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The Big Decider

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The Big Decider
A top-down view of a circuit board-like illuminated maze.
Studio album by
Released26 April 2024 (2024-04-26)
Studio
Length35:31
LabelIcepop
Producer
The Zutons chronology
You Can Do Anything
(2008)
The Big Decider
(2024)

The Big Decider is the fourth studio album by English rock band the Zutons, released on 26 April 2024 through Icepop. It is the band's first album in 16 years, following You Can Do Anything (2008), their disbandment the following year, and reformation in 2018. The album was produced by Ian Broudie, Nile Rodgers, and band member Sean Payne and was promoted with a tour of the UK in early 2024.[1] It received generally positive reviews from critics.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[3]
Classic Rock7/10[4]
Mojo[5]
MusicOMH[6]

The Big Decider received a score of 80 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "generally favorable" reception.[2] Classic Rock felt that the album "sees the Zutons back to their happy clapping playful best",[4] while Mojo called it "uplifting, rueful and expertly crafted".[5]

Emma Harrison of Clash described it as "a real statement of intent" as well as "an absolute suckerpunch of an album which reflects the love and chemistry the band and the collaborators have for each other".[3] Ben Hogwood of MusicOMH wrote that the nine songs display "the band's leaner approach, but they show that McCabe's eye for a memorable song remains", but "their songs are not – yet – quite as memorable as those from the band's first iteration".[6]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Dave McCabe, Abi Harding, and Sean Payne; "In Your Arms" written with Ian Broudie; "Disappear", "The Big Decider", and "Rise" written with Neil Bradley.

The Big Decider – Standard edition
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Creeping on the Dancefloor"Nile Rodgers4:29
2."Pauline"Sean Payne3:57
3."Water"Payne3:36
4."In Your Arms"Ian Broudie3:43
5."Disappear"
  • Rodgers
  • Payne[a]
5:06
6."Company"Rodgers3:59
7."The Big Decider"Broudie3:28
8."Rise"Payne3:55
9."Best of Me"
  • Rodgers
  • Payne[a]
3:18
Total length:35:31
The Big Decider – Deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
10."In Your Arms" (Live)4:21
11."Pauline" (Live)4:23
12."Disappear" (Live)5:23
13."Company" (Live)4:05
14."Water" (Live)3:46
15."Best of Me" (Live)3:53
16."The Big Decider" (Live)3:19
17."Rise" (Live)3:52
18."Creeping on the Dancefloor" (Live)5:09

Note

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

[edit]

The Zutons

  • Dave McCabe – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars (all tracks); synthesizer (track 5), screwdriver guitars (6, 8), slide guitar (9)
  • Abi Harding – backing vocals (all tracks), saxophone (tracks 2–9)
  • Sean Payne – drums, percussion (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 1–5, 7–9), additional recording (2, 3, 7–9), bass guitar (5, 9), additional keyboards (5), additional engineering (6), acoustic guitar (8, 9)

Additional musicians

  • Neil Bradley – keyboards (tracks 1–5, 7–9), piano (1, 5, 9), backing vocals (1), electric piano (6)
  • Jay Lewis – bass guitar (tracks 1, 6, 8), backing vocals (1), lead guitar (2–8), claps (7)
  • Boyan Chowdhury – guitar, backing vocals (track 1)
  • Tim Cunningham – bass guitar (tracks 2–4, 7)
  • Ian Broudie – backing vocals (tracks 4, 7)
  • Ben Truman – strings (tracks 4, 7)
  • Russell Graham – additional keyboards (tracks 5, 6)
  • Nile Rodgers – speech (track 5)

Technical

  • Nick Watson – mastering
  • Mike Crosseymixing (track 1)
  • Stephen Harris – mixing (tracks 2–9), recording (2–4, 7)
  • Leon Pearce – mixing (tracks 10–19)
  • Russell Graham – recording (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
  • Joe Rubel – recording (track 9)
  • Tom Roach – additional recording (tracks 5, 6)
  • John Barrett – additional engineering (tracks 5, 6)
  • Andy Maxwell – recording assistance (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
  • Jack Boston – recording assistance (tracks 2–4, 7)

Visuals

  • Scott Jones Studio – art direction, design
  • Graham Blackburn – live photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for The Big Decider
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 7
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[9] 1

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (14 November 2023). "The Zutons announce first album in 16 years, produced by Nile Rodgers and Ian Broudie". NME. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "The Big Decider by the Zutons". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b Harrison, Emma (26 April 2024). "The Zutons – The Big Decider". Clash. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "The Zutons – The Big Decider". Classic Rock. June 2024. p. 79.
  5. ^ a b "The Zutons – The Big Decider". Mojo. June 2024. p. 89.
  6. ^ a b Hogwood, Ben (27 April 2024). "The Zutons – The Big Decider | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2024.