Smile! :D | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 26, 2024 | |||
Genre | Electropop [1] | |||
Length | 40:03 | |||
Label | Mom + Pop | |||
Producer | Porter Robinson | |||
Porter Robinson chronology | ||||
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Singles from Smile! :D | ||||
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Smile! :D (stylized in all caps) is the third studio album by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson, released on July 26, 2024, through Mom + Pop Music. In recording the album, Robinson sought to break away from many stylistic elements of his previous work. The music on the record draws from pop-punk, early 2000s rave, and hyperpop influences.
Four singles – "Cheerleader", "Knock Yourself Out XD", "Russian Roulette", and "Kitsune Maison Freestyle" – were released to promote the work. The album received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its bold production and emotional depth, though some noted its chaotic structure. The album is being supported by a world tour from 2024 to 2025.
Robinson experienced an initial surge of popularity at age 18, [2] after the release of several festival-oriented electronic dance music works such as "Say My Name" (2010) and Spitfire (2011). Robinson grew increasingly dissatisfied with his performances, and said that he experienced "four or five fully-blown anxiety attacks onstage" while touring in 2013. [3] His desire to change his musical style led him to write his debut album Worlds (2014), a work that DJ Mag 's John Ochoa has retrospectively described as a "breakthrough" that precipitated a wider shift in the electronic music industry. [4] In 2016, Robinson released "Shelter", a collaboration with friend and fellow electronic producer Madeon. [5] In 2017, Robinson released Virtual Self , a eurodance- and trance-inspired production released under an alias of the same name. [6] "Ghost Voices", a single from the EP, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2018. [7] In 2021, Robinson released his second studio album Nurture , a work which explores his experiences with depression and writer's block and represents a major stylistic shift in his discography, according to AllMusic's Paul Simpson. [5] While writing Nurture, Robinson put pressure on himself to "not [get] into any kind of trouble", as he started to place more importance on his public identity and found himself restricting his expression on the album as a result. A year after its release, he began to discuss with his friends his wish to retire from musicianship altogether. [8]
Robinson intended to avoid the stylistic elements of his previous work when writing Smile! :D, stating in an interview with Dork that "every project [he has] done has been a total reinvention." [9] Larisha Paul from Rolling Stone concurred, and felt that the album brings the vocal performances and lyrics to the forefront of the production, in contrast with the "atmospheric" sound of Nurture. [10] The album's instrumentation draws from the pop-punk and rave music styles from the early 2000s, [11] as well as modern hyperpop. [12] The Skinny 's Ian Macartney found chiptune influences similar to Robinson's contemporaries Anamanaguchi on the opening track "Knock Yourself Out XD". [11]
The framework for the album's style was conceived during the tour of Nurture, when Robinson performed with a live band. He felt that much of his prior discography focused on personal subject matters, and instead decided to adopt a more lighthearted approach with a "spirit of play" inspired by his experiences on stage. [9] Discussing the composition process, Robinson said he intended to create a work that was "no sincerity, all fun, [and] an album that revels in absurdity for a world that rejects context", but eventually began to write about his emotions. [13] "Cheerleader", the second song from the album, is a commentary on the parasocial relationships audience members can develop with artists. [10]
On February 29, 2024, Robinson uploaded a video to his YouTube channel describing the end of his career and the removal of all of his music from online streaming services. The content of his website was replaced with a countdown timer, [14] [15] [ better source needed ] and all previous posts were removed from Robinson's Instagram profile. [16] [17] He seemingly confirmed his decision to a reporter that day, which Uproxx 's Megan Armstrong described as an "expertly executed troll job". [18] Robinson revealed on March 1 that he had completed his third album, posting promotional images and videos to social media. [16] Robinson later announced a world tour to promote the album in 2024 and 2025, the first of his career. [19] [20] [21] The tour will be supported by Ericdoa, Galileo Galilei and Underscores. [22]
