The Normal Album

Last updated

The Normal Album
Will Wood - The Normal Album (2020) cover art.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 10, 2020 (2020-07-10)
Studio
Genre
Length45:52
Label Say-10 Records
Producer Jonathon Maisto
Will Wood chronology
The Real Will Wood (Music From the Award-Winning Concert Film)
(2020)
The Normal Album
(2020)
Everything is a Lot (2020 Remastered Version)
(2020)
Singles from The Normal Album
  1. "Love, Me Normally"
    Released: May 29, 2020
  2. "Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!)"
    Released: June 12, 2020
  3. "...well, better than the alternative."
    Released: June 26, 2020
The New Normal! (The Normal Album 2024 Edit)
The New Normal 2024.jpg
Remix album by
ReleasedAugust 9, 2024 (2024-08-09)
Studio
Genre
Length1:00:07
Label Say-10 Records
Producer Kevin Antreassian
Will Wood chronology
IN CASE I DIE:
(2023)
The New Normal! (The Normal Album 2024 Edit)
(2024)
Singles from The New Normal! (The Normal Album 2024 Edit)
  1. "I / Me / Myself (2018 Live in Studio Demo)"
    Released: July 26, 2024
  2. "Laplace's Angel - 2018 Live in Studio Demo"
    Released: July 29, 2024

The Normal Album is the third studio album by American musician Will Wood, released on July 10, 2020, by Say-10 Records. It was produced by Jonathon Maisto, who also produced his first album, Everything is a Lot. The album was financed in part by a crowdfunding campaign, which met its goal in its first day. [2]

Contents

Release

The Normal Album was partly financed by a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, as well as by subscribers to Will Wood's Patreon page. [3] The Indiegogo campaign reached its funding goal within a day of its launch, and went on to raise nearly $28,000. [2]

The tracks "Love, Me Normally", "Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!)", and "...well, better than the alternative." were released as singles prior to the release of the album. [2] [3] [4] The album was released on July 10, 2020, through Say-10 Records.

Two songs eventually included in the live album IN CASE I DIE:, "Misanthrapologist" and "...And If I Did, You Deserved It.", had been intended to appear on The Normal Album and later its successor, In case I make it, but were omitted from both. [5] [6]

In July 2024, Will announced on his Instagram that a remix album of The Normal Album was in production, and would be released in early-mid August [7] . On July 26, he released a single of a 2018 Demo of "I / Me / Myself" [8] , followed by a single containing 2018 Demos of "Laplace's Angel," "Memento Mori," and "I / Me / Myself" on July 29 [9] . On August 9, the album, aptly dubbed The New Normal! (The Normal Album 2024 Edit), was released on his YouTube channel [10] and Patreon [11] , and major streaming services the next day. The remix album contained new edits of the songs from The Normal Album alongside new names. Three Demos recorded live in 2018 [12] were also put in the album as bonus tracks. The only song to not receive any changes was "Love, Me Normally", due to the fact that the song has a different producer, being Matt Squire instead of Jonathon Maisto.

Reception

Jordan Blum of PopMatters wrote that The Normal Album "explores themes of normality, identity, morality, and other psychological traits", and called it "a thrilling mix of genres (jazz, new wave, doo-wop, and disco among them)"; [13] Blum highlighted the song "BlackBoxWarrior – OKULTRA" as being "a great glimpse into Wood's bold and brilliant aesthetic." [13] Bleeding Cool 's Joshua Nelson gave the album a positive review, noting the "sardonic bite" and varying moods of its tracks. [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Will Wood.

