| Farm to Table | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 17, 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2021 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Hip hop, indie rock, political music | |||
| Length | 34:14 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | 4AD | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Bartees Strange chronology | ||||
| ||||
Farm to Table is the second studio album by American indie rock musician Bartees Strange, released on 4AD on June 17, 2022. [1] The album has been met with positive reviews for its stylistic variety and emotionally deep lyrics.
The album title refers to Strange's upbringing in rural Oklahoman farms to now having a seat at the table with music industry success. [1] [2] This is his first album released by 4AD [3] and was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Strange was not able to perform live. [1] He felt musically inspired after finishing his debut full-length Live Forever and began recording this follow-up the day before that album was released. [3] Lyrical themes on the album explore the struggle he felt having success during times of difficulty and desperation for others, as well as the political turmoil during the George Floyd protests. [2] Strange also explores his relationship with his parents in the lyrics; he debuted the work to them in early 2022 as soon as it was finished. [4]
Strange released "Heavy Heart" as the album's lead single and his first single on 4AD on March 1, 2022. [5] April 21, 2022 saw the release of the album's second single, "Cosigns", alongside the announcement of a June 17 release date. [6] "Hold the Line" followed as the third single on May 13, 2022. [7] [8] "Wretched" was issued as the fourth and final pre-release single on June 13, 2022. [9]
Strange promoted the album with his first headlining tour. [10]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.6⁄10 [11] |
| Metacritic | 83 [12] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic Guide |   [13] |
| Beats Per Minute | 69% [14] |
| Clash | 7⁄10 [15] |
| Exclaim! | 8⁄10 [16] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8⁄10 [17] |
| Paste | 8.4⁄10 [3] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0⁄10 [18] |
| PopMatters | 8⁄10 [19] |
| Rolling Stone |  [20] |
| Slant Magazine | [21] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Farm to Table received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from 14 critic scores. [12] AnyDecentMusic?'s board summed up 15 reviews with a 7.6 out of 10. [11] The editorial board of AllMusic Guide gave Farm to Table four out of five stars, with reviewer Timothy Monger praising the stylistic variety on the recording. [13] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork rated the album an 8.0 out of 10, noting "nimble genre-hopping and his dynamic songwriting" and specifically noting Strange's ability to discuss political themes in his lyrics. [18] In The New York Times , Jon Pareles also calls out the political lyrics in "Hold the Line", a tune written in response to the murder of George Floyd, which the critic calls "the album's most richly moving song". [2] Maura Johnston gave Farm to Table 4.5 out of five stars in Rolling Stone , proposing that his "emotionally rich [lyrics]... [include] stories behind old scars [that] sit side-by-side with in-the-moment descriptions of raw new feelings", but that never "get bogged down in overly self-conscious musings about the slings and arrows of his budding fame". [20] Grant Sharples of Paste christens Strange a "polymath" whose variety of genres and diverse styles of lyrics foretell a long and fruitful career. [3]
Multiple reviews scored the album an eight out of 10: Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Caleb Campbell mused that Strange "might well be indie rock's biggest breakout success of the past several years" and summed up the album as a "no-holds-barred celebration". [17] Jean-Michel Lacombe of Exclaim! discussed Strange's ability to bring intimacy to his music by "channeling... firsthand minutia into maximalist musical moments" and characterized the musical genres as a "buffet" of "rock, emo, folk, rap and electronica" that makes a "multi-course meal". [16] PopMatters' Jeremy Levine wrote that "impressive genre-bending feats do not necessarily make a record someone emotionally treasures or that they come back to in vulnerable moments. Farm to Table offers as much substance as it offers style." [19] In Under the Radar , Mark Moody opined that Strange is "refusing to sit still long enough to be pigeonholed". [22]
A more mixed score came from Tim Sentz of Beats Per Minute , with a 69% that is accompanied by a review critical of the lack of focus on the album, but noting that "a lot of heart" went into the recording. [14] Charles Lyon-Burt of Slant Magazine gave this three out of five stars, pointing out several high points from the music, but calling it "somewhat anonymous". [21] Alex Rigotti of Clash considered Farm to Table a seven out of 10, with several strong tracks, alongside a few that are mixed quality, but pointing out that "it takes a wealth of creativity and guts to make an album as individual as this". [15]
| Publication | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| The New York Times [23] | Best Albums of 2022, Jon Caramanica | 7 |
| NME [24] | 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 36 |
| Our Culture Mag [25] | The 50 Best Albums of 2022 | 46 |
| Rolling Stone [26] | Best Albums of 2022 | 16 |
| Spin [27] | 50 More Great Albums of the Year | unranked |
In addition to the above listings, Farm to Table was on the personal best albums of 2022 lists for NPR music critic Gabby Bulgarelli, [28] Cassandra Jenkins, [29] and Sparta's Jim Ward. [30]
Vinyl editions feature "Daily News" (written by Stay Inside and Strange) after "Escape This Circus".
