7G | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 12 August 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 159:21 | |||
Label | PC Music | |||
Producer | A. G. Cook | |||
A. G. Cook chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 74/100 [2] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
The Line of Best Fit | 7/10 [3] |
Our Culture Mag | [4] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10 [1] |
7G is the debut studio album by English music producer, singer and PC Music label head A. G. Cook. [5] [6] [7] It was released through PC Music on 12 August 2020. [8]
The album is 49 tracks long and split into seven discs, each disc being instrument-specific. [9] 7G was not supported by any singles, but a seven-minute long mix previewing one song from each disc for approximately one minute each. In addition to new material, it includes covers of songs by Taylor Swift, Blur, Charli XCX, the Strokes, the Smashing Pumpkins, and more.
Primarily an experimental electronic, pop, and hyperpop album, 7G features elements of many genres including trance, techno, country, metal, grunge rock, punk, IDM, 2-step, drill 'n' bass, and progressive electronic. [1] [3] [10]
Cook released his second studio album Apple on 18 September 2020, only five weeks later. Apple vs. 7G , a remix album consisting of songs from both Apple and 7G, was released on 28 May 2021.
Cook first began teasing 7G's release in September 2018 via Instagram. [11] In March 2020, Cook took to Instagram again to give an update on his record. [12]
In May 2020, Cook performed as part of American songwriter and producer Porter Robinson's virtual musical festival Secret Sky, where he debuted new material.
Of the background and recording of 7G, and its successor, Apple , Cook spoke with The Recording Academy in September 2020, stating: [13]
I actually finished the Apple album about a year ago. And I was just looking for the right way to contextualize it. And then with the 7G stuff, some of it was done kind of recently, but it's really an exploration of all the sounds that went into Apple. It's a time travel look at things I've been exploring since day one, since seven years ago when I was starting to do this full-time. Obviously I'm fairly prolific and work with different people. But also I just thought it was the most true version of me to be quite saturated and seeing things from many different angles at the same time. That just felt like the right way to do a debut.
Cook announced the 7-disc record on 31 July 2020, along with its cover art, designed by Supermodel, release date, and track list that featured 49 tracks. Instead of a lead single, Cook released a seven-minute mix, previewing one-minute snippets of "Acid Angel", "Gold Leaf", "Illuminated Biker Gang", "Anything Could Happen", "Behind Glass", "Hold On" and "Show Me What". [14]
A digital preorder on Bandcamp was also made available, where upon purchase buyers were gifted with a Deluxe Box Set, including "a definitive source of 7G information & artwork, a labyrinth of images, text, sound & MIDI and a 30-minute audio file", as well as the aforementioned seven-minute mix.
On 6 August, a 7G live event, titled 7 by 7, was hosted on Zoom. [15] The live event featured sets from GRRL, Thy Slaughter (Cook and easyFun), Cook, No Rome, Baseck, Hayden Dunham & Alex Somers and Cecile Believe & Caroline Polachek. The event was later uploaded to PC Music's official YouTube channel. [16]
On 11 August, a 7G listening was broadcast on Zoom, followed by an afterparty live event, featuring sets from Balming Tiger, Charli XCX, DJ Warlord, Hannah Diamond, Flume, Namasenda and SOPHIE. [17]
On 7G's release day, Cook released a visual for the final track on the album, "Alright", directed by Aaron Chan. [18]
On 26 August, Cook released the video to the final track on disc 1, "Silver", directed by Cook himself and Aaron Chan. [19]
On 14 September, Cook released the video to the "Live at Appleville" version of the first track on the final disc, "Today", directed by Rick Farin & Claire Cochran. The video was premiered at the virtual live event Cook hosted via Twitch, Appleville, the day prior.
A physical CD boxset was announced for release in October 2021.