The Normal Album
No.TitleLength
1."Suburbia Overture"
  • "Greetings from Mary Bell Township!"
  • "(Vampire) Culture"
  • "Love Me, Normally"
6:16
2."2econd 2ight 2eer (that was fun, goodbye.)"3:26
3."Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!)"4:01
4."I / Me / Myself"4:51
5."...well, better than the alternative"4:15
6."Outliars and Hyppocrates: a fun fact about apples"4:12
7."BlackBoxWarrior – OKULTRA"4:54
8."Marsha, Thankk You for the Dialectics, but I Need You to Leave"5:19
9."Love, Me Normally"5:44
10."Memento Mori: the most important thing in the world"2:49
Total length:45:52
The New Normal! (The Normal Album 2024 Edit)
No.TitleLength
1.""Blue Velvet" Reboot Starring Tom Waits (Suburbia Overture 2024 Edit)"6:20
2."Second Sight Seer! S! (2222024 Edit)"3:27
3."The Moral Implications of a Deterministic Universe feat. The Onceler (Laplace's Angel 2024 Edit)"4:04
4."I / Me / Myself (2024 Edit)"4:52
5."... well, better than the alternative (Better Alternative Edit)"4:17
6."I Lied About the Apple Thing (Skeleton-Bones Edition)"4:15
7."Ideas Only Spread Because People Like Them, the "Free Market of Ideas" is not a Meritocracy, it's a Set of Unhealthy Coping Skills and a Corporate Oligarchy, Wake Up, Man! Don't Let the Lies Dim Your Light! anyway this one's black box warrior (2024 Edit)"4:52
8."Karen, Thannsdfghjkl You for the Casserole, but I Need You to Lea-n into a Typo (Marsha 2024 Edit)"5:20
9."Love, Me Normally"5:44
10."A Knee-Slapping Joke Title Referring to How Ending Tracks on Will Wood Albums Are Always Kind of Like That (Memento Mori 2024 Edit)"2:52
11."I / Me / Myself (2018 Live in Studio Demo)"5:01
12."Laplace's Angel (2018 Live in Studio Demo)"4:24
13."Memento Mori (2018 Live in Studio Demo)"4:42
Total length:1:00:07

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Choir (alternative rock band)</span> American alternative rock band

The Choir is an atmospheric alternative rock band currently comprising Derri Daugherty on guitar and lead vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums and percussion, and Dan Michaels on saxophone and Lyricon. Long-time bass guitarist Tim Chandler died in 2018, and guitarist Marc Byrd was the fifth member of the band between 2005–2014. As of 2024, the band has released 19 full-length studio albums, three EPs, five live albums, one single-disc compilation album, one retrospective box set, and is still actively recording new material.

Thomas Edward Walter is an American musician, best known for his alternative rock band Abandoned Pools and as the former bassist and one of the founding members of Eels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue October</span> American rock band

Blue October is an American rock band originally from Houston, Texas, formed in 1995. It currently consists of singer/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, drummer Jeremy Furstenfeld, multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye, bassist Matt Noveskey, and lead guitarist Steve Schiltz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Calling (band)</span> American rock band

The Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1996 by lead singer and guitarist Alex Band and guitarist Aaron Kamin. They are best known for their hit single "Wherever You Will Go," which topped the Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks—making it the second longest running number one in the chart's history—and was later named the number one song of the decade of 2000s on the Adult Pop Charts by Billboard magazine. It was included on their debut album Camino Palmero (2001), which saw commercial success despite unfavorable critical reception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Devine</span> American musician

Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Staten Island, New York City, who is known for his introspective and political themes. He is a contemporary member of the underground indie rock and indie folk musical scenes, and his influences range from older indie artists such as Neutral Milk Hotel, Elliott Smith and Pavement to more mainstream and well known acts such as Nirvana and Bob Dylan. In 2013, Kevin Devine rejoined his previous band, Miracle of 86, for a series of reunion shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cake</span> 1960s American girl group

The Cake was a 1960s girl group consisting of Jeanette Jacobs, Barbara Morillo and Eleanor Barooshian. They were managed and produced by Charles Greene and Brian Stone, two Sunset Strip impresarios who also managed Sonny & Cher, Buffalo Springfield and Iron Butterfly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OneRepublic</span> American pop rock band

OneRepublic is an American pop rock band formed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2002. The lineup currently consists of Ryan Tedder, Zach Filkins, Drew Brown, Brent Kutzle, Eddie Fisher (drums), and Brian Willett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitechapel (band)</span> American deathcore band

