Black Country Disco

Last updated

Black Country Disco
Tom Aspaul - Black Country Disco.png
Studio album by
Released14 September 2020 (2020-09-14)
Recorded2019–2020
Genre
Length28:24
Label 1609 (Self-released)
Producer
  • Gil Lewis
  • Tom Aspaul
Tom Aspaul chronology
Black Country Disco
(2020)
Black Country Discothèque
(2021)
Singles from Black Country Disco
  1. "Traces"
    Released: 18 October 2019
  2. "Close 2 Me"
    Released: 8 November 2019
  3. "W.M."
    Released: 27 March 2020
  4. "Tender"
    Released: 26 June 2020
  5. "01902"
    Released: 11 September 2020

Black Country Disco is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Tom Aspaul, self-released on 14 September 2020. Following his previous mixtapes, Revelation (2015) and Lamentations (2018), the record received critical acclaim, particularly for its cohesion, songwriting and themes of heartbreak and nostalgia.

Contents

The album is a concept album with a specific narrative structure, sonically inspired by disco from the 70s and 80s and primarily produced and co-written with Israeli producer and songwriter Gil Lewis. Described by Aspaul himself as being a "break-up album, written entirely in sequence", he lyrically explores the end of a long-term relationship, leaving London and returning to his hometown of Wolverhampton in the Black Country after 15 years away. [1]

Critics compared the album's sound to contemporary artists such as Jessie Ware and Róisín Murphy, who also released disco-inspired LPs during 2020, commenting that Black Country Disco was part of a "pandemic disco revival". [2] An independent release, the record was included amongst several year-end lists and touted by one critic as "a solid contender for album of the year." [3]

Black Country Disco was succeeded by its remix album, Black Country Discothèque , released on 16 April 2021, featuring collaborations with Kim Wilde, MNEK, Bright Light Bright Light and Brendan Maclean. [4]

Background

Primarily known as a songwriter for artists such as Celeste, Kylie Minogue and Louise, Tom Aspaul has been releasing his own music since debut single "Indiana" in 2013. A series of "life changing events" [5] forced Aspaul to leave behind the music industry in London and return to his native Wolverhampton. The move kickstarted a series of songs and demos and it was here that the bulk of Black Country Disco was conceived, written and recorded.

Named for an industrial area of the West Midlands, the album's lyrics contain several tongue-in-cheek local references, with mentions of Wolverhampton's area-code, its town motto and both the M6 motorway and West Midlands Metro that run through the city - the latter of which agreed to allow Aspaul to film at one of its stations. [6]

Composition

A year-long collaboration back and forth with London-based producer Gil Lewis - the album's track list corresponds to the order in which the song's demos were written. The record is "split evenly in half" - the first half exploring the terminal breakdown of Aspaul's relationship and the second half celebrating his move back to the West Midlands. Inspired by Madonna's 2005 album Confessions on a Dancefloor , the album's two halves are sequenced and blended so that they are played almost continuously without any gaps. [7]

The majority of the album is produced by Lewis - however in order to finish the project and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aspaul recorded his vocals remotely and produced the final two tracks alone - becoming his first production credits. Aspaul and Lewis' production touches on Italo-disco, 80s synthpop, Giorgio Moroder and other classic disco references.

Lyrically the album has been described as "pinballing between heartbreak and revivification" [8] with Aspaul's "irrepressible queer sensibility" tackling themes that "aren’t necessarily subjects taken on in music". [9] Whilst also dealing with heavy subject matter, the record is noted for its light-hearted pop culture nods, including references to Victoria Beckham song titles and quotes from the 2015 horror film - The Witch. [10]

Aspaul has described the album as "cathartic" and "incredibly daunting", stating that it represents "an intense period of change" as well as enabling him to "appreciate and learn to love the Midlands all over again." [7]

Release

The album's name and logo were announced and revealed on 14 September 2019, exactly one year before its eventual release in 2020. The pre-sale for the record's crowdfunded vinyl commenced on 14 July 2020, specifically chosen for being 'Black Country Day', [11] which takes place on the same date.

