| Letter to Self | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 January 2024 | |||
| Recorded | March 2023 | |||
| Studio | Black Box Studios (Noyant-la-Gravoyère, France) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:00 | |||
| Label | City Slang | |||
| Producer | Daniel Fox | |||
| Sprints chronology | ||||
| ||||
Letter to Self is the debut studio album by Irish band Sprints, released on 5 January 2024 through City Slang. The album was produced by Daniel Fox of fellow Irish group Gilla Band; upon release, it received acclaim from critics.
Letter to Self was recorded in 12 days with Daniel Fox at Black Box Studios, in the Loire Valley, France. [1] Fox who had already produced previous singles and EPs of the band, was called back. [1]
Singer, guitarist and lead-songwriter Karla Chubb stated that her lyrics were cathartic : "Lyrically it was about acknowledging everything that's happened in my life – my traumas, my struggles with anxiety – and to close that chapter by putting it on the page. There’s been a lot of shame in my life, so I wanted the title to be the most honest, on the nose thing possible." [1]
The album was released on 5 January 2024 on vinyl in five different editions: Standard Black, Translucent Orange (Sprints Store exclusive), Marbled Orange and Red (Roughtrade exclusive), Translucent Yellow (Ireland Exclusive) and Cherry Red (Indies Exclusive). [2]
It was also issued on CD - with seven bonus tracks - and through online platforms.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.3/10 [3] |
| Metacritic | 84/100 [4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10 [5] |
| DIY |  [6] |
| Hot Press | 9/10 [7] |
| The Irish Times |  [8] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 [9] |
| Loud and Quiet | 8/10 [10] |
| Mojo | [11] |
| NME | [12] |
| Pitchfork | 7.1/10 [13] |
| Uncut | 8/10 [14] |
Letter to Self received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 14 critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [4] Uncut felt that "Sprints' debut delivers on thrilling live shows, with singer, guitarist and songwriter Karla Chubb providing a visceral fury, not least on the furious 'Adore Adore Adore', unheard since their label released Hole's Pretty on the Inside ". [14] Mojo stated that "from Ireland's proliferating alt-guitar pack, these intense runners could go the distance". [11] Julia Mason of Clash wrote that "Sprints have produced an album brutally honest and personal. They have not been afraid to express the feeling of being an outsider, of looking for validation, of attempting to overcome self-doubt". [5]
NME 's Rishi Shah opined that "for all its heavy-hitting subject matter, the beauty in Letter to Self is the optimism it leaves you with, the noise well and truly drowning out the pain in an empowering fashion", calling it "a dynamic album that is reflective of the muddled world we find ourselves in". [12] Ben Tipple of DIY described it as "musical exorcism at its very best, rallying against socially-imposed doubt and anxiety and – in its unique horror – finding welcome moments of inner peace". [6] Reviewing the album for The Line of Best Fit , Joshua Mills summarised Letter to Self as a "punchy, indignant collection of raucous garage rock, packed with vitriol, self-reflection, and the occasional burst of light. They’re tunes of real heft and fantastic energy, performed with intensity and commitment by singer Karla Chubb". [9] John Amen of Beats Per Minute concluded that Letters to Self is "a perilous yet fertile exploration of existential dissonance", with Sprints "striving for and often achieving an urgency and vision strikingly their own". [15] Hot Press dubbed Letter To Self "one of the all-time great Irish debuts." [16]
| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rough Trade UK | Albums of the Year 2024 | 9 | [17] |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ticking" | 3:06 |
| 2. | "Heavy" | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Cathedral" | 2:59 |
| 4. | "Shaking Their Hands" | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Adore Adore Adore" | 2:37 |
| 6. | "Shadow of a Doubt" | 4:10 |
| 7. | "Can't Get Enough of It" | 4:19 |
| 8. | "Literary Mind" | 4:32 |
| 9. | "A Wreck (A Mess)" | 3:36 |
| 10. | "Up and Comer" | 3:46 |
| 11. | "Letter to Self" | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 39:00 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Drones" | |
| 13. | "Help Me, I'm Spiralling" | |
| 14. | "Literary Mind (live)" | |
| 15. | "Ticking (demo)" | |
| 16. | "Heavy (demo)" | |
| 17. | "Can't Get Enough Of It (demo)" | |
| 18. | "Shadow Of A Doubt (demo)" |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums (OCC) [18] | 11 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [19] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [20] | 20 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [21] | 2 |
Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They were widely influential, both over their contemporaries and later acts. The Times called the group "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era".
The discography of Siouxsie and the Banshees, an English rock band, consists of eleven studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, one extended play (EP), and thirty singles. This list does not include material recorded by band members with the Creatures or the Glove, or solo work by Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin. This page lists albums, singles, and compilations by the band Siouxsie and the Banshees, alongside their chart positions, release date, and sales achievements. In the UK, the band has eight BPI-certified Silver albums and two Gold albums.
