Antisocialites

2017 studio album by Alvvays
Antisocialites
Studio album by
Alvvays
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2017 (2017-09-08)
Studio
  • Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles, California
  • Tarbox Road Studios in Buffalo, New York
  • Union Sound Studios in Toronto, Ontario
GenreIndie pop
Length32:36
Label
  • Polyvinyl (US)
  • Royal Mountain (Canada)
  • Transgressive (Europe)
  • Inertia (Australia)
ProducerAlec O'Hanley, John Congleton
Alvvays chronology
Alvvays
(2014) 		Antisocialites
(2017) 		Blue Rev
(2022)
Singles from Antisocialites
  1. "In Undertow"
    Released: June 6, 2017
  2. "Dreams Tonite"
    Released: July 25, 2017
  3. "Plimsoll Punks"
    Released: August 18, 2017

Antisocialites is the second studio album by Canadian indie pop band Alvvays, released on September 8, 2017, through Polyvinyl, Royal Mountain, Transgressive and Inertia.

Recording and production

According to frontwoman Molly Rankin, Antisocialites was recorded using a combination of Pro Tools and a TASCAM 488 8-track recorder.[1]

Musical style

The music is described by fans as having a more focused and radio-friendly sound than their self-titled album,[2] while incorporating their original fuzzy styled guitars with catchy indie rock hooks.

Critical reception

Antisocialites received positive reviews from critics. In a review from Pitchfork, critic Marc Hogan praised the album as being "thoroughly accomplished".[3] Several critics noted that the album was darker than the band's 2014 debut -- Paste Magazine writer Steven Edelstone found the band's comparatively more serious lyrical content as "uneasy", but still a "record that begs to be blasted on road trips and at rooftop parties",[4] while Mike Katzif of NPR interpreted the album's lead track "In Undertow" as a "darker spiritual sequel" to their 2014 breakthrough single "Archie, Marry Me".[5] Canadian music magazine Exclaim ranked Antisocialites as their #1 album in their 2017 year-end list of pop and rock albums, drawing attention to the album's songwriting and "plain and simple" approach.[6]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.3/10[7]
Metacritic77/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
The A.V. ClubB+[10]
DIY[11]
Exclaim!9/10[12]
The Observer[13]
Pitchfork7.3/10[3]
Q[14]
Rolling Stone[15]
Uncut7/10[16]
ViceA−[17]

Accolades

Antisocialites won the Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year in 2018.[18] The album was also a shortlisted finalist for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize.[19]

Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Exclaim Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums of 2017
1
The Guardian The best albums of 2017
29
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2017
17
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2017
31
The Ringer The Best Albums of 2017
3

Track listing

All tracks are written by Molly Rankin and Alec O'Hanley

No.TitleLength
1."In Undertow"3:17
2."Dreams Tonite"3:16
3."Plimsoll Punks"4:50
4."Your Type"2:04
5."Not My Baby"4:16
6."Hey"2:49
7."Lollipop (Ode to Jim)"3:18
8."Already Gone"3:04
9."Saved by a Waif"2:59
10."Forget About Life"2:43
Total length:32:36
B-sides
No.TitleLength
1."Pecking Order"2:47
2."Echolalia"1:16
3."Supine Equine"1:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes.[24]

Alvvays

  • Kerri MacLellan – Farfisa, vocals
  • Brian Murphy – bass, guitar
  • Alec O'Hanley – guitars, vocals, Realistic, bass, recording, production, artwork, mixing
  • Molly Rankin – vocals, guitars, fiddle, artwork
  • Chris Dadge – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

  • Moshe Fisher-Rozenberg – drums
  • Jeremy Gaudet – guitars
  • Isaac Takeuchi – cello
  • Norman Blake – glockenspiel, vocals

Technical and artwork

  • John Congleton – recording, production
  • Celso Estrada – engineer
  • Tyler Karmen – engineer
  • Marta Salogni – engineer
  • Alex Gamble – engineer
  • Graham Walsh – engineer
  • Kenny Meehan – engineer
  • Matt Estep – mixing
  • Justin Nace – additional mixing
  • David Ives – mastering
  • Anthony Stewart – photography

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[25] 36
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[26] 8
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 22
UK Albums (OCC)[28] 28
US Billboard 200[29] 82
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[30] 9
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[31] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[32] 14

References

  1. ^ "molly from alvvays here, ready & willing to field your AMA-zingers! • r/indieheads". reddit. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. ^ Antisocialites - Alvvays | User Reviews | AllMusic, retrieved 2022-01-13
  3. ^ a b Hogan, Marc (September 7, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Alvvays: Anitsocialites Album Review". Paste. 6 September 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Katzif, Mike (31 August 2017). "Review: Alvvays, 'Antisocialites'". NPR. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Exclaim Staff (November 29, 2017). "Exclaim!'s Top 20 Pop & Rock Albums, 10 to 1". Exclaim. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Antisocialites by Alvvays reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. ^ "Reviews and Tracks for Antisocialites by Alvvays". Metacritic. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Antisocialites – Alvvays". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  10. ^ Gerardi, Matt (September 8, 2017). "Alvvays lives up to its promise on the wonderfully contradictory Antisocialites". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  11. ^ Hunt, El (September 8, 2017). "Alvvays – Antisocialites". DIY. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Hudson, Alex (September 6, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  13. ^ Empire, Kitty (September 10, 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites review – alluring, nuanced jangle pop". The Observer. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. ^ Solomon, Kate (October 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Q (377): 100.
  15. ^ Dolan, Jon (September 11, 2017). "Review: Alvvays Offer Noise Candy, Pretty Visions of Escape on Second LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  16. ^ Anderson, Jason (October 2017). "Alvvays: Antisocialites". Uncut (245): 24.
  17. ^ Christgau, Robert (April 7, 2018). "Robert Christgau on Superorganism's Shot at Stardom". Vice. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Junos 2018: the complete list of winners". CBC News, March 25, 2018
  19. ^ "Polaris Music Prize Reveals 2018 Short List". Exclaim!, July 17, 2018.
  20. ^ "The best albums of 2017: 50-21". The Guardian. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  21. ^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2017". NME. November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  22. ^ Stereogum Staff (December 5, 2017). "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Best Albums of 2017". The Ringer. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  24. ^ Antisocialites (Media notes). Alvvays. Royal Mountain Records. 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. ^ "On The Charts With Death From Above, Alvvays And The National". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  26. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  28. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  29. ^ "Alvvays Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  30. ^ "Alvvays Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  31. ^ "Alvvays Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  32. ^ "Alvvays Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • Molly Rankin
  • Kerri MacLellan
  • Alec O'Hanley
  • Abbey Blackwell
  • Sheridan Riley
  • Phil MacIsaac
  • Brian Murphy
Studio albums
  • Alvvays (2014)
  • Antisocialites (2017)
  • Blue Rev (2022)
SinglesRelated articles
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • MusicBrainz release group