Visuals (album)
2017 studio album by Mew
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Visuals is the seventh and final studio album by Danish alternative rock band Mew. It was released on 28 April 2017.[2] It is the first Mew album not to feature guitarist Bo Madsen, who left the band after their previous album, + − (2015), and their first album since No More Stories... (2009) to be recorded as a trio.
| Visuals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 28 April 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2016 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, pop[1] | |||
| Length | 43:46 | |||
| Label | Play It Again Sam | |||
| Producer | Mew | |||
| Mew chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Visuals | ||||
| ||||
Recording and release
The album was written while on tour for + − (2015). It was recorded and self-produced in Copenhagen with the band designing the visuals for it.[3]
On 24 January 2017, Mew announced the album via their official website, while a song from the album, "Carry Me to Safety", was premiered on Danish radio station P6 Beat.[4]
First single "85 Videos" was released together with a music video on 16 February 2017. On 3 April 2017, the second single "Twist Quest" was shared.[5] Music videos for both singles were directed by Jonas Bjerre.[6]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [8] |
| Drowned in Sound | 7/10[9] |
| Exclaim! | 6/10[10] |
| DIY | [11] |
| Pitchfork | 6.2/10[1] |
| PopMatters | [12] |
Upon its release, the album received favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 9 reviews.[7]
Dave Beech, writing for DIY, described it as "a confident release from a seasoned band still harbouring the energies of youth."[11]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Jonas Bjerre, Johan Wohlert, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nothingness and No Regrets" | 4:28 |
| 2. | "The Wake of Your Life" | 4:42 |
| 3. | "Candy Pieces All Smeared Out" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "In a Better Place" | 4:40 |
| 5. | "Ay Ay Ay" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Learn Our Crystals" | 5:20 |
| 7. | "Twist Quest" | 3:20 |
| 8. | "Shoulders" | 2:52 |
| 9. | "85 Videos" | 4:36 |
| 10. | "Zanzibar" | 2:04 |
| 11. | "Carry Me to Safety" | 4:28 |
| Total length: | 43:46 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Seeker Shivers" | 2:40 |
| 13. | "Heavenly Jewel Thief" | 4:16 |
Personnel
Mew
- Jonas Bjerre – vocals, keyboards, guitar
- Johan Wohlert – bass, backing vocals, guitar
- Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Mads Wegner – additional guitar
- Marius Neset – saxophone
- Bo Rande – trumpet, flugelhorn
- Sasha Ryabina – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] | 193 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[14] | 18 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[15] | 15 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[16] | 35 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[17] | 47 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan[18] | 21 April 2017 | CD, digital download | Play It Again Sam |
| Worldwide[19] | 28 April 2017 | LP, CD, digital download |