The King (Anjimile album)

Last updated

The King
Anjimile - The King.png
Studio album by
Anjimile
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2023 (2023-09-08)
Length33:15
Label 4AD
Producer
Anjimile chronology
Giver Taker
(2020)		The King
(2023)
Singles from The King
  1. "The King"
    Released: May 23, 2023
  2. "Father"
    Released: June 29, 2023
  3. "Black Hole"
    Released: September 5, 2023

The King is the second studio album by American folk musician Anjimile Chithambo, better known as Anjimile. It was released on September 8, 2023, through 4AD. Chithambo wrote and co-produced all the songs, with additional production credits from Justine Bowe and Shawn Everett. It features contributions from Justine Bowe, Brad Allen Williams, Sam Gendel, and James Krivchenia. [1]

Contents

Background

Chithambo wrote, arranged, recorded, and produced the record in the span of three years. The musician described it as "a very intense record" that contains a lot of "anger and hopelessness and fear". In writing songs for the album, he was able to process and release "those challenging feelings", in hopes that listeners would experience it themselves. Spurred by the 2020 murder of George Floyd, Chithambo tried to find an outlet to release a pent up "well of anger roil inside", giving himself space to process the "myriad struggles they've faced as a Black nonbinary trans person". [2]

Chithambo announced the album on May 23, 2023, alongside the release of the eponymous lead single. A "dramatic, unsettling, yet grand track", the song arrived with an animated lyric video by Daniela Yohannes, who also designed the album artwork. [3] The musician explained in a statement that if his debut was "an album of prayers", then The King poses the anithesis as an album of "curses". Thematically, it explores the state of being a "black, trans person in America". [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [5]
Review scores
SourceRating
Line of Best Fit 9/10 [6]
Paste 8.8/10 [7]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [8]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an average score of 84 based on six reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [5] Noah Barker of Line of Best Fit thought Chithambo crafted a "masterstroke folk album" where each track "is a watershed moment ceding itself the next". [6] Paste 's Natalie Marlin named The King "album of the week" in which the musician "upends his sound to craft a grand portrait of fiery rage and tender self-mythologizing". [7]

Bhanuj Kappal of Pitchfork saw the album as "an invitation to feel deeply", where Chithambo tells the listener to accept one's suffering, "not run away from it". It would put the person at risk of letting the "unattended wounds" drag them "into the abyss". Contrary to their previous record, The King sheds away all the "bright and airy" moments from his sound, replacing it with an "atmosphere suffused with dread", alternating between "between post-rock grandeur, sepulchral dirge, and sepia-tinged folk". [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Anjimile Chithambo

The King track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The King"3:44
2."Mother"3:02
3."Anybody"2:27
4."Genesis"2:58
5."Animal"2:31
6."Father"2:41
7."Harley"3:38
8."Black Hole"3:42
9."I Pray"4:30
10."The Right"4:02
Total length:33:15

Related Research Articles

<i>The Execution of All Things</i> 2002 studio album by Rilo Kiley

The Execution of All Things is the second full-length album released by Los Angeles-based indie pop band Rilo Kiley. Expanding on their previous musical sound that mostly incorporated guitars, vocals, percussion and pianos, the album contains heavy electronica sampling mixed into the songs in a rather unusual and displaced-sounding way. Also, unlike their previous tracks which were written in very traditional manners, the lyrics to the songs on Execution are very wordy and read like prose. Musically, the record has a very sunny disposition, with bouncing bass lines and simple melodies complemented by lead singer Jenny Lewis's vocal style, but the upbeat music is generally counterpointed by the often dark and morose subject matter that the lyrics reference. The album was released by Saddle Creek Records in Omaha, Nebraska, and the aforementioned features show the influence of that studio's associated Omaha Sound. It was recorded at Presto! in Lincoln, Nebraska.

<i>Gallowsbirds Bark</i> 2003 studio album by The Fiery Furnaces

Gallowsbird's Bark is the debut studio album by The Fiery Furnaces released by Rough Trade Records in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Bridgers</span> American musician (born 1994)

Phoebe Lucille Bridgers is an American singer-songwriter. Her indie folk music typically centers around acoustic guitar and electronic production, with melancholic lyrical themes. She has received eleven Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist.

<i>A Crow Looked at Me</i> 2017 studio album by Mount Eerie

A Crow Looked at Me is the eighth studio album by Mount Eerie, a solo project of the American musician Phil Elverum. Released in 2017, it was composed in the aftermath of his 35-year-old wife Geneviève Castrée's diagnosis with pancreatic cancer in 2015, and her death in July 2016. Elverum wrote and recorded the songs over a six-week period in the room where she died, mostly using her instruments. His sparse lyrics and minimalistic musical accompaniment drew influence from a broad range of artists, including the poet Gary Snyder, author Karl Ove Knausgård and songwriter Julie Doiron.

<i>In a Poem Unlimited</i> 2018 studio album by U.S. Girls

In a Poem Unlimited is an album by U.S. Girls, the solo project of Toronto-based American musician Meghan Remy. It was released on February 20, 2018 through 4AD.