All tracks written and produced by A. G. Cook, except where noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "A–Z" | 4:16 |
2. | "Acid Angel" | 3:45 |
3. | "H2O" | 3:00 |
4. | "Drum Solo" | 0:46 |
5. | "Nu Crush" | 3:18 |
6. | "Gemstone Break" | 3:45 |
7. | "Silver" | 2:03 |
Total length: | 20:53 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Gold Leaf" | 2:57 |
2. | "Being Harsh" | 3:09 |
3. | "Undying" | 3:03 |
4. | "Drink Blood" | 3:01 |
5. | "Lil Song" (written by Cook and Daniel Lopatin) | 1:48 |
6. | "Beetlebum" (written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree) | 2:44 |
7. | "Superstar" (live at Secret Sky) | 4:09 |
Total length: | 20:51 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Mad Max" | 2:57 |
2. | "Illuminated Biker Gang" | 4:27 |
3. | "Soft Landing" | 4:40 |
4. | "Overheim" | 2:47 |
5. | "DJ Every Night" (written by Cook and Hannah Diamond) | 4:35 |
6. | "Car Keys" | 5:36 |
7. | "Dust" | 4:58 |
Total length: | 30:00 |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Oracle" | 3:04 | |
2. | "Note Velocity" | 4:59 | |
3. | "Windows" | 4:40 | |
4. | "Feeling" | 3:48 | |
5. | "Waldhammer" | 0:56 | |
6. | "Polyphloisboisterous" |
| 2:06 |
7. | "Anything Could Happen" | 1:47 | |
Total length: | 21:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Behind Glass" | 3:23 |
2. | "Oohu" | 4:09 |
3. | "The Best Day" (written by Taylor Swift) | 2:02 |
4. | "Triptych Demon" | 3:23 |
5. | "Official" (written by Charlotte Aitchison, Cook, Noonie Bao, Patrik Berger and Finn Keane) | 3:05 |
6. | "Crimson" | 1:26 |
7. | "Life Speed" | 3:51 |
Total length: | 21:49 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Could It Be" | 2:34 |
2. | "The End Has No End" (written by Julian Casablancas) | 3:03 |
3. | "No Yeah" | 0:55 |
4. | "Green Beauty" | 3:09 |
5. | "Unreal" | 1:57 |
6. | "2021" | 1:56 |
7. | "Hold On" | 4:10 |
Total length: | 17:44 |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Today" (written by Billy Corgan) | 3:54 | |
2. | "Chandelier" (written by Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin) | 3:35 | |
3. | "Idyll" |
| 5:01 |
4. | "Show Me What" (with Cecile Believe) | 2:50 | |
5. | "Somers Tape" |
| 2:49 |
6. | "Crimson and Clover" (written by Tommy James and Peter Lucia) | 4:08 | |
7. | "Alright" (written by Cook and Tomas Tammemets) |
| 4:27 |
Total length: | 26:44 |
Notes
Credits are adapted from an image found within the deluxe box set purchase.
All tracks mixed and mastered by A. G. Cook, except "Alright", mixed and mastered by Geoff Swan.
Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, she began posting songs on Myspace in 2008, which led to her discovery by a promoter who invited her to perform at warehouse raves. In 2010, she signed a recording contract with Asylum Records, releasing a series of singles and mixtapes throughout 2011 and 2012.
"You're the One" is a song by British singer Charli XCX, released as her fifth single on 14 June 2012 exclusively in Australia under Warner Music, and the third single from her debut EP of the same name, and her major-label debut studio album True Romance (2013).
Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, EASYFUN, Danny L Harle and felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".
Hannah Amond, known professionally as Hannah Diamond, is an English singer, songwriter, photographer, and visual artist. She has recorded on A.G. Cook's PC Music label since 2013, beginning with her debut single "Pink and Blue". Her music and visual art employs an aesthetic of hyperreality and heavily produced cuteness in tension with sincerity. Diamond released her debut studio album, Reflections, in November 2019. Her second studio album, Perfect Picture, was released in October 2023.
Pop 2 is the fourth mixtape by British singer Charli XCX, released on 15 December 2017 by Asylum Records. Executive produced by A. G. Cook of PC Music, sessions for the mixtape began just several months before its release and featured a wide variety of guest contributions. The project received acclaim from music critics for its production and songwriting, and was backed by the single "Out of My Head" featuring Alma and Tove Lo.
Tomas Tammemets, better known by his stage name Tommy Cash, is an Estonian rapper and singer. He is known for raunchy lyrical themes and provocative music videos.
