UZU

Last updated

UZU
UZU album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
ReleasedOctober 29, 2013
RecordedWinter 2012 – Spring 2013
The Glory Hole
Toronto, CA
Genre Progressive rock
Length42:37
Label Paper Bag Records (CA)
(PAPER 081)
Suicide Squeeze Records (US)
(SSQ 124)
Producer Alaska B.
Yamantaka // Sonic Titan chronology
YT//ST
(2011)		UZU
(2013)
Singles from UZU
  1. "One"
    Released: September 12, 2013
  2. "Windflower"
    Released: October 10, 2013
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 79/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
CMJ positive [2]
Consequence of Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Exclaim! 9 [4]
KRCU positive [5]
No Ripcord6 [6]
NOW NNNNN [7]
Paste 8.6 [8]
Pitchfork 7.8 [9]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Under the Radar 7.5/10 [11]

UZU is the second studio album by Canadian experimental band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan.

Contents

Release and promotion

UZU was released on October 29, 2013, through Paper Bag Records in Canada and Suicide Squeeze Records in the US in CD, digital download, and limited edition vinyl formats. [12] The group embarked on a North America tour to support the album upon its release. [13] The band also released music videos for UZU album tracks "One" and "Saturn's Return", respectively. [14] [15] The track "Lamia" was featured in the Adult Swim Singles Program 2012 as a free download. [16]

Theme

The album has been described as more "poignant and human", compared to their last record YT//ST. [17] The Chinese goddess Mazu is said to be the central character of UZU, and is the figure illustrated on the album cover artwork. [17] [18] The album is said to follow nautical mythological themes to explore feelings of being "lost and adrift" in the world. [4]

Reception

Thus far, the album has received mainly positive reviews from music critics. The aggregate review site Metacritic assigned an average score of "79" to the album based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [1]

In a positive review by Exclaim!, reviewer Melody Lau gave the album a "9" praising the album's vocals as "majestically dramatic" and highlighted the album's cohesiveness, stating "the ten tracks on UZU drift into one another like waves of the narrative ocean..." [4] Paste's Mark Lore also gave the album a high mark, "8.6", lauding the album as "stunning and melodic", commenting "this time around, Attwood’s vocals aren’t lurking beneath the fuzz" and that "[One] best represents the band’s sound and concept". [8]

In a somewhat mixed review, Pitchfork reviewer Joe Tangari gave the album a "7.8" and commented on the album's recording, calling it "a bit hazier" than the group debut album, but reflected positively on the drumming and vocal performances. [9] In mixed review by Consequence of Sound reviewer Adam Kivel, Kivel gave the album three out of five stars, viewing the album as less accessible than their debut album, but praised the album's first single, stating Yamantaka // Sonic Titan are at their best when fusing seemingly disparate elements together like they do on "One"". [3]

NOW named the album No. 1 in its "Top 10 Local albums" and No. 2 in its "Top 10 Albums" end of the year lists. [19]

The album was also included in Wired's "The Most Defining Moments of Music in 2013" end of the year list. [20]

The album is a shortlisted nominee for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize. [21]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Atalanta"2:39
2."Whalesong"5:57
3."Lamia"4:23
4."Windflower"3:24
5."Hall of Mirrors"4:06
6."Sea Sickness, Pt. 1"3:23
7."Sea Sickness, Pt. 2" (Theme from 33)4:54
8."Bring Me the Hand of Bloody Benzaiten"2:45
9."One"5:21
10."Saturn's Return"5:45
Total length:42:37

Personnel

UZU album personnel adapted from Allmusic. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Twin Cinema</i> 2005 studio album by The New Pornographers

Twin Cinema is the third studio album by Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers. It was released on August 23, 2005. The album was shortlisted for the 2006 Polaris Music Prize. As of 2010 it has sold 138,000 copies in US and 20,000 copies in Canada.

