Bunny (Matthew Dear album)

Last updated
Bunny
Matthew Dear - Bunny.png
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 12, 2018 (2018-10-12)
Length61:54
Label Ghostly International
Producer
  • Matthew Dear
  • Greg Ahee
  • James Ford
Matthew Dear chronology
Beams
(2012)
Bunny
(2018)
Backstroke
(2020)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.9/10 [1]
Metacritic 76/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Clash 7/10 [4]
Exclaim! 6/10 [5]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Loud and Quiet 5/10 [7]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [9]
PopMatters 8/10 [10]
The Skinny Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Under the Radar 8/10 [12]

Bunny is the sixth studio album by American DJ and producer Matthew Dear. It was released on October 12, 2018 under Ghostly International. [13] It is Dear's first album in six years following from Beams in 2012.

Contents

Release

On July 3, 2017, the first single "Modafinil Blues". [14] The track was written with Frank Ocean collaborator Troy Nōka. [15]

The second single "Bad Ones" was released on August 29, 2017. The single features a collaboration with Canadian duo Tegan and Sara. [16]

On August 8, 2018, Dear announced the release of the new album. He explained the reasoning for title: "I'm calling this one Bunny. As always, it’s got a little bit of everything that makes me who I am. Why Bunny? Fundamentally, I love the way the word looks and sounds. I love the way it rolls off the mind and onto the tongue". [17] Alongside the album, single "Bunny's Dream" was also released. [18]

The next single "Horses", which featured Tegan and Sara in the second collaboration, was released on September 18, 2018. [19]

Critical reception

Bunny was met with "generally favorable" 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 76, based on 14 reviews. [2] Aggregator Album of the Year gave the release a 70 out of 100 based on a critical consensus of 14 reviews. [20]

Paul Simpson from AllMusic explained that the album is "as sprawling and ambitious as his other long-players", admiring that it "features some of [Dear's] most forthright songwriting and catchiest hooks". Simpson also noted the album "seems more like an album to mentally pick apart than dance to, yet it's not hard to lose one's self in the rush of Dear's inventive rhythms. [3] Jill Guthrie from Clash said of the album: "in its entirety is quintessentially disparate, a fleeting repertoire of the avant, and a keeper of both the nostalgic and the progressive", explaining that the songs drift from "the ethereal" to the "gritty reality". [4] Skye Butchard from Loud and Quiet explained that the album "goes just about everywhere in its hour-long runtime, from ’80s Bowie camp to shimmering alt-pop, to ’90s guitar rave. He’s been tinkering with club music and alt-rock his whole career, but this is by far his most bubbly outing. Despite that, his oddball baritone stays intact, which sadly makes for a mixed bag of experiments". [7] Ben Devlin from MusicOMH said the album "is a worthwhile return for Matthew Dear, showcasing the production chops that have made him a familiar name for 15 years now. It sags in places, but this isn’t such a crime when the album also contains highlights like Electricity, Horses, Modafinil Blues and Bunny’s Dream, which are highly recommended for any electronic music fan. [8]

Accolades

Accolades for Bunny
PublicationAccoladeRank
MusicOMH MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2018
39 [21]

Track listing

Bunny track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bunny's Dream"
  • Greg Ahee
  • Matthew Dear
7:06
2."Calling"Matthew Dear3:27
3."Can You Rush Them"Matthew Dear4:22
4."Echo"Matthew Dear4:11
5."Modafinil Blues"
  • Antoine Collins
  • Matthew Dear
5:00
6."What You Don't Know"
  • Matthew Dear
  • James Ford
  • James Shaw
4:15
7."Horses" (featuring Tegan and Sara )
  • Matthew Dear
  • Sara Quin
  • Tegan Quin
5:08
8."Moving Man"Matthew Dear4:17
9."Bunny's Interlude"Matthew Dear1:23
10."Duke of Dens"Matthew Dear3:15
11."Electricity"Matthew Dear3:29
12."Kiss Me Forever"Matthew Dear5:08
13."Bad Ones" (featuring Tegan and Sara)
  • Matthew Dear
  • Sara Quin
  • Tegan Quin
4:32
14."Before I Go"Matthew Dear6:21
Total length:61:54

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Dear</span> American music producer, DJ and artist

Matthew Dear is an American electronic music producer and DJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tegan and Sara discography</span> Band discography

Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara have released ten studio albums and thirteen singles. They released their first album, Under Feet Like Ours, independently in 1999. Their first major release was This Business of Art, released in 2000 on Vapor Records. This album contained their debut single, "The First".

<i>Love You to Death</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Tegan and Sara

Love You to Death is the eighth studio album by Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara, released on June 3, 2016, on Neil Young's label Vapor Records through Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Greg Kurstin, it is the follow-up to the duo's 2013 release Heartthrob, also produced in part by Kurstin. "Boyfriend" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 2016. The same day, "U-Turn" was also released as a promotional single.

<i>Beams</i> (Matthew Dear album) 2012 studio album by Matthew Dear

Beams is the fifth studio album by Matthew Dear. It was released via Ghostly International in 2012.

<i>All That Must Be</i> 2018 studio album by George FitzGerald

All That Must Be is the second studio album by English musician and producer George FitzGerald. It was released on 9 March 2018, under Double Six Records and Domino Recording Company.

