The Overload

Last updated

The Overload
The Overload - Yard Act.jpg
Studio album by
Released21 January 2022
Recorded2021
Genre
Length37:09
Label Island
Producer Ali Chant
Yard Act chronology
Dark Days
(2021)
The Overload
(2022)
Where's My Utopia?
(2024)
Singles from The Overload
  1. "The Overload"
    Released: 7 September 2021 [3]
  2. "Land of the Blind"
    Released: 28 October 2021 [4]
  3. "Payday"
    Released: 23 November 2021 [5]
  4. "Rich"
    Released: 7 January 2022 [6] [7]
  5. "Pour Another"
    Released: 21 January 2022 [8]
  6. "100% Endurance"
    Released: 18 May 2022 [9]

The Overload is the debut studio album by British rock band Yard Act. The album was released on 21 January 2022 through Island Records. The album was nominated for the 2022 Mercury Prize. [10]

Contents

Background and recording

The album was written and recorded in 2021. [11]

Release and promotion

Singles

Five singles were released on The Overload from late 2021 to early 2022. The self-titled track, "The Overload" was released on 7 September 2021. [3] The second single, "Land of the Blind", was released on 28 October 2021. [4] "Payday" was released on 23 November 2021. [5] The two 2022 singles were "Rich" [6] and "Pour Another". [8]

Music videos

Corresponding with the single, the music video for the self-titled track, "The Overload", was released on the band's Vevo on 7 September 2021. [3] The video features the band performing at a Car Boot Sale. The video was directed by James Slater. [12] Slater also directed the music videos for their second and fourth singles, "Land of the Blind" and "Rich", respectively. In an interview with DIY, lead singer James Smith notes, "I had the idea for a music video in which a magician does tricks but everybody keeps applauding. I thought it was too on the nose to be a decent satire but I’ve been subtle in the past and nobody has picked up on it so this time I thought we would just be blunt. James [Slater] developed the idea and came up with the concept of the magician holding the cafe hostage via hypnosis." [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 8.0/10 [14]
Metacritic 85/100 [15]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash 9/10 [16]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [17]
Dork Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [18]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]
musicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [21]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [22]
Pitchfork 7.4/10 [23]
The Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]
Under the Radar Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [25]

The Overload received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. On review aggregator website, Metacritic, The Overload has an average rating of 85 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim" based on 17 critic reviews. [15] Additionally, on AnyDecentMusic? the album holds an 8.0 out of 10 rating. [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by James Smith, Ryan Needham, Sam Shipstone, and Jay Russell

The Overload track listing
No.TitleLength
1."The Overload"3:17
2."Dead Horse"3:38
3."Payday"2:54
4."Rich"3:43
5."The Incident"3:10
6."Witness (Can I Get A?)"1:21
7."Land of the Blind"3:00
8."Quarantine the Sticks"2:40
9."Tall Poppies"6:21
10."Pour Another"3:20
11."100% Endurance"3:45
Total length:37:09

Charts

Chart performance for The Overload
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [26] 89
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [27] 148
Scottish Albums (OCC) [28] 1
UK Albums (OCC) [29] 2

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arctic Monkeys</span> English rock band

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 2002. The group consists of lead singer Alex Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O'Malley. Former bassist Andy Nicholson left the band in 2006 shortly after their debut album was released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf Alice</span> British alternative rock band

Wolf Alice are an English rock band from London, England. Formed in 2010 as an acoustic duo comprising singer Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie, Wolf Alice have also featured bassist Theo Ellis and drummer Joel Amey since 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundara Karma</span>

Sundara Karma are an English rock band formed in 2011 in Reading, England. The band consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Oscar Pollock, lead guitarist Ally Baty, bassist Dom Cordell and drummer Haydn Evans. The band's name is derived from Sanskrit words, meaning "Beautiful Karma".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fangclub</span>

Fangclub are an alternative rock band formed in Rush, Dublin, signed to Vertigo Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale Waves</span> British rock band

Pale Waves are an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 2014. It was founded originally as Creek when lead singer and guitarist Heather Baron-Gracie met drummer Ciara Doran while attending university in Manchester. The other members are guitarist Hugo Silvani and bassist Charlie Wood, completing the lineup. Pale Waves's early work is often described as 80s-inspired indie rock or synth-pop; their second and third albums, however, owe more to the pop-punk genre.