<i>Drift Code</i> 2019 studio album by Rustin Man

Drift Code is the second studio album by English musician and former Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb, under his moniker Rustin Man. It was released on 1 February 2019 through Domino Recording Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Midi</span> English music group

Black Midi are an English rock band from London, formed in 2017 and currently consisting of Geordie Greep, Cameron Picton, and Morgan Simpson (drums). The trio have been frequently joined by Seth Evans and Kaidi Akinnibi (saxophone) in both studio and live performances since 2020. Their name is derived from the Japanese electronic music genre black MIDI, though their own music has no relation to it, instead incorporating styles such as math rock, progressive rock, post-punk, and avant-jazz.

<i>For My Crimes</i> 2018 studio album by Marissa Nadler

For My Crimes is the eighth studio album by American musician Marissa Nadler. It was released on September 28, 2018 under Bella Union in the UK, and Sacred Bones Records in the US.

<i>Love Is the King</i> 2020 studio album by Jeff Tweedy

Love Is the King is the fourth solo studio album by American musician Jeff Tweedy. It was released on October 23, 2020, via dBpm Records. Recording sessions took place at the Loft in Chicago during lockdown in April 2020 after Wilco's tour dates were cancelled due to COVID-19. Production was handled by Tom Schick and Tweedy himself. It features contributions from his sons Spencer and Sam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjimile</span> American folk musician

Anjimile Chithambo, better known under the mononym Anjimile, is an American folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts.

<i>Giver Taker</i> 2020 studio album by Anjimile

Giver Taker is the debut studio album by American musician Anjimile. It was released on September 18, 2020, by Father/Daughter Records.

<i>Vulture Prince</i> 2021 studio album by Arooj Aftab

Vulture Prince is the third album by Pakistani musician Arooj Aftab, released by New Amsterdam Records on April 23, 2021. Thematically, the album discusses stories of people, relationships, and lost moments and is dedicated to the memory of her younger brother, Maher. "Mohabbat" won the Best Global Music Performance at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Radical Romantics</i> 2023 studio album by Fever Ray

Radical Romantics is the third studio album by Fever Ray, an alias of Swedish musician Karin Dreijer. It was released on 10 March 2023 through Rabid and Mute Records. The album features contributions from producers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, and Dreijer's brother, Olof, with whom they formed half of electronic music duo the Knife. Radical Romantics was preceded by three singles: "What They Call Us", "Carbon Dioxide", and "Kandy".

<i>Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?</i> 2023 studio album by Kara Jackson

Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? is the debut album by Illinois poet and singer-songwriter Kara Jackson, who formerly served as the U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate from 2019 to 2020. It was released on April 14, 2023, through September Recordings.

<i>Ive Got Me</i> 2023 studio album by Joanna Sternberg

I've Got Me is the second studio album by American musician Joanna Sternberg, released on June 30, 2023, through Fat Possum Records. It was produced by Matt Sweeney. The title track was released ahead of the album.

<i>World Music Radio</i> 2023 studio album by Jon Batiste

World Music Radio is the seventh studio album by American singer Jon Batiste. It was released on August 18, 2023, through Verve Records and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances by JID, NewJeans, Camilo, Jon Bellion, Fireboy DML, Kenny G, Lil Wayne, Leigh-Anne and Lana Del Rey.

<i>Love in Exile</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily

Love in Exile is an album by Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab, Indian-American pianist Vijay Iyer, and multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily, released on March 24, 2023, by Verve Records. It is the trio's first album together, recorded in a studio in New York. It was received positively by critics. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated for Best Alternative Jazz Album and "Shadow Forces" was nominated for Best Global Music Performance.

<i>Youre the One</i> (Rhiannon Giddens album) 2023 studio album by Rhiannon Giddens

You're the One is the third solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens, released through Nonesuch Records on August 18, 2023. The album was produced by Jack Splash and contains only original compositions, with a guest appearance by Jason Isbell. It received generally positive reviews from critics.

<i>Voir Dire</i> (Earl Sweatshirt and the Alchemist album) 2023 studio album by Earl Sweatshirt and the Alchemist

Voir Dire is a collaborative album by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt and record producer the Alchemist. It was released via Gala Music on August 25, 2023; a further release on streaming platforms followed on October 6.

<i>The Comeback Kid</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Marnie Stern

The Comeback Kid is the fifth studio album by American musician Marnie Stern, released on November 3, 2023, through Joyful Noise Recordings. It is her first album in 10 years, following 2013's The Chronicles of Marnia. The album received acclaim from critics.

References

  1. ↑ Helfand, Raphael (May 23, 2023). "Watch the mesmeric visualizer for Anjimile's "The King"". The Fader . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ Drew, Stephen (September 7, 2023). "How Anjimile Turned Black Trans Rage Into His Magnum Opus With The King". Billboard . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ Blistein, Jon (May 23, 2023). "Anjimile Wears a Heavy Crown on New Song The King". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ Brodsky, Rachel (May 23, 2023). "Anjimile – "The King"". Stereogum . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "The King by Anjimile Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Barker, Noah (September 11, 2023). "Anjimile: The King Review". Line of Best Fit . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Marlin, Natalie (September 6, 2023). "Anjimile: The King". Paste . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Kappal, Bhanuj (September 8, 2023). "Anjimile: The King Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Anjimile: The King". Uncut : 23. October 2023.
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.