Monomania (Deerhunter album)

Last updated
Monomania
Monomania album cover 2013.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 7, 2013 (2013-05-07)
RecordedJanuary–February 2013, [1]
StudioRare Book Room
(Brooklyn, New York)
Genre Garage rock [2]
Length43:21
Label 4AD
Producer
Deerhunter chronology
Halcyon Digest
(2010)
Monomania
(2013)
Fading Frontier
(2015)

Monomania is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter, released on May 7, 2013 on 4AD. Produced by both the band and Nicolas Vernhes, the album is the first to feature bassist Josh McKay, and is the only studio album to feature guitarist Frankie Broyles. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The album received universal acclaim upon its release. Monomania reached number seventy-three on the UK Albums Chart.

Background

The album's title is a reference to lead singer Bradford Cox’s obsessive traits. [6] In 2015, Cox reflected on his life while writing, recording and promoting Monomania, stating: I was actually going through a deep period of passionate rage. [...] That was what I was like at that time: a mixed-up wreck. Monomania was a very hateful record, and I mistreated a lot of people around me. I was in a lot of pain and very lonely. But there was also a big sense of humor; I never lose my sense of humor." [7]

Recording and release

The album was recorded at Rare Book Room Studio in Brooklyn, with producer Nicolas Vernhes, who also produced Microcastle and Rainwater Cassette Exchange . [8] [9] [10]

The album's title is a reference to lead singer Bradford Cox’s obsessive traits. [6] According to Lockett Pundt and Cox, Pierre Schaeffer, Steve Reich, and Bo Diddley were major influences on the album, along with the artists such as Ramones and Ricky Nelson. Bradford Cox noted, "I can't hold a match to that stuff and I never will. I'll never be black, I'll never have that experience. That's what's missing from indie culture, though: Bo Diddley and blackness. There's a struggle that exists in black music and hillbilly music from a certain era. Old music resonates with me, new music doesn't." [11] Cox also described the album as "a very avant-garde rock & roll record". [9] [12]

In 2015, Cox reflected on Monomania and its reception: "I really think Monomania was a successful record artistically, and I don’t think people view it that way. I think it’s viewed as an exhausted misstep. Frankly, I feel a lot stronger about Monomania [than 2015's Fading Frontier ]. Monomania was a case where I set out to accomplish, and I was able to execute, very much what I wanted to. In that way it was a success. I don’t give a shit how many copies it sold or how it got reviewed." [13]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.7/10 [14]
Metacritic 81/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [16]
The A.V. Club B+ [17]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [18]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]
MSN Music (Expert Witness)A [20]
NME 8/10 [21]
Pitchfork 8.3/10 [2]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [22]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Spin 9/10 [24]

Critical

Monomania received acclaim from critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 81, based on 41 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [15]

Ian Cohen of Pitchfork gave the album a "Best New Music" designation, writing "Monomania is certainly a strong effort on its own merits, and more importantly, they’ve avoided making their deflating "diminishing returns" record [..] that casts doubts about whether they’ve gone too far down the same path. They’ve pulled off something admirable in making an illogical left turn feel like the logical next step where one didn’t exist." [2] Spin 's Marc Hogan also praised the album, writing "An impishly brilliant 12-song set of scruffy garage rock with moments of dreamy shimmer, Monomania leaves no confusion about what sort of band Deerhunter are: one that won't stoop to conquer." [24]

Slant Magazine 's Kevin Liedel, on the other hand, gave the album a mixed review, writing "A catalogue of trailing ellipses and blank thought balloons, the album is hardly characteristic of the band's fastidious mien. Whereas both Deerhunter and Atlas Sound albums typically reflect the obsessive brilliance and meticulous pathos of Cox's personality, there's few signs of either on Monomania, which is in dire need of a little less impulse and a bit more OCD." [25]

In "Run It Back: Beats Per Minute 's Top 50 Albums of 2013," John Amen wrote, "Throughout Monomania, Deerhunter showcase their versatility, drawing from multiple playbooks. Cox, meanwhile, revels in mysterious yet emotionally accessible songs, frequently occurring as a born-in-the-garage and punk-nursed reincarnation of John Lennon. Placing hi-fi concepts and compositions in a lo-fi setting, Monomania is arguably Deerhunter’s most consummate outing." [26]

