Jewellery (album)

Last updated

Jewellery
Jewellery 300.jpg
Studio album by
Released9 March 2009
Recorded2008–2009
Genre
Length31:24
Label
Producer
Micachu chronology
Filthy Friends Mixtape
(2009)
Jewellery
(2009)
Never
(2012)

Jewellery is the debut studio album by English musician Micachu, co-produced by Matthew Herbert. It was released on 9 March 2009 on a joint venture between Rough Trade Records and Accidental Records. The album features Micachu's band the Shapes, which comprises Raisa Khan (keyboards and electronics) and Marc Pell (percussion and drums).

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10 [5]
Metacritic 75/100 [6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Pitchfork 7.9/10 [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Spin 7/10 [13]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]

Upon its release, Jewellery received generally positive reviews from critics. It maintains a 75 score on Metacritic. [6] Most reviews, both positive and negative, emphasized the originality and experimental, sometimes difficult nature of the music. Drowned in Sound praised the experimental sound of the album calling it "thrillingly improbable pop made by a grade-A maverick." [16] The Guardian similarly praised the music for combining "hard experimentation with soft introspection, her scrappy, lo-fi production wrapped in warmth." [8]

Some reviews were more mixed, but again focused on the experimental sound. PopMatters noted the challenging nature of the music: "The whole experience seems crowded with random experimentation for its own sake," adding, "With a little patience, however, Jewellery soon orders itself." [17] Under the Radar was less sympathetic, asserting, "The record is admirable for its crashing ambitions, but it unfortunately devolves into a tuneless, nearly unlistenable mire of avant-noise fragments."

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Vulture"2:49
2."Lips"1:21
3."Sweetheart"0:53
4."Eat Your Heart"2:20
5."Curly Teeth"2:27
6."Golden Phone"2:43
7."Ship"1:59
8."Floor"1:22
9."Just in Case"2:46
10."Calculator"3:09
11."Wrong"3:35
12."Turn Me Well"2:58
13."Guts"3:12
14."Hardcore" (hidden track)1:33

Notes

Charts

Chart (2009)Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [18] 20

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Good Sad Happy Bad is a British band formed in 2008 by Mica Levi a/k/a Micachu, Raisa Khan, and Marc Pell (drums). Initially fronted by Levi, they released their debut album Jewellery in 2008 via Rough Trade and Accidental Records. The group changed their name in 2016, and were joined by multi-instrumentalist and producer CJ Calderwood, with Khan assuming the role of lead vocalist.

References

  1. Kretowicz, Steph (April 2011). "Micachu & The Shapes - CHOPPED & SCREWED". The Quietus. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. Cills, Hazel (24 September 2015). "Micachu and the Shapes: Good Sad Happy Bad". Pitchfork . Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "Jewellery – Micachu & the Shapes". AllMusic . Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. "Micachu and the Shapes - Never: exclusive album stream". The Guardian. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. "Jewellery by Micachu reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Reviews for Jewellery by Micachu & the Shapes". Metacritic . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  7. Benenson, Alex. "Micachu & the Shapes: Jewellery". Blender . Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  8. 1 2 Clarke, Betty (6 March 2009). "Micachu: Jewellery". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  9. Carroll, Jim (6 March 2009). "Micachu: Jewellery (Rough Trade)". The Irish Times . Dublin. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  10. Wolk, Douglas (15 April 2009). "Micachu and the Shapes: Jewellery". Pitchfork . Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  11. "Micachu and the Shapes: Jewellery". Q (272): 101. March 2009.
  12. Rosen, Jody (11 May 2009). "Micachu and the Shapes: Jewellery". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  13. Gross, Jason (May 2009). "Micachu & the Shapes: Jewellery". Spin . 25 (5): 92–94. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  14. Dalton, Stephen (17 January 2009). "Micachu: Jewellery" . The Times . London. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  15. "Micachu and the Shapes: Jewellery". Uncut (142): 92. March 2009.
  16. Ubaghs, Charles (17 March 2009). "Album Review: Micachu – Jewellery". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  17. Martin, Erin Lyndal (9 April 2009). "Micachu & the Shapes: Jewellery". PopMatters . Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  18. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 January 2020.