Four official singles and one promotional single were "drip-fed" throughout the year in the run up to the album's release. Inspired by Lady Gaga's third album ARTPOP , a ten-minute short film, Black Country Disco: The Movie premiered October 26, 2020, including segments from three album cuts, namely "W.M.", "01902" and "Tender". The film was directed by Sam Taylor-Edwards, featuring actor Omari Douglas and shot in and around the Black Country. [12]

The album's consistent visual identity and retro aesthetic has been particularly praised. [13] The artwork draws inspiration from "classic record sleeves and film posters from the 70s" by artists such as Drew Struzan and is a hand-painted collage of Aspaul imposed over the Black Country skyline, incorporating several existing and former Wolverhampton landmarks. The Black Country Disco logo pays tribute to "the region’s rock heritage", specifically Birmingham bands such as Black Sabbath and Electric Light Orchestra. [14] [13]

Aspaul announced Black Country Disco: The Book, published by Polari Press, documenting the conception, creation and release of the album in 2021. Later the same year, Tom embarked on his first sold-out UK headline tour, The Revenge Body Tour, in support of the album. [15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AlbumismStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [16]
God Is In The TV10/10 [17]
Herald Sun Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]

Black Country Disco received critical acclaim upon release. GQ described the album as "a deliciously swift, utterly luscious dance-friendly chamber opera". [19] The Guardian writer Michael Cragg named Black Country Disco and its fourth single, "Tender" amongst the "albums and tracks of the year 2020", respectively. [20] Writing for Gay Times , critic Sam Damshenas thought that Aspaul had "created the queer disco album of the year" and "one of the best pop albums of 2020". [21]

Herald Sun writer Cameron Adams said Aspaul's "debut neatly slips into the current disco revival", comparing it to Donna Summer and describing the song "Tender" as "the kind of sad pop the Pet Shop Boys excel in". In a five-star review for Albumism, Quentin Harrison says "to call this album anything other than a masterpiece would be grossly criminal". Sophie Williams named the album a "solid contender for album of the year", in her review for Stereoboard, describing it as "built on ironclad hooks, razor-sharp songwriting". Nic Kelly from Project U praised the album for being "exciting, brilliantly written, confessional pop music with a disco twist".

In a piece for The Forty-Five, El Hunt included Aspaul amongst artists "shaking up the pop landscape in 2020 and beyond", such as Rina Sawayama and Ava Max, writing that Black Country Disco is "easily one of the best albums of the year – even if it doesn’t always get shouted about with the rest of the pop squad." [22]

Year-end lists

Black Country Disco on year-end lists
PublicationListRankRef.
AlbumismAlbumism's 100 Best Albums of 2020
40
[23]
Quentin Harrison's 10 Favorite Albums of 2020
3
Mark J. Marraccini's 10 Favorite Albums of 2020
9
God Is In The TVAlbums of The Year for 2020
30
[24]
The Guardian Alim Kheraj's Top Albums of 2020
8
[25]
Michael Cragg's Top Albums of 2020
20
Gay Times The 20 best albums of 2020 by LGBTQ+ artists [26]
Uproxx The 2020 Uproxx Music Critics Poll
581
[27]
Steven J. Horowitz's Picks
10

Track listing

Black Country Disco – LP, cassette & digital version [28]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Black Country Intro"
  • Tom Aspaul
  • Gil Lewis
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
0:56
2."Close 2 Me"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
Lewis2:46
3."Carnelian"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
Lewis2:48
4."Tender"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
Lewis3:08
5."Traces"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
Lewis3:16
6."Euston"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
1:07
7."W.M."
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
  • Maguire
  • Robson
Lewis3:14
8."Dead Already (Save Yourself)"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
Lewis2:49
9."01902"
  • Aspaul
Aspaul5:27
10."Black Country Disco"
  • Aspaul
Aspaul2:52
Total length:28:24
Black Country Disco – CD version (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."W.M. (Midland Metro Extended Version)"
  • Aspaul
  • Lewis
  • Maguire
  • Robson
Lewis7:15
Total length:35:38
Black Country Disco Bandcamp version (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Everyday"Lewis2:54
Total length:38:32

Black Country Discothèque

Black Country Discothèque
Remix album by
Released16 April 2021
Length68:21
Label 1609
Producer
Tom Aspaul chronology
Black Country Disco
(2020)
Black Country Discothèque
(2021)
Life in Plastic
(2022)
Singles from Black Country Discothèque
  1. "The Program"
    Released: January 27, 2021
  2. "Tender 2"
    Released: February 24, 2020
  3. "Traces (MNEK Remix)"
    Released: April 13, 2021

A remix album, titled Black Country Discothèque, featuring collaborations with Kim Wilde, MNEK, Bright Light Bright Light and Brendan Maclean was announced for release on 16 April 2021, [29] preceded by the singles "The Program" (with Funk LeBlanc & Madeleine Wood), "Tender 2" (with Funk LeBlanc) [30] and "Traces" (MNEK Remix), respectively.

