The Book of Traps and Lessons

Last updated • 1 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

The Book of Traps and Lessons
Kae Tempest - The Book of Traps and Lessons.png
Studio album by
Released14 June 2019 (2019-06-14)
Genre Spoken word
Length45:03
Label
Producer
Kae Tempest chronology
Let Them Eat Chaos
(2016)
The Book of Traps and Lessons
(2019)
The Line Is a Curve
(2022)
Singles from The Book of Traps and Lessons
  1. "People's Faces"
    Released: 12 September 2019

The Book of Traps and Lessons is the third studio album by English poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest, the follow-up to Let Them Eat Chaos . According to NME's El Hunt: "The figures closest to this record’s protagonist constantly take the form of gnarled trees: fingers become delicate twiglets, and naked toes set down roots. And togetherness is the force that continually grounds ‘The Book of Traps and Lessons’ despite the dystopian soldiers that march across its drenched landscape." [1] The spoken word lyrics contain a mix of hope and love, mirrored against the difficulties in today's society.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.8/10 [2]
Metacritic 84/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Independent Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

According to review aggregator Metacritic, The Book of Traps and Lessons has a score of 84 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim". [3]

Track listing

The Book of Traps and Lessons track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Thirsty"3:26
2."Keep Moving Don't Move"5:49
3."Brown Eyed Man"3:05
4."Three Sided Coin"4:02
5."I Trap You"3:32
6."All Humans Too Late"3:06
7."Hold Your Own"4:07
8."Lessons"4:04
9."Firesmoke"3:34
10."Holy Elixir"4:56
11."People's Faces"5:17

Charts

Chart performance of The Book of Traps and Lessons
Chart (2016)Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [11] 29
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] 31
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 30
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [14] 1

Related Research Articles

<i>An End Has a Start</i> 2007 studio album by Editors

An End Has a Start is the second album by British indie rock band Editors. It was released on 25 June 2007 in the UK and on 17 July 2007 in the US. The album was certified Platinum in the UK on the same day it was released. An End Has a Start was the 69th best-selling album in the UK end of year album chart in 2007.

<i>Perfect Symmetry</i> (Keane album) 2008 album by Keane

Perfect Symmetry is the third studio album by English rock band Keane, released on 13 October 2008 in the United Kingdom.

<i>50 Words for Snow</i> 2011 studio album by Kate Bush

50 Words for Snow is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter Kate Bush, released on 21 November 2011. It was the second album released on her own label, Fish People, and Bush's first all-new material since Aerial (2005). The album was promoted by the single "Wild Man"; a further single, "Snowflake", followed in October 2024, alongside a short film in support of War Child.

<i>The Temper Trap</i> (album) 2012 studio album by The Temper Trap

The Temper Trap is the second studio album by the Australian indie rock band of the same name, The Temper Trap, released in Australia through Liberation Music on 18 May 2012. A deluxe edition of the album was also released on iTunes Store, containing three bonus tracks: "Want", "The Trouble with Pain" and "Everybody Leaves in the End".

<i>Banga</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Patti Smith

Banga is the eleventh studio album by American rock musician Patti Smith, released on June 1, 2012 on Columbia Records. Recorded throughout 2011 at New York's Electric Lady Studios and Hoboken's Hobo Recorders, Banga was produced by Smith, Tony Shanahan, Jay Dee Daugherty and collaborator Lenny Kaye. The album includes a number of guest musicians including Tom Verlaine of Television, Italian band Casa del Vento, Jack Petruzzelli and Smith's own children, Jackson and Jesse Paris.

<i>Tempest</i> (Bob Dylan album) 2012 album by Bob Dylan

Tempest is the thirty-fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on September 10, 2012, by Columbia Records. The album was recorded at Jackson Browne's Groove Masters Studios in Santa Monica, California. Dylan wrote all of the songs himself with the exception of "Duquesne Whistle", which he co-wrote with longtime Grateful Dead associate Robert Hunter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kae Tempest</span> English poet, musical artist, novelist and playwright

Kae Tempest is an English spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist and playwright.

<i>Chaos and the Calm</i> 2015 studio album by James Bay

Chaos and the Calm is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter James Bay. It was first released on 23 March 2015 via Republic Records.

<i>Everybody Down</i> 2014 studio album by Kae Tempest

Everybody Down is the debut album by English poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest, which was nominated for the 2014 Mercury Prize. Its tracks comprise a unified story cycle with a coherent narrative arc, based upon a main character named Becky.

<i>Wild World</i> (Bastille album) 2016 studio album by Bastille

Wild World is the second studio album by English indie pop band Bastille, released on 9 September 2016 by Virgin EMI Records. The album was co-produced by Mark Crew. The lead single, "Good Grief", was released on 16 June 2016. The song "Send Them Off!" is featured on the soundtrack of the game FIFA 17. The cover photograph was taken at 30 Park Place in Downtown, New York City.

<i>AIM</i> (album) 2016 studio album by M.I.A.