Mantaray is the debut solo album by English singer Siouxsie. It was released in September 2007 by W14 Music on Universal Records, four years after Hái! - the final album of her second band the Creatures. After her first solo tour in 2004, Siouxsie wanted to collaborate with other musicians. She met Steve Evans and Charlie Jones, both of them arranged the songs and produced the record. Upon release, Mantaray was well received by critics, with praise focused on Siouxsie's voice and the different compositional styles.
Skying is the third studio album by British band The Horrors. The album was released on 11 July 2011 in the UK and on 9 August 2011 in the USA on XL Recordings.
Old Ideas is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, released in January 2012. It is Cohen's highest-charting release in the United States, reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200, 44 years after the release of his first album. The album topped the charts in 11 countries, including Finland, where Cohen became, at the age of 77, the oldest chart-topper, during the album's debut week. The album was released on January 27, 2012, in some countries and on January 31, 2012, in the U.S. On January 22, before its release, the album was streamed online by NPR and on January 23 by The Guardian.
Fangclub are an alternative rock band formed in Rush, Dublin, signed to Vertigo Records.
Letter to You is the twentieth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Released in October 2020, it was Springsteen's first new studio album with the E Street Band to be released since 2014's High Hopes. Letter to You was met with widespread critical acclaim; critics responded favorably to the album's treatment of issues of aging and death. The album was a commercial success, topping several international sales charts and was Springsteen's 21st top-10 album in the United States. Since touring was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album was promoted with an online radio station, music videos, and a custom Twitter emoji.
Little Oblivions is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Julien Baker, released on February 26, 2021. Alongside the album's announcement, Baker released "Faith Healer" as the first single from the album. Little Oblivions is a departure from the acoustic alt folk of her first two albums. It features a full band sound, played almost entirely by Baker herself, with genres encompassing indie rock, alternative rock, emo, soft rock, electronic music, pop punk, post-rock, country, shoegaze, and slowcore. The album received acclaim from critics.
My 21st Century Blues is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Raye. It was released independently by Human Re Sources on 3 February 2023. The album is Raye's first project following her departure from Polydor Records in 2021. Largely co-written and produced by herself, she worked with notable names including Mike Sabath, BloodPop, Punctual, and Di Genius. The album features guest appearances from 070 Shake and Mahalia. My 21st Century Blues received acclaim from critics, with some publications including Variety naming it as one of the best albums of 2023. It lyrically explores themes including Raye's struggles with addiction, misogyny, insecurity, body dysmorphia, and sexual assault.
Mid Air is the debut solo album by the xx member Romy Madley Croft, released mononymously as Romy. The album was released on 8 September 2023 by the record label Young. The album was primarily produced by Romy in collaboration with Fred Again and Stuart Price, and consists of dance-pop influenced by the likes of Everything but the Girl and Calvin Harris. Regarded by Romy as a love letter to the gay clubs she attended growing up, the album themes include love, grief, and mental health. The album was received positively by critics, and appeared on record charts from numerous countries. "Strong" was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Recording at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Javelin is the tenth studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens, released on October 6, 2023, through Asthmatic Kitty. Preceded by the singles "So You Are Tired", "Will Anybody Ever Love Me?", and "A Running Start", the album received widespread critical acclaim on release.
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.
Iechyd Da is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Bill Ryder-Jones, released on 12 January 2024 through Domino Recording Company. It is his first album in five years, and received acclaim from critics.
Sprints are an Irish garage punk band, formed in Dublin in 2019. The band currently consists of Karla Chubb, Sam McCann, Jack Callan (drums) and Zac Stephenson (guitar).
Tigers Blood is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Waxahatchee. It was released on March 22, 2024, through Anti-. It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Right Back to It", "Bored", and "365". The album received acclaim from critics, and garnered Waxahatchee a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album, her first nomination at the awards.
The Collective is the second solo studio album by the American musician Kim Gordon, released on March 8, 2024, by Matador Records. It received acclaim from critics. It also received two nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance.
Madra is the debut studio album by Irish rock band NewDad, released on 26 January 2024 through Fair Youth and Atlantic Records. It was produced by Chris W Ryan and received positive reviews from critics. It was recorded over two weeks in March of 2023 in Rockfield Studios in Wales. It features additional production from music producer Happa, as well as the bands guitarist, Sean O'Dowd. The album was mixed by Alan Moulder and Caesar Edmunds and was mastered at Metropolis Studios by Matt Colton.
Hole in My Head is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Laura Jane Grace, released on February 16, 2024, through Polyvinyl Record Co. It received acclaim from critics.
The Art of the Lie is the sixth studio album by American musician John Grant, released on June 14, 2024, through Bella Union. It received positive reviews from critics.
Patterns in Repeat is the eighth studio album by British singer-songwriter Laura Marling, released by Chrysalis Records and Partisan Records on 25 October 2024. Marling co-produced the album with Dom Monks. It was supported by three singles: "Patterns", "No One's Gonna Love You Like I Can" and "Child of Mine".