On March 20, 2024, Robinson released the first single for the album, "Cheerleader". On writing the song, he stated that he intended to create something that audiences would "love with zero context – just instantaneous, universal, explosive connection". [23] The song was released with a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern. [24] The second single from the album, "Knock Yourself Out XD", was released on April 24, 2024. [13] Robinson released the third single, "Russian Roulette", on June 5, 2024. [25] Robinson sees the song as a path to addressing the ideas of "oblivion, of career suicide, of disappearing", and finding a balance with his obligations. A lyric video for the song was published on June 13, 2024. [26] "Kitsune Maison Freestyle", the fourth and final single from the album, was released on July 19. [27] Robinson had organized a pop-up event at the Maison Kitsuné showroom in Los Angeles the day prior, which drew thousands of attendees. He gave away designer clothes from his wardrobe collectively worth an estimated $50,000 to fans for free. Robinson professed that he was a long-time enthusiast of Maison Kitsuné, and felt it was "primed for a nostalgic revival". [28]
Smile! :D was released for digital streaming by Mom + Pop Music on July 26, 2024. [29] The album released physically on vinyl and compact disc on August 23, 2024. [30] A music video for "Easier to Love You" was released on August 2, directed by stop-motion animator Tomoyasu Murata. [31] On August 22, 2024, Robinson released a music video for "Year of the Cup", co-directed with Malcolm MacMaster. [32]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.3/10 [33] |
Metacritic | 75/100 [34] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [35] |
Clash | 7/10 [36] |
Dork | [37] |
The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 [29] |
The Independent | 7/10 [1] |
Our Culture | [38] |
Pitchfork | 7.1/10 [39] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
Slant | [40] |
The Skinny | [11] |
Spectrum Culture | [41] |
Sputnikmusic | 2.9/5 [42] |
Under the Radar | [43] |
According to review aggregator website Metacritic, Smile! :D received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from nine critics. [34] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? scored the album 7.3 out of 10 based on nine reviews. [33]
Macartney described Smile! :D as "Robinson's most intimate album yet". He also wrote that the album was "full of swerves", [11] and Dork reviewers commented on the contrast between the album's instrumentation and the highly personal lyrical content. [12] Narzra Ahmed of Clash wrote that the album was "more chaotic than cohesive, which seems intentional in order to reflect [Robinson]'s ranging emotions", calling it "some of his best work yet". [36] However, Sputnikmusic 's Jesper L. felt that the album presented its lyrical content in a fashion that was imbalanced and "too careless" with its switches between lighthearted and serious themes. [42]
Dork's Dan Harrison wrote that Smile! :D's production was "nothing short of stellar", and felt that Robinson had effectively blended multiple musical styles on the work. [37] While Jesper L. appreciated individual songs, he felt the work as a whole was "overwhelming" in its maximalism, finding the softer tracks such as "Everything to Me" to be forced and insincere. [42] Macartney, however, felt that "Is There Really No Happiness?" was the highlight of the album, appreciating the combination of its breakbeat-style drums and "elegiac ballad" tone. [11]
Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
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Rolling Stone | The 100 Best Albums of 2024 | 86 | [44] |
All tracks are written and produced by Porter Robinson, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Knock Yourself Out XD" |
| 2:48 | |
2. | "Cheerleader" | 3:57 | ||
3. | "Russian Roulette" |
|
| 6:28 |
4. | "Perfect Pinterest Garden" | 2:28 | ||
5. | "Year of the Cup" | 4:22 | ||
6. | "Kitsune Maison Freestyle" | 3:54 | ||
7. | "Easier to Love You" |
|
| 4:10 |
8. | "Mona Lisa" (featuring Frost Children) |
|
| 3:45 |
9. | "Is There Really No Happiness?" |
|
| 3:19 |
10. | "Everything to Me" |
|
| 4:52 |
Total length: | 40:03 |
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [45] | 49 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard) [46] | 10 |
Pierre-Alexandre Busson, better known as Yuksek, is a French electronic music producer, remixer, singer and DJ from Reims. Yüksek means "high" or "loud" in Turkish.