AIM is the fifth studio album by British rapper and singer M.I.A. It was released on 9 September 2016 by Interscope and Polydor Records. Prior to its release, M.I.A. claimed that it would be her final album. She worked on the composition and production of the album with a range of collaborators, including Blaqstarr, Diplo, and Skrillex. The album was recorded in various countries, including Jamaica and India, and includes vocal contributions from Dexta Daps and Zayn. As with M.I.A.'s earlier releases, the album mixes Eastern and Western musical influences. Lyrically, several tracks on the album contain themes of borders and refugees.

<i>Let Them Eat Chaos</i> Album by Kae Tempest

Let Them Eat Chaos is the second studio album by English poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest, the follow-up to their Mercury Prize-nominated debut Everybody Down. The album follows seven individuals who all live on the same street who have never met each other before. But then at 4:18 in the morning, a storm causes these seven people to leave their homes and see each other for the very first time.

<i>The Ooz</i> 2017 studio album by King Krule

The Ooz is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Archy Marshall, and his second album under the stage name King Krule. It was released on 13 October 2017 via True Panther Sounds and XL Recordings. The album incorporates elements of trip hop, R&B, punk rock, and jazz.

<i>Electric Light</i> (album) 2018 studio album by James Bay

Electric Light is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter James Bay. The album was released on 18 May 2018 through Republic Records.

<i>Bloom</i> (Troye Sivan album) 2018 studio album by Troye Sivan

Bloom is the second studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, released on 31 August 2018 through EMI Music Australia and Capitol Records. The album follows up his 2015 debut studio album, Blue Neighbourhood, and features guest appearances from Gordi and Ariana Grande. It was preceded by the release of the singles "My My My!", "The Good Side", "Bloom", "Dance to This" and "Animal".

<i>Nasir</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Nas

Nasir is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Nas, released on June 15, 2018 through Mass Appeal and Def Jam Recordings. It marked his first album in six years since Life Is Good (2012). The album features guest appearances from Kanye West, Puff Daddy, 070 Shake, Tony Williams, and The-Dream. West also served as the album's executive producer, with additional production from Mike Dean, Andrew Dawson, Dot da Genius, and Cashmere Cat, among others.

<i>Beneath the Eyrie</i> 2019 studio album by Pixies

Beneath the Eyrie is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies, released on September 13, 2019, by BMG/Infectious. Produced by Tom Dalgety, and preceded by the singles "On Graveyard Hill" and "Catfish Kate", the album was recorded in Dreamland Recording Studios, a remote, converted church in upstate New York. The band were influenced by their Gothic surroundings during the writing and recording process, with vocalist and guitarist Black Francis stating: "I wanted to intermingle with the spirit world, with life and death and with the mystical and a more surreal landscape."

<i>Magdalene</i> (album) 2019 studio album by FKA Twigs

Magdalene is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs. Released on 8 November, 2019, by Young Turks, it is her first project since her EP M3LL155X (2015), and first full-length record since LP1 (2014). The album features a sole guest appearance from American rapper Future. FKA Twigs produced the album herself, with a wide range of co-producers including Nicolas Jaar, Koreless, Daniel Lopatin, Skrillex, Benny Blanco, Michael Uzowuru and Noah Goldstein, who also served as executive producer alongside Twigs.

<i>Life by Misadventure</i> 2021 studio album by RagnBone Man

Life by Misadventure is the second studio album by British singer Rag'n'Bone Man. It was released on 7 May 2021 through Columbia Records and was preceded by two singles: "All You Ever Wanted" and "Anywhere Away from Here", a duet with American singer Pink. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart with sales of 42,000, including 33,000 on physical formats, making it the fastest-selling album by a solo artist in 2021. The album serves as a follow-up to his 2017 album Human.

<i>Jordi</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Maroon 5

Jordi is the seventh studio album by American band Maroon 5. It was released on June 11, 2021, through 222, Interscope and Polydor Records. The album features guest appearances from Megan Thee Stallion, Blackbear, Stevie Nicks, Bantu, H.E.R., YG, and late rappers Juice Wrld and Nipsey Hussle. The deluxe edition of the album features additional guest appearances from Anuel AA, Tainy, and Jason Derulo.

References

  1. Hunt, El. "Kate Tempest – 'The Book of Traps and Lessons' review". NME . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  2. "The Book of Traps and Lessons by Kae Tempest reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Reviews for The Book of Traps and Lessons by Kate Tempest". Metacritic . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  4. Monger, Timothy. "The Book of Traps and Lessons – Kate Tempest". AllMusic . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  5. Aubrey, Elizabeth (14 June 2019). "Kate Tempest – The Books of Traps and Lessons". DIY . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  6. Cliff, Aimee (14 June 2019). "Kate Tempest: The Book of Traps and Lessons review – living poetry amid the chaos of 2019". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  7. O'Connor, Roisin (13 June 2019). "Kate Tempest review, The Book of Traps and Lessons: Poet is still a pessimist on this strangely uninspired album". The Independent . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  8. "Kate Tempest: The Book of Traps and Lessons". Mojo . No. 308. July 2019. p. 86.
  9. Hunt, El (17 June 2019). "Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons review". NME . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  10. Mongredien, Phil (16 June 2019). "Kate Tempest: The Book of Traps and Lessons review – personal and optimistic". The Observer . Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  12. "Swisscharts.com – Kate Tempest – The Book of Traps and Lessons". Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  13. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  14. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 September 2024.