Whole New Mess
Whole New Mess | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 28, 2020 | |||
Recorded | October 2018 | |||
Studio | The Unknown, Anacortes, Washington | |||
Genre | Indie rock,[1] indie folk[2] | |||
Length | 42:05 | |||
Label | Jagjaguwar | |||
Producer |
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Angel Olsen chronology | ||||
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Singles from Whole New Mess | ||||
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Whole New Mess is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Angel Olsen, released on August 28, 2020 on Jagjaguwar.[3] Recorded by Olsen and engineer Michael Harris in a converted church, the album features tracks from her 2019 album, All Mirrors, arranged in a more intimate style.[3]
Recording[]
Whole New Mess was recorded over ten days in October 2018 with engineer Michael Harris. The pair worked in isolation in the town of Anacortes, Washington, recording in a converted Catholic church.[4] Olsen would use the church's corridors to create a natural echo effect on her vocals.[4]
The album was recorded prior to Olsen's 2019 studio album, All Mirrors, which features many of the same compositions in a different form: "When we made [Whole New Mess], I was still processing a lot of the songs, so for me, it’s harder to listen to this record than it is for me to listen to All Mirrors. When I recorded All Mirrors, other people had their hands in the pot, which separated me from the songs. I could get into them in a distant way. On Whole New Mess I’m feeling every feeling that they evoke."[4]
Composition[]
The album was written following the collapse of a romantic relationship, with Olsen noting: "I was really depressed. I had no idea whether the songs were good. They were just about my life. I could have recorded them at home and kept them as demos, but I knew Michael [Harris] was someone I could be depressed in front of, who would help me to explore it in different ways. It was such an emotional process."[4]
Critical reception[]
The album was critically acclaimed upon its release. At Metacritic, based on fifteen professional reviews, it received a weighted average score of 83 out of 100.[5]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.6/10[7] |
Metacritic | 83/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Consequence of Sound | B+[9] |
DIY | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Exclaim! | 8/10[11] |
The Line of Best Fit | 7.5/10[12] |
Loud and Quiet | 9/10[13] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Paste | 7.0/10[15] |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[16] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Track listing[]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Whole New Mess" | 3:42 |
2. | "Too Easy (Bigger Than Us)" | 2:32 |
3. | "(New Love) Cassette" | 2:50 |
4. | "(We Are All Mirrors)" | 2:36 |
5. | "(Summer Song)" | 4:09 |
6. | "Waving, Smiling" | 3:52 |
7. | "Tonight (Without You)" | 4:01 |
8. | "Lark Song" | 6:30 |
9. | "Impasse (Workin' for the Name)" | 3:48 |
10. | "Chance (Forever Love)" | 5:29 |
11. | "What It Is (What It Is)" | 2:36 |
Total length: | 42:05 |
Charts[]
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[18] | 38 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] | 29 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] | 98 |
References[]
- ^ "Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess". Discogs. 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (August 28, 2020). "Angel Olsen Strips Down Her Songs on the Intimate 'Whole New Mess'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hussey, Allison (July 28, 2020). "Angel Olsen Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Whole New Mess": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Smyth, David (August 28, 2020). "Angel Olsen interview: 'You know what? Misery is always in vogue'". Evening Standard. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Whole New Mess by Angel Olsen Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ "Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ "Whole New Mess by Angel Olsen reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Donelson, Marcy. Review of Whole New Mess at AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Dzubay, Laura. "Angel Olsen's Whole New Mess Redefines Familiar Specters: Review". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Johnstone Orr, Jack. "ANGEL OLSEN - WHOLE NEW MESS". DIY. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Bell, Kaelen. "Angel Olsen Makes Familiar Songs Sound Entirely New on 'Whole New Mess'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Hakimian, Rob. "Angel Olsen expertly exposes the rawness of love and heartbreak". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Crabtree, Isabel (August 24, 2020). "Angel Olsen - Whole New Mess - Album Review". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Cooper, Leonie. "Angel Olsen – 'Whole New Mess' review: raw vulnerability, and kernels of hope". NME. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Meyer, Jack (August 25, 2020). "Angel Olsen Goes Back to Basics on Whole New Mess". Paste. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn. "Angel Olsen: Whole New Mess Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (28 August 2020). "Angel Olsen Strips Down Her Songs on the Intimate 'Whole New Mess'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
- 2020 albums
- Angel Olsen albums
- Jagjaguwar albums