I'm All Ears

Last updated

I'm All Ears
Let's Eat Grandma - I'm All Ears.png
Studio album by
Released29 June 2018 (2018-06-29)
Genre
Length51:27
Label Transgressive
Producer
Let's Eat Grandma chronology
I, Gemini
(2016)
I'm All Ears
(2018)
Two Ribbons
(2022)
Singles from I'm All Ears
  1. "Hot Pink"
    Released: 30 January 2018
  2. "Falling Into Me"
    Released: 21 March 2018
  3. "It's Not Just Me"
    Released: 18 April 2018
  4. "Ava"
    Released: 12 June 2018

I'm All Ears is the second studio album by the British musical duo Let's Eat Grandma, released on 29 June 2018, through Transgressive Records. Four singles preceded the release of the album: "Hot Pink", "Falling Into Me", "It's Not Just Me", and "Ava". The album received widespread acclaim from music critics.

Contents

Release

The duo released the lead single of the album, "Hot Pink", on 30 January 2018, [3] with a music video directed by Balan Evans released on 21 February, in which they stated they are "trying to navigate through a city where people's perceptions of reality are becoming more and more distorted in the fear that we'll end up the same way." [4] The album was announced on 21 March alongside the release of the second single, "Falling Into Me", a song they said is "about getting to know someone and getting over your fears about feeling insecure." [5] "It's Not Just Me" was released as the third single on 18 April with an accompanying music video also directed by Evans. The duo also announced a tour in promotion of the album, which will begin in late August. [6] The fourth and last single preceding the album, "Ava", was released on 12 June 2018. According to the duo, the song explores "the realization as you get older that some things are more complicated, and from the outside looking at a person you can't always see how difficult some problems are to solve." [7]

The album was released on 29 June 2018 on 2xLP, CD, cassette, digital download and streaming services through Transgressive Records. [8] [9] [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 8.0/10 [11]
Metacritic 85/100 [12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [14]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Pitchfork 8.6/10 [19]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [20]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [21]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [22]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, I'm All Ears received an average score of 85, based on 23 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [12] The Guardian gave the album a perfect score, with Laura Snapes calling it remarkable. [14] Rolling Stone 's Will Hermes wrote, "Ultimately it's the spirit of adventure that runs through the entire enterprise that makes the diversity feel perfectly coherent, and timely. The future, after all, belongs to the young." [21] Pitchfork critic Meaghan Garvey said, "I'm All Ears renders flattened communication as poignant, striking not because of the novelty of being made by teenagers but because it speaks with such commanding precision to the experience of a teenager in 2018.". [19] Q critic Niall Doherty said the duo "revealed themselves as a rare, brilliant talent," [20] while The Independent 's Ilana Kaplan wrote, "As a record that's as lyrically compelling as it is sonically daring, I'm All Ears is an admirable follow-up to an impressive debut." [15]

Writing for The Line of Best Fit , Saam Idelji-Tehrani stated "Reflecting Walton and Hollingworth's growth and maturation over a period of approximately two years, it is a creative and infectious record, which after repeat listens, moves from being intriguing to simply irresistible." [23] Matthew Neale of Clash praised the album, saying "If they've perfected the modern pop template associated with acts like SOPHIE (on production duties here) - and they have - it's somehow not the most impressive element of the record. The second half of the album includes a pair of breathtaking epics, 'Cool & Collected' and 'Donnie Darko', that showcase a songwriting maturity well beyond their 18 and 19 years." [24] AllMusic critic Heather Phares wrote, "By the time Let's Eat Grandma unite the album's different sounds on the exhilarating finale, 'Donnie Darko,' Hollingworth and Walton prove that a few more years under their collective belt haven't tamed their adventurous spirit—if anything, the way they challenge expectations on I'm All Ears is more exciting than ever." [13]

