My Garden (John Carroll Kirby album)

My Garden
My Garden
Studio album by John Carroll Kirby
Released	April 24, 2020
Studio	Roundhead Studios (Auckland, New Zealand); Gaerloch Studios (Sydney, Australia);
Genre	Soul jazz
Label	Stones Throw
Producer	John Carroll Kirby
John Carroll Kirby chronology

Last updated June 26, 2023

My Garden is the fifth solo studio album by American keyboardist and record producer John Carroll Kirby. It was released on April 24, 2020, via Stones Throw Records, making it the artist's second album for the label, following up Conflict, which was dropped twenty-two days before. Recording sessions took place at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, and at Gaerloch and Gaerloch Studios in Sydney. It features contributions from New Zealand musician Neil Finn and Manila-born Los Angeles-based bassist J. P. Maramba.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	76/100^[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Loud and Quiet	6/10^[4]
Mojo	^[2]
Pitchfork	6.7/10^[1]
Q	4/5^[2]
The Line of Best Fit	3.5/10^[5]

My Garden was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 76, based on five reviews, which indicates "generally positive reviews".^[2]

AllMusic's Andy Kellman wrote: "whether compared to the progressions of Kirby's cross-continental inspirations (Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, Andrew Hill, Yoshio Suzuki) or those of his nearest contemporaries (such as Garrett and Bremer/McCoy), My Garden is its own gratifying thing".^[3] Mojo reviewer summed it up positively with "earworms abound".^[2] Q reviewer stated that "he revisits an early interest in exotica, the '50s faux-tropical lounge style, creating mood music with a global twist".^[2] Nathan Taylor Pemberton of Pitchfork wrote: "Kirby's competent home production, and his economic arrangements, amount to a rich product that still manages to sound one-dimensional on repeat listenings, with little sonic depth. And his predilection for the occasional bright melody line works at cross purposes with his atmospheric tendencies. The album can never fully let itself recede into pure ambience".^[1] Sam Walton of Loud and Quiet found the album "perhaps a more apt portrait of its creator than Kirby may quite have intended: full of promise and intelligence, and with undeniable musical nous, but without the pizzazz required to shine alone".^[4] Liam Inscoe-Jones of The Line of Best Fit found it "utterly forgettable".^[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Blueberry Beads"	3:27
2.	"By the Sea"	4:59
3.	"Night Croc"	3:29
4.	"Arroyo Seco"	4:48
5.	"Son of Pucabufeo"	1:59
6.	"San Nicolas Island"	1:52
7.	"Humid Mood"	3:17
8.	"Lay You Down"	2:48
9.	"Wind"	5:27

Personnel

John Carroll Kirby – performer, composer, recording, mixing
John Paul Maramba – bass (track 1)
Neil Finn – percussion
Jake Viator – additional mixing, mastering
Eddie Chacon – photography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles & Eddie</span> American soul music duo

Charles & Eddie were an American soul music duo composed of Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon. Their single "Would I Lie to You?", taken from their 1992 debut album, Duophonic, won Ivor Novello Awards in 1993 in the Best Contemporary Song, Best Selling Song and International Hit of the Year categories. Between 1992 and 1995 they hit the top 40 three more times in the UK.

<i>Machine Dreams</i> 2009 studio album by Little Dragon

Machine Dreams is the second studio album by Swedish electronic music band Little Dragon. It was released on 17 August 2009 by Peacefrog Records.

<i>These People</i> (Richard Ashcroft album) 2016 studio album by Richard Ashcroft

These People is the fourth studio album from British singer and musician, Richard Ashcroft. The album was released on 20 May 2016 through Righteous Phonographic Association, Cooking Vinyl and Harvest Records. This is his first solo album since his 2010's solo project album, United Nations of Sound, and also his first main studio album since 2006's, Keys to the World.

<i>Premonitions</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Miya Folick

Premonitions is the debut studio album by American musician Miya Folick. In September 2018, the single "Stop Talking" was released and supporting music video. The album was released on October 26, 2018.

<i>New Hymn to Freedom</i> 2018 studio album by Szun Waves

New Hymn to Freedom is the second studio album by British band Szun Waves. It was released on 31 August 2018 through The Leaf Label.

<i>Crush</i> (Floating Points album) 2019 studio album by Floating Points

Crush is the second studio album by British electronic musician Sam Shepherd, released under his alias Floating Points on 18 October 2019 by Ninja Tune.

Kick I is the fourth studio album by Venezuelan electronic record producer Arca. Recorded between Barcelona and London, the album was released on 26 June 2020 through XL Recordings. Kick I was presented with four singles: "Nonbinary", "Time", "Mequetrefe", and "KLK" featuring Rosalía. It also includes collaborations with Björk, Shygirl, and Sophie. The album was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, as well as for Best Alternative Music Album at the 22nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards.

