Historian (album)

Last updated
Historian
Historian Lucy Dacus.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 2, 2018 (2018-03-02)
Studio
  • Trace Horse Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • The Smoakstack (Nashville, Tennessee)
  • Montrose Studios (Richmond, Virginia)
Genre
Length47:35
Label Matador
Producer
  • Jacob Blizard
  • Lucy Dacus
  • Collin Pastore
Lucy Dacus chronology
No Burden
(2016)
Historian
(2018)
Boygenius
(2018)
Singles from Historian
  1. "Night Shift"
    Released: December 12, 2017
  2. "Addictions"
    Released: January 16, 2018
  3. "Next of Kin"
    Released: February 13, 2018

Historian is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus, released on March 2, 2018, through Matador Records. [3]

Contents

Background

Historian was produced by Dacus, Jacob Blizard and Collin Pastore, the same team that produced her debut album, No Burden . [4] Dacus and her band recorded the album over the course of a week in March 2017 in Nashville. [4] [5] She described the album as a song cycle about "living through loss and the inevitable darkness of life, and doing so hopefully and joyfully." [4] Of the title of the album, Dacus explained, "It's me having this impulse to document and capture and create a history of my life and the people that I know ... Because as I'm making this history and capturing these things that I hold dear, those things won't stay." [6]

On December 12, 2017, Dacus formally announced the album, alongside the first single from the album "Night Shift". [7] The second single "Addictions" was released on January 16, 2018. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.8/10 [9]
Metacritic 82/100 [10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The A.V. Club B [12]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [13]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Pitchfork 8.1/10 [17]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Uncut 8/10 [19]

Historian was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 82 based on 20 reviews. [10] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic said of the release: "Ultimately, the forte passages don't encroach on the songwriting, as they underline emotion, but they do, at times, step on Dacus' voice, when she's clouded by high-volume accompaniment or even vocal processing. Thankfully, those moments are brief and rare, allowing her lyrics and expressive sense of melody to shine." [11]

Accolades

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Night Shift"6:31
2."Addictions"3:24
3."The Shell"4:37
4."Nonbeliever"3:40
5."Yours & Mine"5:14
6."Body to Flame"3:05
7."Timefighter"5:48
8."Next of Kin"4:06
9."Pillar of Truth"7:14
10."Historians"3:56
Total length:47:35

Personnel

Charts

2018 weekly chart performance for Historian
Chart (2018)Peak
position
UK Americana Albums (OCC) [33] 9
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [34] 39
2023 weekly chart performance for Historian
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [35] 14
UK Album Sales (OCC) [36] 45
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [37] 10
US Folk Albums ( Billboard ) [38] 12
US Top Album Sales ( Billboard ) [39] 20
US Top Tastemaker Albums ( Billboard ) [40] 8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Walkmen</span> American indie rock band

The Walkmen is an American indie rock band. Active from 2000 to 2013, they are known as part of the 2000s-era post-punk revival in New York City, particularly for their critically acclaimed single "The Rat". The band is made up of drummer Matt Barrick, bassist/organist Peter Matthew Bauer, frontman Hamilton Leithauser, guitarist Paul Maroon, and multi-instrumentalist Walter Martin—all former members of Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Recoys.

<i>Get Rich or Die Tryin</i> 2003 studio album by 50 Cent

Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Dre acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaïs Mitchell</span> American singer-songwriter

Anaïs Mitchell is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and playwright. Mitchell has released eight studio albums, including Hadestown (2010), Young Man in America (2012), Child Ballads (2013), and Anaïs Mitchell (2022).

<i>1989</i> (Taylor Swift album) 2014 studio album by Taylor Swift

1989 is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 27, 2014, by Big Machine Records. After music critics questioned her status as a country musician following her pop and electronic-influenced fourth studio album Red (2012), Swift was inspired by 1980s synth-pop to recalibrate her artistry from country to pop music. On 1989, titled after her birth year to signify her symbolic artistic rebirth, Swift enlisted Max Martin as co-executive producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julien Baker</span> American rock musician

Julien Rose Baker is an American indie rock singer and guitarist. Her music is noted for its moody quality and confessional lyrical style, as well as frank explorations of issues including Christianity, addiction, mental illness, and human nature.