<i>The Now Now</i> 2018 studio album by Gorillaz

The Now Now is the sixth studio album recorded by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 29 June 2018 via Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records. Recording for the album began in late 2017 – according to Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn, it was recorded quickly so the band would have new material to play at future concerts.

<i>My Mind Makes Noises</i> Album by Pale Waves

My Mind Makes Noises is the debut studio album by English indie pop band Pale Waves, released on 14 September 2018 by the independent record label Dirty Hit. With the exception of the album's singles "There's a Honey" and "Television Romance", the songs on My Mind Makes Noises were produced by Jonathan Gilmore, with Pale Waves' drummer, Ciara Doran, providing additional production. The 1975's George Daniel and Matty Healy produced "Television Romance" and There's a Honey".

<i>Iridescence</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Brockhampton

Iridescence is the fourth studio album by American boy band Brockhampton, released on September 21, 2018, by Question Everything, Inc. and RCA Records. It is their major-label debut and the first installment of their The Best Years of Our Lives trilogy. The self-produced album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as the group's own studio in Hawaii. It is their first album since founding member Ameer Vann's departure from the group following sexual misconduct allegations. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the group's only chart-topping album.

<i>Premonitions</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Miya Folick

Premonitions is the debut studio album by American musician Miya Folick. In September 2018, the single "Stop Talking" was released and supporting music video. The album was released on October 26, 2018.

<i>For Those That Wish to Exist</i> 2021 studio album by Architects

For Those That Wish to Exist is the ninth studio album by British metalcore band Architects. It was released on 26 February 2021 through Epitaph Records. The album was produced by Dan Searle and Josh Middleton.

<i>Glowing in the Dark</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Django Django

Glowing in the Dark is the fourth studio album by English band Django Django. It was released on 12 February 2021 by Because Music.

<i>Who Am I?</i> (Pale Waves album) Album by Pale Waves

Who Am I? is the second studio album by English indie pop band Pale Waves. It was released on 12 February 2021 by the independent record label Dirty Hit. The record was produced by Rich Costey and recorded in Los Angeles. While the band's previous album, My Mind Makes Noises (2018), took inspiration from 1980s synth pop, Who Am I? was inspired by female pop and rock musicians from the 1990s and early 2000s, including acts like Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair, Michelle Branch, Alanis Morissette, and Courtney Love.

<i>Spare Ribs</i> 2021 studio album by Sleaford Mods

Spare Ribs is the eleventh studio album by English post-punk band Sleaford Mods. It was released on 15 January 2021 on the Rough Trade Records. Production was handled by Andrew Fearn. It features guest appearances from Amy Taylor and Billy Nomates.

<i>On All Fours</i> 2021 studio album by Goat Girl

On All Fours is the second studio album by English band Goat Girl. It was released on 29 January 2021 by Rough Trade Records.

<i>Blue Weekend</i> 2021 studio album by Wolf Alice

Blue Weekend is the third studio album by English rock band Wolf Alice, released on 4 June 2021 through Dirty Hit. Blue Weekend was preceded by four singles—"The Last Man on Earth", "Smile", "No Hard Feelings" and "How Can I Make It OK?". The album received acclaim from music critics, with many naming it the band's best work, and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2021.

<i>Bodies</i> (album) 2021 studio album by AFI

Bodies is the eleventh studio album by American rock band AFI. The album was released through Rise Records on June 11, 2021.

