Stay Alive (Laura Jane Grace album)

Stay Alive
Studio album by Laura Jane Grace
Released	October 1, 2020
Recorded	July 6–9, 2020 [1]
Studio	Electrical Audio [2]
Genre	Folk punk [3] power pop [4]
Length	29:20
Label	Polyvinyl
Laura Jane Grace chronology
Bought to Rot (2018) Stay Alive (2020) At War with the Silverfish (2021)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	73/100 [5]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Clash	7/10 [7]
DIY	[3]
Kerrang!	4/5 [4]
The Line of Best Fit	[8]
Pitchfork	6.8/10 [9]

Stay Alive is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Laura Jane Grace, released on October 1, 2020, through Polyvinyl Record Co. The album was written and recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Grace was left without the ability to record with her band Against Me!, and thus made a solo album instead. The album was recorded over three days in Steve Albini's studio in Chicago. ^[1] Prior to recording with Albini, Grace was in talks to record the album with Tim Armstrong of Rancid. Stay Alive was released as a surprise album with no promotion, but music videos were released for "The Swimming Pool Song", "Blood & Thunder", and "SuperNatural Possession". ^{[1] [10] [11] [12]}

Track listing

All tracks are written by Laura Jane Grace.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Swimming Pool Song"	1:53
2.	"The Calendar Song"	2:19
3.	"Shelter in Place"	1:58
4.	"Return to Oz"	1:50
5.	"The Mountain Song"	3:01
6.	"SuperNatural Possession"	2:04
7.	"Hanging Tree"	2:20
8.	"Please Leave"	1:51
9.	"Why Kant I Be You?"	2:32
10.	"Ice Cream Song"	1:42
11.	"The Magic Point"	1:45
12.	"Blood & Thunder"	2:05
13.	"So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Fuck Off"	1:37
14.	"Old Friend (Stay Alive)"	2:17
Total length:		29:20

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. ^[2]

• Laura Jane Grace – performance, recording on "SuperNatural Possession" and "So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Fuck Off", cover ashtray photo, back cover dead bird photo
• Steve Albini – recording, mixing
• Bob Weston – mastering
• Katie Hovland – back cover, lyric insert artist photos
• Perry Shall – layout, design

References

1. Minsker, Evan (October 1, 2020). "Laura Jane Grace Surprise Releases New Album Stay Alive: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
2. Stay Alive (Media notes). Laura Jane Grace. Polyvinyl Record Co. October 1, 2020.
3. Tipple, Ben (October 2, 2020). "Stay Alive - Laura Jane Grace". DIY. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
4. Travers, Paul (October 2, 2020). "Album Review: Laura Jane Grace – Stay Alive". Kerrang. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
5. "Stay Alive by Laura Jane Grace". Metacritic. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
6. Erlewhile, Stephen Thomas. "Stay Alive - Laura Jane Grace". Allmusic. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
7. Murray, Robin (October 1, 2020). "Stay Alive - Laura Jane Grace". Clash. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
8. Loftin, Steven. "Laura Jane Grace offers a beating heart on solo surprise release Stay Alive". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
9. Rytlewski, Evan (October 20, 2020). "Laura Jane Grace: Stay Alive Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
10. Ehrlich, Brenna (December 2, 2021). "Laura Jane Grace Turns 'The Swimming Pool Song' Into a Slasher Film for the Covid-19 Era". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
11. Grech, Aaron (December 21, 2020). "Laura Jane Grace Cruises a Gloomy Chicago in New Video for "Blood and Thunder"". Mxdwn. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
12. Shaffer, Claire (April 13, 2021). "Laura Jane Grace Shares Psychedelic Video for 'SuperNatural Possession'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 27, 2021.