A Soviet inspired music video for "The Program", directed by Dan Hett and Omari Douglas, was released 19 February. [31]

Black Country Discothèque – Digital version [32]
No.TitleLength
1."Black Country Intro" (Tom Ashlee Remix)1:30
2."Close 2 Me (feat. Foxgluvv)" (Hen Remix)3:26
3."Carnelian" (Bright Light Bright Light Remix)3:57
4."Tender" (Eric Spike Remix)3:04
5."Traces" (MNEK Remix)3:54
6."Euston" (Stats Remix)4:43
7."W.M. (feat. Kim Wilde)" (Initial Talk Remix)3:56
8."Dead Already (Save Yourself)" (lau.ra Remix)3:47
9."01902 (feat. Bronze Avery)" (Bronze Avery Remix)3:12
10."Black Country Disco" (Max Lawrence Remix)4:12
11."The Program (with Funk LeBlanc & Madeleine Wood)"3:42
12."Tender 2 (with Funk LeBlanc)"3:40
13."Wanna Love U Boy (feat. Michael Medrano)"3:16
14."Prime Time (feat. Brendan Maclean)"3:12
15."B.C.D. Megamix (with Country Club Martini Crew)"4:27
16."W.M." (Midland Metro Extended Mix)7:15
17."01902" (Deliciously Extended Mix)7:08
Total length:68:21

Notes

Release history

Release formats
DateFormatVersionLabel
14 September 2020
Black Country Disco1609
16 April 2021
Black Country Discothèque

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco</span> Music genre

Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric piano, synthesizers, and electric rhythm guitars.

<i>Light Years</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 2000 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. Mushroom Records released it on 22 September 2000 in Australia; Parlophone released it on 25 September 2000 in the United Kingdom. Following the commercial failure of Impossible Princess (1997), Minogue left Deconstruction Records and took a hiatus from recording music. She signed with Parlophone in June 1999 and decided to return to her pop roots. She worked with various writers and producers, including Steve Anderson, Johnny Douglas, Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers, and Mark Picchiotti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gay anthem</span> A song popular within the gay community

A gay anthem is a popular song that has become widely popular among, or has become identified with, the gay community. Not all songs labelled as "gay anthems" were written intentionally to become gay anthems, but those that do are often marked by themes of perseverance, inner strength, acceptance, pride, and unity. Research in 2007 suggested that the song most commonly identified as a gay anthem is "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, and described the song as "a classic emblem of gay culture in the post-Stonewall and AIDS eras".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Disco Needs You</span> 2001 single by Kylie Minogue

"Your Disco Needs You" is a song by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her seventh studio album Light Years (2000). The song was written by Minogue, Guy Chambers and Robbie Williams and produced by Chambers and Steve Power. Lyrically, "Your Disco Needs You" talks about the power of disco music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Discothèque (song)</span> 1997 single by U2

"Discothèque" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track on their 1997 album, Pop, and was released as its lead single on 3 February 1997 by Island Records. The song exhibits influences from electronic dance music, characteristic of the band's musical direction in the 1990s. The music video, directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, was set inside of a mirrorball and featured the band members dressed as members of the disco group the Village People.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disco Inferno</span> 1976 single by the Trammps

"Disco Inferno" is a song by American disco band the Trammps from their 1976 studio album of same name. With two other cuts by the group, it reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in early 1977, but had limited mainstream success until 1978, after being included on the soundtrack to the 1977 film Saturday Night Fever, when a re-release hit number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MNEK</span> English singer, songwriter and record producer (born 1994)

Uzoechi Osisioma "Uzo" Emenike, professionally known by his stage name MNEK, is an English singer, songwriter and record producer. He has been nominated for a Grammy and a Brit Award, and has received the ASCAP Vanguard Award. His writing and production credits include H.E.R., Jax Jones, Zara Larsson, Little Mix, Dua Lipa, FLO, Sugababes, Clean Bandit, Julia Michaels, Craig David, Christina Aguilera, Becky Hill, Selena Gomez, Years & Years, Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Hailee Steinfeld, Madonna, KSI, Mabel and Twice.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer+(LGBTQ+)music is music that focuses on the experiences of gender and sexual minorities as a product of the broad gay liberation movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold Tight (Madonna song)</span> 2015 single by Madonna

"Hold Tight" is a song recorded and produced by American singer Madonna from her thirteenth studio album, Rebel Heart (2015). She co-wrote the track with Diplo, MoZella, Toby Gad, Ariel Rechtshaid, and MNEK. A demo of "Hold Tight" was leaked onto the internet on December 22, 2014, while its final version was released by Madonna on February 9, 2015 on the iTunes Store. The song was later sent to Italian radio on July 24, 2015, as the third single from Rebel Heart in that country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Aspaul</span> Singer, songwriter

