| Humble as the Sun | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 April 2024 | |||
| Studio |
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| Length | 34:42 | |||
| Label | Ghost Theatre | |||
| Producer |
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| Bob Vylan chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Humble as the Sun | ||||
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Humble as the Sun is the third studio album by London-based duo Bob Vylan, released on 5 April 2024 through Ghost Theatre. It received acclaim from critics.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10 [1] |
| Metacritic | 82/100 [2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10 [3] |
| Classic Rock |   [4] |
| DIY |  [5] |
| God Is in the TV | 9/10 [6] |
| Kerrang! | [7] |
| musicOMH | [8] |
| NME | [9] |
| The Skinny | [10] |
| Tom Hull | A– [11] |
| Uncut | [12] |
Humble as the Sun received a score of 82 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [2] Classic Rock stated that "Bob Vylan have become the loudest, most vital voice of righteous rage in a beaten-down nation", [4] while Uncut felt that "The charisma, charm, galvanising dynamism and radical positivity of frontman Bobbie, works better on stage than in the studio; even so, his hilarious takedowns of Marx-quoting armchair revolutionaries and Brexit-voting Top Gear fans reveal a sharp, self-aware wit behind the headbanging polemic." [12]
DIY 's Lisa Wright felt that the album "largely ups the pace, from the electronic, Prodigy-nodding beats of 'Reign' to the prowling punk of 'Dream Big'", writing that the "purposeful shift in perspective nonetheless tweaks the message from aggression to defiance". [5] Jazz Hodge of Clash called the duo "an inspiration to anyone fortunate enough to listen to their music" as they have "a confidence to say what needs to be said". opining that the album "couldn't have come at a more important time". [3]
MusicOMH 's John Murphy called it "a huge step up" as "every track on this album grabs the listener and demands attention" with "simmering anger bubbling throughout [...] which makes it one of the most compelling releases of the year". [8] Aliya Chaudhry of NME found that the album "broadens the duo's musical scope" and its "variety keeps things interesting, but it also allows the duo to flex their musical muscles" as "they've traded in some of their previous blistering punk for a more relaxed pace on certain tracks, but without sacrificing any intensity". [9]
| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio 6 Music | 26 Albums of the Year 2024 | - | [13] |
| Rough Trade UK | Albums of the Year 2024 | 88 | [14] |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Humble as the Sun" | 4:10 |
| 2. | "Reign" | 4:46 |
| 3. | "GYAG (Get Yourself a Gun)" | 3:20 |
| 4. | "Dream Big" | 3:05 |
| 5. | "Hunger Games" | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Right Here" | 2:49 |
| 7. | "Makes Me Violent" | 3:19 |
| 8. | "He's a Man" | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Ring the Alarm" | 3:11 |
| 10. | "I'm Still Here" | 3:44 |
| Total length: | 34:42 | |
Musicians
Technical
Visuals
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [15] | 11 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [16] | 22 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [17] | 3 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) [18] | 1 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)