Small Town Heroes

Last updated
Small Town Heroes
SmallTownHeroes.jpg
Studio album by
Hurray for the Riff Raff
ReleasedFebruary 11, 2014 (2014-02-11)
Genre
Length44:03
Label ATO
Producer Alynda Lee Segarra
Hurray for the Riff Raff chronology
My Dearest Darkest Neighbor
(2013)		Small Town Heroes
(2014)		 The Navigator
(2017)

Small Town Heroes is the fifth full length studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff, and their first to be released by ATO Records. The album was released on February 11, 2014, and produced by their front-woman Alynda Lee Segarra. This album is considered the band's breakthrough after receiving a warm critical reception and strong commercial sales.

Contents

Reception

Commercial performance

For the Billboard charting week of March 1, 2014, Small Town Heroes was the No. 158 most sold album in the entirety of the United States via The Billboard 200 and it was the No. 3 album sold in the breaking-and-entry category by the Heatseekers Albums. In addition, the album was the No. 29 most sold Independent Albums, and it was the No. 24 most sold Top Tastemaker Albums. It also sold enough copies to attain No. 41 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10 [2]
Metacritic 80/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
Paste 8.0/10 [9]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Uncut 9/10 [13]

Small Town Heroes mostly received a positive reception from music critics upon release. At Metacritic, the album holds a score of an 80 out of 100 based upon 15 selected independent ratings and reviews, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'. [3]

At AllMusic, James Christopher Monger rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, writing that "Throughout it all Segarra struts her stuff without the slightest bit of arrogance (most of the arrangements are spare, but never willfully so), offering up a confident, yet ultimately amiable set of millennial-informed, urban crafted, Woody Guthrie-inspired, contemporary hobo-folk anthems that play fast and loose with genre tropes without losing the essence that makes them universal." [4] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, stating that "Segarra's supple, intimate vocals are about more than conjuring a musical past [...] she clearly wants to shape the future, too." [12]

At Paste , Eric R. Danton rated the album an eight out of ten, saying that the songs "encompass a broad swath of a timeless America, like old Carter Family tunes existing in the peaks and troughs of AM radio waves rolling endlessly over the miles." [9] PopMatters ' Eric Risch rated the album an eight out of ten, affirming that the album "is a collection of songs that speak from and for the heart of America’s fringe, calling them both to task and arms" on which Segarra "has found a home and sense of being for her voice – a voice capable and deserving of a population larger than the album’s title." [14]

In his review for Pitchfork , Stephen M. Deusner rated the album a seven-point-eight out of ten, asserting that "With Small Town Heroes, Segarra proves herself one of the most compelling stylists in a folk revival full of suspicious acts either too beholden to tradition or too uncritical to make much of it." [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alynda Lee Segarra, unless otherwise noted

Small Town Heroes track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Blue Ridge Mountain" 2:33
2."Crash on the Highway" 2:45
3."Good Time Blues (An Outlaw's Lament)" 5:17
4."End of the Line" 3:38
5."The New SF Bay Blues"
4:01
6."The Body Electric" 2:49
7."No One Else" 3:17
8."St. Roch Blues"
  • Alynda Lee Segarra
  • Sam Doores
5:09
9."Levon's Dream" 3:50
10."I Know It's Wrong (But That's Alright)" 2:58
11."Small Town Heroes" 4:28
12."Forever Is Just a Day" 3:18
Total length:44:03

Charts

Chart performance for Small Town Heroes
Chart (2014)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [15] 158
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [16] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [17] 29
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [18] 41
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [19] 24

Related Research Articles

Body Electric may refer to:

<i>Picaresque</i> (album) 2005 studio album by The Decemberists

Picaresque is the third studio album from The Decemberists. It was released in 2005 on the Kill Rock Stars record label. The word "picaresque" refers to a form of satirical prose originating in Spain, depicting realistically and often humorously the adventures of a low-born, roguish hero living by their wits in a corrupt society.

Ninfa Segarra is the last President of the New York City Board of Education. She served as President of the Board from 2000 to 2002 when the Board was abolished by the State of New York and power of the city schools was transferred to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

<i>The Stand Ins</i> 2008 studio album by Okkervil River

The Stand Ins is the fifth full-length studio album by American indie rock band Okkervil River, released on September 9, 2008. The album is the second half of The Stage Names, a planned double album. The title comes from the term 'stand-in', a person who substitutes for the actor before filming for technical purposes. If the cover art for The Stage Names is placed above that of The Stand-Ins, a complete picture is formed. The album charted at #42 with 11,000 copies sold, according to the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurray for the Riff Raff</span> American band

Hurray for the Riff Raff is an American band formed in New Orleans in 2007 by Alynda Segarra, a singer-songwriter from the Bronx, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riff Raff (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1982)

Horst Christian Simco, known professionally as Riff Raff, is an American rapper from Katy, Texas. He was originally managed by Swishahouse co-founder OG Ron C in 2011. After initially signing with rapper Soulja Boy's record label Stacks on Deck Entertainment, Simco signed with producer Diplo's record label Mad Decent to release his debut studio album, Neon Icon (2014). Despite lukewarm critical and commercial response, it mildly entered the Billboard 200 along with his second album Peach Panther (2016), which was released by Warner Records. Prior to its release, Simco entered a US$4 million joint partnership with Stampede Management and BMG for his Neon Nation label and production company. The joint deal fell apart in the wake of legal disputes with the publication of the 2012 film Spring Breakers.

