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Leon (Leon Bridges album)

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Leon
Studio album by
Leon Bridges
ReleasedOctober 4, 2024 (2024-10-04)
Recorded2023
Studio
  • El Desierto Casa (Mexico City)
  • Castle Ridge (Houston)
  • Moxe (Nashville)
  • Southern Ground (Nashville)
Genre
Length43:37
LabelColumbia
Producer
Leon Bridges chronology
Gold-Diggers Sound
(2021) 		Leon
(2024)
Singles from Leon
  1. "Peaceful Place"
    Released: August 8, 2024
  2. "Laredo"
    Released: September 5, 2024
  3. "That's What I Love"
    Released: September 27, 2024

Leon is the fourth studio album by American singer Leon Bridges. It was released on October 4, 2024, by Columbia Records. Centered around his upbringing in Fort Worth, Texas, he primarily recorded the album in Mexico City and worked with producers Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. The album was preceded by three singles: "Peaceful Place",[1] "Laredo",[2] and "That's What I Love".[3] It received generally positive reviews from music critics.

Composition and recording

[edit]

Leon Bridges wrote the album about his experience growing up in Fort Worth, Texas,[4] whose music scene he credited with inspiring the folk and country music influences on the album.[5] Several songs on Leon were written during the production of his 2021 album Gold-Diggers Sound.[6] He spent "almost five years" working on the album in Los Angeles and Nashville before moving production to Mexico City,[4] where he spent the last few months of 2023 recording the album at El Desierto studio.[6] During a session in Los Angeles, Bridges began streaming on Instagram Live and was contacted by American musician John Mayer, who invited Bridges to his studio where they collaborated on "When a Man Cries".[4]

Bridges cited Roy C and Van Morrison (specifically his 1968 album Astral Weeks) as influences on the album's sound and lyricism.[7][8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Clash9/10[11]
DIY[12]
Far Out[13]
Mojo[14]
The Observer[15]
Pitchfork6.7/10[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Uncut8/10[18]

Leon received generally positive 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 80, based on 10 reviews.[9]

Writing for Uncut, Stephen Deusner called Bridges an "ambitious, yet idiosyncratic artist" and praised the lyricism and storytelling on the album, specifically on "Panther City".[18] Mojo's Tom Doyle said that "Bridges' vocal talents continue to shine", also highlighting "Panther City" for its lyrics and "'70s Isley Brothers-styled" sound.[14]

In a review for Pitchfork, Stephen Thomas Erlewine complimented the "loving care that Bridges, [Ian] Fitchuk, and [Daniel] Tashian bring to Leon", but criticized the production and mixing for causing the album to "feel curiously frictionless".[16] Rolling Stone's Julyssa Lopez praised the "emotional weight and personal intimacy" of the music, though she found "[s]ome of the album's more general love songs ... less intriguing".[17]

Track listing

[edit]
Leon track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."When a Man Cries"
3:51
2."That's What I Love"
3:46
3."Laredo"
  • T. Bridges
  • Fitchuk
  • Tashian
3:16
4."Panther City"
  • T. Bridges
  • Fitchuk
  • Tashian
  • Jenkins
  • Moore
4:07
5."Ain't Got Nothing on You"
  • T. Bridges
  • Luke Laird
  • Ben West
3:26
6."Simplify"
3:51
7."Teddy's Tune"
  • T. Bridges
  • Nick Bockrath
  • Moore
0:53
8."Never Satisfied"
  • T. Bridges
  • Fitchuk
  • Tashian
  • Jenkins
  • Moore
3:50
9."Peaceful Place"
  • T. Bridges
  • Fitchuk
  • Tashian
  • Jenkins
4:15
10."Can't Have It All"
  • T. Bridges
  • Laird
  • West
  • Castille
2:40
11."Ivy"
  • T. Bridges
  • Marcel
  • Johnson
  • Abraham Alexander
3:13
12."Ghetto Honeybee"
3:55
13."God Loves Everyone"
  • T. Bridges
  • Fitchuk
  • Tashian
  • Jenkins
  • Moore
2:34
Total length:43:37

