The Loveliest Time

Last updated

The Loveliest Time
The Loveliest Time.png
Studio album by
Carly Rae Jepsen
ReleasedJuly 28, 2023 (2023-07-28)
Recorded2020–2022
Length43:34
Label
Producer
Carly Rae Jepsen chronology
The Loneliest Time
(2022)		The Loveliest Time
(2023)
Singles from The Loveliest Time
  1. "Shy Boy"
    Released: June 23, 2023
  2. "Shadow"
    Released: August 25, 2023 [1]

The Loveliest Time is the seventh studio album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen, released on July 28, 2023, by 604, Schoolboy and Interscope Records. [2] It serves as a companion piece to The Loneliest Time (2022), featuring songs from recording sessions for that album. It was preceded by the single "Shy Boy" and received positive reviews.

Contents

Background

In February 2020, while embarking on The Dedicated Tour, Jepsen began collecting ideas for her sixth studio album. Her creativity was stimulated by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting her to transform an old office space in her Los Angeles residence into a home studio. [3] The recording sessions for what would become The Loneliest Time produced over 65 B-sides, which Jepsen told her A&R representative that she "could make something of." [4]

In July 2023, nine months after the release of The Loneliest Time, Jepsen confirmed that a "B-side" companion album would be released. [5] [6] The singer previously released "B-side" albums Emotion: Side B and Dedicated Side B , which featured songs recorded during sessions for their respective "A-side" albums. [7] In an interview with Variety , Jepsen explained the decision to make another "B-side" album without including it in the album title: [8]

"Since doing this B-sides offering, from Emotion to Dedicated to now, I really leaned into it being one of the most exciting processes for me. The B-sides territory is this expansive world where I can play in all directions. [...] I knew by this time, [when] I made The Loneliest Time that The Loveliest Time was coming. The Loneliest Time Side B just sounds like a downer. It was already quite a weighted thing to call something like The Loneliest Time, but The Loneliest Time Side B, I just couldn't do it."

Composition and themes

I didn't want it to just be as simple as a dark and a light. We're not as simple as that as humans. [...] It's more about stepping into the experience of being alive and coming out from that state of hibernation and then loneliness. [...] There are so many flowers in a lot of my images because I like the idea of planting yourself in this clean dirt, and from this, a beautiful growth can happen. I want it to like feel like growth and sound like celebration. Those were the main concepts for me. [...] A lot of the songs were written from a place where I still hadn't met anybody I was that excited about; it was this longing for that. It's been a weird thing of life imitating art because I feel like I've written all these experiences that now in real life I'm getting to have and it’s odd to have it be written first and then kind of happen afterwards.

— Carly Rae Jepsen on The Loveliest Time [9]

The project featured production credits from Rostam Batmanglij and James Ford. [10] [11] Batmanglij shared that the material he had contributed was upbeat, tweeting, "The two we did for The Loveliest Time have BPMs—get ready to dance." Jepsen said that the album was "sort of the completion to The Loneliest Time", adding that the songs were inspired by "fantasies" about being able to "travel again and fall madly in love and live life like it's an adventure." [12] The album's lead single "Shy Boy" was released on June 23, 2023. [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [14]
Review scores
SourceRating
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Paste 7.8/10 [16]
Pitchfork 7.4/10 [17]
Slant Magazine Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [18]

The Loveliest Time received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 8 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [14]

Kate Solomon of the i called the album "really cohesive, exciting and very, very fun". [19] Steve Erickson of Slant Magazine said the "more joyful, vibrant songs" act as a "sonic and thematic counterpoint" to The Loneliest Time, [18] but claimed that the album is "less consistent" than Jepsen's 2020 release Dedicated Side B. Pitchfork 's Harry Tafoya wrote that "where The Loneliest Time was steeped in personal loss and pandemic malaise, The Loveliest is strutting and extroverted, drunk off new love and bracingly direct about desire", calling it "a solid counterpart to its sister album". [17] Upon the album's release, the song "Psychedelic Switch" was featured as Pitchfork's "Best New Track". [20]