| Region | Date | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | June 17, 2022 | 4AD | Digital distribution and streaming [1] |
| October 7, 2022 | Compact disc and vinyl LP [1] | ||
Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV is an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He is the frontman of the alternative rock band Pixies, with whom he performs under the stage name Black Francis. Following the band's breakup in 1993, he embarked on a solo career under the name Frank Black. After releasing two albums with record label 4AD and one with American Recordings, he left the label and formed a new band, Frank Black and the Catholics. He re-adopted the name Black Francis in 2007.
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth by Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981 and replacing Heggie with multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde in 1983. The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects-laden sound and the soprano vocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language. They pioneered the 1980s alternative subgenre of dream pop and helped define what would become shoegaze.
Head over Heels is the second studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins. The album was released on 24 October 1983 through the label 4AD. It featured the band's signature sound of "Guthrie's lush guitars under Fraser's mostly wordless vocals" and is considered an archetype of early ethereal wave music.
Last Splash is the second album by American alternative rock band the Breeders, released on August 30, 1993. Originally formed as a side project for Pixies bassist Kim Deal, the Breeders quickly became her primary recording outlet. Last Splash peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and by June 1994, the album had been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of one million units.
Doolittle, the second studio album by the American alternative rock band Pixies, was released on April 17, 1989, on 4AD records. The album was an instant critical success and became the band's breakthrough album. Doolittle was especially well-received in Europe, where the British music weeklies Melody Maker and Sounds named it their album of the year. Pixies' main songwriter and lead vocalist Black Francis wrote the idiosyncratic lyrics, which allude to surrealist imagery, biblical violence, and descriptions of torture and death.
Anne Erin Clark, known professionally as St. Vincent, is an American musician and singer. Her guitar playing has been praised for its melodic style and use of distortion, and she has been listed among the best guitarists of the 21st century by multiple publications. Rolling Stone named Clark the 26th-greatest guitarist of all time in 2023.
Piano Magic was a musical collective formed in the summer of 1996 by Glen Johnson, Dominic Chennell, and Dick Rance in London, England. Their sound has been described as ambient pop, post-rock, indietronica, dark wave, "arty baroque pop" and "English radiophonic soundscapers". While later releases saw them operating in a traditional band format, they originally intended to base their recordings around their small nucleus and whoever else would like to contribute. Glen Johnson was the only remaining member from the original trio when the group disbanded in 2017.
Propaganda is a German synth-pop band formed in Düsseldorf in 1982. They signed a recording contract with ZTT Records as early as 1983 and released their first single "Dr Mabuse" in 1984. Followed by their debut studio album, the critically acclaimed A Secret Wish, in 1985. Two of the album's singles, "Dr. Mabuse" and "Duel", were UK Top 30 hits. A second studio album, 1234 (1990), was recorded with a markedly different line-up and released by Virgin Records to less success. There have been several partial reformations of the group in the 21st century, with the original vocalists currently active as xPropaganda.
