Perfect Saviors
| Perfect Saviors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 25 August 2023 | |||
| Length | 41:48 | |||
| Label | Sargent House | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| The Armed chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Perfect Saviors | ||||
| ||||
Perfect Saviors is the fifth studio album from the American post-hardcore collective The Armed, released on 25 August 2023.
Background
[edit]On 14 June 2023, The Armed tweeted a photo of a billboard with a caption containing the date 27 June 2023. The billboard contained artwork depicting the band's logo and Iggy Pop, appearing to suggest a collaborative release between the two.[1] This collaborative release was later revealed to be the album's first single, "Sport of Form", with Iggy Pop playing God in the accompanying music video. Along with the release of the song, the album's title was announced, Perfect Saviors, with its release date of 25 August 2023 through Sargent House.[2]
The second single was "Everything's Glitter" and was released on 18 July 2023.[3] The third and final single, "Liar 2", was released on 7 August.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[6] |
| Slant Magazine |   [7] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[8] |
Perfect Saviors received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5] Marjo Djurdjic of Exclaim! stated that "although each of the album's 12 songs have their place, the band's maximalist proclivities have clearly spoiled us, leaving a pair of late tracks floundering" and although "the album doesn't have the same immediate impact as Ultrapop", it "will undoubtedly cement the Armed as one of the best, most exciting rock/punk/hardcore/experimental/whatever-you-want-to-call-them bands making music today".[6] Steve Erickson of Slant Magazine felt that the tracks "veer from pretty hooks and acoustic guitar to blast beats" and "linger in an in-between space that doesn't fully embrace either noise or pop".[7]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Kenneth Szymanski, Randal Kupfer, and Tony Wolski
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sport of Measure" | 2:46 |
| 2. | "FKA World" | 3:10 |
| 3. | "Clone" | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Modern Vanity" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "Everything's Glitter" | 3:51 |
| 6. | "Burned Mind" | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Sport of Form" | 3:27 |
| 8. | "Patient Mind" | 2:35 |
| 9. | "Vatican Under Construction" | 3:33 |
| 10. | "Liar 2" | 3:01 |
| 11. | "In Heaven" | 3:24 |
| 12. | "Public Grieving" | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 41:48 | |
Personnel
[edit]- Bryan Aiken – guitar[9]
- Eric Avery – bass[10]
- Julien Baker – vocals[11]
- Jacob Bannon – vocals[12]
- Cara Drolshagen – vocals[13]
- Dan Greene – songwriter[14]
- Mark Guiliana – drums[9]
- Urian Hackney – drums[15]
- Josh Klinghoffer – guitar[9]
- Randal Lee Kupfer – unspecified instrumentation[9]
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – co-producer and bass[9]
- Stephen Perkins – percussion[14]
- Patrick Shiroishi – guitar, keyboards[9]
- Chris Slorach – guitar and vocals[9]
- Matt Sweeney – guitar[16]
- Ken Szymanski – bass and guitar[17]
- Sarah Tudzin – vocals and production[18]
- Troy Van Leeuwen – guitar[19]
- Zach Weeks – guitar and production[9]
- Tony Wolski – unspecified instrumentation[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Slingerland, Calum (14 June 2023). "The Armed and Iggy Pop are Teasing Something with a Cryptic Billboard". Exclaim!. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Iggy Pop, Julien Baker Help the Armed Bring New Song to Life". Rolling Stone. 27 June 2023.
- ^ "The Armed Share New Single "Everything's Glitter": Listen". 18 July 2023.
- ^ Rettig, James (7 August 2023). "The Armed – "Liar 2"". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Perfect Saviors by The Armed Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b Djurdjic, Marko (22 August 2023). "The Armed Are Everything at Once on Perfect Saviours". Exclaim!. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b Erickson, Steve (21 August 2023). "The Armed Perfect Saviors Review: More Like Perfect Strangers". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Cohen, Ian (25 August 2023). "Perfect Saviors". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Geiger, Amy (27 June 2023). "The Armed announce LP & tour, share "Sport Of Form" feat. Julien Baker (and Iggy Pop as God)". Brookyln Vegan. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Carys. "The Armed Announce New Album Perfect Saviors, Share "Sport of Form" Featuring Julien Baker: Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Duran, Anagricel (5 July 2023). "The Armed announce new album with video featuring Iggy Pop and Julien Baker". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Deville, Chris (27 June 2023). "The Armed Announce Their New Album With A Julien Baker Collab And A Video Starring Iggy Pop As God". Stereogum. Stereogum Media. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Pizzola, Thomas. "Interview: The Armed's Cara Drolshagen Talks New Album 'Ultrapop'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ a b ""'The real story is more confusing than any lie': the Armed's Tony Wolski unmasks the punk collective"". The Guardian. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ Newton, Caleb. "INTERVIEW: THE ARMED GUEST DRUMMER URIAN HACKNEY ON 'ULTRAPOP'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "SEE THE ARMED DANCE IN THE STREETS IN NEW "LIAR 2" VIDEO". Revolver Magazine. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Kenny Szymanski". Discogs. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ Brodsky, Rachel (19 July 2023). "illuminati hotties – "Truck"". Stereogum. Stereogum Media. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Interview: Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen Talks His Guest Appearance on The Armed's 'ULTRAPOP'". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.