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Million Dollar Baby (album)

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Million Dollar Baby
A photo of the artist under a spotlight in a dark room, kneeling on top of a white circular table covered in dollar bills.
Studio album by
Pixey
Released2 August 2024 (2024-08-02)
Recorded2023–2024
Genre
Length34:15
LabelChess Club
Producer
Pixey chronology
Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes
(2022) 		Million Dollar Baby
(2024)
Singles from Million Dollar Baby
  1. "The Thrill of It"
    Released: 30 January 2024
  2. "Million Dollar Baby"
    Released: 30 April 2024
  3. "Bring Back the Beat"
    Released: 18 June 2024
  4. "Give a Little of Your Love"
    Released: 16 July 2024

Million Dollar Baby is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Pixey. The album was released on 2 August 2024 through Chess Club Records.

Background and release

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Million Dollar Baby was preceded by four singles. The lead single, "The Thrill of It", was released on 30 January 2024.[1] The second single was the title track and premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 30 April.[2] The third, "Bring Back the Beat" was released on 18 June,[3] and was followed up on 16 July by "Give a Little of Your Love".[4][5] The album was then released through Chess Club Records on 2 August.[6] It is her debut full-length album;[7] its predecessor, Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes, was promoted by Pixey as a "mini LP".[8]

The "Dinked Edition" of the album, pressed on transparent red vinyl, includes a bonus 7-inch single featuring solo piano versions of two songs: "Million Dollar Baby" and "Oxygen".[9]

Among the album's artistic influences, Pixey cites Swedish pop singer Robyn, indie groups TV Girl and the Go! Team, and Nigerian composer William Onyeabor.[10]

Pixey released the singles "The Thrill of It", "Million Dollar Baby", "Bring Back the Beat" and "Give a Little of Your Love". She also released music videos for the first 3 singles.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Line of Best Fit
Dork
Clash
The Times(positive)
The Telegraph(positive)
Far Out
DIY
Financial Times

The album was well received by critics, who praised Pixey's DIY approach and pop songwriting. It received glowing reviews from The Times, opining "pure sugar-rush pop perfection", and The Daily Telegraph, writing that "Pixey sets herself up as the heir to Charli XCX". Clash and The Line of Best Fit both awarded it 8/10,[6] Kelly Scanlon for Far Out gave it 3.5/5 stars, and Arwa Haider of the Financial Times gave it 3/5 stars, observing "snappy hook(s)".[11][12] DIY awarded the album 3.5/5 and complimented the album's stylistic range, noting 1980s synthesisers, psychedelic rock, Northern soul-inspired horns, and alt-pop.[13]

Track listing

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All songs are written by Pixey, except where noted.

Million Dollar Baby track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Man Power"
  • Pixey
  • Richard Turvey
3:12
2."Million Dollar Baby"
  • Pixey
  • Dan Disgrace
  • Turvey
3:21
3."The Thrill of It" 3:16
4."Best Friend" 4:36
5."Damage"
  • Pixey
  • Edward Haslam
3:06
6."Give a Little of Your Love" 3:30
7."Love Like Heaven" 3:06
8."Bring Back the Beat"
3:14
9."Oxygen"
  • Pixey
  • Turvey
2:43
10."The War in My Mind"
  • Pixey
  • Turvey
4:18
Total length:34:15
"Dinked Edition" bonus 7-inch single
No.TitleLength
1."Million Dollar Baby (Piano Version)"4:00
2."Oxygen (Piano Version)"3:08
Total length:7:08
  • "Million Dollar Baby" interpolates "Commission" by Dan Disgrace.

Personnel

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Musicians

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  • Pixey – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, keyboards, drum programming, piano
  • Tige Burns – additional bass guitar (track 5)
  • Ed Haslam – drums (tracks 5, 7)
  • Raymond Lester – violin, viola (track 10)

Technical

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  • Pixey – production
  • Richard Turvey – co-production (tracks 1, 2, 7, 9, 10), additional production (tracks 4, 8)
  • Tom McFarland – co-production (track 8)
  • Will Bloomfield – additional production (track 7)
  • Kevin Tuffy – mastering
  • Jon Gilmore – mixing (tracks 2, 3, 9)
  • Tucan – mixing (tracks 1, 4–8, 10)

Artwork

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  • Marieke Macklon – photography
  • Cameron JL West – design

Charts

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Chart performance for Million Dollar Baby
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[14] 54
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] 5
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 88

References

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  1. ^ "Pixey shares first self-produced new single, "The Thrill Of It"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Pixey announces 'Million Dollar Baby' album with electrifying new single whynow". 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  3. ^ Murray, Robin (18 June 2024). "Pixey's 'Bring Back The Beat' Harks Back To Northern Soul Energy". Clash. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Pixey teases debut album with "Give A Little Of Your Love"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Pixey drops new single 'Give a Little of Your Love', lifted from upcoming debut album Million Dollar Baby". DIY. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Pixey: Million Dollar Baby Review - technicolour debut | Pop". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Liverpool-based artist Pixey talks her long-awaited debut album 'Million Dollar Baby' • Interview". DIY. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  8. ^ Williams, Lana (28 September 2022). "Pixey attempts to soar on Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Pixey - Million Dollar Baby". 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  10. ^ Taylor, Sarah (7 August 2024). "PIXEY: "THE ALBUM REPRESENTS MY FEELINGS ABOUT MUSIC AND MYSELF - WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ARTIST AND A WOMAN"". DIY. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Pixey - 'Million Dollar Baby' album review". Far Out. 31 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Pixey: Million Dollar Baby album review — self-taught singer-songwriter finds her own voice". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  13. ^ Carter, Daisy (2 August 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: PIXEY - MILLION DOLLAR BABY". DIY. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  16. ^ "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
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