Accolades

Accolades for I'm All Ears
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
The A.V. Club Top 20 Albums of 2018
20
Dazed Top 20 Albums of 2018
5
The Independent Top 40 Albums of 2018
19
The Line of Best Fit Top 50 Albums of 2018
9
Loud and Quiet Top 40 Albums of 2018
13
Louder Than War Top 25 Albums of 2018
24
MusicOMH Top 50 Albums of 2018
19
Mojo Top 75 Albums of 2018
20
Pitchfork Top 50 Albums of 2018
32
Q Top 50 Albums of 2018
2
Rough Trade Top 100 Albums of 2018
11
Uncut Top 75 Albums of 2018
29

Track listing

All tracks written by Jenny Hollingworth and Rosa Walton and produced by David Wrench, except "Hot Pink" and "It's Not Just Me", co-written and produced by Sophie and Faris Badwan. [37]

I'm All Ears track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Whitewater"1:57
2."Hot Pink"4:08
3."It's Not Just Me"3:55
4."Falling Into Me"5:46
5."Snakes & Ladders"5:57
6."Missed Call (1)"0:37
7."I Will Be Waiting"4:23
8."The Cat's Pyjamas"1:05
9."Cool & Collected"9:17
10."Ava"3:04
11."Donnie Darko"11:19
Total length:51:27

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of I'm All Ears. [37]

Let's Eat Grandma

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for I'm All Ears
Chart (2018)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [38] 164
Scottish Albums (OCC) [39] 27
UK Albums (OCC) [40] 28

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric B. & Rakim</span> American hip hop duo

Eric B. & Rakim were an American hip hop duo formed on Long Island, New York, in 1986, composed of DJ Eric B. and rapper Rakim. They first received acclaim for their 1987 debut album Paid in Full, which featured versions of the popular singles "Eric B. Is President" and the title track. They followed with three successful albums: Follow the Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don't Sweat the Technique (1992).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fischerspooner</span> American electronic music duo

Fischerspooner was an electroclash duo and performance troupe formed in 1998 in Chicago after meeting in school. The name is a combination of the founders' last names, Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner.

<i>Lets Get Out of This Country</i> 2006 studio album by Camera Obscura

Let's Get Out of This Country is the third studio record by the Scottish indie pop band Camera Obscura, released by Elefant Records on 6 June 2006. It was recorded in Sweden with the producer Jari Haapalainen, and arranged by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faris Badwan</span> English musician

Faris Adam Derar Badwan is an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the Horrors, and more recently as half of Cat's Eyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Big Pink</span> English rock band

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Kimbie</span> English electronic music group

Mount Kimbie is an English electronic music group. Originally consisting of the duo of Dominic Maker and Kai Campos, Mount Kimbie was formed in 2008. The duo expanded on the musical template of the UK dubstep scene, releasing early EPs Maybes and Sketch on Glass to critical praise the following year. Their debut album Crooks & Lovers in 2010 received further acclaim and was listed as one of the defining albums of the decade by DJ Mag.

Cat's Eyes are an alternative pop duo formed in early 2011 by vocalist Faris Badwan and Italian-Canadian soprano, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira.

<i>Bloom</i> (Beach House album) 2012 studio album by Beach House

Bloom is the fourth studio album by American dream pop duo Beach House. It was co-produced by the band and Chris Coady, and was released on May 15, 2012, by Sub Pop, in Europe by Bella Union, in Australia by Mistletone Records, and in Mexico by Arts & Crafts. The album was written over two years of touring and was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, over seven weeks. Building on their previous album, Teen Dream (2010), the duo continued to add live drums to their song arrangements for Bloom, supplementing their drum machine rhythms.

Patten is the pseudonym of London-based electronic experimental musician and audiovisual artist Damien Roach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie (musician)</span> Scottish music producer and DJ (1986–2021)

Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was a Scottish music producer, songwriter, and DJ. Sophie's work is known for its brash take on pop music and is distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of influences from underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.