<i>Fall Heads Roll</i> 2005 studio album by The Fall

Fall Heads Roll is the 24th studio album by English post-punk group the Fall, released in 2005. Although well-received by critics, it didn't reach the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart, and was the last album released by the band prior to major personnel changes.

Polaris Music Prize Award

The Polaris Music Prize is a music award annually given to the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit, regardless of genre, sales, or record label. The award was established in 2006 with a $20,000 cash prize; the prize was increased to $30,000 for the 2011 award. In May 2015, the Polaris Music Prize was increased to $50,000, an additional $20,000, sponsored by Slaight Music. Additionally, second place prizes for the nine other acts on the Short List increased from $2,000 to $3,000. Polaris officials also announced The Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize, an award that "will annually honour five albums from the five decades before Polaris launched in 2006." Details about the selection process for this prize are still to be revealed.

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan is a Canadian experimental music and performance art collective. Formed in Montreal, Quebec and currently operating in Toronto, Ontario, the group was founded by Ruby Kato Attwood and Alaska B – former members of the defunct Montreal noise rock band Lesbian Fight Club – and now features Ange Loft on vocals and percussion, Joanna Delos Reyes on vocals and guitar, Brendan Swanson on keyboards, Hiroki Tanaka on lead guitar, Brandon Lim on bass guitar, and Aylwin Lo on projections and lights. Ruby Kato Attwood left the band at the end of 2014. Past members have included John Ancheta on bass and acoustic guitar, Walter Scott, Shub Roy, Alana Ruth, and Adrienne Mak.

<i>2</i> (Mac DeMarco album) 2012 studio album by Mac DeMarco

2 is the debut full-length studio album by Canadian musician Mac DeMarco. It was recorded in June 2012, and released in October 2012 on the Captured Tracks label.

<i>Wondrous Bughouse</i> 2013 studio album by Youth Lagoon

Wondrous Bughouse is the second album by Youth Lagoon, the stage name of American musician Trevor Powers. The album was released on March 5, 2013 on the independent record label Fat Possum Records. It peaked at No. 76 on the Billboard 200, No. 12 on the Independent Albums chart and No. 26 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

<i>New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light</i> 2013 studio album by Colin Stetson

New History Warfare Vol. 3: To See More Light is the fourth studio album by Canada-based saxophonist Colin Stetson, released by Constellation Records in 2013. It is the final part of a trilogy of albums that also encompasses New History Warfare Vol. 1 (2007) and New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges (2011).

<i>What The...</i> 2013 studio album by Black Flag

What The… is the seventh studio album by American hardcore punk band Black Flag. The album was originally announced to be released on November 5, 2013. However, on November 5, What The… was only released through online streaming sources such as Spotify and Rdio, and a physical release date was pushed back to December 3, 2013. It is the band's first full-length studio album since In My Head (1985), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in their career, as well as being their first recording with vocalist Ron Reyes since Jealous Again (1980) and drummer Gregory "Drummer" Moore. This album also marked the first time since My War (1984) that guitarist Greg Ginn played bass on a Black Flag album under the name Dale Nixon. Three weeks after the album's release, Reyes was fired mid-show during a performance in Australia due to differences with Ginn. The band's manager and professional skateboarder Mike Vallely replaced Reyes on vocals.

<i>Coastal Grooves</i> 2011 studio album by Blood Orange

Coastal Grooves is the debut LP record by Blood Orange. It was released August 30, 2011 under Domino Recording Company. The album featured no guest appearances and was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid in Los Angeles. Domino Record Company describes the album as highlighting the glamour and drama of New York City in the 1980s.

<i>YT//ST</i> 2011 studio album by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan

YT//ST is the first studio album by Canadian experimental band Yamantaka // Sonic Titan.

<i>Brill Bruisers</i> 2014 studio album by the New Pornographers

Brill Bruisers is the sixth studio album by Canadian indie rock band the New Pornographers. It was released on August 26, 2014 and debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200. In describing the album, A.C. Newman called it "a celebration record... After periods of difficulty, I am at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down and the music reflects that."