<i>Hamilton</i> (album) Album of the stage musical Hamilton

Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) is the cast album to the 2015 musical Hamilton. The musical is based on the 2004 biography of Alexander Hamilton written by Ron Chernow, with music, lyrics, and book by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The recording stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Daveed Diggs, Anthony Ramos, Okieriete Onaodowan, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Jonathan Groff. The ensemble features Jon Rua, Thayne Jasperson, Sydney James Harcourt, Ephraim Sykes, Ariana DeBose, and Sasha Hutchings. The musicians on the album are Alex Lacamoire, Kurt Crowley, Andres Forero, Robin Macatangay, Richard Hammond, Benny Reiner, Jonathan Dinklage, Erin Benim Mayland, Anja Wood, Mario Gotoh, and Laura Sherman. It achieved the largest first week sales for a digital cast album and is the highest-charting cast album since 1963. It was the highest-selling Broadway cast album of 2015 and peaked at number one on the Rap Albums chart, the first cast album to ever do so. After being certified nine times platinum by the RIAA in 2021, Hamilton became the best-selling cast album of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishop Briggs</span> British singer and songwriter

Sarah Grace McLaughlin, known professionally as Bishop Briggs, is a British-American singer and songwriter. Her single "River" peaked at number 3 on the US Alternative Chart. and has been streamed more than 460 million times on Spotify. It was included on her debut album, Church of Scars, released on 20 April 2018. Island Records released her second album, Champion, in July 2019, and it was included in The Young Folks Top 50 albums of the year.

<i>Moana</i> (soundtrack) 2016 soundtrack album by various artists

Moana: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 2016 Disney animated film Moana. The soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records on November 19, 2016. It features songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa'i, with lyrics in English, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tuvaluan. The two-disc deluxe edition includes the score, which was composed by Mancina, as well as demos, outtakes and instrumental karaoke tracks. The record also produced two singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Dacus</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1995)

Lucy Elizabeth Dacus is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Dacus attracted attention with her debut album No Burden (2016), which led to a deal with Matador Records. Her second album, Historian, was released in 2018 to further critical acclaim. Dacus's third studio album, Home Video, was released in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorja Smith</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1997)

Jorja Alice Smith is an English singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Walsall, West Midlands, she has been writing songs since the age of 11. In 2012, Smith's friend uploaded her cover of Labrinth's "Earthquake" to YouTube, which led to her discovery by record producer Guy Moot. After her first two singles received broader recognition, she signed with Sony/ATV in 2016, releasing two EPs throughout 2016 and 2017.

<i>Golden Hour</i> (Kacey Musgraves album) 2018 studio album by Kacey Musgraves

Golden Hour is the fourth studio album by American country music singer and songwriter Kacey Musgraves, released on March 30, 2018, through MCA Nashville. Musgraves co-wrote all 13 tracks and co-produced the album with Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. A country pop record, Golden Hour also contains elements of disco, electropop, electronica, and yacht rock.

<i>?</i> (XXXTentacion album) 2018 studio album by XXXTentacion

? is the second studio album by American rapper and singer XXXTentacion and his last studio album to be released before his murder. It was released on March 16, 2018, by Bad Vibes Forever, Caroline Distribution, and Capitol Music Group. It succeeds the release of his debut studio album 17 (2017) and the extended play A Ghetto Christmas Carol (2017). The album was primarily produced by frequent collaborator John Cunningham, and includes guest appearances from PnB Rock, Travis Barker, Joey Badass, Matt Ox, Rio Santana, Judah, and Carlos Andrez.

<i>Be the Cowboy</i> 2018 studio album by Mitski

Be the Cowboy is the fifth studio album by Japanese-American indie rock musician Mitski, released on August 17, 2018, through Dead Oceans. Produced by longtime collaborator Patrick Hyland, the album widens Mitski's palette with a return to the piano featured on her first two records alongside synthesizers, horns and the guitar that became her signature instrument. Upon its release, Be the Cowboy received widespread acclaim from music critics, who later ranked it among the best albums of 2018. It was preceded by the singles "Geyser", "Nobody", and "Two Slow Dancers". Be the Cowboy was Mitski's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, and also entered the charts in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boygenius</span> American indie rock group

Boygenius is an American indie rock supergroup formed in 2018 by Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. Their self-titled debut EP was written and recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. On January 18, 2023, the band announced their debut studio album, The Record, which was released on March 31.

<i>Boygenius</i> (EP) 2018 EP by boygenius

boygenius is the debut EP by American indie rock group boygenius, composed of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. It was released on October 26, 2018 by Matador Records.

<i>No Burden</i> 2016 studio album by Lucy Dacus

No Burden is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus, released February 26, 2016 by EggHunt Records, then subsequently re-released September 9, 2016 by Matador Records. It was promoted by the singles “I Don’t Wanna Be Funny Anymore” and “Strange Torpedo”. The album was recorded in one day in Nashville, with a band that had barely learned the songs.

