Stripped (Macy Gray album)

Last updated
Stripped
Stripped (Macy Gray).jpg
Studio album by
Macy Gray
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2016 (2016-09-09)
RecordedApril 7–8, 2016
StudioThe Hirsch Center, Brooklyn, NYC
Genre
Length50:48
Label Chesky Records
Producer Norman Chesky, David Chesky
Macy Gray chronology
The Way
(2014)		Stripped
(2016)		 Ruby
(2018)

Stripped is the ninth studio album recorded by American singer-songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on September 9, 2016, on Chesky Records label. [1] [2] Although Gray's vocals had often been compared to jazz vocalists, Stripped is her first overtly jazz album and features live-in-the-studio recording techniques and accompaniment by leading jazz instrumentalists. [3] The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. [4]

Contents

Recording

The album is made up of ten songs, all recorded live on April 7 and April 8, 2016, [2] in a decommissioned Brooklyn church. [5] The album includes remakes of several of her songs ("I Try", "Sweet Baby", "She Ain't Right For You", "The First Time", "Slowly") and songs originally by other artists ("Nothing Else Matters", "Redemption Song"), [6] as well as all-new recordings ("Annabelle", "The Heart", "Lucy"). Macy Gray told Elle that recording a jazz album "was such a completely unexpected but refreshing and fun thing to do." [7] One of the songs on the album, "Lucy," was composed as the band was performing; it was regarded as one of the best songs on the album by many critics. [2] [8] [9]

Release & promotion

"Annabelle" was released on August 17, 2016, to promote the album. [10] Gray said "'Annabelle' is one of my favorite songs on the album," [10] adding that "it speaks to all the suffering you go through when you're trying to quit a habit. At the same time the mood of the song inspires a craving for a big fat joint." [10] Macy Gray's newly recorded version of "I Try", which was praised, was also used to promote the album. Elle said that the track "gorgeously reimagined", [7] while Entertainment Weekly called it "jazz-infused". [5]

The album was released on 9 September 2016. [2] It was made available on CD and on vinyl, in addition to being available digitally. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [12]
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [13]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Robert Christgau A− [14]
Elmore Magazine 92/100 [15]
Exclaim! 8/10 [16]
The National Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Vice A− [20]

Critical reception for Stripped was highly positive. The album holds a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregate website MetaCritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [12] James Nadal, writing for All About Jazz, awarded the album 4.5 of 5 stars, stating "Recorded with no over dubs, in a two-day session, this is as close to a live gig as one could imagine, with spatial realism and no audience background noise to hamper audio quality," singling out "I Try", "Slowly", "First Time", and "Redemption Song" as highlights and going on to conclude that "Gray is a throwback to the early days when jazz singers were not pretentious, but had to rely on their innate talent to carry the tune with raw emotion and sensual grace." [13]

Allmusic's review was also positive, giving the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, commenting that "all of this is best heard in a late-night setting. The volume of Gray's rasping voice rarely breaks above the level of an intimate conversation -- at times, she sounds a bit off in the distance -- and the group plays as if it's trying not to disturb a dozing parishioner," stating that "For all its emphasis on the past, Stripped sounds like a step forward." [2]

Music critic Robert Christgau, writing for Vice, was also extremely complimentary toward the album. In his article "Reinvention, Response, and 'Redemption Song,'" he stated that the album was a career highlight, stated that "guitarist Russell Malone and trumpeter Wallace Roney earn their minutes, but mostly they make room for Macy as she eases into a few of her own standards and tops them with the new 'First Time,'" also stating that "although she wasn't the only one born to sing 'Redemption Song'... she does it humble and she does it proud." [20]

Other critics praised the album, as well. Exclaim's Ryan B. Patrick said that "Gray's inimitable rasp does the job in conveying improvisational sounds," going on to state that "'Stripped' finds Gray in lucid form; hit 'Sweet Baby' offers a bouncy, upbeat flavour, while a bass-heavy version of her biggest hit 'I Try' gives the track new life," calling the album "fully chilled out and no-frills in intent and sentiment." [16] Vogue was also complimentary towards the album, noting "Lucy" as a highlight. [8] A review by Yahoo praised the album's sound quality and noting that the album has "a sweet balance between singer and band." [9]

