Product (Sophie album)

Last updated

Product
Sophie product.jpg
Compilation album by
Sophie
Released27 November 2015 (2015-11-27)
Recorded2011–2015
Genre
Length25:26
Label Numbers
Producer
  • Sophie
Sophie chronology
Product
(2015)		 Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
(2018)
Singles from Product
  1. "Bipp"
    Released: 17 June 2013
  2. "Elle"
    Released: 17 June 2013
  3. "Lemonade"
    Released: 28 July 2014
  4. "Hard"
    Released: 4 August 2014
  5. "MSMSMSM"
    Released: 1 October 2015
  6. "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"
    Released: 16 October 2015
  7. "L.O.V.E."
    Released: 6 November 2015
  8. "Vyzee"
    Released: 27 November 2015
  9. "Unisil"
    Released: 28 January 2021 [6]

Product (stylized in uppercase as PRODUCT) is the debut compilation by English electronic music producer Sophie. It was released by Numbers on 27 November 2015. [7] The 8 tracks on Product appeared as singles released from 2013 to 2015. The album was made available in "silicon bubble cases", and its release coincides with the launch of a line of apparel [a] and a "silicon product" resembling a sex toy. [9]

Contents

Upon its release, the compilation was met with mostly positive reviews from critics. In 2019, Numbers announced a re-release in limited quantities in its original format of four vinyl singles, each in a PVC case. [10]

Background

Sophie debuted as a solo artist with the February 2013 single "Nothing More to Say", released via the London-based Glaswegian label Huntleys + Palmers. [11] Its follow-up, "Bipp"/"Elle", had been teased on SoundCloud in the previous year and was eventually released on Glaswegian label Numbers later in 2013. [12] The next single, "Lemonade"/"Hard", was released in August 2014. [13]

The singles collection Product was made available for preorder in September 2015. That month saw the release of "MSMSMSM", [14] and "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" followed on 15 October. [15] The singles "Vyzee" and "L.O.V.E." were released in November 2015 alongside Product.

Critical reception

Reviews

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.3/10 [16]
Metacritic 74/100 [17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Exclaim! 8/10 [19]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [20]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [22]
Pitchfork 6.6/10 [23]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Resident Advisor 4.6/5 [25]
Spin 9/10 [26]
Vice A− [27]

The review aggregator website Metacritic gave the album an average score of 74 out of 100, which indicates "generally favourable reviews". [17] Exclaim! senior editor Stephen Carlick called the record "a snapshot of an exciting artist whose tightrope walk between sweet and scary, pop and avant-garde, has yielded some of the best singles of the past few years." [19] The Observer described the album as "disruptive, a sound pushing the limits of what constitutes pop and what is just an annoying noise you are inexplicably paying money for." [22] AllMusic's Heather Phares praised the album as "instantly addictive," noting similarities between the album's "uncanny valley version of pop music" and the output of the PC Music label, but describing Sophie's tracks as "even wilder, with sound design and effects that fall somewhere between Spike Jones and Aphex Twin." [18] Sasha Geffen of Consequence of Sound called it "one of the more mischievous music objects under the current atmosphere," adding that "Product blurs the traditional subject/object power relationship of pop music, bending desire as easily as it bends waveforms". [28]

In a mixed review for The Guardian , Alexis Petridis praised "Bipp" and "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye" as "genuinely brilliant pop songs" but accused the rest of the album of "knackered posturing, tee-hee-it’s-meant-to-be-annoying irony, trite stuff about pop’s relationship to consumerism"; he concluded that Sophie was "sneering at" pop music rather than celebrating it. [20] Mark Richardson of Pitchfork lauded the "enduring brilliance" of the album's first two singles, but was less positive about the more recent material and suggested that the album format did the tracks a disservice: "music this compressed and this syrupy is best heard in small doses, before your ear gets tired listening to it." [29]

Accolades

MP3 blog Gorilla vs. Bear listed the album as the 12th best of 2015. [30]

In 2020, Spin ranked Product the 25th best album of the decade. [31]

Track listing

Product track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Bipp"3:00
2."Elle"3:44
3."Lemonade"1:58
4."Hard"2:54
5."MSMSMSM"3:35
6."Vyzee"3:22
7."L.O.V.E."3:38
8."Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"3:08
Total length:25:26
Silicon product
No.TitleLength
9."Unisil"2:06
Total length:27:32
Japanese edition [32]
No.TitleLength
9."Get Higher"3:00
Total length:28:26

Charts

Chart performance for Product
Chart (2015)Peak
position
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) [33] 23

Notes

  1. ↑ There is no evidence of the apparel line ever being available for purchase. Both the platform boots and sunglasses are part of visual effects artist, collaborator, and fellow PC Music contributor Hannah Diamond's portfolio, labeled as 'SOPHIE - Virtual Merchandise'. [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Last Exit</i> (Junior Boys album) 2004 studio album by Junior Boys

Last Exit is the debut studio album by Canadian electronic music group Junior Boys. It was released on June 7, 2004 by KIN Records in the United Kingdom and on September 21, 2004 by Domino Recording Company in the United States. The album was promoted by two singles: "Birthday" and "High Come Down".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleigh Bells (band)</span> American band

Sleigh Bells are an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller. They became known for their overdriven style of noise pop, which incorporates elements from various genres including pop, hip hop, metal, and punk.