<i>Crawler</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Idles

Crawler is the fourth album by British rock band Idles, released on 12 November 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yard Act</span> British rock band

Yard Act is a British rock band from Leeds, West Yorkshire, composed of James Smith, Ryan Needham (bass), Sam Shipstone (guitar) and Jay Russell (drums). Their debut album, The Overload, was released on 21 January 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Unwanted</i> (album) 2022 album by Pale Waves

Unwanted is the third studio album by English rock band Pale Waves. It was released on 12 August 2022 by the independent record label Dirty Hit. The record was produced by Zakk Cervini and recorded in Los Angeles. Production for the record began roughly half a year after Pale Waves released their second album, Who Am I? (2021), with the quick turnaround due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented the band from touring. Indebted to the pop-punk genre, Unwanted was intended to be heavier and more aggressive than the band's previous work.

<i>Being Funny in a Foreign Language</i> 2022 studio album by the 1975

Being Funny in a Foreign Language is the fifth studio album by English band the 1975. It was released on 14 October 2022 by Dirty Hit. The album was recorded primarily at Real World Studios in Wiltshire. The band released the lead single "Part of the Band" on 7 July 2022, which was followed by the subsequent singles "Happiness", "I'm in Love with You", "All I Need to Hear", "About You", "Oh Caroline", and "Looking for Somebody ".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Walker, Gary (10 January 2022). "Yard Act – The Overload Review: An Inspired Debut Album". guitar.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. Gregory, Celia (25 January 2022). "Record of the Week: Yard Act's 'The Overload'". WNXP . NPR . Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Krol, Charlotte (7 September 2021). "Yard Act announce debut album 'The Overload' and share title track". NME . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 Brodsky, Rachel (28 October 2021). "Yard Act – "Land Of The Blind"". Stereogum . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 Skinner, Tom (23 November 2021). "Listen to Yard Act's new "anti-capitalist anthem" 'Payday'". NME . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 Doria, Matt (7 January 2022). "Listen to Yard Act's tongue-in-cheek new single 'Rich'". NME . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  7. Kenneally, Cerys (7 January 2022). "Yard Act share "Payday" successor "Rich"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Yard Act share new single 'Pour Another'". DIY . 21 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. Reilly, Nick (18 May 2022). "Yard Act enlist David Thewlis for '100% Endurance' music video". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  10. Singh, Surej (26 July 2022). "Mercury Prize 2022 shortlist revealed". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  11. "Yard Act release debut album 'The Overload' — Mastered by Geoff Pesche". Abbey Road Studios . 21 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  12. "Yard Act 'The Overload' by James Slater". promonews.tv. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  13. "Yard Act Share New Number 'Land of the Blind'". DIY. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  14. 1 2 "The Overload by Yard Act reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  15. 1 2 "The Overload by Yard Act Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  16. Walder, Megan (21 January 2022). "Yard Act - The Overload Reviews". Clash . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  17. Cabré, Alex (21 January 2022). "Yard Act - The Overload Album Review". DIY . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  18. Hawkes, Jake (19 January 2022). "Yard Act – The Overload". Dork . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  19. Petridis, Alexis (20 January 2022). "Yard Act: The Overload review – witty post-punks confront post-Brexit Britain". The Guardian . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  20. Sweeney, Eamon (21 January 2022). "Yard Act: The Overload – politico pop with a welcome sense of humour". The Irish Times . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  21. Murphy, John (18 January 2022). "Yard Act – The Overload". musicOMH . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  22. Smith, Thomas (19 January 2022). "Yard Act – 'The Overload' review: a wonderfully wacky debut". NME . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  23. Gerber, Brady (21 January 2022). "Yard Act: The Overload Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  24. McCormick, Neil (20 January 2022). "Yard Act: The Overload, review: A thrilling, razor-sharp debut". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  25. Von Pip, Andy (21 January 2022). "Yard Act: The Overload review". Under the Radar . Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  26. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1702. Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 October 2022. p. 6.
  27. "Ultratop.be – Yard Act – The Overload" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  28. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 January 2022.