<i>Pom Pom</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Ariel Pink

Pom Pom is the tenth studio album by American recording artist Ariel Pink, released on November 17, 2014 through 4AD. It was his first release credited solely to himself, and his last on 4AD. Several of its songs were co-written with the ailing Kim Fowley, who died the following January. Critics generally gave the album positive reviews. Only one single was issued from the album: "Put Your Number in My Phone".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlpool</span> Indie band from Los Angeles, California

Girlpool was an indie rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed by friends Avery Tucker and Harmony Tividad. Their debut self-titled EP Girlpool was released on Bandcamp in 2014 and re-released on Wichita Recordings later that year. They released their debut album Before the World Was Big in 2015, followed by Powerplant (2017) and What Chaos Is Imaginary (2019). Their fourth and final studio album, Forgiveness (2022), was released on April 29. In August 2022, the duo announced that they will be taking an indefinite break from the band.

<i>Multi-Love</i> 2015 studio album by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Multi-Love is the third studio album from the New Zealand band Unknown Mortal Orchestra. It was released on 26 May 2015. Frontman and primary contributor Ruban Nielson produced, mixed, and engineered the entirety of Multi-Love. He explored themes such as euphoria, loneliness, existentialism and emotional exhaustion. The title Multi-Love is a reference to the intense polyamorous relationship which Ruban Nielson had with his wife and a younger woman for a year, before her visa expired and the relationship ended. The topic is a prevalent theme in the album's lyrics, and Nielson has won acclaim for how he made such topics into music form, and portraying sexual experimentation in a positive light. The fallout from the relationship and subsequent personal transformations for Ruban, his wife Jenny, and the younger woman is the basis of the album's existential themes, and contributes to an eventual catharsis and reckoning with the past Ruban had, once he could finally let go from his bygone "multi-love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honne (band)</span> English electronic music duo

Honne are an English electronic music duo formed in 2014 in Bow, London, consisting of James Hatcher (producer) and Andy Clutterbuck. Honne's debut studio album, Warm on a Cold Night, was released 22 July 2016. Their second album, Love Me/Love Me Not, followed on 28 August 2018. The duo then released their first mixtape, No Song Without You, on 3 July 2020. Across these albums the band have achieved gold, platinum and multiplatinum certifications in multiple countries around the world. Their third album, Let's Just Say the World Ended a Week from Now, What Would You Do?, was released on 22 October 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Eat Grandma</span> British pop group

Let's Eat Grandma are a British experimental pop duo formed in 2013 by Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth. They released their debut studio album I, Gemini in 2016 through Transgressive Records. Their second studio album, I'm All Ears, was released in 2018. Let's Eat Grandma describe their music as "experimental sludge pop".

<i>I, Gemini</i> 2016 studio album by Lets Eat Grandma

I, Gemini is the debut album by British pop duo Let's Eat Grandma, released 17 June 2016 via Transgressive Records.

<i>Rina</i> (EP) 2017 extended play by Rina Sawayama

Rina is the debut extended play by Japanese-British singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama. Also described as a mini album, Rina was independently released on 27 October 2017. Sawayama funded the album herself, working for "2-3 jobs at a time for years" to save enough to release the EP. Sawayama promoted the album through the Ordinary Superstar Tour in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudan Archives</span> American musician

Brittney Denise Parks, better known by her stage name Sudan Archives, is an American violinist, singer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. Parks learned to play the violin by ear as a young child in Cincinnati, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Dresses</span> Canadian noise pop duo

Black Dresses were a Canadian noise pop duo consisting of Ada Rook and Devi McCallion, formed in 2017. Their debut album, Wasteisolation, was released independently in 2018. The duo released three additional albums, Thank You (2019), Love and Affection for Stupid Little Bitches (2019), and Peaceful as Hell (2020), before breaking up in 2020 in response to harassment received by McCallion. Despite maintaining their declaration of disbandment in 2020, Black Dresses released three additional albums, Forever in Your Heart (2021), Forget Your Own Face (2022), and Laughingfish (2024). Upon releasing Laughingfish, the band announced that it would be their final album.

<i>Two Ribbons</i> 2022 studio album by Lets Eat Grandma

Two Ribbons is the third studio album by British pop duo Let's Eat Grandma, released 29 April 2022 by Transgressive Records.