Commercial

The album debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its release, selling around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week. [27] It also debuted at No. 12 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums, [28] and No. 10 on the Alternative Albums chart. [29] The album has sold 33,000 copies in the United States as of October 2015. [30]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bradford Cox except for "The Missing" written by Lockett Pundt

No.TitleLength
1."Neon Junkyard"2:52
2."Leather Jacket II"3:09
3."The Missing"3:41
4."Pensacola"4:00
5."Dream Captain"3:02
6."Blue Agent"3:30
7."T.H.M."4:19
8."Sleepwalking"3:08
9."Back to the Middle"2:37
10."Monomania"5:19
11."Nitebike"4:17
12."Punk (La vie antérieure)"3:27

Personnel

Deerhunter

Recording personnel

Artwork

Chart positions

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [31] 84
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [32] 130
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [33] 79
Irish Albums (IRMA) [34] 68
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [35] 95
UK Albums (OCC) [36] 71
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [37] 17
US Billboard 200 [38] 41
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [39] 10
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [40] 6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [41] 12
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [42] 2

Related Research Articles

<i>Cryptograms</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Deerhunter

Cryptograms is the second album from Atlanta, Georgia-based indie rock group Deerhunter, released through Kranky on January 29, 2007 on CD and vinyl. Following the 2005 release of its first full-length album Turn It Up Faggot, Deerhunter began recording material for its next record at Rare Book Room studio in New York. This initial recording session failed, due to the physical and mental state of lead singer Bradford Cox, as well as malfunctioning equipment in the studio. The band returned to Atlanta, only giving recording a second try after encouragement from members of the band Liars. The final version of Cryptograms was recorded in two separate day-long sessions, months apart, resulting in two musically distinct parts—the first includes more ambient music while the second contains more pop music elements. Cox sang most of the record's lyrics in a stream-of-consciousness manner; they include themes of death, companionship, and Cox's experiences with his genetic disorder Marfan syndrome. Cryptograms was generally well received by critics, and several publications placed the album on their lists of the top albums of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deerhunter</span> American rock band

Deerhunter is an American indie rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2001. The band currently consists of Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Lockett Pundt, Josh McKay (bass) and Javier Morales.

<i>Fluorescent Grey</i> 2007 EP by Deerhunter

Fluorescent Grey is an extended play accompaniment to Cryptograms, the second studio release by Atlanta-based band Deerhunter. The EP was released on CD by Kranky on May 8, 2007, and later as a vinyl bundle with Cryptograms. A music video for the track "Strange Lights" is included with the CD release. The album's cover is a photograph of Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt as a seventh-grader. Its lyrical themes touch on death and the decomposition of the human body—"Fluorescent Grey" is the name lead singer Bradford Cox gives to the color of dead flesh. Fluorescent Grey received a number of positive reviews upon its release. Cox later released a free series of demos over the internet, being early versions of tracks on Fluorescent Grey and other material.

<i>Turn It Up Faggot</i> 2005 studio album by Deerhunter

Turn It Up Faggot is the debut album from indie rock group Deerhunter. The album's title refers to a taunt that was shouted at the band during early live shows although the album is also referred to as self-titled. The album's notes dedicate the album to Justin Bosworth, the band's second bassist, who died in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradford Cox</span> American singer-songwriter and musician (born 1982)

Bradford James Cox is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Deerhunter. He also pursues a solo career under the moniker Atlas Sound.

<i>Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel</i> 2008 studio album by Atlas Sound

Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel is the debut album by Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. The album was released in North America by Kranky on February 19, 2008 and in Europe by 4AD on May 5, 2008.

<i>Microcastle</i> 2008 studio album by Deerhunter

Microcastle is the third studio album by Deerhunter. After the album had been leaked on the internet, it became available on iTunes on August 19, 2008, while physical copies were released on October 27, 2008. In the U.S. the album was released on Kranky and on 4AD in Europe. The album was recorded over the course of one week in April 2008 by Nicolas Vernhes at Rare Book Room Studios in Brooklyn, NY. In the U.S., the album has managed to sell over 50,000 units.

<i>Weird Era Cont.</i> 2008 studio album by Deerhunter

Weird Era Cont. is the fourth album by Deerhunter released concurrently with Microcastle. After Microcastle had leaked months in advance of its planned release date, the band recorded a new album in an attempt to reward those who awaited its street release date although like Microcastle, it also leaked in advance. Weird Era Cont. was officially made available as a bonus disc/12", depending on format, with both the 4AD and Kranky releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockett Pundt</span> Musical artist (born 1982)

Lockett James Pundt IV is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is the guitarist and occasional lead vocalist of Atlanta-based indie rock group Deerhunter which he joined in 2005. Pundt also releases solo material under the name Lotus Plaza.