Martha Kristin Hersh is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter known for her solo work and with her rock bands Throwing Muses and 50FootWave. She has released eleven solo albums. Her guitar work and composition style ranges from jaggedly dissonant to traditional folk. Hersh's lyrics have a stream-of-consciousness style, reflecting her personal experiences.
Vincent Samson Appice is an American rock and metal drummer best known for his work with the bands Dio, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell. Of Italian descent, he is the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice.
Wolf & Cub are a psychedelic rock band from Adelaide, Australia. Three of the original members hail from Port Augusta. The four-piece were signed to record label 4AD, which make use of two drummers. This allows the percussive elements of their music to feature more prominently alongside the guitar. Their name derives from a comic from Japan, "Lone Wolf and Cub". Wolf & Cub signed to Last Gang records in North America. Their third studio album, Heavy Weight, was released in 2013.
Zomby is a British electronic musician who began releasing music in 2007. He has released music on several labels, including Hyperdub, Werk Discs, and 4AD. Zomby's influences include oldschool jungle music and Wiley's eskibeat sound.
The Big Pink are an English electronic rock band from London, consisting of multi-instrumentalists Robertson "Robbie" Furze, Akiko Matsuura and Charlie Barker. Initially a duo, they signed to independent record label 4AD in 2009 and won the NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act. To date, they have released five singles, with their debut album A Brief History of Love released in September 2009 and its follow-up, Future This released in January 2012.
Black Veil Brides is an American rock band based in Hollywood, California. The group formed in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is currently composed of lead vocalist Andy Biersack, rhythm guitarist and violinist Jinxx, lead guitarist Jake Pitts, drummer Christian "CC" Coma and bassist Lonny Eagleton. Black Veil Brides are known for their use of black makeup, body paint, tight black studded clothing, and long hair, which were all inspired by the stage personas of Kiss and Mötley Crüe, as well as other 1980s glam metal acts.
Strange Mercy is the third studio album by American musician St. Vincent, released on September 13, 2011 by 4AD, in the United Kingdom and a day later in the United States. The album's cover art was designed by St. Vincent, and was photographed by Tina Tyrell. The album peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard 200, and was St. Vincent's highest charting album at the time, later being surpassed by her next two solo albums, St. Vincent (2014) and Masseduction (2017). In addition, Strange Mercy received significant critical acclaim.
Daughter is an English indie folk trio. Fronted by North London native Elena Tonra, the band was formed in 2010 after the addition of American-born Swiss guitarist Igor Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella from France. They have released four EPs and three albums, and are currently signed to Glassnote and 4AD (Europe). After playing the local London circuit, they toured supporting Ben Howard around Europe and have since played headlining tours around North America, Europe and Australia.
Runaway June is an American country music group consisting of Stevie Woodward, Jennifer Wayne, and Natalie Stovall. Wayne co-founded the group in 2015 with Hannah Mulholland and Naomi Cooke. Wayne was a former member of Stealing Angels and had co-written singles for other singers prior to the group's foundation. Signed to BBR Music Group's Wheelhouse imprint in 2015, the group charted two singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts prior to their breakthrough hit "Buy My Own Drinks" in 2018. This was the first of three singles from their 2019 studio album Blue Roses. Mulholland quit the group in 2020 and was replaced by Natalie Stovall, former lead singer of Natalie Stovall and the Drive; Cooke quit in 2022 and was replaced by Stevie Woodward.
Bartees Strange, is an English-born American musician. Strange was born in Ipswich, England, raised in Mustang, Oklahoma, and is now based in Washington D.C.
Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile, is an American folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts.
Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy is a 2020 EP by Bartees Strange, covering songs by The National. It was reissued as a deluxe edition 2024. The digital version was seven tracks rather than five tracks long and included an extended version of "Looking for Astronauts." The new vinyl edition included a bonus track: "Lemonworld".
