Closer to Grey

Closer to Grey
Studio album by Chromatics
Released	October 2, 2019 (2019-10-02)
Recorded	Los Angeles, 2014-2019
Genre	Synth-pop, dream pop, synthwave
Length	45:46
Label	Italians Do It Better
Producer	Johnny Jewel
Chromatics chronology
Kill for Love (2012) Closer to Grey (2019)
Singles from Closer to Grey
"The Sound of Silence" Released: December 13, 2019

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	79/100 [1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Clash	9/10 [3]
Consequence of Sound	B [4]
Exclaim!	8/10 [5]
The Guardian	[6]
The Line of Best Fit	8.5/10 [7]
musicOMH	[8]
Paste	8.4/10 [9]
Pitchfork	7.1/10 [10]
Slant Magazine	[11]

Closer to Grey is the sixth (chronologically seventh)^{[ clarification needed ]} and final studio album by American electronic music band Chromatics, released through Italians Do It Better without prior announcement on October 2, 2019. ^[12] It is their first album in seven years, and follows the continuing delay of Dear Tommy , originally teased in 2014. ^[13] On March 31, 2020, the band released a companion album titled Faded Now ^[14] which included remixes from Closer to Grey, as well as covers and new material. ^[15] All the tracks that compose this double feature are included in the deluxe edition of Closer to Grey, ^[16] as well as instrumental and a cappella versions of some songs.

Background

The title track, "Closer to Grey", was released in 2014 through Johnny Jewel's SoundCloud. ^[17] The first track, "The Sound of Silence", is a cover of the Simon & Garfunkel song. ^[18] The tenth track, "On the Wall", is a cover of The Jesus and Mary Chain song. The cover of the record represents Closer to Grey as the seventh Chromatics album, turning Dear Tommy (the would-be sixth unreleased album) into a "lost" record. ^[19]

Track listing

All tracks written by Adam Miller and Johnny Jewel, except noted.

Closer to Grey – standard edition ^[20]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Sound of Silence" (Simon & Garfunkel cover)	3:16
2.	"You're No Good"	4:52
3.	"Closer to Grey"	2:44
4.	"Twist the Knife"	3:27
5.	"Light as a Feather"	3:36
6.	"Move a Mountain"	3:12
7.	"Touch Red"	5:12
8.	"Through the Looking Glass"	1:42
9.	"Whispers in the Hall"	3:24
10.	"On the Wall" (The Jesus and Mary Chain cover)	8:21
11.	"Love Theme from Closer to Grey"	2:40
12.	"Wishing Well"	3:20
Total length:		45:46

Closer to Grey – deluxe edition ^[21]

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Faded Now" (alternate version of "Closer to Grey")	3:54
14.	"You're No Good" (Club Mix)	7:47
15.	"Twist the Knife" (8 Track Version)	3:19
16.	"Street Lights" (alternate version of "Light as a Feather")	3:06
17.	"I Want to Be Alone" (Jackson C. Frank cover)	3:46
18.	"Touch Red" (On Film)	4:01
19.	"Nocturne"	2:13
20.	"Wishing Well" (alternate version)	2:36
21.	"The Runner"	3:25
22.	"Burning Bridges"	1:55
23.	"Stiff as a Board"	4:18
24.	"The Sound of Silence" (On Film)	2:51
25.	"Bloody Mary"	1:06
26.	"Move a Mountain" (On Film)	3:14
Total length:		93:08

