| See the Beauty in Your Drab Hometown | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 12, 2018 | |||
| Genre | Pop, rock | |||
| Length | 39:52 | |||
| Label | Drabant Music | |||
| Producer | Pål Waaktaar Savoy, Lauren Savoy, Eliot Leigh | |||
| Savoy chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from See the Beauty in Your Drab Hometown | ||||
| ||||
See the Beauty in Your Drab Hometown is the sixth studio album by the band Savoy. It was released on January 12, 2018. The title of the album comes from the opening line of the song "January Thaw".
There was some speculation about a new album after a series of social media posts by Waaktaar in 2015, confirming that recording was in process. [1] In November 2017, the new album was officially announced with an interview in Dagbladet . [2] The single "Night Watch" was released digitally on November 24, alongside a music video. [3] The album's second single, "January Thaw", also accompanied by a music video, was released on January 5, 2018. [4]
On the eve of the album's release, Savoy held a concert at Parkteatret in Oslo, performing an 18-song setlist featuring songs from their back catalogue as well as from the new album. [5]
See the Beauty in Your Drab Hometown was largely well received. [6] The Electricity Club wrote that the album sounded "fresh and contemporary," calling it "a confident collection... playful, adventurous, and boasting a production that benefits from retaining its rough edges." [7] Dagsavisen wrote that "Savoy shows what a pop band should be, and delivers several great pop moments." [8] Aftenposten commented that the album required time, but "offers a lot of good and timeless pop music." [9] Morgenbladet stated that Savoy had returned like "eternal teens ... with air around their heads," adding that "the frustration and (passive-)aggressiveness that was a part of the previous albums has been replaced with a likeable musical optimism." [10] Hamar Arbeiderblad wrote that the album made "a departure from their previously guitar-driven sound in favour of a shameless flirt with 80s electro-pop... as long as the result is this good, there’s nothing to be ashamed about,” while noting that "one would wish that the band would occasionally gear up and create some larger peaks in the voltage curve." [11] Åsane Tidende stated that the album was "passionate but predictable," saying that "Savoy's latest addition to the discography is no party, but a bit of a breeze you still get." [12]
Bergens Tidende offered a somewhat more critical review, calling the group a "harmless side project", commenting that the album was "well-meaning, but never particularly compelling." [13]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Night Watch" | 4:20 |
| 2. | "A Month of Sundays" | 4:00 |
| 3. | "Falls Park" | 3:33 |
| 4. | "Manmade Lake" | 4:59 |
| 5. | "Bump" | 2:35 |
| 6. | "January Thaw" | 4:23 |
| 7. | "Shy Teens Suffering Silently" | 2:45 |
| 8. | "We're the Same Way" | 4:34 |
| 9. | "Sunlit Byways" | 4:13 |
| 10. | "(My) Weathervane" | 4:30 |
| Total length: | 39:52 | |
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [14] | 7 |
A-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (guitars), Magne Furuholmen, and Morten Harket (vocals), the band rose to fame during the mid-1980s.
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy is a Norwegian musician and songwriter. He was named Knights First Class of the Order of St. Olav by King Harald for his services to Norwegian music and his international success. Pål Savoy is best known for his work as the main songwriter and guitarist in the Norwegian pop band A-ha. He has written or co-written most of the band's biggest hits, including "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.", "Hunting High and Low", "Take On Me", the James Bond theme "The Living Daylights" and the ballad "Summer Moved On". In addition, Waaktaar-Savoy is also a painter. The band A-ha has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide.
Savoy are a Norwegian-American rock trio consisting of Paul Waaktaar-Savoy (vocals/guitars/bass/keyboards), his wife Lauren Savoy (vocals/guitars) and Frode Unneland. The band was formed in 1994 and has released 6 studio albums to date.
Memorial Beach is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 June 1993 by Warner Bros. Records.
Minor Earth Major Sky is the sixth album by Norwegian synthpop band a-ha, released on 14 April 2000 by WEA.
Morgenbladet is a Norwegian weekly, newspaper, covering politics, culture and science.
How Can I Sleep with Your Voice in My Head is a live album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 25 March 2003 by WEA Records.
"Manhattan Skyline" is a song by the Norwegian pop band A-ha. It was the third single from their Scoundrel Days album, and reached #13 in the UK Singles Chart.
Lauren Savoy, born 17th April 1968, is an American composer, director and writer. She is married to Paul Waaktaar-Savoy from the band a-ha. In 1999 they had a son together.
Tore Reginiussen is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for FC St. Pauli. Reginiussen has previously played for the clubs Tromsø, Schalke 04, Lecce, OB and Rosenborg and has been capped playing for Norway. Reginiussen plays as a centre back, but can also play as a central midfielder.
Foot of the Mountain is the ninth studio album by the Norwegian pop rock band A-ha. It was released on 19 June 2009 and reached No. 1 on the German Albums Chart and No. 2 on the Norwegian Albums Chart. In its first week in the UK, the album debuted at No. 5, the group's highest chart placing in that country since Stay on These Roads in 1988.
"Foot of the Mountain" is the first single from the A-ha album of the same name. It was used as the official anthem of the 2009 World Championships in Athletics held in Berlin. The single reached #3 in Germany, and is the highest charting single of the band in that country since Take On Me in 1985.
"Nothing Is Keeping You Here" is a song by the Norwegian band a-ha taken from their ninth studio album Foot of the Mountain (2009). It was written by band member Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, produced by Roland Spremberg and it contains elements produced by Mark Saunders. It was released as the second single from the album in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2009, and as the third single in Europe on 20 November 2009. In an interview in Norway, Waaktaar-Savoy stated that the track was the first song to be written for the album while on tour.
Live at Vallhall: Homecoming is a live video album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 5 November 2001 by Warner Music Vision. It was filmed during the band's two concerts at Vallhall Arena in Oslo on 24 and 25 March 2001.
Ending on a High Note: The Final Concert is a live album by Norwegian band a-ha, released on 1 April 2011. It was recorded at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo on 4 December 2010, which was initially planned to be their final concert before their eventual reunion in 2015. The concert on the previous night was also recorded as a back-up. The album contains the entire set from the final concert with the exception of "The Bandstand" and "Bowling Green", the latter being an Everly Brothers cover the band performed as part of the final encore.
Cast in Steel is the tenth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha. The album was released on 4 September 2015 by We Love Music and Polydor. It is their first studio album since Foot of the Mountain (2009), following their second reunion in early 2015.
"Move to Memphis" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released in 1991 as a single from their compilation album Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of a-ha. It was written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, and produced by A-ha. "Move to Memphis" reached No. 2 in Norway and No. 47 in the UK.
Camilla Norderud, better known under her stage name Camilla North, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter and model. She wrote the song "Deja Vu," which is found on 4 Walls, an album by Korean girl band f(x) which reached number 1 on the World Billboard list.
Early Morning is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, released in 1991 as the third single from their fourth studio album East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990). It was written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, and produced by Ian Stanley. "Early Morning" reached No. 78 in the UK and No. 29 in Ireland. A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Michael Burlingame, while the video's black and white footage was directed by Lauren Savoy.
Bridges were a Norwegian rock band formed in Oslo, Norway in 1978. It is notable for being the predecessor to synth pop band a-ha. The band released their debut album Fakkeltog in 1980. Their second album Våkenatt was recorded within the following year, but not released until 2018.
