Pratts & Pain

Pratts & Pain
The two band members, wearing baggy all-black clothes, their backs to the camera, lean up against a brick wall and hold onto the balcony above them.
Studio album by
Royel Otis
Released16 February 2024
StudioMr Dans, South London
GenreIndie rock
Length37:30
LabelOurness
ProducerDan Carey
Royel Otis chronology
Sofa Kings
(2023) 		Pratts & Pain
(2024)
Singles from Pratts & Pain
  1. "Adored"
    Released: 18 July 2023[1]
  2. "Fried Rice"
    Released: 7 October 2023[2]
  3. "Heading for the Door"
    Released: 7 December 2023[3]
  4. "Velvet"
    Released: 12 January 2024[4]
  5. "Foam"
    Released: 16 February 2024[5]
Singles from Pratts & Pain (Extended)
  1. "Claw Foot"
    Released: 7 May 2024[6]
Singles from Pratts & Pain (Deluxe)
  1. "If Our Love Is Dead"
    Released: 4 October 2024[7]

Pratts & Pain is the debut studio album by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis. It was released on 16 February 2024 via Ourness, and debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[8] The album's release was supported by five singles, starting with "Adored" and "Fried Rice", as well as tour dates around Australia, North America and Europe.[9][10] It received positive acclaim from critics. An extended edition, with two bonus tracks, was released digitally in May 2024.[11] A 17-track deluxe edition, titled It Ain't Over Til It Ends Edition was released on 4 October 2024.

At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Independent Release, and won Best Rock Album, Best Produced Release (with Chris Collins), Best Engineered Release (with Collins) and for the duo, Best Group.[12]

At the 2024 J Awards, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[13]

Composition

The album's title is derived from Pratts & Payne, a pub in London that the duo would visit during recording sessions at producer Dan Carey's studio, Mr Dans.[10] In an interview with Junkee, lead guitarist Royel Maddell said the songs were not written in the environment which they were recorded, which lead to the album sounding darker: "If you record something in Byron [Bay], it sounds beachy and stuff like that. And then recording in South London with Dan, it definitely sounds a bit more dreary and grey”.[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Australian[15]
Clash8/10[16]
Far Out[17]
NME[18]
Rolling Stone Australia[19]

Following the album's release, NME called Royel Otis "Australia’s next breakout indie heroes".[10] Reviewing for the magazine, Andy Brown said Pratts & Pain was a "sublime debut" with "a sense of adventure", calling it "destined for festival season greatness – for cool-breeze drives, warm summer parties, and late-night singalongs".[18] Joshua Khan of Clash said the album was a sonic leap forward for the band, containing a "remarkably diverse" sound that sets them apart from other indie rock bands.[16] Writing for Far Out, Aimee Ferrier was less positive, calling it a lacklustre release with forgettable tracks, making for "an inevitable addition to a landmine of average indie pop records".[17]

Track listing

Standard physical version
No.TitleLength
1."Adored"2:40
2."Fried Rice"3:27
3."Foam"3:05
4."Sonic Blue"3:17
5."Heading for the Door"3:47
6."Velvet"2:11
7."IHYSM"3:10
8."Molly"4:00
9."Daisy Chain"3:01
10."Glory to Glory"3:06
11."Always Always"3:00
12."Big Ciggie"2:40
Total length:37:30

Notes

  • Digital and streaming versions include "Sofa King" from their 2023 EP Sofa Kings in the standard track listing.
Extended version
No.TitleLength
10."Sofa King"3:16
14."Claw Foot"2:46
15."Merry Mary Marry Me"3:08
Total length:46:41
It Ain't Over Til It's Over Edition (Deluxe)
No.TitleLength
1."Adored"2:40
2."Fried Rice"3:27
3."Foam"3:05
4."Sonic Blue"3:17
5."Claw Foot"2:46
6."Heading for the Door"3:47
7."Merry Mary Marry Me"3:08
8."Velvet"2:11
9."If Our Love Is Dead"2:53
10."IHYSM"3:10
11."Molly"4:00
12."Daisy Chain"3:01
13."Sofa King"3:16
14."Glory to Glory"3:06
15."Til the Morning"3:32
16."Always Always"3:00
17."Big Ciggie"2:40
Total length:53:07

Personnel

Royel Otis

Additional personnel

  • Yuri Shibuichi – drums
  • Archie Carey – drums
  • Rob Brinkmann – writing ("Fried Rice")
  • James Ford – writing ("Molly")
  • Chris Collins – writing ("Foam", "Daisy Chain"), producer ("Daisy Chain"), additional engineering
  • Dan Carey – producer, mixing (all tracks); writing ("Heading for the Door", "Glory to Glory")
  • Alexis Smith – mixing ("Daisy Chain"), engineer ("Foam")
  • Alan Moulder – mixing ("Foam")
  • Ed Quinn – additional production; writing ("IHYSM")
  • Adele Phillips – additional engineering
  • Christian Wright – mastering
  • Adriane Neshoda – graphic design
  • Kiran Best – graphic design
  • Georges Antoni – cover photograph

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Pratts & Pain
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 10

References

  1. ^ Papathanasopoulos, Vasili (19 July 2023). "Royel Otis Unveil New Single 'Adored'". Milky. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  2. ^ Johnson, Tommy (5 October 2023). "Royel Otis Announce Long Awaited Debut Album, Share "Fried Rice"". Ghettoblaster. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  3. ^ Murray, Robin (7 December 2023). "Royel Otis Share Indie Pop Booster 'Heading For The Door'". Clash. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  4. ^ Taylor, Sam (12 January 2024). "Royel Otis Have Shared A Brand New Single, 'Velvet'". Dork. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  5. ^ Taylor, Sam (16 February 2024). "Royel Otis Have Shared A New Video For 'Foam'". Dork. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Royel Otis Share Music Video For "Claw Foot"". Music Feeds. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Royel Otis have released a deluxe edition of their debut album 'PRATTS & PAIN', titled 'It Ain't Over Til It Ends Edition'". Read Dork. 3 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  8. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Royel Otis announce PRATTS & PAIN Australian tour". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Brandle, Lars (20 February 2024). "Royel Otis Soak up the Reception to Debut LP 'Pratts & Pain': 'We Are Over the Moon'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  11. ^ Lochrie, Conor (3 May 2024). "Royel Otis Release Two Bonus Tracks From 'Pratts & Pain'". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  12. ^ "ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  13. ^ Varvaris, Mary (1 November 2024). "Amyl And The Sniffers, Speed, Emily Wurramara Lead 2024 J Award Nominees". The Music. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  14. ^ Madden, Ben (20 February 2024). "Interview: Royel Otis On Their New Album 'Pratts & Pain'". Junkee. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  15. ^ Wallen, Doug (23 February 2024). "'Ready-made hooks, non-stop propulsion' on Royel Otis' debut". The Australian. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b Khan, Joshua (15 February 2024). "Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain". Clash. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  17. ^ a b Ferrier, Aimee (15 February 2024). "Royel Otis – 'Pratts and Pain' album review: a waste of talent". Far Out. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  18. ^ a b Brown, Andy (14 February 2024). "Royel Otis – 'Pratts & Pain' review: effervescent indie anthems packed with detail". NME. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  19. ^ Jennings, James (20 February 2024). "Royel Otis Back Up the Hype on 'Pratts & Pain'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2024.