Closer to Grey – deluxe edition part II

No.	Title	Length
27.	"The Sound of Silence" (Instrumental)	3:17
28.	"You're No Good" (Instrumental)	4:56
29.	"Closer to Grey" (Instrumental)	2:46
30.	"Twist the Knife" (Instrumental)	3:29
31.	"Light as a Feather" (Instrumental)	3:37
32.	"Move a Mountain" (Instrumental)	3:14
33.	"Touch Red" (Instrumental)	5:15
34.	"Whispers in the Hall" (Instrumental)	3:32
35.	"On the Wall" (Instrumental)	8:24
36.	"Wishing Well" (Instrumental)	3:14
37.	"Faded Now" (Instrumental)	3:55
38.	"You're No Good" (Club Mix Instrumental)	7:48
39.	"Twist the Knife" (8 Track Instrumental)	3:05
40.	"Street Lights" (Instrumental)	3:06
41.	"I Want to Be Alone" (Instrumental)	3:46
42.	"Touch Red" (On Film Instrumental)	4:02
43.	"Wishing Well" (Alternate Instrumental)	2:36
44.	"The Runner" (Instrumental)	3:23
45.	"Burning Bridges" (Instrumental)	1:54
46.	"Move a Mountain" (On Film Instrumental)	3:00
47.	"The Runner" (Acappella)	3:12
Total length:		174:31

Critical reception

Year-end rankings

Year-end and decade-end lists

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
Afisha Daily (Russia)	The Best Foreign Albums of 2019	9	[22]

Charts

Chart performance for Closer to Grey

Chart (2020)	Peak position
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [23]	24

References

1. "Reviews for Closer to Grey by Chromatics". Metacritic . Retrieved October 5, 2019.
2. Thomas, Fred. "Chromatics – Closer to Grey". AllMusic . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
3. Doherty, Jack (October 9, 2019). "Chromatics - Closer To Grey". Clash . Retrieved October 9, 2019.
4. Piccirillo, Angie (October 7, 2019). "Chromatics Introduce Next Sonic Chapter with Closer to Grey". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved October 7, 2019.
5. Hill, Eric. "Chromatics - Closer To Grey". Exclaim! . Retrieved October 10, 2019.
6. Snapes, Laura (October 4, 2019). "Chromatics: Closer to Grey review – darkly glamorous pop outsmarts imitators". The Guardian . Retrieved October 5, 2019.
7. Horton, Ross (October 3, 2019). "Chromatics' surprise return is as thrilling as we've come to expect". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
8. Hubbard, Michael (October 4, 2019). "Chromatics – Closer To Grey". musicOMH . Retrieved February 26, 2023.
9. Bote, Joshua (October 4, 2019). "Chromatics Return From the Dead with an Album that Sees Them Go Toward the Light". Paste . Retrieved October 5, 2019.
10. Fallon, Patric (October 12, 2019). "Chromatics: Closer to Grey Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 14, 2019.
11. Lemmon, Kyle (October 8, 2019). "Review: Chromatics's Closer to Grey Resplendently Charts the Passage of Time". Slant Magazine . Retrieved October 14, 2019.
12. Wilson, Scott (October 1, 2019). "Chromatics to release new album Closer To Grey tomorrow". Fact . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
13. Breihan, Tom (October 1, 2019). "A New Chromatics Album Is Out At Midnight — But Not Dear Tommy". Stereogum . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
14. "CHROMATICS RELEASE SURPRISE NEW ALBUM FADED NOW". Strange Ways Radio. April 3, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
15. "CHROMATICS "Faded Now"". Italians Do It Better.
16. "CHROMATICS "Closer to Grey" (Deluxe Edition) Digital".
17. Cetin, Melissa (October 1, 2019). "Chromatics unveil Closer To Grey, their first album in seven years". Resident Advisor . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
18. Hughes, Josiah; Thiessen, Brock (October 1, 2019). "Chromatics Release New Album 'Closer to Grey'". Exclaim! . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
19. "Closer to Grey Review". Pitchfork . October 12, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
20. "CHROMATICS "Closer to Grey" 5th Pressing (2xLP Clear Vinyl)". Italians Do It Better.
21. "CHROMATICS "Closer to Grey" (Deluxe Edition) Digital".
22. "Лучшие зарубежные альбомы 2019 года" [The Best Foreign Albums of 2019]. Afisha Daily . December 26, 2019.
23. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 11, 2023.