Thomas Paul Frederick Dutton, known professionally as Tom Aspaul, is a British singer and songwriter from Wolverhampton. He released his debut album, Black Country Disco in 2020 to critical acclaim. His songwriting credits include Kylie Minogue, Snakehips, Celeste and Becky Hill, among many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Forget You (Zara Larsson and MNEK song)</span> 2015 single by Zara Larsson and MNEK

"Never Forget You" is a song by Swedish singer Zara Larsson and British singer MNEK. It was released on 22 July 2015 in the United Kingdom by TEN Music Group, Virgin EMI and Epic as the second single from Larsson's second studio album So Good (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Break Up (Bye Bye)</span> 2019 song by Frock Destroyers

"Break Up (Bye Bye)" is a song recorded by British drag girl group the Frock Destroyers for the Girl Group Battle Royale challenge during their stint on the first series of the reality television competition, RuPaul's Drag Race UK. During the episode the contestants had to create girl groups to participate in the challenge; there were two versions of the song released, the first being by Divina de Campo, Baga Chipz and Blu Hydrangea. The alternate version was released by Filth Harmony, consisting of Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne, Cheryl Hole and Crystal, however the latter did not chart. The song was released on 31 October 2019. The song was also included in the band's debut album, Frock4Life, which was released 11 December 2020. The song was primarily written by Leland and Freddy Scott with De Campo, Chipzs and Hydrangea writing the lyrics for their individual verses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Something (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 2020 single by Kylie Minogue

"Say Something" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company Darenote released it as the lead single from her fifteenth studio album Disco (2020), which was distributed digitally and physically on July 23, 2020. Minogue co-wrote the song with Ash Howes, Jonathan Green, and long-time collaborator Richard "Biffco" Stannard. Musically, it is a disco-inspired track with dance-pop, electro-pop, and synth-pop influences. Inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown procedures, the song's lyrics explore themes of love and a call for unity.

<i>Disco</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 2020 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Disco is the fifteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company Darenote released it on 6 November 2020 in both digital and physical formats. After finishing her campaign with her previous album Golden (2018), Minogue was inspired by a Studio 54-esque section on her Golden Tour to create a disco-themed album. Early sessions began in 2019-2020, but were temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lockdowns. As a result, Minogue continued to work on the album remotely from London, using GarageBand and Logic Pro for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real Groove</span> 2020 single by Kylie Minogue and Dua Lipa

"Real Groove" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her fifteenth studio album, Disco (2020). The song was written by Minogue, Teemu Brunila, Nico Stadi and Alida Garpestad Peck, with a sense of optimism for days ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brunila and Stadi also handled the production. It is a disco-pop song with house and R&B elements and features vocoders, a funk bass and post-disco synths. The lyrics see Minogue attempting to win an ex back. A new version, a duet with English-Albanian singer Dua Lipa entitled "Studio 2054 remix", was released on 31 December 2020 as the album's third single. The remix added William Bowerman as a producer with additional instrumentation and Lipa incorporating layered vocals and new lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Melody</span> 2020 single by Little Mix

"Sweet Melody" is a song by British girl group Little Mix, released through RCA Records on 23 October 2020, as the third single from the group's sixth studio album Confetti (2020). Little Mix worked with notable names and frequent collaborators Tayla Parx, Morten Ristorp, Robin Frid, Brian Garcia, and MNEK, who co-written and co-produced the track. It has since been regarded as one of the group's best releases.

<i>Frock4Life</i> 2020 studio album by Frock Destroyers

Frock4Life is the debut studio album by the Frock Destroyers, released by World of Wonder Records on 11 December 2020. It includes "Break Up Bye Bye", which was performed by group members Baga Chipz, Blu Hydrangea and Divina de Campo as contestants on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart and number 44 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, with it leading to the recording of the album. Leland served as executive producer and the main songwriter. "Her Majesty" and "Big Ben" served as singles for Frock4Life in 2020; the former also received a music video.

"Wasabi" is a song recorded by British girl group Little Mix. It was released from their fifth studio album LM5 (2018), on 16 November 2018 by Syco, and appears as the tenth album track. It was co written by group member Jade Thirlwall, with MNEK, Mike Sabath, and Shungudzo, with production handled by Sabath, John Hill, and Joe Kearns.