<i>My Dearest Darkest Neighbor</i> 2013 studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff

My Dearest Darkest Neighbor is the fourth full-length album by New Orleans musical group Hurray for the Riff Raff. It was originally available only as a reward in a Kickstarter campaign to fund their previous album Look Out Mama, and in local record stores. A version of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" was included in the new release. The album was released July 1, 2013 by Mod Mobilian Records and This Is American Music.

<i>The Silver Gymnasium</i> 2013 studio album by Okkervil River

The Silver Gymnasium is the seventh album by American indie rock band Okkervil River, released on September 3, 2013. It is the band's first release after signing to ATO Records, and their first album not released through Jagjaguwar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuba Skinny</span> Traditional jazz band based in New Orleans

Tuba Skinny is a traditional jazz street band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's instrumentation includes cornet, clarinet, trombone, tuba, tenor banjo, guitar, frottoir, and vocals. The ensemble draws its inspiration from the early jazz, ragtime, and blues music of the 1920s and 1930s. The group began as an itinerant busking band and has performed around the world, including at music festivals in Mexico, Sweden, Australia, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Spain.

<i>The Blade</i> (Ashley Monroe album) 2015 studio album by Ashley Monroe

The Blade is the third studio album by American country music artist Ashley Monroe, released on July 24, 2015, through Warner Bros. Nashville. The album was produced by Vince Gill and Justin Niebank and includes the lead single "On to Something Good." The album made numerous "Best Albums of 2015" lists and was nominated for Best Country Album at the 58th Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R.I.P. (Young Jeezy song)</span> 2013 single by Young Jeezy featuring 2 Chainz

"R.I.P." is a song by American rapper Young Jeezy, released as the second single from his twelfth mixtape It's Tha World (2012). It features vocals from fellow rapper 2 Chainz and was produced by record producer DJ Mustard.

<i>Peach Panther</i> 2016 studio album by Riff Raff

Peach Panther is the second studio album by American rapper Riff Raff. The album was released on June 24, 2016, by Neon Nation Corporation and BMG Rights Management with distribution handled by Warner Music.

<i>Neon Icon</i> 2014 studio album by Riff Raff

Neon Icon is the debut studio album by American rapper Riff Raff. It was released on June 24, 2014, by Mad Decent. The album, which features Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Paul Wall, Amber Coffman, Mike Posner, and Slim Thug, was produced by DJA, Larry Fisherman, DJ Mustard, Raf Riley, Harry Fraud, and executive producer Diplo. Neon Icon was supported by singles "How to Be the Man" and "Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz".

<i>Benjamin Booker</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Benjamin Booker

Benjamin Booker is the debut studio album by American musician Benjamin Booker. It was released on 9 August 2014 by ATO Records and Rough Trade Records.

<i>Big Day in a Small Town</i> 2016 studio album by Brandy Clark

Big Day in a Small Town is the second studio album by American country music artist Brandy Clark. It was released on June 10, 2016, through Warner Bros. Records. The album was nominated for Best Country Album and the album's second single, "Love Can Go To Hell", was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>The Navigator</i> (Hurray for the Riff Raff album) 2017 studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff

The Navigator is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band Hurray for the Riff Raff. It was released by ATO Records on March 10, 2017. The album was recorded in 2016 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and Panoramic House in West Marin with producer Paul Butler, a member of the band The Bees.

<i>Among the Ghosts</i> 2018 studio album by Lucero

Among the Ghosts is the tenth studio album by American country-punk band Lucero. It was released August 3, 2018 under Thirty Tigers.

<i>Life on Earth</i> (Hurray for the Riff Raff album) 2022 studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff

Life on Earth is the seventh studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff, released on February 18, 2022, through Nonesuch Records, their first release through the label. It received acclaim from critics.

<i>The Past Is Still Alive</i> 2024 studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff

The Past Is Still Alive is the eighth studio album by Hurray for the Riff Raff. It was released on February 23, 2024, through Nonesuch Records. Produced by Brad Cook, the album features contributions from Conor Oberst, Meg Duffy, Anjimile and S.G. Goodman.

<i>As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again</i> 2024 studio album by the Decemberists

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again is the ninth studio album by the American indie rock band the Decemberists, it was released on June 14, 2024, on YABB Records. It is a double album, produced by Tucker Martine, who the band has frequently collaborated with.

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork Staff (October 8, 2019). "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 3, 2023. ...mixing rhythmically lurching New Orleans R&B, rural blues, and Appalachian stomps into a new form of roots music.
  2. ↑ "Small Town Heroes by Hurray For The Riff Raff reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Reviews for Small Town Heroes by Hurray for the Riff Raff". Metacritic . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher. "Small Town Heroes – Hurray for the Riff Raff". AllMusic . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  5. ↑ Hann, Michael (March 27, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes review – improbably playful Americana". The Guardian . Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  6. ↑ Breen, Joe (April 4, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". The Irish Times . Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". Mojo (246): 89. May 2014.
  8. ↑ Empire, Kitty (March 30, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff review – the velvet-voiced Alynda Lee Segarra proves 'faultless'". The Observer . Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Danton, Eric R. (February 11, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". Paste . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Deusner, Stephen M. (February 18, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". Q (335): 112. June 2014.
  12. 1 2 Hermes, Will (February 11, 2014). "Small Town Heroes". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". Uncut (204): 68. May 2014.
  14. ↑ Risch, Eric (February 14, 2014). "Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes". PopMatters . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Billboard 200 for Hurray for the Riff Raff. Prometheus Global Media" . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums for Hurray for the Riff Raff" . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Independent Albums for Hurray for the Riff Raff" . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Top Rock Albums for Hurray for the Riff Raff. Prometheus Global Media" . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Hurray for the Riff Raff. Prometheus Global Media" . Retrieved March 2, 2014.
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.