Track listing

The Loveliest Time – Standard edition [21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Anything to Be with You"
3:17
2."Kamikaze"
 Jack & Coke 2:59
3."After Last Night"
Rostam Batmanglij3:29
4."Aeroplanes"
  • Jepsen
  • Berger
Berger3:21
5."Shy Boy"
 James Ford 3:29
6."Kollage"
  • Jepsen
  • Berger
Berger4:17
7."Shadow"
  • Jepsen
  • Batmanglij
Batmanglij2:49
8."Psychedelic Switch"
  • Jepsen
  • Shearer
  • Nate Cyphert
Kyle Shearer4:32
9."So Right"
Cole Marsden Greif-Neill3:36
10."Come Over"
  • Jepsen
  • John Hill
  • Jordan Palmer
  • Campany
  • John Hill
  • Jordan Palmer
2:54
11."Put It to Rest"
  • Jepsen
  • Bao
  • Berger
Berger3:18
12."Stadium Love"
  • Lewis OfMan
  • Oliver Lundström
2:51
Total length:40:52
The Loveliest Time – Japanese and digital edition (bonus track) [22] [23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Weekend Love"
  • Jepsen
  • Gruska
Gruska2:42
Total length:43:34

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for The Loveliest Time
Chart (2023)Peak
position
German Digital Albums (GfK Entertainment) [24] 63
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25] 48
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [26] 20
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [27] 39
UK Physical Albums (OCC) [28] 35
US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [29] 32
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [30] 22

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Loveliest Time
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousJuly 28, 2023 [31]
September 8, 2023 [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Rae Jepsen</span> Canadian singer and songwriter (born 1985)

Carly Rae Jepsen is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and musician. After studying musical theatre for most of her school life and while in university, Jepsen garnered mainstream attention after placing third on the fifth season of Canadian Idol in 2007. In 2008, Jepsen released her folk-influenced debut studio album Tug of War in Canada before it was internationally released in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rostam Batmanglij</span> American musician (born 1983)

Rostam Batmanglij, known mononymously as Rostam, is an American record producer, musician, singer, songwriter, and composer. He was a founding member of the band Vampire Weekend, whose first three albums he produced. He has been described by Stereogum as one of the greatest pop and indie-rock producers of his generation. Rostam also works as a solo artist and is a member of electro-soul group Discovery. He produced his first number-one album, Vampire Weekend's Contra, when he was 27 years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday (Vampire Weekend song)</span> 2010 single by Vampire Weekend

"Holiday" is a song by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend. It was released as the third single from their album Contra. The video premiered on MTV.com on May 27, 2010. The song was featured in Christmas-themed television advertisements for Tommy Hilfiger and Honda during the 2010 holiday season. The single's B-side, "Ottoman", originally appeared on the soundtrack for the 2008 romantic comedy film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Rae Jepsen discography</span>

Canadian singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen has released seven studio albums, two remix albums, four EPs, 28 singles, 10 promotional singles, and 24 music videos. In 2007, Jepsen finished third in the fifth season of the talent series Canadian Idol. She subsequently signed a recording contract with Fontana and MapleMusic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Young</span> 2013 single by Vampire Weekend

"Diane Young" is a song by American indie rock band Vampire Weekend, taken from their third studio album Modern Vampires of the City. It was released as the lead single from the album on March 19, 2013. A promotional video of the single, which features two Saab 900s burning throughout the duration of the song, was uploaded to Vevo and YouTube on March 18, 2013. The official video to the single was uploaded on June 3, 2013.