<i>Little Oblivions</i> 2021 studio album by Julien Baker

Little Oblivions is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Julien Baker, released on February 26, 2021. Alongside the album's announcement, Baker released "Faith Healer" as the first single from the album. Little Oblivions is a departure from the acoustic alt folk of her first two albums. It features a full band sound, played almost entirely by Baker herself, with genres encompassing indie rock, alternative rock, emo, soft rock, electronic music, pop punk, post-rock, country, shoegaze, and slowcore. The album received acclaim from critics.

<i>2019</i> (EP) EP by Lucy Dacus

2019 is a compilation extended play by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus. It was released on November 8, 2019 through Matador Records. The EP is a concept album that compiles seven singles released throughout the year to honor various holidays. 2019 went on to peak at number 22 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, making it her first charting album in the country.

<i>Home Video</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Lucy Dacus

Home Video is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus. It was released on June 25, 2021, via Matador. It was promoted by the singles "Thumbs", "Hot & Heavy", "VBS", "Brando", and "Going Going Gone". The album received critical acclaim and placed on many critics' year-end lists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Night Shift (Lucy Dacus song)</span> 2017 indie rock song

"Night Shift" is a song by American indie rock musician Lucy Dacus. It was released as the lead single from her album Historian on December 12, 2017.

References

  1. Adcock, Lee (March 2, 2018). "Album Review: Historian by Lucy Dacus". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Hopper, Jessica (March 5, 2018). "Review: Lucy Dacus Turns Interior Drama Into Indie-Rock Gold on 'Historian'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. Gaca, Anna (December 12, 2017). "Lucy Dacus Announces Sophomore Album Historian; Hear "Night Shift"". Spin . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Coscarelli, Joe (February 15, 2018). "How an Indie-Rock Star Is Made in 2018". The New York Times . Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  5. Wilson, Carl (March 7, 2018). "Lucy Dacus' History in the Making". Slate . Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. Hilleary, Mike (June 7, 2018). "Lucy Dacus on "Historian"". Under the Radar . Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  7. Day, Laurence (December 12, 2017). "Lucy Dacus has announced second LP Historian, which she says is the record she "needed to make"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  8. Day, Laurence (January 16, 2018). "Lucy Dacus directs stunning clip for her new single "Addictions"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. "Historian by Lucy Dacus reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Historian by Lucy Dacus Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Donelson, Marcy. "Historian – Lucy Dacus". AllMusic . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  12. Anthony, David (March 2, 2018). "Lucy Dacus, Historian". The A.V. Club . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. Kot, Greg (March 2, 2018). "Lucy Dacus takes a big leap with 'Historian'". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  14. Freedman, Max (March 2, 2018). "Lucy Dacus – Historian". DIY . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  15. Aston, Martin (April 2018). "Lucy Dacus: Historian". Mojo (293): 94.
  16. Cooper, Leonie (March 2, 2018). "Lucy Dacus – 'Historian' Review". NME . Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  17. Geffen, Sasha (March 6, 2018). "Lucy Dacus: Historian". Pitchfork . Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  18. Mongredien, Phil (May 2018). "Lucy Dacus: Historian". Q (384): 107.
  19. Watts, Peter (April 2018). "Lucy Dacus: Historian". Uncut (251): 26.
  20. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018 So far". Billboard . June 5, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  21. "Top 50 Albums of 2018". Consequence of Sound . December 3, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  22. "The 100 Top Albums of the 2010s". Consequence of Sound . December 30, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  23. "The 100 Best Albums of 2018". Noisey . Vice. December 6, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  24. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018". NPR Music . Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  25. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018". Paste . November 26, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  26. "The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s". Paste . October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  27. "The Best Rock Albums of 2018". Pitchfork . December 17, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  28. "The 70 Best Albums of 2018". PopMatters . December 20, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  29. Dolan, Jon (December 13, 2018). "50 Best Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  30. Wilson, Cark (December 12, 2018). "The Best Albums of 2018". Slate . Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  31. "Under the Radar's Top 100 Albums of 2018". Under the Radar . December 30, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  32. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018". Uproxx . December 3, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  33. "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  34. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  35. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  36. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  37. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  38. "Americana/Folk Albums: Week of June 10, 2023". Billboard . Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  39. "Top Album Sales: Week of June 10, 2023". Billboard . Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  40. "Tastemaker Albums: Week of June 10, 2023". Billboard . Retrieved June 6, 2023.