References

  1. Cosores, Philip (29 June 2018). "British Teens Let's Eat Grandma Make Brilliant Avant-Pop On Their New Album 'I'm All Ears'". Uproxx . Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. Conaton, Chris (2 June 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma Makes Synthpop with Variety on 'I'm All Ears'". PopMatters . Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  3. Gaca, Anna (30 January 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma – "Hot Pink"". Spin . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  4. Gaca, Anna (21 February 2018). "Video: Let's Eat Grandma – "Hot Pink"". Spin . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  5. Blais-Billie, Braudie (21 March 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma Announce New Album I'm All Ears, Share New Song". Pitchork . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  6. Kim, Michelle (20 April 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma Share New Song, Announce Tour". Pitchfork . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  7. Green, Gil (12 June 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma – "Ava"". Stereogum . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  8. "Let's Eat Grandma – I'm All Ears". Rough Trade . 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  9. "Let's Eat Grandma". Transgressive Records . Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  10. "Let's Eat Grandma Announce New Album 'I'm All Ears'". DIY . 21 March 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  11. "I'm All Ears by Let's Eat Grandma reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  12. 1 2 "I'm All Ears by Let's Eat Grandma Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  13. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "I'm All Ears – Let's Eat Grandma". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  14. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (29 June 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma review – bold, intense pop that gets under the skin". The Guardian . Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  15. 1 2 Kaplan, Ilana; Shepherd, Jack; O'Connor, Roisin; Beech, Dave (27 June 2018). "Album reviews: Gorillaz, Teyana Taylor, Ray Davies and more". The Independent . Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  16. Waring, Charles (July 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma: I'm All Ears". Mojo (296): 93.
  17. Aubrey, Elizabeth (4 July 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma – 'I'm All Ears' review". NME . Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  18. Mackay, Emily (1 July 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma: I'm All Ears review – a radical leap forward". The Observer . Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  19. 1 2 Garvey, Meaghan (3 July 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma: I'm All Ears". Pitchfork . Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  20. 1 2 Doherty, Niall (Summer 2018). "Teenage Kicks". Q (387): 104.
  21. 1 2 Hermes, Will (2 July 2018). "Review: Let's Eat Grandma's 'I'm All Ears' Is Adventurous Bubblegum". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  22. Hodgkinson, Will (29 June 2018). "Pop review: Let's Eat Grandma: I'm All Ears" . The Times . Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  23. Idelji-Tehrani, Saam. "Let's Eat Grandma come of age on I'm All Ears". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  24. Neale, Matthew (26 June 2018). "Let's Eat Grandma: I'm All Ears". Clash . Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  25. Purdom, Clayton; McLevy, Alex; Rife, Katie; Anthony, David; Zaleski, Annie (18 December 2018). "A.V. Clubs 20 Best Albums of 2018". Music.avclub.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  26. "20 Best Albums of 2018". Dazeddigital.com. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  27. O'Connor, Roison; Pollard, Alex J (5 December 2018). "The 40 best albums of 2018: From Arctic Monkeys to Christine and the Queens, Kendrick Lamar to Janelle Monae". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  28. "Best Albums of 2018". Thelineofbestfit.com. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  29. "The Loud and Quiet Best 40 Albums of 2018". Loudandquiet.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  30. Babey, Geb (9 December 2018). "Albums of the Year 2018 : The Top 25". Louderthanwar.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  31. Hubbard, Michael (5 December 2018). "MusicOMH's Top 50 Albums of 2018". Musicomh.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  32. "Kate Bush Heads Up MOJO's Best Of 2018 Issue". Mojo4music.com. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  33. "The 50 Best Albums of 2018". Pitchfork.com. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  34. Bill Pearis (18 December 2018). "Q Magazine's Top 50 Albums of 2018". BrooklynVegan.
  35. "Rough Trade's Albums of the Year". Roughtrade.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  36. Sam Richards (21 December 2018). "Uncut's best new albums of 2018". Uncut . Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  37. 1 2 I'm All Ears (LP liner notes). Let's Eat Grandma. Transgressive Records. 2018. TRANS347XX.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. "Ultratop.be – Let's Eat Grandma – I'm All Ears" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  39. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  40. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 July 2018.