<i>Cenizas</i> 2020 studio album by Nicolas Jaar

Cenizas (transl. "Ashes") is a studio album by Chilean-American musician Nicolás Jaar. It was released on March 27, 2020, by Other People.

Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Shabazz Palaces, released on July 14, 2017. The album was released simultaneously with and as a companion album to Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star. The album features Fly Guy Dai, Chimurenga Renaissance, The Shogun Shot, Purple Tape Nate, and LAZ.

<i>Planets Mad</i> 2020 studio album by Baauer

Planet's Mad is the second studio album by American DJ and producer Baauer. It was originally scheduled for release on June 3, 2020, but got pushed back to June 19, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests.

<i>The Loves of Your Life</i> 2020 studio album by Hamilton Leithauser

The Loves of Your Life is a studio album by Hamilton Leithauser, the former frontman of the Walkmen. It was released on April 10, 2020, on Glassnote Records, and preceded by the singles "Here They Come", "Isabella", and "Don't Check the Score".

Startisha is the third studio album by American rapper Naeem Juwan, also known by his stage name Spank Rock. It was released on June 12, 2020, under record label 37d03d.

<i>Anime, Trauma and Divorce</i> 2020 studio album by Open Mike Eagle

Anime, Trauma and Divorce is the seventh solo studio album by American rapper Open Mike Eagle. It was released on October 16, 2020 through Auto Reverse Records. Production was handled by Caleb Stone, Frank Leone, Loden, Black Milk, Gold Panda and Nedarb, with Jacknife Lee and Open Mike Eagle serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Lil A$e, Kari Faux and Video Dave.

John Carroll Kirby is an American pianist, record producer and composer based in Los Angeles, California, United States. As a musician, Kirby has collaborated with artists including Solange, Frank Ocean, Miley Cyrus, Norah Jones, Bat for Lashes, Connan Mockasin, Sébastien Tellier, Harry Styles, and others.

<i>Second Line</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Dawn Richard

Second Line is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Dawn Richard. It was released on April 30, 2021 through Merge Records. The title refers to the parade tradition of the same name practiced in Richard's hometown of New Orleans.

<i>W</i> (Boris album) 2022 studio album by Boris

W is the twenty-seventh studio album by Japanese experimental band Boris, released 21 January 2022 on the Sacred Bones label.

<i>Air</i> (Sault album) 2022 studio album by Sault

Air is the sixth studio album by English contemporary R&B group Sault, released on 13 April 2022 to positive reception by critics.

<i>Spell 31</i> 2022 studio album by Ibeyi

Spell 31 is the third studio album by Afro-French Cuban sibling duo Ibeyi, released on 6 May 2022, by XL Recordings.

<i>Sundown</i> (Eddie Chacon album) 2023 studio album by Eddie Chacon

Sundown is the second solo studio album by American singer Eddie Chacon. It was released on March 31, 2023, via Stones Throw Records. Recording sessions took place at 64 Sound Studios in Highland Park, California and at Villa Can Rudayla in Ibiza, Spain. Production was handled by John Carroll Kirby. It features contributions from John Carroll Kirby on keyboards, Logan Hone on alto saxophone and flute, Elizabeth Lea on trombone, William Logan on drums, and David Leach on percussion.

<i>Septet</i> (John Carroll Kirby album) 2021 studio album by John Carroll Kirby

Septet is the sixth solo studio album by American keyboardist and record producer John Carroll Kirby. It was released on June 25, 2021, via Stones Throw Records, making it the artist's third album for the label. Recording sessions took place at 64 Sound in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Production was handled by Kirby himself, with additional production from Tony Buchen, who also provided mixing duties on the album. It features contributions from J. P. Maramba on bass, Deantoni Parks on drums, David Leach on percussion, Logan Hone and Tracy Wannomae on woodwind, and Nick Mancini on mallets.

References

1 2 3 Pemberton, Nathan Taylor (April 27, 2020). "John Carroll Kirby: My Garden". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Critic Reviews for My Garden - Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
1 2 Kellman, Andy. "John Carroll Kirby - My Garden Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
1 2 Walton, Sam (April 20, 2020). "John Carroll Kirby - My Garden - Review". Loud And Quiet . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
1 2 Inscoe-Jones, Liam (April 22, 2020). "Collaborative guru John Carroll Kirby doesn't quite match his past on solo outing My Garden". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[p4k-1] 1 2 3 Pemberton, Nathan Taylor (April 27, 2020). "John Carroll Kirby: My Garden". Pitchfork . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

[MC-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Critic Reviews for My Garden - Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

[AM-3] 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "John Carroll Kirby - My Garden Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

[LAQ-4] 1 2 Walton, Sam (April 20, 2020). "John Carroll Kirby - My Garden - Review". Loud And Quiet . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

[TLOBF-5] 1 2 Inscoe-Jones, Liam (April 22, 2020). "Collaborative guru John Carroll Kirby doesn't quite match his past on solo outing My Garden". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved April 3, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]