Monsters (The Midnight album)

Monsters
Studio album by The Midnight
Released	July 10, 2020
Recorded	2019–2020
Genre	Synthwave
Length	57:56
Label	Counter
Producer	Tim McEwan
The Midnight chronology
Kids (2018) Monsters (2020) Heroes (2022)
Singles from Monsters
"America Online" Released: May 3, 2019 "Deep Blue" Released: May 6, 2020 "Dance with Somebody" Released: June 10, 2020 "Prom Night" Released: June 24, 2020

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Daily Express	[2]
Exclaim!	8/10 [3]

Monsters is the fourth studio album by synthwave band The Midnight. It was released on July 10, 2020, by Counter Records. The album was included on AllMusic's list of the best albums of 2020. ^[4]

Background

The album deals with themes of romance, lost love and nostalgia within a backdrop of 1980s-style synthwave. ^[5] In an interview with Icon vs Icon, the band confirmed that Monsters is a thematic continuation of their previous album Kids, focusing on adolescence, closeness and alienation from the perspective of a teenager. The band also confirmed that Kids and Monsters are part of a trilogy. ^[6]

The cover artwork was made by artist Aaron Campbell, who also created the artwork for their previous album, Kids. ^[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle, alongside additional writers, as noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"1991" (Intro)		0:27
2.	"America Online"		5:49
3.	"Dance With Somebody"		4:17
4.	"Seventeen"		4:02
5.	"Dream Away"		3:39
6.	"The Search for Ecco"		4:04
7.	"Prom Night"		5:02
8.	"Fire In The Sky"	Collin McLoughlin	4:09
9.	"Monsters" (featuring Jupiter Winter)	Lelia Broussard	3:17
10.	"Helvetica"		5:16
11.	"Brooklyn"		4:14
12.	"Deep Blue"		3:57
13.	"Night Skies"		3:04
14.	"City Dreams" (Interlude)		2:17
15.	"Last Train"		4:22
Total length:			57:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. ^[8]

The Midnight Tyler Lyle – vocals Tim McEwan –  production, mixing Additional Personnel Daniel Davidsen – lead guitar (4) Thomas Edinger – saxophone (3) Izzy Fontaine – guitar (7, 11, 15) Oliver McEwan – synth bass (3), fretless bass (11) Jesse Molloy – saxophone (12)

Production Chris Allgood –  mastering Emily Lazar –  mastering Visuals Aaron Campbell – album artwork, layout Locations Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, Atlanta, GA, and the back of a tour bus all over the world. Mastered at The Lodge (New York, NY).

Charts

Chart performance for Monsters

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [9]	28
UK Albums (OCC) [10]	85
US Billboard 200 [11]	134
US Top Dance Albums (Billboard) [12]	3
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [13]	18

References

1. Collar, Matt. "The Midnight – Monsters". AllMusic .
2. Crumlish, Callum (July 10, 2020). "The Midnight Monsters album review: L.A. duo deliver most stylish and creative music yet". Daily Express . Retrieved July 30, 2020.
3. Morawitz, Owen (July 9, 2020). "The Midnight's Nostalgic Monsters Is Tailor-Made for Boomboxes Held Overhead". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 28, 2020.
4. "Favorite Pop Albums | AllMusic 2020 in Review". AllMusic .
5. "The Director's Cut: The Midnight - MONSTERS".
6. Price, Jason (July 9, 2020). "The Midnight: Tim Mcewan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing Monsters To Life". Icon Vs Icon. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
7. Price, Jason (July 9, 2020). "The Midnight: Tim Mcewan And Tyler Lyle On Bringing Monsters To Life". Icon Vs Icon. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
8. The Midnight (2020). Monsters (booklet). Counter Records.
9. "Australiancharts.com – The Midnight – Monsters". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
10. "Midnight | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
11. "The Midnight Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
12. "The Midnight Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard.
13. "The Midnight Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.