Savage Hills Ballroom

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Savage Hills Ballroom
Savage Hills Ballroom -- Youth Lagoon Album Cover.jpeg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2015 (2015-09-25)
Genre
Length36:47
Label Fat Possum
Producer Trevor Powers, Ali Chant
Youth Lagoon chronology
Wondrous Bughouse
(2013)
Savage Hills Ballroom
(2015)
Heaven is a Junkyard
(2023)
Singles from Savage Hills Ballroom
  1. "The Knower"
    Released: July 13, 2015
  2. "Highway Patrol Stun Gun"
    Released: August 10, 2015
  3. "Rotten Human"
    Released: September 8, 2015

Savage Hills Ballroom is the third studio album by Boise, Idaho-based musician Trevor Powers' Youth Lagoon project. The album was recorded in Bristol, England, and released on September 25, 2015 by Fat Possum Records.

Contents

Background

Powers alluded to the fact that the album addressed breaking down barriers and acknowledging personal flaws. [1] He stated in an interview that the album was not named for an actual ballroom: “It’s a mystical place. I think of things in mental images, and while I was working on the album, I pictured this [ballroom]…a place that’s ominous but still inviting. And I needed an appropriate name for that, and ‘Savage Hills Ballroom’ fit," he said. [2]

Release

On July 13, 2015, "The Knower" became the first track to be distributed prior to the album's release; it was issued as a free single-sided 7" single. "Highway Patrol Stun Gun" was subsequently released on August 10 as a music video. [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.6/10 [4]
Metacritic 74/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Consequence of Sound B− [7]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
NOW Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Pitchfork 7.2/10 [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg
Slant Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg
Under the Radar 7.5/10

Savage Hills Ballroom received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 74, based on 10 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [12]

Ian Cohen of Pitchfork gave the album a positive review, stating, "Regardless of the subject matter or the production or the arrangements, the most truly self-searching Youth Lagoon album has Powers realizing he perhaps knew his position of strength all along—the inner child set adrift in the adult world, left to figure it out on his own." [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Trevor Powers.

No.TitleLength
1."Officer Telephone"3:02
2."Highway Patrol Stun Gun"4:10
3."The Knower"3:26
4."No One Can Tell"3:51
5."Doll's Estate"3:53
6."Rotten Human"4:28
7."Kerry"3:55
8."Again"3:45
9."Free Me"3:35
10."X-Ray"2:42
Total length:36:47

References

  1. Gordon, Jeremy (July 13, 2015). "Youth Lagoon Details Savage Hills Ballroom, Shares "The Knower"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  2. Marketti, Anna (October 28, 2015). "Interview: Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon". Sound of Boston. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  3. Sacher, Andrew. "Youth Lagoon shares new song; Yvette added to Rough Trade". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  4. "Savage Hills Ballroom by Youth Lagoon reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  5. "Critic Reviews for Savage Hills Ballroom". Metacritic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  6. James Christopher Monger (September 25, 2015). "Savage Hills Ballroom - Youth Lagoon | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  7. Henry, Dusty (September 21, 2015). "Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  8. "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom | DIY". Diymag.com. September 25, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  9. Edwards, Samantha (September 16, 2015). "Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom". Nowtoronto.com. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. September 17, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  11. "Youth Lagoon: Savage Hills Ballroom | Album Review". Slant Magazine. September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  12. "Savage Hills Ballroom – Youth Lagoon". Metacritic. CBS Interactive . Retrieved February 7, 2015.