Porter Weston Robinson is an American DJ and electronic music producer. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Robinson began producing electronic music during his adolescence. He signed to Skrillex's record label OWSLA at the age of 18 and released the extended play Spitfire in 2011. He appeared on Billboard's 21 Under 21 list in 2012.
"Language" is a song by American electronic music producer and DJ Porter Robinson. The song was uploaded on YouTube by Porter Robinson on April 1, 2012. The song was released in the United States on Big Beat Records as a digital download on April 10, 2012. The song was later released in the United Kingdom in an EP package from the Ministry of Sound on August 12, 2012. It debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The song features uncredited vocals from Heather Bright. The song received remixes from producers Kayzo together with Gammer, and from Jauz.
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Worlds is the debut studio album by the American electronic music producer Porter Robinson, released on August 12, 2014, by Astralwerks. Initially known for his heavier bass-centric production, Robinson became increasingly dissatisfied with the electronic dance music (EDM) genre, believing it limited his artistic expression. In 2012, Robinson released his first song with a greater emphasis on melody, "Language", and decided thereafter to prioritize aesthetic and emotional qualities in his work. He was inspired by media that evoked nostalgia for his childhood, and wrote music integrating elements taken from anime, films, and sounds from 1990s video games.
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"Sad Machine" is a song recorded by the American electronic music producer Porter Robinson for his debut studio album, Worlds (2014). For the song, Robinson had the concept of a duet between a robot and a human — these vocals are provided by a Vocaloid voice and Robinson himself, respectively. He wanted it to contain elements of fiction and nostalgia. Critics noted the song as synth-pop and the inspirations from Passion Pit, M83, and Sigur Rós.
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"Get Your Wish" is a song recorded by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson. It was released on January 29, 2020, as the first single from his second studio album Nurture. Robinson wrote, produced, and provided vocals for the track. The song contains elements of 2000s era Japanese animation soundtracks.
"Look at the Sky" is a song by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson. It was released on January 27, 2021, as the fourth single from his second studio album Nurture. The song is featured in the soundtrack of the video game Forza Horizon 5, on the Horizon Pulse radio station. It is also featured as a playable song in the arcade game Dance Dance Revolution A3, as well as the online Battle Royale video game Fortnite as a lobby music track in collaboration with Coachella 2023.
"Mirror" is a song by American record producer Porter Robinson. It was released on August 26, 2020, as the third single from his second studio album Nurture (2021), by Mom + Pop. The song addresses themes of shame and self-criticism, and Robinson viewed it as a means to overcome his fears of external disapproval. "Mirror" was released to a generally positive reception, and an associated music video was released on September 9, 2020.
"Musician" is a song by American record producer Porter Robinson. It is the fifth single from Robinson's second album Nurture, released on March 3, 2021.
"Unfold" is a song by American record producer Porter Robinson and British singer-songwriter and producer Orlando Higginbottom, known professionally as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. It is the sixth and final single from Robinson's second album Nurture, released on April 22, 2021, one day before the rest of the album, by Mom + Pop Music. The song is the only listed collaboration on Nurture; Robinson has stated that this was a contributing factor in making the song a callback to his debut album Worlds (2014). "Unfold" released to general critical acclaim. On May 19, 2021, a lyric video for the song was released.
"Cheerleader" is a song recorded by the American electronic music producer Porter Robinson for his third studio album, Smile! :D (2024). An electropop and synth-pop song, its lyrics, written by Robinson, deal with parasocial relationships. "Cheerleader" was released on March 20, 2024, through Mom + Pop, as the lead single from Smile! :D. For his first solo release in two years, Robinson wanted to create something that people would enjoy "without context". It was accompanied by a music video where Robinson enters a virtual reality.