Obviously (album)

Obviously
Studio album by
Lake Street Dive
ReleasedMarch 12, 2021
Length39:02
LabelNonesuch
ProducerMike Elizondo
Lake Street Dive chronology
Free Yourself Up
(2018) 		Obviously
(2021) 		Fun Machine: The Sequel
(2022)

Obviously is the seventh studio album by American band Lake Street Dive. It was released on March 12, 2021, by Nonesuch Records.[1][2] This was the group's first album to feature keyboard player Akie Bermiss as a full band member, as well as the last album to feature founding member and lead guitarist Mike "McDuck" Olson.

Background

Obviously was recorded and completed before the COVID-19 pandemic with an intended release date in the fall of 2020 before being postponed. The album's songs address topics such as climate change, womanhood, female empowerment, and failed relationships.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
American Songwriter[6]
The Boston Globe[7]
PopMatters9/10[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press gave the album a positive review, praising it for its cohesive direction and for the production allowing the band to be "given a chance to shine in every song".[10] However, Marc Hirsh of The Boston Globe was mixed in his review of the album, criticizing multiple tracks such as the "unfocused" "Making Do" and the "dull" "Know That I Know", although he called "Being a Woman" and "Hypotheticals" the album's two highlights.[7]

Track listing

Obviously track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hypotheticals"Bridget Kearney3:50
2."Hush Money"
  • Mike Calabrese
  • Mike "McDuck" Olson
2:48
3."Same Old News"
  • Akie Bermiss
  • Olson
4:36
4."Being a Woman"Kearney2:49
5."Making Do"
  • Calabrese
  • Kearney
3:34
6."Nobody's Stopping You Now"
3:47
7."Know That I Know"
  • Bermiss
  • Olson
4:02
8."Lackluster Lover"
  • Bermiss
  • Price
3:29
9."Anymore"Bermiss4:10
10."Feels Like the Last Time"
  • Bermiss
  • Kearney
3:19
11."Sarah"
  • Bermiss
  • Calabrese
2:38
Total length:39:02

Personnel

Credits for Obviously adapted from Tidal.[11]

Lake Street Dive

  • Rachael Price - vocals, writing
  • Bridget Kearney - vocals, background vocals, bass, synthesizer, writing
  • Michael Calabrese - drums, writing, background vocals, percussion
  • Akie Bermiss - vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, piano, background vocals, writing
  • Mike "McDuck" Olson - guitar, mandolin, strings, trumpet, writing

Additional musicians

  • Kristin Andreassen - background vocals
  • Anthony Lamarchina - cello
  • Bruce Christensen - viola
  • Alan Umstead - violin
  • Catherine Umstead - violin
  • Jung-Min Shin - violin
  • Kathryn Vanosdale - violin

Technical

  • Mike Elizondo - producer
  • Chris Gehringer - mastering
  • Lawson White - engineering
  • Zach Stokes - assistant
  • Adam Hawkins - mixing

Design

  • Dewey Saunders - artwork
  • Shervin Lainez - photography
  • Leo Krauss - prints

Charts

Chart performance for Obviously
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[12] 10
US Billboard 200[13] 63
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[14] 3
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[15] 6
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[16] 7
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[17] 3
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[18] 8

References

  1. ^ "Lake Street Dive's New Album, 'Obviously,' Due March 12 on Nonesuch Records - Nonesuch Records". Nonesuch Records. January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Obviously - Lake Street Dive | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-03-16
  3. ^ Willman, Chris (March 15, 2021). "Taking a Deep Dive Into Lake Street Dive: Band Members Explore the Not-So-Obvious Sounds of 'Obviously'". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Critic Reviews for Obviously". Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Collar, Matt. "Lake Street Dive – Obviously". AllMusic.
  6. ^ Horowitz, Hal (March 30, 2021). "Album Review: Lake Street Dive Obviously Found Its Formula". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Hirsh, Marc (March 8, 2021). "Lake Street Dive's grown-up pop waxes and wanes on Obviously". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  8. ^ Lipp, Marty (March 12, 2021). "Lake Street Drive hold a masterclass in sweet soul-pop with Obviously". PopMatters. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  9. ^ Browne, David (March 10, 2021). "Lake Street Dive's Obviously Is Hard to Categorize – in a Good Way". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Kennedy, Mark (March 10, 2021). "Review: Lake Street Dive soar on new album Obviously". Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "Credits / Obviously / Lake Street Dive - Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  13. ^ "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)..." Billboard on Twitter. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lake Street Dive Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "Lake Street Dive Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "Lake Street Dive Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Lake Street Dive Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "Lake Street Dive Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2021.