocialites (Media notes). Alvvays. Royal Mountain Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "On The Charts With Death From Above, Alvvays And The National". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  26. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  28. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  29. "Alvvays Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  30. "Alvvays Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  31. "Alvvays Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  32. "Alvvays Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.