| Like a Ribbon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by John Glacier | ||||
| Released | February 14, 2025 | |||
| Length | 30:13 | |||
| Label | Young | |||
| Producer |
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| John Glacier chronology | ||||
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Like a Ribbon is the debut studio album by British rapper John Glacier. [1] It was released through Young on 14 February 2025, and was met with positive critical reception.
John Glacier released the song "Ocean Steppin'" as a single on 15 January 2025. [2] She released Like a Ribbon through Young on 14 February 2025. [3]
Like a Ribbon was executive produced by Kwes Darko. The album contains two guest appearances: musician Eartheater on the track "Money Shows", and singer Sampha on the track "Ocean Steppin'". [3] The album's structure has been described as split into three parts, representing the different ways a ribbon moves as it unfurls. [4] [5]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100 [6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 9/10 [4] |
| DIY |   [3] |
| The Guardian | [1] |
| MusicOMH |  [7] |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10 [8] |
| PopMatters | 7/10 [9] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Like a Ribbon received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from 7 critic scores. [6] The album's content was described by reviewers as personal and reflective; [4] [5] in particular, critics described her lyrics as discussing topics related to her personal and professional growth. [4] [8] Nature, and its contrasts with urban life or the digital world, was also identified by some critics as a recurring theme. [5] [8] The album's lyrics were described as presented in a fragmentary style, which critics compared to "scattered voice memos" [1] or "faintly sketched daydreams". [5] Glacier's vocal style on Like a Ribbon was widely noted for its muted character, with several critics describing her delivery as "diaristic", [5] [9] "deadpan", [5] [8] and "stream-of-consciousness". [1] [9] Cameron Lipp of PopMatters also remarked on the recording of Glacier's vocals, describing them as having a "DIY homemade sound". [9]
Critics identified diverse influences on the instrumentation of Like a Ribbon. Hip-hop, and related genres like grime and UK drill, were described as major genres present on the album; electronic genres, including garage and drum 'n' bass, were also highlighted. [1] [5] [9] Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork characterised Like a Ribbon as incorporating post-punk as well. [8] The diversity in sounds on the album divided some critics: Alexis Petridis of The Guardian felt that the album being "so packed with ideas" made it rewarding to listen repeatedly and explore thoroughly, [1] whereas Lipp commented that it led some of Glacier's ideas to be "half-baked". [9]
The sound of Like a Ribbon was compared by some reviewers to artists such as Dean Blunt [5] [8] [9] and King Krule. [5] [8] The guest appearances were praised for being distinctive without "steal[ing] the spotlight". [3]
All lyrics are written by John Glacier; "Ocean Steppin'" lyrics written with Sampha Sisay.
| No. | Title | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Satellites" | Kwes Darko | Darko | 1:58 |
| 2. | "Don't Cover Me" |
|
| 3:00 |
| 3. | "Money Shows" (featuring Eartheater) |
| Darko | 2:11 |
| 4. | "Emotions" |
| Darko | 3:24 |
| 5. | "Nevasure" | Harley Streten | Flume | 3:16 |
| 6. | "Steady as I Am" | Darko | Darko | 2:14 |
| 7. | "Found" |
| Darko | 2:43 |
| 8. | "Home" |
|
| 3:22 |
| 9. | "Ocean Steppin'" (with Sampha) | Darko | Darko | 2:50 |
| 10. | "Dancing in the Rain" | 2:11 | ||
| 11. | "Heavens Sent" |
|
| 3:00 |
| Total length: | 30:13 | |||
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [10] | 65 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [11] | 43 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) [12] | 24 |