Purple (Baroness album)

Baroness began writing Purple in early 2014.^[7] The album was recorded and mixed by producer Dave Fridmann from March until May 2015 at Tarbox Road Studio in Cassadaga, New York.^[1] Purple is the first album from Baroness following their 2012 bus accident and the first to feature members Sebastian Thomson and Nick Jost.^[2] It is the last album to feature Pete Adams, who left the band in 2017.^[8]

Purple was released on December 18, 2015, through the band's newly founded record label, Abraxan Hymns. It is available on CD, vinyl, cassette tape, and as a music download. The cassette copies were a limited edition given away for free with the purchase of CD and LP editions of the album at participating stores.^[9]

Four singles were released from Purple as part of a series of 12" vinyl picture discs featuring illustrations by artist Marald Van Haasteren.^[6] The album's lead single, "Chlorine & Wine," was released on August 28, 2015.^[4] The second single, "Shock Me," was released on November 15^[5] and later nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.^[10] The last two singles were released in December 2017, and each feature a B-side: "Try to Disappear" includes a live performance of the song that was recorded in 2016 at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, while "Morningstar" includes a demo version of the track.^[6]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.8/10[11]
Metacritic	85/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
The A.V. Club	B[14]
Drowned in Sound	8/10[15]
Exclaim!	9/10[16]
The Guardian	[17]
Metal Hammer	[18]
Pitchfork	8.5/10[19]
PopMatters	8/10[20]
Rolling Stone Australia	[21]
Spin	8/10[22]

Close

Purple was met with critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic (a review aggregator site which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 from music critics), based on 19 critics, the album received a score of 85/100, which indicates "universal acclaim".

In Dom Lawson's review of the album for The Guardian, he described the album as a "far more focused and fiery beast; both a return to the stormy riffing and skewed melodies of old and a subtle but unmistakable lunge for mainstream glory. It's a balance they pull off brilliantly."^[17] Pitchfork's Brandon Stosuy was likewise praising of the album, writing that "These are some of the biggest, strongest songs that Baroness has written; it's rock music that folds in their more metal leanings, along with something more delicate and spare. The hooks and melodies are their best."^[19] Addison Herron-Wheeler of Exclaim! said that "Purple has just as much energy and power as the group's older works, but with a more refined and mature sound." She declared the album a "must-hear," saying "Baroness are back, and they sound as good as ever."^[16]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic said, "Though not as 'experimental' as their previous couple of records, as a whole Purple is far more focused, and it's certainly more euphoric. Surviving a close brush with death resulted in a celebratory affirmation of life that equates physical bombast and rockist swagger with woozy, dreamy, rainbow-streaked beauty."^[13] In a review for Spin, Dan Weiss wrote "Whether the devastation of the [band's bus] accident has imbued Baizley with new life, or his dual successes in the arts are just making him a fuller person, somehow Purple is still heavier than Yellow & Green despite being a leaner machine"^[22] In Mike Diver's review of Purple for Drowned in Sound, he referred to the album as a "quite wonderful record," "a certifiable triumph," and "a beyond-commendable comeback."^[15]

Purple debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard 200 with nearly 17,500 sales in its first week.^[23] It peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums chart and topped the Independent Albums chart.^[24] The album's second single, "Shock Me," reached number 28 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.^[25]

Best-of lists

Grammy Awards

Kerrang! Awards

Loudwire Music Awards

Metal Storm Awards