<i>Emotion</i> (Carly Rae Jepsen album) 2015 studio album by Carly Rae Jepsen

Emotion is the third studio album by Canadian singer and songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on June 24, 2015, in Japan and on August 21, 2015, worldwide through 604, School Boy, and Interscope Records. Looking to transition from the bubblegum pop-oriented nature of her second studio album, Kiss (2012), Jepsen found inspiration in 1980s music and alternative styles. She enlisted a team of mainstream and indie collaborators, including Sia, Mattman & Robin, Dev Hynes, Ariel Rechtshaid, Rostam Batmanglij, Greg Kurstin, and Peter Svensson of the Cardigans, culminating in a largely synth-pop-centric effort.

<i>99¢</i> (Santigold album) 2016 studio album by Santigold

99¢ is the third studio album by American musician and singer Santigold, released on February 26, 2016 on Atlantic Records.

<i>I Had a Dream That You Were Mine</i> 2016 studio album by Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam

I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is a collaborative studio album by Hamilton Leithauser, the former frontman of The Walkmen, and Rostam, the multi-instrumentalist and former producer of Vampire Weekend. It was released on September 23, 2016 on Glassnote Records, and preceded by the singles "A 1000 Times", "In a Black Out" and "When the Truth Is..."

<i>Heard It in a Past Life</i> 2019 studio album by Maggie Rogers

Heard It in a Past Life is the debut studio album by American pop singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers, released on January 18, 2019, by Debay Sounds and Capitol Records. With help from its hit single "Light On" (2018), the album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and received mostly positive reviews from critics, eventually earning Rogers a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist.

<i>Dedicated</i> (Carly Rae Jepsen album) 2019 studio album by Carly Rae Jepsen

Dedicated is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on May 17, 2019, by 604 Records in Canada, and School Boy and Interscope Records in the United States. The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Party for One", "Now That I Found You", "No Drug Like Me", "Julien", and "Too Much". To support the album Jepsen embarked on The Dedicated Tour with dates in Europe, North America and Asia. A companion album, Dedicated Side B, featuring outtakes from Dedicated, was released just over a year later on May 21, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Girl (Haim song)</span> 2019 single by Haim

"Summer Girl" is a song by American band Haim, released as a single on July 31, 2019. It premiered as Annie Mac's "Hottest Record" on BBC Radio 1. The song musically references "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed, who is credited as a songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now I'm in It</span> 2019 single by Haim

"Now I'm in It" is a song by American band Haim, released as a single on October 30, 2019.

<i>Dedicated Side B</i> 2020 studio album by Carly Rae Jepsen

Dedicated Side B is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. It serves as a companion piece to Dedicated (2019), her fourth studio album. It was released on May 21, 2020, by 604 Records in Canada, and Schoolboy and Interscope Records in the United States. The album features 14 outtakes from the original album. The album was preceded by the release of the single "Let's Be Friends", which was ultimately included only in its Japanese edition. Musically, the album is primarily a dance-pop record with disco influences.

<i>Changephobia</i> 2021 studio album by Rostam Batmanglij

Changephobia is the third full-length solo album by American indie rock musician Rostam Batmanglij. The album has received positive reception from critics and appeared on several best-of lists for the year. It was followed by two volumes of remixes later in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Wind (song)</span> 2022 single by Carly Rae Jepsen

"Western Wind" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, released as the lead single from her sixth studio album The Loneliest Time on May 6, 2022, by 604, Schoolboy, and Interscope Records. The song, co-written with and produced by Rostam Batmanglij, was released alongside a music video directed by Taylor Fauntleroy which features Jepsen "in a lush landscape wearing pretty, flowing pastel outfits, aptly capturing the season and embracing spring fever."