<i>Rainwater Cassette Exchange</i> 2009 EP by Deerhunter

Rainwater Cassette Exchange is an extended-play by Atlanta-based indie rock band Deerhunter. Much like their previous effort, it was recorded at Rare Book Room Studios in Brooklyn with producer Nicolas Vernhes. It became available for download on May 18, 2009, and released on CD and vinyl on June 8. The EP was distributed by Kranky in the US while 4AD handled overseas distribution. The title track became available for download on April 17.

The discography of Atlanta, Georgia-based ambient and psychedelic band Deerhunter includes eight studio albums, two extended plays, five vinyl singles, three split albums, and nine music videos. The band has also made appearances on a number of compilation albums. Deerhunter was formed in 2001 by vocalist Bradford Cox and drummer Moses Archuleta. Members to later join were guitarists Colin Mee and Lockett Pundt, and bassists Justin Bosworth and Josh Fauver. Bosworth was killed in a skateboarding accident early in the band's career, leading to his replacement by Fauver. Mee left Deerhunter in 2007 after scheduling conflicts preventing him from performing at a number of shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bradford Cox discography</span>

The discography of American musician Bradford Cox includes his work with Deerhunter, the band he cofounded with drummer Moses Archuleta in 2001, and his solo efforts as Atlas Sound. With Deerhunter, Cox has released four studio albums and two extended plays, and as Atlas Sound he has released two albums, several vinyl singles and splits, and over fifty individual tracks on his blog. Cox was born in 1982 in Athens, Georgia, and has used the name "Atlas Sound" to refer to his own music since he was a child, when he recorded on a tape player created by the company Atlas Sound. He is known for having the genetic disorder Marfan syndrome and his live performances with Deerhunter during 2007, in which he would come out on stage in dresses and covered in fake blood.

<i>The Floodlight Collective</i> 2009 studio album by Lotus Plaza

The Floodlight Collective is the first studio album by Lotus Plaza, released March 23, 2009, although recording on the album began in 2007. The album was produced by Brian Foote of the band Nudge. Musically, the album is similar to the work of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter's lead vocalist Bradford Cox. Marc Hogan of Pitchfork Media found that "Pundt at times lets his diffidence get the best of him", and that the album's musical elements "can begin to run together." However, Hogan suspects "That's probably the point…The Floodlight Collective is a mostly elegant listen, and one whose failings are part of its theme: Like a vague recollection, it's still a little hard to hold on to after it's over—pretty albeit somewhat ephemeral."

<i>Halcyon Digest</i> 2010 studio album by Deerhunter

Halcyon Digest is the fifth studio album by American indie rock band Deerhunter. It was released September 27, 2010 to universal critical acclaim. It was the band's first album distributed solely by 4AD worldwide The album was produced by the band and Ben H. Allen, and was recorded at Chase Park Transduction studios in Athens, Georgia with engineer David Barbe. The final track, "He Would Have Laughed" was recorded separately by Bradford Cox at Notown Sound in Marietta, Georgia and is a tribute to Jay Reatard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Revival (Deerhunter song)</span> 2010 single by Deerhunter

"Revival" is the lead single from Deerhunter's fourth studio effort, Halcyon Digest. The track became available for download via an official email link on July 21, 2010. A 7" pressed on white vinyl was released August 24, 2010 in a limited set of 350. The download contained the tracks along with directions to make a DIY style single, along with disc and back artwork.

<i>Parallax</i> (Atlas Sound album) 2011 studio album by Atlas Sound

Parallax is the third studio album from Bradford Cox's solo project Atlas Sound, released November 7, 2011 on 4AD. The album debuted at #97 on the Billboard 200 and has received critical acclaim.

<i>Spooky Action at a Distance</i> 2012 studio album by Lotus Plaza

Spooky Action at a Distance is the second studio album by Lotus Plaza, a.k.a. Lockett Pundt, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter for Deerhunter. It was released on April 2, 2012 on Chicago-based label Kranky.

Josh McKay is an American musician. He is best known as the bass guitarist for the indie rock band Deerhunter, with whom he has recorded three studio albums. McKay started his career in 1987 playing bass in Aleka's Attic, performing alongside friends and bandmates River Phoenix and Rain Phoenix.