<i>Kazuashita</i> 2018 studio album by Gang Gang Dance

Kazuashita is the sixth studio album by American experimental music band Gang Gang Dance. It was released on June 22, 2018 under 4AD.

<i>V.</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Wooden Shjips

V. is the fifth studio album by American psychedelic rock band Wooden Shjips. It was released on May 25, 2018, under Thrill Jockey.

<i>Elastic Days</i> 2018 studio album by J Mascis

Elastic Days is the third solo studio album by Dinosaur Jr. frontman J Mascis. It was released through Sub Pop Records on November 9, 2018.

<i>Lost Girls</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Bat for Lashes

Lost Girls is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Natasha Khan, known professionally as Bat for Lashes. It was released on 6 September 2019 through AWAL. It is Khan's follow up to 2016's The Bride. The lead single "Kids in the Dark" was released on 10 June 2019.

<i>Animated Violence Mild</i> 2019 studio album by Blanck Mass

Animated Violence Mild is the fourth studio album by British electronic musician Blanck Mass. It was released on 16 August 2019 under Sacred Bones Records.

<i>Seeking Thrills</i> 2020 studio album by Georgia

Seeking Thrills is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Georgia. It was released on 10 January 2020 under Domino Recording Company.

<i>All That Glue</i> 2020 compilation album by Sleaford Mods

All That Glue is a compilation album by British electronic music duo Sleaford Mods. It was released on 15 May 2020 on the Rough Trade label.

<i>The Caretaker</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Half Waif

The Caretaker is the fourth studio album by American musician Nandi Rose Plunkett, under her stage name Half Waif. It was released on March 27, 2020, under Anti-.

<i>Shadow Offering</i> 2020 studio album by Braids

Shadow Offering is the fourth studio album by Canadian experimental pop/art rock band Braids. It was originally slated to be released on April 24, 2020, but was delayed to June 19 of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<i>Drift</i> (The Men album) 2018 studio album by The Men

Drift is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band The Men. It was released on March 2, 2018 under Sacred Bones Records.

<i>Power</i> (Lotic album) 2018 studio album by Lotic

Power is the debut studio album by American electronic musician Lotic. It was released on July 13, 2018, by Tri Angle.

<i>Anime, Trauma and Divorce</i> 2020 studio album by Open Mike Eagle

Anime, Trauma and Divorce is the seventh solo studio album by American rapper Open Mike Eagle. It was released on October 16, 2020 through Auto Reverse Records. Production was handled by Caleb Stone, Frank Leone, Loden, Black Milk, Gold Panda and Nedarb, with Jacknife Lee and Open Mike Eagle serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Lil A$e, Kari Faux and Video Dave.

<i>Howl</i> (Rival Consoles album) 2015 studio album by Rival Consoles

Howl is the third studio album by British electronic musician Ryan Lee West, performed under his stage name Rival Consoles. It was released on 16 October 2015, by Erased Tapes Records.

<i>A Billion Little Lights</i> 2021 studio album by Wild Pink

A Billion Little Lights is the third studio album by American indie rock band Wild Pink. It was released on February 19, 2021 under Royal Mountain Records.

References

  1. "AnyDecentMusic? Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Metacritic Review". Metacritic . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Simpson, Paul. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Guthrie, Jill (October 15, 2018). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  5. Keating, Daryl (October 11, 2018). "Exclaim! Review". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  6. Simpson, Dave (October 12, 2018). "Eclectic post-punk via heavy electronics". The Guardian . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Butchard, Skye (October 11, 2018). "Loud and Quiet Review". Loud and Quiet . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Devlin, Ben (October 12, 2018). "MusicOMH Review". MusicOMH . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  9. Sherburne, Philip (October 17, 2018). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  10. Carr, Paul (October 11, 2018). "The Depth and Breadth of Matthew Dear's 'Bunny' Makes It His Best Album Ever". PopMatters . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  11. Wade, Lewis (October 10, 2018). "The Skinny Magazine". The Skinny . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  12. Michael, Jordan (November 19, 2018). "Under the Radar Review". Under the Radar . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  13. Slingerland, Calum (August 8, 2018). "Matthew Dear Returns with 'Bunny' LP". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  14. Murray, Robin (July 3, 2017). "Matthew Dear Returns With 'Modafinil Blues'". Clash . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  15. Geslani, Michele (June 30, 2017). "Matthew Dear shares anxiety-fueled new song "Modafinil Blues"". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  16. Murray, Robin (August 29, 2017). "Matthew Dear x Tegan & Sara Combine On 'Bad Ones'". Clash . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  17. Murray, Robin (August 8, 2018). "Matthew Dear Announces New Album 'Bunny'". Clash . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  18. Reese, Nathan (August 8, 2018). "Bunny's Dream by Matthew Dear". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  19. Hughes, Josiah (September 18, 2018). "Listen to Matthew Dear's New Tegan and Sara Collaboration "Horses"". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  20. "Album of the Year Review". Album of the Year. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  21. Hubbard, Michael (December 5, 2018). "MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2018". MusicOMH . Retrieved August 23, 2020.