In These Times (Makaya McCraven album)
2022 studio album by Makaya McCraven
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In These Times is the sixth studio album by American musician Makaya McCraven. It was released on September 23, 2022, by International Anthem Recording Company, Nonesuch Records, and XL Recordings.[4] The release features collaborations with Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Macie Stewart, Junius Paul, Marta Sofia Honer, and Lia Kohl.[5]
| In These Times | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 23, 2022 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 41:12 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Makaya McCraven chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In These Times | ||||
Production
Background
On June 23, 2022, Makaya McCraven announced the release of the new album.[6] The first single "Seventh String" was released alongside the announcement.[1]
The second single "Dream Another" was released on July 19, 2022.[2] The music video for the single, which is directed by Nik Arthur, features photographic animations in the style of a zoopraxiscope.[7]
McCraven released the third single "The Fours" on September 13, 2022.[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[8] |
| Metacritic | 87/100[9] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Clash | 8/10[11] |
| Exclaim! | 9/10[12] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[13] |
| Pitchfork | 8/10[14] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.1/5[15] |
In These Times was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87, based on 11 reviews.[9] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the release a 7.9 out of 10 based on a critical consensus of 7 reviews.[8]
Thom Jurek of AllMusic described the album as its "own jazz labyrinth, and as such is destined for repeated listening and startling discovery."[10] At Clash, Robin Murray wrote: "A challenging yet continually beautiful project, In These Times contains a terrific sense of unity, one that belies the lengthy manner of its gestation."[11]
Stereogum made the album as their "Album of the Week" on September 20, 2022.[16]
Accolades
| Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loud and Quiet | Loud and Quiet's Top 40 Albums of 2022 | 14 | [17] |
| Norman Records | Norman Records' Top 50 Albums of 2022 | 12 | [18] |
| NPR Music | NPR Music's Top 50 Albums of 2022 | 7 | [19] |
| Passion of the Weiss | Passion of the Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2022 | 3 | [20] |
| Stereogum | Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2022 | 37 | [21] |
| Stereogum's Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2022 | 1 | [22] |
Commercial performance
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "In These Times" | 7:09 |
| 2. | "The Fours" | 3:26 |
| 3. | "High Fives" | 3:39 |
| 4. | "Dream Another" | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Lullaby" | 3:33 |
| 6. | "This Place That Place" | 3:56 |
| 7. | "The Calling" | 1:47 |
| 8. | "Seventh String" | 3:05 |
| 9. | "So Ubuji" | 3:01 |
| 10. | "The Knew Untitled" | 4:27 |
| 11. | "The Title" | 3:57 |
| Total length: | 41:12 | |
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] | 74 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] | 56 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[27] | 48 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[23] | 85 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 92 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[28] | 23 |