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

Wavves is an American rock band based in San Diego, California. Formed in 2008 by singer-songwriter Nathan Williams, the band also features Alex Gates, Stephen Pope and Ross Traver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Segall</span> American musician and record producer

Ty Garrett Segall is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his solo career, during which he has released fifteen studio albums alongside various EPs, singles, and collaborative albums. Segall is also a member of the bands Fuzz, Broken Bat, the CIA, GØGGS, and Wasted Shirt. He is a former member of the Traditional Fools, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps, and the Perverts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charli XCX</span> British singer and songwriter (born 1992)

Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, is an English singer and songwriter. Born in Cambridge and raised in Start Hill, Essex, Charli XCX began posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene. She signed a recording contract with Asylum Records in 2010, releasing a series of singles and mixtapes throughout 2011 and 2012. She later featured on "I Love It" with Swedish duo Icona Pop, with the song becoming her first number-one in the UK and receiving global success. Her debut studio album, True Romance (2013), was released to positive reviews but failed to meet commercial expectations.

<i>Heartthrob</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Tegan and Sara

Heartthrob is the seventh studio album by Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara, released on January 29, 2013, on Neil Young's label Vapor Records through Warner Bros. Records. Heartthrob debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 49,000 copies in its first week and securing the band's highest chart position to date. It is also the first Tegan and Sara record to chart in New Zealand, the UK and Ireland. On July 4, 2013, Heartthrob was certified Gold in Canada. As of April 2016, Heartthrob has sold 199,000 copies in the United States.

<i>R Plus Seven</i> 2013 studio album by Oneohtrix Point Never

R Plus Seven is the sixth studio album by American electronic musician Oneohtrix Point Never, released on September 30, 2013, as his debut album on Warp Records. The album's musical palette draws heavily on the synthetic sounds of MIDI instruments, 1980s synth presets, and VSTs.

<i>Guilt Trips</i> 2013 studio album by Ryan Hemsworth

Guilt Trips is the first solo studio album by Canadian DJ/producer Ryan Hemsworth. It was released on Last Gang Records on October 22, 2013. Music videos were created for "Against a Wall" and "One for Me". The album won the 2014 Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie (musician)</span> English music producer and DJ (1986–2021)

Sophie Xeon, known mononymously as SOPHIE, was an English music producer, songwriter, and DJ. Her work is known for its brash take on pop music and is distinguished by experimental sound design, "sugary" synthesized textures, and incorporation of underground dance styles. It would help pioneer the 2010s hyperpop microgenre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PC Music</span> UK-based record label and art collective

PC Music is a record label and art collective based in London and run by producer A. G. Cook. It was founded in 2013, uploading its first releases to SoundCloud that year. Artists on its roster have included Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, Danny L Harle, Easyfun, Namasenda, and Planet 1999. The label's releases have been showcased on the compilations PC Music Volume 1 (2015), Volume 2 (2016), and Volume 3 (2022). Following a decade-long run, since 2024 the label is now only dedicated to archival projects and special reissues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. G. Cook</span> British music producer (born 1990)

Alexander Guy Cook is an English music producer and the head of the now-closed UK record label PC Music. Cook released his first solo singles in 2014. He has also collaborated with PC Music artists such as Hannah Diamond, GFOTY, Finn Keane, Danny L Harle and Felicita. He formed the one-off project QT with musician Sophie and performance artist Hayden Dunham, producing the 2014 single "Hey QT".

<i>Depression Cherry</i> 2015 studio album by Beach House

Depression Cherry is the fifth studio album by the American dream pop duo Beach House. It was released on August 28, 2015, through Sub Pop in the United States, Bella Union in Europe, Mistletone Records in Australia, Hostess Entertainment in Japan and Arts & Crafts in Mexico. The album was co-produced by the group and Chris Coady, with recording taking place at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana, from November 2014 to January 2015.

<i>Divers</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Joanna Newsom

Divers is the fourth studio album by American musician Joanna Newsom, released on October 23, 2015 via Drag City.

<i>Moth</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Chairlift

Moth is the third and final full-length album by American indie band Chairlift, released in the United States via Columbia Records on January 22, 2016. The album art was created by NYC visual artist Rebecca Bird.