<i>Fading Frontier</i> 2015 studio album by Deerhunter

Fading Frontier is the seventh studio album by the American indie rock band Deerhunter, released on October 16, 2015 on 4AD. Produced by Ben H. Allen, who had previously worked with the band on Halcyon Digest (2010), and the band itself, the album was preceded by the singles "Snakeskin", "Breaker" and "Living My Life".

<i>Why Hasnt Everything Already Disappeared?</i> 2019 studio album by Deerhunter

Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared? is the eighth and last studio album by the American indie rock band Deerhunter before hiatus. It was released on January 18, 2019, on 4AD. The album was co-produced by singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon, Ben H. Allen, Ben Etter and the band itself. The first single, "Death in Midsummer", was released on October 30, 2018. The same day, a world tour in support of the album was announced, starting on November 4, 2018. The second single from the album, "Element", was released on December 6, 2018. The album leaked on December 12, 2018.

References

  1. Kane, Tyler (March 22, 2013). "Deerhunter announces new album, "Monomania"". Paste . Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Cohen, Ian (May 3, 2013). "Deerhunter: Monomania". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  3. Martins, Chris (March 22, 2013). "Deerhunter Reveal 'Monomania,' an Avant-Garde Album of 'Nocturnal Garage'". Spin . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  4. "Deerhunter announce details of new album "Monomania"". Fact . March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  5. "Deerhunter Announces Fifth Album "Monomania" + New Lineup". Filter . March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Bradford Cox Talks Nervous Breakdown, New Atlas Sound Album". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  7. "Beyond Nostalgia: A Conversation With Deerhunter's Bradford Cox". Pitchfork . Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  8. Pelly, Jenn and Amy Phillips (March 22, 2013). "Deerhunter Announce New Album, Monomania". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Hudson, Alex (March 22, 2013). "Deerhunter Announce New Album: 'Monomania'". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  10. Vozick-Levinson, Simon. "Deerhunter Records New Album in Brooklyn". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  11. "Deerhunter - Pitchfork". Pitchfork . Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  12. Young, Alex (March 22, 2013). "Deerhunter to release new album, Monomania, in May". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  13. Hyden, Steven (September 16, 2015). "The Not-So-Final 'Frontier': Deerhunter's Bradford Cox on His Band's New Album and Maturing in Indie Rock". Grantland . Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  14. "Monomania by Deerhunter reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Reviews for Monomania by Deerhunter". Metacritic . Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  16. Phares, Heather. "Monomania – Deerhunter". AllMusic . Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  17. Ray, Austin L. (May 7, 2013). "Deerhunter: Monomania". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  18. Smith, Grady; Rahman, Ray; Collis, Clark (May 3, 2013). "Albums: May 10, 2013". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  19. Hann, Michael (May 9, 2013). "Deerhunter: Monomania – review". The Guardian . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  20. Christgau, Robert (May 21, 2013). "Vampire Weekend/Deerhunter". MSN Music . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  21. Stevens, Jenny (April 26, 2013). "Deerhunter – 'Monomania'". NME . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  22. "Deerhunter: Monomania". Q (323): 96. June 2013.
  23. Anderson, Stacey (May 7, 2013). "Monomania". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (May 7, 2013). "Deerhunter, 'Monomania' (4AD)". Spin . Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  25. Liedel, Kevin (May 3, 2013). "Deerhunter: Monomania". Slant Magazine . Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  26. Hakimian, Rob; Smirnov, Aleksandr; Johnston, Andy; Pickard, Joshua; Wohlmacher, John; Forstneger, Steve; Amen, John; Reis, Ethan; Thomas, Carlo (2023-07-17). "Run It Back: BPM's Top 50 Albums of 2013". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  27. "Billboard 200". Billboard. May 25, 2013.
  28. "Top Rock Albums". Billboard. May 25, 2013.
  29. "Alternative Albums". Billboard. May 25, 2013.
  30. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015.
  31. "Ultratop.be – Deerhunter – Monomania" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  32. "Ultratop.be – Deerhunter – Monomania" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  33. "Dutchcharts.nl – Deerhunter – Monomania" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  34. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 19, 2013". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  35. モノマニア (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  36. "Deerhunter | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  37. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  38. "Deerhunter Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  39. "Deerhunter Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  40. "Deerhunter Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  41. "Deerhunter Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  42. "Deerhunter Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.