"Blame It on Your Love" is a song by English singer Charli XCX featuring American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was released on 15 May 2019 as the second single from Charli XCX's third studio album, Charli, and soon after debuted on BBC Radio 1 as Annie Mac's "Hottest Record in the World". It is Charli XCX's first single since her 2018 collaboration with Troye Sivan, "1999". The single is a reworked version of "Track 10" the final track from Charli XCX's mixtape Pop 2 (2017). The music video was released on 13 June 2019.
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"Gone" is a song by British singer Charli XCX and French singer Christine and the Queens. It was released on 17 July 2019 as the third single from Charli XCX's third studio album Charli. The music video was released alongside the track.
"Click" is a song by English singer Charli XCX featuring German singer Kim Petras and Estonian rave rapper Tommy Cash from Charli XCX's third studio album Charli (2019).
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How I'm Feeling Now is the fourth studio album by British singer Charli XCX, released on 15 May 2020. Released eight months after her previous LP, Charli (2019), the album was conceived in the span of six weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown in a "do it yourself" collaborative process with her fans. Charli XCX, A. G. Cook and BJ Burton served as the album's executive producers.
"Forever" is a song written and recorded by British singer Charli XCX from her fourth album, How I'm Feeling Now (2020). Charli XCX produced the song with A. G. Cook and BJ Burton, and it was released on 9 April 2020, by Atlantic as the lead single from the album. "Forever" is a pop, synth-pop, and psychedelic song that features dark wave and electronic influences.
English producer A. G. Cook has released two studio albums, one remix album, one mixtape, one extended play and 15 singles. In 2012, Cook released the classical style piano album Disklavier Concert 1, with fellow labelmate Danny L Harle, Spencer Noble and Tim Phillips, under the moniker "Dux Consort". In 2013, Cook released the album Lifestyle with labelmate Danny L Harle, under the moniker "Dux Content". He also released his debut EP Nu Jack Swung. Cook would not release a full-length solo project until 2020, where he released his two debut studio albums, 7G and Apple.
Apple is the second studio album by English music producer, singer and head of record label PC Music, A. G. Cook. It was released through PC Music on 18 September 2020, coming only just over a month after the release of his debut studio album 7G.
Planet 1999 is a French synth-pop and shoegaze band based in London. The group consists of members Caro, Alex, and Charles, who also operate as solo acts under the names caro♡, DJ Kit, and Ultralove, respectively. They were the first band to be signed to the record label PC Music. They also occasionally act as songwriters and record producers for other artists.
"Spinning" is a song by Filipino recording artist No Rome, English musician Charli XCX and band the 1975. The song was written by Andrew Wyatt, Charli XCX, No Rome and the 1975 members Matty Healy and George Daniel, while the production was handled by the latter three. It was released as a standalone single by Dirty Hit on 4 March 2021. Creation of the song began in 2018 when the producers developed its chorus, beat and production. Charli XCX received the song the following year, writing and recording her portion in one night. The singer later recorded vocals with Healy and Daniel in Sydney, while the song was completed remotely in early 2021.
Sophia Alaska Reid, known professionally as Alaska Reid, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is known for her electronic and country-tinged indie rock sound and narrative-driven lyrical content. She is also known for her collaborations with boyfriend A. G. Cook.
Apple vs. 7G is the debut remix album by British producer A. G. Cook. It compiles reworked versions of songs from his first two albums 7G and Apple, both released in 2020. It was released on 28 May 2021 by Cook's label PC Music. A deluxe "Silver Edition" includes 7 extra tracks and is exclusively available for purchase on Bandcamp. Many of the remixes featured were premiered on various compilation albums, DJ mixes or hidden zip files prior to Apple vs. 7G's release. The album was promoted by seven singles.
Crash is the fifth studio album by British singer Charli XCX, released on 18 March 2022. It was her last album to be released under her record contract with Asylum Records. Charli announced the album title, release date, and artwork on 4 November 2021. Her website was also updated with information about the album's 2022 tour. The album was preceded by the four singles "Good Ones", "New Shapes" featuring Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek, "Beg for You" featuring Rina Sawayama, "Baby" and two promotional singles, "Every Rule" and "Used to Know Me", the latter released as the fifth single in April 2022.