<i>Vroom Vroom</i> (EP) 2016 EP by Charli XCX

Vroom Vroom is the second extended play (EP) by English singer Charli XCX, released on 26 February 2016 by Vroom Vroom Recordings. It features production work from English producer Sophie.

<i>Are You Alone?</i> 2015 studio album by Majical Cloudz

Are You Alone? is the fourth and final studio album from Canadian pop duo Majical Cloudz, released on October 16, 2015, on Matador Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bipp</span> 2013 single by Sophie

"Bipp" is a song by English record producer Sophie. It was released as a single on 17 June 2013 as Sophie's first release on the label Numbers, backed by the B-side "Elle". Upon release, the song became a critical success, appearing on numerous end-of-year single polls and bringing Sophie early attention.

<i>Oil of Every Pearls Un-Insides</i> 2018 studio album by Sophie

Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides is the debut studio album by English recording artist and producer Sophie and the only one to be released during her lifetime. It was released on 15 June 2018, through Transgressive, Future Classic and Sophie's own label, MSMSMSM. The title may be a mondegreen of the phrase "I love every person's insides". The album was Sophie's second full-length release after the singles collection Product (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie discography</span> Music producer

The discography of English music producer Sophie consists of two studio albums, one compilation album, one remix album, one extended play, 20 singles, and 12 official remixes. Sophie was also known for production and writing work for other artists such as Charli XCX, Madonna, Kim Petras, Liz, and MØ among others.

References

  1. ↑ Rodriguez, Juan Edgardo. "SOPHIE: PRODUCT - Music Review". No Ripcord. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Mullen, Matt. "How SOPHIE and her Elektron Monomachine changed the sound of contemporary pop music: "Every single thing you hear should feel like something you've never heard before"". Music Radar. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Simon, Noah. "The best hyperpop albums of all time". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  4. ↑ Idelji-Tehrani, Saam. "Bubblegum pop and PVC dreaming from Sophie". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Smith, Karl. "Remembering SOPHIE, 21st Century Pop Pioneer". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Unisil - Single by SOPHIE on Apple Music" . Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. ↑ Carley, Brennan (29 September 2015). "Sophie Announces New Collection, 'Product,' Out on November 27". Spin . Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Amond, Hannah. "SOPHIE - Virtual Merchandise". Hannah Diamond. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  9. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (29 September 2015). "Sophie Releasing Singles Collection With "Silicon Product" (That Sure Looks Like a Sex Toy)". Pitchfork . Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Numbers. SOPHIE - PRODUCT REPRESSES". nmbrs.net. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  11. ↑ Orton, Karen (22 February 2013). "Sophie – Nothing More to Say EP". Dazed Digital. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Larry (10 October 2013). "Rising: Sophie". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Dunn, Francesca (31 March 2016). "a lesson in throwing shade by nabihah iqbal". i-D. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "Sophie – "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"". Consequence of Sound . 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "SOPHIE – "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye"". Stereogum . 15 October 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  16. ↑ "Product by Sophie reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Reviews for Product by Sophie". Metacritic . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  18. 1 2 Phares, Heather. "Product – Sophie". AllMusic . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  19. 1 2 Carlick, Stephen (25 November 2015). "Sophie: Product". Exclaim! . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (26 November 2015). "Sophie: Product review – forehead-slappingly obvious pop provocations from PC Music affiliate". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  21. ↑ Carroll, Jim (20 November 2015). "Sophie: Product – Album Review". The Irish Times . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  22. 1 2 Empire, Kitty (29 November 2015). "Sophie: Product review – digital pop divorced from the analogue world". The Observer . Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  23. ↑ Richardson, Mark (2 December 2015). "Sophie: Product". Pitchfork . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  24. ↑ "Sophie: Product". Q (355): 118. February 2016.
  25. ↑ Fallon, Patric (1 December 2015). "Sophie – Product". Resident Advisor . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  26. ↑ Weiss, Dan (23 November 2015). "Review: Sophie Rebuilds Pop in His Own Mysterious Image on 'Product'". Spin . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  27. ↑ Christgau, Robert (26 December 2015). "Grimes Embodies Hyperfeminism Individualism for a Post-Rock Mindset". Vice . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  28. ↑ Geffen, Sasha (1 December 2015). "Sophie – Product". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  29. ↑ Richardson, Mark (2 December 2015). "Sophie: Product". Pitchfork . Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  30. ↑ ChrisChris (December 2015). "GORILLA VS. BEAR'S ALBUMS OF 2015". Gorilla vs. Bear . Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  31. ↑ B, K. "The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s". Spin. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "Sophie (42) – Product (BRC-493)". Discogs . 27 November 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  33. ↑ "Sophie Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
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.