Saves the World
Saves the World | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 6, 2019 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:50 | |||
Label | RCA | |||
Producer |
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Muna chronology | ||||
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Singles from Saves the World | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.6/10[2] |
Metacritic | 82/100[3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Clash | 9/10[5] |
DIY | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10[1] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Saves the World is the second studio album by American band Muna, released through RCA Records on September 6, 2019.
Background[]
After supporting English singer Harry Styles during his 2017–2018 tour, the band took a hiatus until lead singer Katie Gavin concocted the opening verse of the song "Number One Fan" six months later, starting the album's songwriting process.[11][12] According to guitarist Josette Maskin, the album title represents the band's belief that "saving yourself is the key to saving the world".[13] Maskin also said Saves the World was meant to evoke optimism in listeners.[14]
Music and lyrics[]
Thematically autobiographical, Saves the World has been described as "an emotional excavation."[15] Its lyrics depict explorations of "addiction", "alienation", "romantic desolation", and "cycles of abusive behavior".[11] The band approached the album with the intention of crafting a minimalist sound, with musically shorter sentences in comparison to those in their first album.[14]
Release and promotion[]
"Number One Fan" was released as the lead single from the album on June 7, 2019,[16] followed by the releases of "Who" and "Stayaway" on June 28 and August 16, respectively.[17][18] Saves the World was released on September 6, 2019.[4] Muna embarked on a tour within the United States from September to October 2019 in promotion of the album.[19]
Critical reception[]
Saves the World garnered "rave reviews" upon its release.[11] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album holds an average score of 82 based on eight reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[3]
In a perfect five-star review, Alexandra Pollard of The Independent asserted that Saves the World set up the band to joining "the ranks of those who have brazenly borrowed their sound".[7] Rolling Stone's Jonathan Bernstein awarded the album four stars out of five and praised its "concise and clever" yet "never overly precious" songwriting.[10] Writing for Pitchfork, Eve Barlow highlighted how the album was "as sentimental as it is versatile".[1] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic commented that while the album's lyrics were more effective than its hooks, it contained "a handful of low-key anthems".[4]
Track listing[]
All tracks are written by Muna.
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Grow" | Muna | 1:47 |
2. | "Number One Fan" |
| 3:25 |
3. | "Stayaway" |
| 3:31 |
4. | "Who" |
| 3:08 |
5. | "Navy Blue" |
| 3:58 |
6. | "Never" |
| 4:03 |
7. | "Pink Light" |
| 4:11 |
8. | "Taken" | Muna | 4:05 |
9. | "Hands Off" |
| 3:39 |
10. | "Good News (Ya-Ya Song)" |
| 4:10 |
11. | "Memento" | Muna | 2:01 |
12. | "It's Gonna Be Okay, Baby" | Muna | 5:44 |
Total length: | 43:50 |
Charts[]
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[20] | 7 |
Release history[]
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | September 6, 2019 | RCA | [21] |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Barlow, Eve (September 7, 2019). "MUNA: Saves the World Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Saves the World by MUNA reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Saves the World by MUNA Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Donelson, Marcy. "Saves the World - MUNA". AllMusic. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Murray, Robin (September 6, 2019). "Muna – Saves The World". Clash. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Tipple, Ben (September 6, 2019). "MUNA - Saves The World". DIY. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Pollard, Alexandra; White, Adam; O'Connor, Roisin (September 5, 2019). "Album reviews: MUNA – Saves the World, Iggy Pop – Free and Chrissie Hynde – Valve Bone Woe". The Independent. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Hunt, El (September 3, 2019). "Muna – 'Saves the World' review". NME. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Saves the World". Q (published October 2019). September 6, 2019. p. 114 – via Metacritic.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bernstein, Jonathan (September 6, 2019). "MUNA's 'Saves the World' Is a Synth-Rock Course In Deep California Blues". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Savage, Mark (September 17, 2019). "Muna: Saving the world, one breath at a time". BBC Online. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Maicki, Salvatore (September 11, 2019). "MUNA are going to save the world". The Fader. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Cragg, Michael (June 8, 2019). "Muna on Harry Styles, imposter syndrome and Trump-baiting". The Guardian. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Smyth, David (September 6, 2019). "MUNA interview: 'We don't think we can be saved by politicians at the moment'". Evening Standard. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Whelan, Catherine; Tidmarsh, Kevin; Branch, Natasha (September 4, 2019). "Alt-Pop Band MUNA Talks About Its New Album 'Saves The World'". NPR. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
- ^ Exposito, Suzy (June 7, 2019). "Muna Preach Unabashed Self-Love in New Single, 'Number One Fan'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Schramm, Molly (June 28, 2019). "MUNA Deal with the Helplessness of Heartbreak in Video for Their Latest Single "Who"". Paste. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (August 16, 2019). "Watch Muna Avoid the Past in New Video for 'Stayaway'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (June 18, 2019). "Muna Announces Fall Headline Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Muna Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "Saves the World by MUNA". Apple Music. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- 2019 albums
- RCA Records albums