Broken Hearts Club | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 8, 2022 | |||
Genre | R&B, alternative R&B | |||
Length | 38:55 | |||
Label | Columbia Records | |||
Syd chronology | ||||
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Broken Hearts Club is the second studio album by American singer Syd. The album was released through Columbia Records on April 8, 2022.
Syd, a member of the Grammy-nominated band The Internet, released her second solo album five years after the release of her debut solo album, Fin. [1] Whilst Fin has been described as a 'confident' and self-assured album, Broken Hearts Club is more 'vulnerable' - inspired by contrasting experiences of love and heartbreak. [2] [3] Syd began work on the album in the midst of a relationship, and finished it after the couple separated. The album follows a similar narrative pattern to her personal experience, starting with "CYBAH": a song about starting a new relationship, and closing with "Missing Out": which looks back on an ended relationship as both parties move on. [4] In an interview with NME, Syd spoke about experiencing a creative period after she was diagnosed with depression and began to see a therapist, which enabled her to finish work on the album. [2]
Syd, the former engineer for ex-band Odd Future, produced most of the record herself, collaborating on some songs with Rodney (Darkchild) Jerkins, bandmate Steve Lacy, and ForteBowie. [3] Other collaborators include Smino, Kehlani on "Out Loud", Nicky Davey, Brandon Shoop, Troy Taylor, G Koop and Lucky Daye on "CYBAH". [5]
"Missing Out" was released as a single in February 2021, with "Fast Car" and "Right Track" coming out in July and September of the same year respectively. In a press conference for "Fast Car", Syd said that the track was created because she 'wanted to make something for the gay Black girls'. [6] [7] The accompanying music video for the song, which the Gay Times called one of 'her most queer tracks to date', features Syd driving with a female love interest. [8]
Broken Hearts Club received positive reviews, with NME giving it four out of five stars and calling it 'arguably the R&B star's strongest project to date'. [5] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 10 critic reviews. [9] Pitchfork gave the album a 7.5, saying that the album's more traditional sound than Fin, 'reaffirms her considerable versatility' and that the album is finished with 'artful finesse'. [10] Rolling Stone gave the album four stars, arguing it was an 'epic tale of love and loss with lush production'. [11] Independent music website The Quietus called the album 'terrific'. [4] The Guardian, giving 3 stars, called the album a 'mixed bag', stating that Syd was stronger on tracks where she collaborated with other artists. [12] Okayplayer included the album on their '22 Best Albums of 2022' list. [13]
The album will be her last released by Columbia Records. [2]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "CYBAH (with Lucky Daye)" |
| Brandon Shoop | 4:04 |
2. | "Tie The Knot" |
| Syd | 2:32 |
3. | "Fast Car" |
|
| 3:30 |
4. | "Right Track (feat. Smino)" |
| ForteBowie | 2:38 |
5. | "Sweet" |
| Syd | 2:30 |
6. | "Control" |
| Rodney Jerkins | 2:20 |
7. | "No Way" |
|
| 3:03 |
8. | "Getting Late" | Syd | Syd | 3:10 |
9. | "Out Loud (feat. Kehlani)" |
| Syd, G Koop | 3:23 |
10. | "Heartfelt Freestyle" |
| ForteBowie | 2:25 |
11. | "BMHWDY" |
| Steve Lacy | 3:07 |
12. | "Goodbye My Love" |
| Biloba | 2:14 |
13. | "Missing Out" | Syd | Syd | 4:00 |
Total length: | 38:55 |