Commercial performance

"Stripped" impacted the jazz charts, a first for Gray, who had previously charted on the R&B and pop charts. [4] On the chart dated October 1, 2016, Stripped debuted at number 2 on the US Traditional Jazz Albums chart. [4] It debuted at number 3 on the US Top Jazz Albums chart and the US Jazz Albums chart. [4] The album also reached on the Independent Albums chart at number 47. [4]

2023 Reissue on 7A Records

On March 24, 2023, "Stripped" was given a deluxe reissue on Vinyl and CD by independent British label 7A Records. The LP gatefold edition was pressed on 180g White Vinyl and is different to the original release on Chesky Records, as it includes all 10 songs from the album. The CD features a 20-page booklet with extensive liner notes and lyrics. The reissue received critical acclaim, including a glowing review in Goldmine Magazine. [21]

Track listing

All tracks were produced by David and Norman Chesky.

Standard edition [2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Annabelle"
  • Macy Gray
  • David Sardy
  • Mayaeni Strauss
  • Adam Waldman
5:10
2."Sweet Baby"
  • Gray
  • Joe Solo
5:03
3."I Try"
  • Gray
  • Jinsoo Lim
  • Jeremy Ruzumna
  • David Wilder
4:16
4."Slowly"
  • Jared Gosselin
  • Natalie Hinds
  • George Pajon Jr.
  • Justin Mendal-Johnson
  • Phillip White
5:17
5."She Ain't Right For You"
4:56
6."First Time"
  • Gray
  • Jeff Bluestein
4:10
7."Nothing Else Matters"
6:40
8."Redemption Song"
3:23
9."The Heart"
  • Gray
  • Sam Barsh
  • Waldman
5:15
10."Lucy"
6:48
Total length:50:48

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic. [2]

Producers
Musicians
Miscellaneous personnel

Charts

Chart (2016)Peak
position
US Independent Albums [4] 47
US Jazz Albums [4] 3
US Top Jazz Albums [4] 2
US Traditional Jazz Albums [4] 2

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References

  1. ↑ "Macy Gray Debuts Critically Acclaimed Album on Chesky Records". The Absolute Sound . 15 September 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Stripped - Macy Gray". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  3. ↑ "MACY GRAY IS 'STRIPPED' DOWN FOR JAZZ-INFUSED NEW ALBUM". Eurweb. Electronic Urban Report. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Macy Gray Stripped chart search". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 Sadlier, Allison. "Macy Gray Drops 'I Try' New Version". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  6. ↑ Riotta, Chris. "Macy Gray Remixes Her 15-Year-Old Breakout Single "I Try" As a Stunning Jazz Standard". Music.Mic. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Hear Macy Gray's Gorgeously Reimagined Version of "I Try"". Elle. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Macy Gray Is Back and Better Than Ever". Vogue. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  9. 1 2 Gorondi, Pablo. "Review: Macy Gray returns to jazz, covers Marley, Metallica". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 King, Eric. "Macy Gray Premieres First Song 'Annabelle' Off Upcoming Album". Billboard. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  11. ↑ "Macy Gray – Stripped". Discogs. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  12. 1 2 ""Stripped" by Macy Gray overview". MetaCritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  13. 1 2 Nadal, James. "Macy Gray: Stripped". All About Jazz. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  14. ↑ "Consumer Guide Reviews: Stripped". Robert Christgau . Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  15. ↑ Davanzo, Savanah (October 19, 2016). "Macy Gray: Stripped". Elmore Magazine . Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. 1 2 Patrick, Ryan B. "Macy Gray Stripped review". Exclaim!. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  17. ↑ "Album review: Macy Gray's patented purr-and-growl vocals thrive in Stripped". The National. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  18. ↑ McGuire, Colin. "Macy Gray "Stripped" (review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  19. ↑ Waring, Charles. "Macy bares all, musically speaking". Record Collector. Diamond Publishing. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  20. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (November 4, 2016). "Reinvention, Response, and "Redemption Song": Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Vice . Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Macy Gray's 'Stripped' gets praise again with a top-notch reissue".
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