The 2014 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 22, 2014 at The Carlu event theatre in Toronto, Ontario. Actor Jay Baruchel was the host of the ceremony.

<i>Dude Incredible</i> 2014 album by Shellac

Dude Incredible is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Shellac, released on September 16, 2014 on Touch and Go Records.

<i>Darlings</i> (Kevin Drew album) 2014 studio album by Kevin Drew

Darlings is the second studio album by Broken Social Scene co-founder Kevin Drew. It was released on March 18, 2014 through Arts & Crafts Productions.

<i>Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper</i> 2015 studio album by Panda Bear

Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Panda Bear. It was released on January 9, 2015 by the Domino Recording Company. Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper was preceded by the digital release of an extended play, Mr Noah, and two singles, "Mr Noah" and "Boys Latin". It was followed by the extended play Crosswords.

<i>The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam</i> 2015 EP by Thundercat

The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam is an EP by American musician Thundercat. It was released on June 22, 2015 via Brainfeeder.

<i>Nothing Feels Natural</i> 2017 studio album by Priests

Nothing Feels Natural is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Priests. It was released through Sister Polygon Records on January 27, 2017.

Pantayo is a Canadian quintet consisting of queer members of the Filipino diaspora formed in 2012. They combines elements of kulintang with elements of electronic, synth-pop, punk, and R&B music. Their name is Tagalog for "for us". The band consists of vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist Eirene Cloma; vocalist and agung player Michelle Cruz; vocalist, gandingan player, and sarunay player Joanna Delos Reyes; vocalist, kulintang and dabakan player Kat Estacio; and vocalist, kulintang player, and sarunay player Katrina Estacio. They were named as one of NOW Magazine's Toronto Indie Musicians to Watch in 2018.

Pantayo is the debut album by Toronto-based kulintang quintet Pantayo, released on May 8, 2020, on Toronto label Telephone Explosion. It was produced by alaska B of Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. The album was one of ten nominated for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

Blanck Mass is the eponymous debut studio album by British musician Benjamin John Power, under his musical project Blanck Mass. It was released on 21 June 2011 by Rock Action Records. The album was re-issued as a deluxe version through Sacred Bones Records in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "Critic Reviews for UZU – Metacritic". Metacritic . Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ Lisa Hresko (November 1, 2013). "Album Review: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". CMJ . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Adam Kivel (November 30, 2013). "Album Review: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Melody Lau (October 29, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – UZU". Exclaim! . Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  5. ↑ Jason Brown (November 14, 2013). "Album Review: UZU by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan". KRCU . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  6. ↑ Juan Edgardo Rodriguez (November 21, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU – Music Review". No Ripcord. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ↑ Carla Gillis (October 24, 2013). "YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN". NOW . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  8. 1 2 Mark Lore (October 29, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". Paste . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Joe Tangari (November 14, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ Erik Highter (October 27, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU". PopMatters . Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  11. ↑ J. Pace (October 28, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan: UZU (Suicide Squeeze) Review". Under the Radar . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "UZU – Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Release Information, Reviews and Credits". Allmusic . Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ Jenn Pelly (September 17, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Share "One" Video, Announce North American Tour". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan – "One" (Official Video)". Noisey. September 12, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  15. ↑ Emilie Friedlander (December 12, 2013). "Video: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, "Titan and Dione: Saturn Returns"". The Fader . Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  16. ↑ Gregory Adams (August 20, 2012). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan "Lamia"". Exclaim! . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  17. 1 2 Evan Minsker (August 23, 2013). "Update: Yamantaka // Sonic Titan". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  18. ↑ Melody Lau (November 10, 2013). "Yamantaka // Sonic Titan Myths and Metaphors". Exclaim! . Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Top 10 Local albums Best of 2013". NOW Magazine. December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  20. ↑ WIRED STAFF (December 6, 2013). "From Yeezus to Ylvis: The Most Defining Moments of Music in 2013". Wired . Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Arcade Fire, Drake, Shad make Polaris Music Prize short list". CTV News, July 15, 2014.
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.