Whitechapel is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, Tennessee. The band is named after the Whitechapel district in East London, England, where Jack the Ripper committed a series of murders. The group comprises vocalist Phil Bozeman, guitarists Ben Savage, Alex Wade, and Zach Householder, bassist Gabe Crisp and drummer Brandon Zackey. Founded in 2006 by Bozeman and Savage, the band has released eight studio albums and fourteen music videos, and it's currently signed to Metal Blade Records. Whitechapel's 2010 album A New Era of Corruption, sold around 10,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release and debuted at position No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band's self-titled fourth album was released in 2012 and debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 9,200 copies in its first week. In 2014 the band released their fifth full-length album, Our Endless War to generally positive reviews. The album sold roughly 16,000 copies in its first week and debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. They released their sixth full-length album Mark of the Blade in 2016 to greater critical acclaim, selling roughly 8,000 copies in the first week of its release. In 2019, Whitechapel released their seventh album, The Valley, which debuted at No. 143 on the Billboard 200 also to critical acclaim. Their newest album, Kin, was released on October 29, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate Ruess</span> American singer and songwriter

Nathaniel Joseph Ruess is an American singer and songwriter. He formed the indie pop band fun. in 2008, for which he serves as lead vocalist. He also does so for the indie rock band the Format, which was formed prior in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyldoll</span> Canadian singer-songwriter (born 1993)

Shiloh Reann Hoganson, previously known mononymously as Shiloh and currently performing under the stage name Lyldoll, is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Shiloh has performed with Stereos, Hedley, Marianas Trench, and Faber Drive, and has been credited for writing in various hit songs, such as "Tonight I'm Getting Over You" by Carly Rae Jepsen. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Service Broadcasting (band)</span> British art rock group

Public Service Broadcasting is a London-based musical group consisting of four members known mainly by their stage names: J. Willgoose, Esq. on guitar, banjo, other stringed instruments, samples and electronic musical instruments; Wrigglesworth on drums, piano and electronic musical instruments; J F Abraham on flugelhorn, bass guitar, drums and assorted other instruments including a vibraslap; and Mr B on visuals and set design for live performances. The band has toured internationally and in 2015 was announced as a nominee in the Vanguard breakthrough category of the fourth annual Progressive Music Awards, staged by Prog magazine, which they won.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg Myers</span> American musician

Janice Sue Meghan Myers, known professionally as Meg Myers, is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Originally from Tennessee, Myers moved to Los Angeles to pursue music and met Doctor Rosen Rosen, who signed her to his production company. In 2012, Myers released her first EP, Daughter in the Choir. Later that year, she signed to Atlantic Records, with which she released the Make a Shadow EP (2014) and her debut album, Sorry (2015). She later departed Atlantic for 300 Entertainment and released Take Me to the Disco, her second album, in 2018. Her third album TZIA was released in 2023 on Sumerian Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FKA Twigs</span> English singer and dancer (born 1988)

Tahliah Debrett Barnett, known professionally as FKA Twigs, is a British singer, songwriter, and dancer. She was a backup dancer for numerous musicians, and made her musical debut with EP1 (2012). Barnett's debut studio album, LP1 (2014), reached number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and number 30 on the US Billboard 200. It was nominated for that year's Mercury Prize. She released the EP M3LL155X (2015) and took a four-year hiatus, after which she released her second studio album, Magdalene (2019). After signing with Atlantic Records, she released the mixtape Caprisongs (2022). Her work has garnered acclaim and has been described as "genre-bending", drawing on various genres including electronic music, trip hop, R&B, and avant-garde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ne Obliviscaris (band)</span> Australian progressive metal band

Ne Obliviscaris is a six-piece Australian progressive metal band from Melbourne. Formed initially as a four-piece in April 2003, the group was founded by Marc "Xenoyr" Campbell and Adam Cooper. The current line-up comprises vocalist Xenoyr, violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles, guitarists Matt Klavins and Benjamin Baret, bassist Martino Garattoni and drummer Dan Presland. To date, the band has released a demo, two extended plays and four studio albums. Their most recent album, Exul, was released on 24 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin John Winkler</span> American singer, songwriter and musician