<i>The Loneliest Time</i> 2022 studio album by Carly Rae Jepsen

The Loneliest Time is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. It was released on October 21, 2022, through 604 Records in Canada, and School Boy and Interscope Records. The album was preceded by the release of its lead single, "Western Wind", which was followed by "Beach House", "Talking to Yourself", and the title track. The album received positive reviews and was placed in several lists of best of the year. In support of the album, Jepsen embarked on The So Nice Tour, which began in September 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach House (Carly Rae Jepsen song)</span> 2022 single by Carly Rae Jepsen

"Beach House" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Carly Rae Jepsen, released August 5, 2022, by 604, Schoolboy, and Interscope Records as the second single from her sixth studio album The Loneliest Time. The song was written by Jepsen, Alex Hope, and Nate Cyphert, and produced by Hope and SameSame.

"Talking to Yourself" is a song by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen from her sixth studio album, The Loneliest Time (2022). Jepsen wrote it with songwriter Simon Wilcox, and Benjamin Berger and Ryan Rabin from Captain Cuts, the production team that produced the song. The record labels School Boy and Interscope Records released it as the album's third single on September 16, 2022. "Talking to Yourself" is a dance-pop and synth-pop song, in which Jepsen recalls a previous relationship with an ex-lover and wonders if he still has feelings for her.

<i>Sorry I Havent Called</i> 2023 studio album by Vagabon

Sorry I Haven't Called is the third studio album by Cameroon-born musician Laetitia Tamko, under the stage name Vagabon. It was released on September 15, 2023, through Nonesuch.

References

  1. ↑ Peacock, Tim (August 25, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Casts A 'Shadow' With New George Daniel Remix". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (July 12, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Reveals 'The Loveliest Time' Album Release Date". Billboard . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kaplan, Ilana (August 5, 2022). "Carly Rae Jepsen: More than a Feeling". Crack . Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bell, Keaton (October 25, 2022). "Carly Rae Jepsen's Loneliest Hour". Vogue . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Mier, Tomás (July 6, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Announces 'The Loveliest Time,' a Followup to Her Last Album". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (July 12, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Announces Release Date for New Album The Loveliest Time". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Long, Jen (July 24, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen and the other side: Interview". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ Seo, Rachel (July 28, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen on 'Experimental' Album 'The Loveliest Time': It's a 'Place to Get Wild and Freaky'". Variety . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (July 19, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Says Her New Project 'The Loveliest Time' Is Her Favorite -- and Freest -- Album Yet". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Anderson, Carys (July 5, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Teases New Album The Loveliest Time with Production from Rostam". Consequence . Archived from the original on July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  11. ↑ Green, Walden (July 6, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen announces The Loveliest Time companion album". The Fader . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ LaPierre, Megan (July 6, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Confirms The Loneliest Time B-Sides Collection Featuring Rostam". Exclaim! . Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ LaPierre, Megan (June 15, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Sets 'Shy Boy' Release Date". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "The Loveliest Time by Carly Rae Jepsen Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ Uitti, Jacob (July 28, 2023). "Review: Carly Rae Jepsen Showcases a 24-Carat Voice on The Loveliest Time". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  16. ↑ Salmon, Ben (July 28, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen Finds Freedom in Exploration on The Loveliest Time". Paste . Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Tafoya, Harry (August 2, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen: The Loveliest Time Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Erickson, Steve (July 28, 2023). "Carly Rae Jepsen The Loveliest Time Review". Slant Magazine . Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ Solomon, Kate (July 27, 2023). "Pop's cult hero Carly Rae Jepsen gets weird and finds gold on her new album". i . Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ Pinder, Jaeden (July 28, 2023). "Love Is the Drug on Carly Rae Jepsen's French-Touch Banger 'Psychedelic Switch'". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "The Loveliest Time Standard". carlyraemusic.com. Interscope Records. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  22. ↑ "The Loveliest Time Carly Rae Jepsen CD Album". CDJapan.
  23. ↑ "604 Shop – Your Favourite Music, Merch and Comedy in One Place".
  24. ↑ "Download Charts Album – Aktualisiert am: 07.08.2023" (in German). mtv.de. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Carly Rae Jepsen Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  31. ↑ "The Loveliest Time". music.apple.com. Apple Inc. July 28, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 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.