Sparkle Hard
Sparkle Hard | ||||
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File:Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Sparkle Hard.png | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 18, 2018 | |||
Studio | Halfling Studios, Portland, Oregon | |||
Genre | Indie rock | |||
Length | 43:41 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Chris Funk | |||
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks chronology | ||||
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Singles from Sparkle Hard | ||||
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Sparkle Hard is the seventh studio album by American indie rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, released on May 18, 2018, by Matador Records and Domino Records.[1] It reached #174 on the Billboard 200 charts,[2] and peaked at #64 on the Official UK Charts.[3]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[4] |
Metacritic | 84/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B+[7] |
Financial Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.0/10[12] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10[15] |
Sparkle Hard was critically acclaimed upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, it received an average score of 84, based on 26 reviews.[5] Jem Aswad of Variety said that "With nary a weak track, Sparkle Hard finds Malkmus hitting a new peak nearly 30 years into his career."[16]
Several publications named the album one of the best of 2018, including: Rolling Stone,[17] Spin,[18] Q,[19] Uncut,[20] Mojo,[21] Under the Radar,[22] and Consequence of Sound.[23]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Stephen Malkmus.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Cast Off" | 2:54 |
2. | "Future Suite" | 2:43 |
3. | "Solid Silk" | 4:37 |
4. | "Bike Lane" | 3:34 |
5. | "Middle America" | 3:31 |
6. | "Rattler" | 3:08 |
7. | "Shiggy" | 3:16 |
8. | "Kite" | 6:40 |
9. | "Brethren" | 2:51 |
10. | "Refute" | 3:24 |
11. | "Difficulties / Let Them Eat Vowels" | 7:03 |
Total length: | 43:41 |
Personnel
- Stephen Malkmus – vocals, songwriting, guitar, mellotron, piano, Memorymoog, bass
- Joanna Bolme – bass, backing vocals
- Mike Clark – keyboards, JUNO synthesizer
- Jake Morris – drums, backing vocals, percussion
- Chris Funk – production, acoustic slide guitar (10)
- Kim Gordon – vocals (10)
- Kyleen King – strings (3, 9)
- Luke Price – fiddle (10)
- JJ Golden – lacquer cut
- Adam Lee – recording, mixing
- Orion Landau – design
- James Rexroad – photography
References
- ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (March 26, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Announce New Album Sparkle Hard, Release "Shiggy"". Spin. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Stephen Malkmus". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "sparkle hard | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ a b "Sparkle Hard by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sparkle Hard – Stephen Malkmus / Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Williams, Matt (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Sparkle Hard". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks: Sparkle Hard — 'disheveled rock songs'". Financial Times. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Simpson, Dave (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – fuzzy logic and killer tunes". The Guardian. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Cameron, Keith (June 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Mojo. No. 295. p. 94.
- ^ Mardles, Paul (May 20, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – a reanimated rock eccentric". The Observer. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Rytlewski, Evan (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Oldham, James (July 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Sparkle Hard". Q. No. 386. p. 115.
- ^ Dolan, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard' Is Full of Golden Guitars and Warm Vibes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jason (May 25, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Sparkle Hard". Uncut. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (May 18, 2018). "Album Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard'". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ Shteamer, Jon Dolan,Brendan Klinkenberg,Maura Johnston,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Christian Hoard,Christopher R. Weingarten,Charles Holmes,Elias Leight,Suzy Exposito,Rob Sheffield,Jonathan Bernstein,Brittany Spanos,Will Hermes,Kory Grow,Hank; Dolan, Jon; Klinkenberg, Brendan; Johnston, Maura; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Hoard, Christian; Weingarten, Christopher R.; Holmes, Charles; Leight, Elias (2018-12-13). "50 Best Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "51 Best Albums of 2018: Staff Picks". Spin. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Albums Of The Year 2018".
- ^ "Introducing the new Uncut... and our Review Of The Year!". UNCUT. 2018-11-13. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Kate Bush Heads Up MOJO's Best Of 2018 Issue". Mojo. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2018 | Under the Radar - Music Magazine". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Top 50 Albums of 2018". Consequence of Sound. 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ Sparkle Hard (Liner notes). Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Matador Records. 2018. OLE-1328-1.
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