Early Twenties

Last updated

Early Twenties
Cat Burns - Early Twenties.png
Studio album by
Released12 July 2024 (2024-07-12)
Genre Pop
Length49:53
Label
Producer
Cat Burns chronology
Emotionally Unavailable
(2022)
Early Twenties
(2024)
How To Be Human
(2025)

Early Twenties is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Cat Burns, released on 12 July 2024 through Since '93 and RCA Records. The album was preceded by the singles "Alone", "End Game" and "Met Someone". [1] The deluxe edition includes the previously released singles "Go" and "Wasted Youth" with Goddard. It also includes a collaboration with India.Arie. Early Twenties has received positive reviews from critics, and was nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize. [2]

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 81/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 9/10 [4]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Line of Best Fit 8/10 [6]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Early Twenties received a score of 81 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim". [3] Reviewing the album for Clash , Lauren Dehollogne wrote that Burns "proves that she is willing to bare her soul while delivering some of the best pop vocals of the last decade" as she is "often conducting a sound that resembles the gap between early Beyoncé and Paramore" and "able to make even her saddest moments danceable". [4] DIY 's Bella Martin stated that "when Early Twenties is as its best is when Cat is at her most inside-thoughts-out-loud, marrying the specificities of her internal struggles with conversely euphoric pop moments". [5]

John Amen of The Line of Best Fit felt that Burns "opt[s] for self-reflection, exploring habitual tendencies that undermine her higher commitments. The project brims with honesty, practical wisdom, and reminders that we're more resilient than we think." He concluded that Early Twenties "documents a young and talented artist striving to make herself a better human and the world a better place". [6] Tara Joshi of The Observer said, "imbued with moving gospel richness and an indie sensibility, it's an introspective but anthemic, English-accented pop collection about growing pains". [7]

Track listing

Early Twenties track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Alone"Mac2:52
2."Go"
  • Burns
  • George Morgan
  • Jonah Stevens
  • Wille Tannergard
Jonah3:35
3."End Game"
  • Burns
  • Gez O'Connell
  • Jordan Riley
Riley2:26
4."Boy Crazy"
3:06
5."This Is What Happens"
  • Burns
  • Yakob Rabitsch
2:44
6."People Pleaser"
  • Burns
  • O'Connell
  • Riley
2:27
7."Met Someone"
  • Burns
  • Lattimer
  • Lattimer
  • Risc
2:49
8."Live More & Love More"
  • Burns
  • O'Connell
  • Riley
  • Burns
  • Price
  • Charles Haydon Hicks [a]
  • Luke Burgoyne [a]
2:38
9."Jodie"
  • Risc
  • TommyD [a]
3:23
10."Low Self Esteem"
  • Burns
  • O'Connell
  • Riley
Riley3:13
11."You Don't Love Me Anymore"
  • Burns
  • Britten Newbill
  • Victoria Zaro
  • Newbill
  • Kurisu
3:24
12."False Hope"
  • Burns
  • Nathaniel Ledwidge
  • Newbill
Risc3:08
13."No More"
  • Burns
  • O'Connell
  • Riley
  • Riley
  • Inverness
2:08
14."Happier Without You"
  • Burns
  • Newbill
  • Rabisch
Yakob3:06
15."Some Things Don't Last Forever"
  • Burns
  • Mac
Risc2:42
16."Know That You're Not Alone"
  • Inverness
  • The Nocturns
  • Matt Wolach [a]
2:55
17."Healing" (featuring India.Arie)
  • Thomas
  • Courtland Liddell [a]
  • Eddie Allen [a]
  • Edward Lucuara [a]
3:17
Total length:49:53
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
18."Wish It Was Me"
Risc2:57
19."Introvert"
  • Burns
  • Lattimer
  • Lattimer
  • Risc [a]
2:51
20."Ghosting"
  • Burns
  • Riley
2:25
21."We're Not Kids Anymore"
  • Burns
  • Eyelar Mirzazadeh
  • Sam Posener
  • Aston Rudi
Rudi3:03
22."Free"Rudi3:36
23."Sleep at Night"
  • Burns
  • Berney
  • Christopher Smith
Risc2:34
24."Go" (Goddard. remix)
  • Burns
  • Morgan
  • Stevens
  • Tannergard
  • Jonah
  • Goddard. [r]
3:12
25."Wasted Youth" (with Goddard.)
  • Goddard.
  • Coffer [c]
  • Kennard [c]
2:27
Total length:72:58

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for Early Twenties
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC) [8] 7
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 7

References

  1. Carter, Daisy (28 June 2024). "Cat Burns unveils latest single 'met someone'". DIY . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. "2024 Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed". Mercury Prize. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Early Twenties by Cat Burns Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 Dehollogne, Lauren (11 July 2024). "Cat Burns – Early Twenties | Reviews". Clash . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Martin, Bella (15 July 2024). "Cat Burns – Early Twenties review". DIY . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  6. 1 2 Amen, John (11 July 2024). "Cat Burns delivers on her full-length debut Early Twenties". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  7. 1 2 Joshi, Tara (14 July 2024). "Cat Burns: Early Twenties review – a candid coming-of-age debut". The Observer . Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  9. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2024.