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

  • Leon Bridges – vocals (all tracks), electric guitar (track 1), acoustic guitar (7), background vocals (10, 11)
  • Ian Fitchuk – acoustic guitar (tracks 1–6, 8–12), drums (1–5, 8–10, 12), bass (1–4, 8–10), percussion (1, 4, 8, 9, 12), piano (1, 10, 12), electric guitar (3, 4, 9), keyboards (8), nylon guitar (11)
  • Joshua Moore – synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 8), Mellotron (1, 8), programming (1), piano (2–4, 6–8, 11–13), background vocals (2, 4, 9–12), keyboards (3), drum programming (4), Rhodes (5, 6, 9), bass (5, 6, 12), Hammond organ (5, 8, 10, 12), synth bass (6, 11); bells, marimba (6); percussion (8, 9, 12), acoustic guitar (8), electric guitar (9), pipe organ (11)
  • Santiago Mijares – guacharaca, maracas, woodblock (track 1); percussion, bongos, palmas, campana (9)
  • Nick Bockrath – electric guitar (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11), nylon guitar (3, 6), baritone guitar (5), acoustic guitar (7), background vocals (10), banjo (11)
  • Daniel Tashian – electric guitar (tracks 2, 4, 9), keyboards (2, 4), acoustic guitar (4, 12), synthesizer (8), background vocals (9, 12), Rhodes (9)
  • Avery Bright – violin (tracks 2, 13)
  • Kristin Weber – violin (tracks 2, 13)
  • Matt Combs – violin (tracks 2, 13)
  • Zach Casebolt – violin (tracks 2, 13)
  • Betsy Lamb – viola (tracks 2, 13)
  • Cassie Shudak – viola (tracks 2, 13)
  • Austin Hoke – cello (tracks 2, 13)
  • Madeline Edwards – background vocals (track 2)
  • Jim Hoke – flute (track 3)
  • Brandon Marcel – background vocals (tracks 4, 6, 9–11)
  • Xeus Hamilton – background vocals (tracks 4, 10)
  • Ilsey Juber – background vocals (track 6)
  • Drew Taubenfeld – pedal steel (tracks 6, 9)
  • Natalie Hemby – background vocals (track 12)

Technical

  • Ian Fitchuk – production
  • Daniel Tashian – production (tracks 2, 4, 9, 13)
  • Tyler Johnson – production (track 11)
  • Joshua Moore – additional production, vocal production (tracks 1–6, 8–13); mixing (12), additional recording (1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 12)
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Steve Fallone – mastering
  • Konrad Snyder – mixing (tracks 1–11, 13), recording (all tracks)
  • Daniel Bitran Azripe – recording
  • Israel Rodríguez – recording
  • JC Vertti – recording
  • Justin Francis – additional recording (tracks 2, 12, 13), initial recording (2, 9)
  • Zack Pancoast – initial recording (tracks 4, 13)
  • Dan Davis – additional recording assistance (tracks 2, 12, 13)

Visuals

  • Chris Black – creative direction
  • Jack Bool – photography
  • Oliver Shaw – design, art direction

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Leon
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] 85
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 65
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[21] 37
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 38
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 70
US Billboard 200[24] 58
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[25] 19

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (September 5, 2024). "Leon Bridges unveils "Laredo" and announces intimate London headline show". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (August 8, 2024). "Leon Bridges Announces Album, Shares Video for New Song "Peaceful Place": Watch". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (September 27, 2024). "Leon Bridges Previews His Upcoming Album With The Smooth New Single 'That's What I Love'". Uproxx. Warner Music Group. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Gbogbo, Mawunyo (October 4, 2024). "Grammy winner Leon Bridges releases self-titled album Leon ahead of Australian tour". ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Marsh, Ariana (September 19, 2024). "Leon Bridges Is Our October Music Director". Harper's Bazaar. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Rodríguez, Andrés (August 18, 2024). "Leon Bridges makes an intimate musical return to his Texas roots". El País. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Sampson, Amber (April 23, 2024). "Leon Bridges Wants to Tend to His Texas Roots In His Next Album". Las Vegas Weekly. Greenspun Media Group. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Pywell, Matty (October 4, 2024). "Inside Leon Bridges' 'Leon': How His Texas Roots, Van Morrison, Vulnerability & More Influenced The New Album". The Recording Academy. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Leon by Leon Bridges Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  10. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Leon - Leon Bridges Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Harman, Sophie (October 7, 2024). "Leon Bridges - Leon | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  12. ^ McCarthy, Neive (October 4, 2024). "Leon Bridges - Leon review". DIY. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  13. ^ Maplethorpe, Dale (October 3, 2024). "Leon Bridges – 'Leon' album review: a beautifully constructed contradiction". Far Out. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Doyle, Tom (December 2024). "Leon Bridges - Leon". Mojo. London: Bauer Media Group. p. 84.
  15. ^ Morris, Damien (October 5, 2024). "Leon Bridges: Leon review – deliciously soulful confection with added country". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (October 12, 2024). "Leon Bridges: Leon Album Review". Pitchfork. Condé Nast. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Lopez, Julyssa (October 1, 2024). "Leon Bridges Dreams of Texas, And Looks Outside It on 'Leon'". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Deusner, Stephen (November 2024). "Leon Bridges - Leon". Uncut. London: Time Inc. p. 31.
  19. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 October 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1806. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 14, 2024. p. 6.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Leon Bridges – Leon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Leon Bridges – Leon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  22. ^ "Charts.nz – Leon Bridges – Leon". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  24. ^ "Leon Bridges Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  25. ^ "Leon Bridges Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
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