No Shape
No Shape is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, released on May 5, 2017, through Matador Records as the follow-up to Too Bright (2014).
| No Shape | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 5, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | October–December 2016 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Experimental pop[1] | |||
| Length | 43:14 | |||
| Label | Matador | |||
| Producer | Blake Mills | |||
| Perfume Genius chronology | ||||
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| Singles from No Shape | ||||
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No Shape is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Perfume Genius, released on May 5, 2017, through Matador Records as the follow-up to Too Bright (2014).[2]
Background
[edit]Hadreas was featured on the cover of the March–April 2017 issue of The Fader, which included a lengthy feature on Hadreas and his work on the next album.[3] In the weeks following the article, Hadreas posted a number of video and audio clips teasing new music. On March 21, 2017, Hadreas announced his fourth studio album No Shape and released the first single "Slip Away", which was accompanied by a music video directed by frequent Björk collaborator Andrew Thomas Huang.[4] The single was designated "Best New Track" by Pitchfork.[5] On April 19, Hadreas released another single from the album called "Go Ahead" during a live Twitter Q&A with fans. On May 9, 2017, Perfume Genius released the video for "Die 4 You", directed by Floria Sigismondi.
Reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10[6] |
| Metacritic | 84/100[7] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[9] |
| The Guardian | [10] |
| The Irish Times | [11] |
| Mojo | [12] |
| The Observer | [13] |
| Pitchfork | 8.8/10[14] |
| Q | [15] |
| Rolling Stone |  [16] |
| Vice | A−[17] |
Accolades
[edit]| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Independent | The 30 best albums of 2017 | 4
|
|
| NME | NME's Albums of the Year 2017 | 24
|
|
| NPR | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 6
|
|
| Pitchfork | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 16
|
|
| Pitchfork | The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s | 70
|
|
| Stereogum | The 50 Best Albums of 2017 | 4
|
|
| Uncut | Albums of the Year | 70
|
|
| Vinyl Me, Please | The 30 Best Albums of 2017 | 16
|
The album received a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical” at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[26] Additionally, it was noted as one of the works designated under producer Blake Mills’ nomination for “Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.”
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Mike Hadreas, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Otherside" | 2:40 | |
| 2. | "Slip Away" | 2:45 | |
| 3. | "Just Like Love" | 3:14 | |
| 4. | "Go Ahead" |
| 2:53 |
| 5. | "Valley" | 3:09 | |
| 6. | "Wreath" | 4:26 | |
| 7. | "Every Night" | 2:47 | |
| 8. | "Choir" | 2:28 | |
| 9. | "Die 4 You" |
| 3:32 |
| 10. | "Sides" (featuring Weyes Blood) |
| 4:52 |
| 11. | "Braid" | 2:58 | |
| 12. | "Run Me Through" | 4:44 | |
| 13. | "Alan" | 2:46 | |
| Total length: | 43:14 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Performance
- Mike Hadreas – vocals (all tracks), piano (1, 7), synthesizer (3, 8, 12), Wurlitzer (9, 11), trumpet noises (9), congregation vocals (1)
- Blake Mills – piano (1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12), synthesizer (1-4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13), vocals (1, 6), marimba (2), guitars (2–6, 9, 10, 12), drums (2–4, 9, 10), percussion (2–4, 6, 9), tablas (3), bass (3–6, 10), baritone guitar (3), Marxophone (3), programming (4, 6), Mellotron (5), guitarron (7, 9, 12), organ (10, 11), kora (11), celeste (12), Omnichord (12), woodwinds (12), congregation vocals (1)
- Stuart Johnson – drums (2), percussion (2, 4), cymbals (3, 9),
- Rob Moose – violin (3–5, 7–10), viola (3–5, 7, 9, 10), string arrangements (3–5, 7, 9, 10)
- Alan Wyffels – backing vocals (6), synthesizer (7, 10), vocals (9, 13), Rhodes piano (12), piano (13)
- Natalie Mering – vocals (10, 11)
- Pino Palladino – bass (12)
- Chris Dave – drums (12), percussion (12)
- Shawn Everett – synthesizer (13)
- Joseph Lorge – congregation vocals (1)
- Clay Blair – congregation vocals (1)
- Becca Luce – congregation vocals (1)
- Chris Doerr – congregation vocals (1)
Production
- Blake Mills – production
- Shawn Everett – engineering, mixing
- Joseph Lorge – engineering
- Clay Blair – studio assistance
- Omar Yakar – studio assistance
- Brendan Dekora – studio assistance
- Patricia Sullivan – mastering
- Inez and Vinoodh – artwork
- Mike Zimmerman – design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[27] | 12 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[28] | 30 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] | 116 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[30] | 90 |
| New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[31] | 9 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[32] | 40 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[33] | 80 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[34] | 96 |
| US Billboard 200[35] | 185 |
References
[edit]- ^ Roberts, Randall (May 18, 2017). "What to Listen to Now". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
An expertly crafted experimental pop album that at various points suggests the work of singer Kate Bush, the effects-drenched work of the Cocteau Twins and British art-rock band Talk Talk...
- ^ Geslani, Michelle (March 21, 2017). "Perfume Genius details new album, No Shape, shares video for 'Slip Away'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ "How Perfume Genius Grew Up And Started Thriving". thefader.com. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ "Perfume Genius Announces New Album No Shape, Shares Video for New Song "Slip Away": Watch | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ "Best New Track "Slip Away"". pitchfork.com. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
- ^ "No Shape by Perfume Genius reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Reviews and Tracks for No Shape by Perfume Genius". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "No Shape – Perfume Genius". AllMusic. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Vishnevetsky, Ignatiy (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius goes on an art-pop adventure in search of his feminine side". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – confident and melodic, with a rich seam of strange". The Guardian. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Clayton-Lea, Tony (May 4, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape – dazzling, self-healing alt.pop from Mike Hadreas". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Aston, Martin (June 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Mojo (283): 92.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (May 7, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape review – scents and a new sensibility". The Observer. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (May 5, 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (July 2017). "Perfume Genius: No Shape". Q (373): 112.
- ^ Hermes, Will (May 5, 2017). "Review: Perfume Genius' Goth-Glam Gets Optimistic on 'No Shape'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (June 2, 2018). "Robert Christgau on the Bold Pop of Janelle Monáe and Perfume Genius". Vice. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". The Independent. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". NPR. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Pitchfork. December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "Uncut's 75 Best Albums of 2017". Uncut. November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "The 30 Best Albums of 2017". Vinyl Me, Please. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- ^ "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards". May 22, 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Report: Issue 1283" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Perfume Genius – No Shape" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
- ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 12 May 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Perfume Genius – No Shape". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 12/5/2017 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 12/5/2017 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "Perfume Genius Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