<i>The Lost Tapes</i> (Sugababes album) 2022 studio album by Sugababes

The Lost Tapes is the eighth studio album by British girl group Sugababes and their first independent release. While work for the album dates back to 2011 when the original lineup reunited, the album remained unreleased until its 24 December 2022 digital release. The Lost Tapes is the second Sugababes album to feature the original lineup after 2000's One Touch. The deluxe version, which included an additional three tracks, was released digitally on 31 December 2022. The Lost Tapes debuted at number two on the UK Digital Albums chart and number 13 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. Following their one-off show at the O2 in September 2023, the album reached a new peak of number 7 on the UK Independent Albums Chart, as well as charting at number 23 on the Scottish Albums Chart. The album debuted and peaked at number 150 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Life in Plastic</i> 2022 studio album by Tom Aspaul

Life in Plastic is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Tom Aspaul, released 30 May 2022, following his critically acclaimed debut album Black Country Disco. Named for a lyric taken from the song "Barbie Girl" by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, the album saw Aspaul team up with long-time collaborators, Gil Lewis and MNEK.

References

  1. Damshenas, Sam (17 September 2020). "Tom Aspaul on how he created the queer disco album of the year". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. Harrison, Quentin (11 October 2020). "Tom Aspaul's Debut Album 'Black Country Disco' Signifies the Arrival of a Vibrant New Voice in Modern Pop". Albumism. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  3. Williams, Sophie. "Things We Love This Week: Tom Aspaul, Keaton Dekker, HYYTS". Stereoboard. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. "Tom Aspaul Releases 'The Program' With Funk LeBlanc and Madeleine Wood Ahead of Remix Album 'Black Country Discothèque'". Culture Fix. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  5. Williams-Chalmers, Jeremy. "Interview with Tom Aspaul". Yorkshire Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  6. "Metro on the right track with top recording artist". Transport For West Midlands. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  7. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (14 September 2020). "Tom Aspaul's Gorgeous, Gay Dance Floor Triumph". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. Harrison, Quentin (11 October 2020). "Tom Aspaul's Debut Album 'Black Country Disco' Signifies the Arrival of a Vibrant New Voice in Modern Pop". Albumism. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. Ali, Jon. "Tom Aspaul Finds Light Through Darkness On His Glorious Debut". Jon Ali. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. Best, Lloyd (14 September 2020). "Tom Aspaul - Black Country Disco". God Is In The TV. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  11. Kelly, Nic. "How Tom Aspaul Quit The City & Made One Of The Year's Most Joyous Records In 'Black Country Disco'". Project U. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  12. Turnbull, Michael. "TOM ASPAUL PRESENTS…BLACK COUNTRY DISCO: THE MOVIE". Loverboy. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  13. 1 2 Cragg, Michael (6 December 2019). "'You associate it with metal, not flares': will the West Midlands embrace disco-pop?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  14. "Wax Heart with Tom Aspaul". QRates. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  15. Harrison, Quentin (30 May 2022). "Tom Aspaul Flips His Script & Sound on 'Life In Plastic'". Albumism. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  16. Harrison, Quentin (11 October 2020). "Tom Aspaul's Debut Album 'Black Country Disco' Signifies the Arrival of a Vibrant New Voice in Modern Pop". Albumism. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  17. Best, Lloyd (14 September 2020). "Tom Aspaul – Black Country Disco (Self Released)". God Is In The TV. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  18. Adams, Cameron. "Live your best weekend with our roundup of the hottest albums, movies, games and apps". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  19. "10 Coolest things of the week". GQ. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  20. Cragg, Michael (18 December 2020). "Guardian albums and tracks of 2020: how our writers voted". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  21. Damshenas, Sam (26 October 2020). "Jump into Tom Aspaul's queer time machine for Black Country Disco: The Movie". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  22. Hunt, El (2 December 2020). "Meet The Pop Disruptors". The Forty-Five. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  23. "Albumism's 100 Best Albums of 2020". Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  24. "Albums of The Year for 2020". 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  25. Music, Guardian (18 December 2020). "Guardian albums and tracks of 2020: how our writers voted". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  26. RAZA-SHEIKH, ZOYA (28 December 2020). "The 20 best albums of 2020 by LGBTQ+ artists". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  27. "THE 2020 UPROXX MUSIC CRITICS POLL". Uproxx. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  28. "Tom Aspaul - Black Country Disco". Tidal. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  29. White, Jordan. "Tom Aspaul – 'The Program'". Happy People. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  30. Harrison, Quentin (24 February 2021). "NEW MUSIC WE LOVE: Tom Aspaul's "Tender 2"". Albumism. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  31. Robledo, Jordan (20 February 2021). "Tom Aspaul has drops new music video for his 80's-inspired pop banger The Program". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  32. "Black Country Discothèque". Tidal. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.