Austin John Winkler is an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known for being the original and former lead vocalist of the American rock band Hinder. Since his departure from Hinder, Winkler has continued his career, but as a solo artist, under the name Austin John. Winkler's first release as a solo artist, a six-song EP titled Love Sick Radio was released on April 22, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trophy Eyes</span> Australian punk rock band

Trophy Eyes is an Australian punk rock band from Newcastle, formed in 2013. They are currently signed to Hopeless Records. The band currently consists of vocalist John Floreani, bassist and backing vocalist Jeremy Winchester, lead guitarist Josh Campiao, and drummer Blake Caruso. Their single "Hurt" was ranked No. 135 on Triple J's Hottest 100. Other Hottest 100 appearances include No. 101 in 2016 with "Chlorine" and No. 93 in 2018 with "You Can Count on Me". To date, they have released four studio albums: Mend, Move On (2014), Chemical Miracle (2016), The American Dream (2018) and Suicide and Sunshine (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucker Beathard</span> American country musician

Tucker Russell Beathard is an American country music singer and songwriter. A son of songwriter Casey Beathard, Beathard was signed to Dot Records, a subsidiary of Big Machine Records in 2015 where he released his debut single titled "Rock On" and released an EP titled Fight Like Hell in 2016. Since then, Beathard has departed Big Machine, releasing his debut album titled Nobody's Everything independently on November 30, 2018, and later signed to Warner Music Nashville in early 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCafferty (band)</span> American indie rock band

McCafferty is an American indie rock band from Medina, Ohio. The band's lineup currently consists of Nick Hartkop on guitar and vocals and his partner Emily Hartkop on bass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Boogie wit da Hoodie</span> American rapper (born 1995)

Artist Julius Dubose, known professionally as A Boogie wit da Hoodie, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He released his debut studio album, The Bigger Artist, via Atlantic Records in 2017. Led by the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single "Drowning", the album was met with critical praise and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Wood (musician)</span> American musician, singer-songwriter and comedian

Will Wood is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and comedian. Wood has released five studio albums; Everything is a Lot in 2015, SELF-iSH in 2016,. The Normal Album in 2020, Camp Here & There: Campfire Songs Edition in 2021, and "In case I make it," in 2022, as well as two live albums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 From the album's liner notes.
  2. 1 2 3 "Will Wood To Release "The Normal Album"". New Jersey Stage. May 28, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Will Wood Releases Music Video For "... well, better than the alternative"". New Jersey Stage. July 1, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  4. "Video Premiere: Will Wood Swings Maniacally with Dark and Swanky Pop Tune "Laplace's Angel (Hurt People? Hurt People!)"". Glide Magazine. June 11, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  5. Will Wood – Misanthrapologist ("In case I make it," Outtake) – Live in Backroom Studios, Rockaway, NJ , retrieved January 4, 2024
  6. Will Wood – ...And If I Did, You Deserved It. ("In case I make it," Outtake) – Live at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA , retrieved January 4, 2024
  7. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  8. I / Me / Myself (2018 Live in Studio Demo), July 26, 2024, retrieved August 9, 2024
  9. Laplace's Angel - 2018 Live in Studio Demo, July 29, 2024, retrieved August 9, 2024
  10. "YouTube Music". YouTube Music. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  11. "Get more from Will Wood on Patreon". Patreon. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  12. Will Wood (January 27, 2022). I/Me/Myself, Laplace's Angel, Memento Mori (Demo Live Session) . Retrieved August 9, 2024 via YouTube.
  13. 1 2 Blum, Jordan (September 10, 2020). "Will Wood Works His Madcap Magic On "BlackboxWarrior – OKULTRA [Live in Studio]" (Premiere)". PopMatters . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  14. Nelson, Joshua (July 12, 2020). "Review: Will Wood's "The Normal Album" – Anything But, And Better". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved May 17, 2022.