Reason in Decline

Reason in Decline
Studio album by
Archers of Loaf
ReleasedOctober 21, 2022
StudioDrop of Sun Studios (Asheville, North Carolina)
GenreIndie rock
Length35:17
LabelMerge[1]
Producer
  • Archers of Loaf
  • Adam McDaniel
Archers of Loaf chronology
Curse of the Loaf
(2015) 		Reason in Decline
(2022)

Reason in Decline is an album by the American band Archers of Loaf, released in 2022.[2][3] It was their first album in 24 years.[4] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[5] The first single was "In the Surface Noise".[6]

Production

Eric Bachmann wrote many of the songs during the COVID lockdown.[7] "Screaming Undercover" criticizes capitalism.[8] "Aimee" is a tribute to a longtime relationship.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Pitchfork7.7/10[11]
Record Collector[12]
Uncut8/10[9]

Pitchfork noted that "longtime fans may balk at how clean this record sounds, how guitars that once seemed to shed sparks as they ground against one another now lock into recognizable harmonies."[11] The Tallahassee Democrat wrote that "Human" "stomps like the Loaf of old, with Bachmann's weathered baritone lifting if out of the mosh pit."[13] The Chicago Reader opined that Reason in Decline feels "like the perfect progression from (and a de facto companion piece to) the matured songwriting on White Trash Heroes."[14] AllMusic deemed the album "a brave, compelling, and surprisingly moving set of songs."[10] Record Collector called it "twin-guitar-squealing, drum-thumping rock."[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Archers of Loaf

Reason in Decline track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Human"2:58
2."Saturation and Light"3:03
3."Screaming Undercover"2:55
4."Mama Was a War Profiteer"3:55
5."Aimee"3:16
6."In the Surface Noise"4:22
7."Breaking Even"4:13
8."Misinformation Age"2:27
9."The Moment You End"2:55
10."War Is Wide Open"5:13
Total length:35:17

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Gomez, Jade. "Archers of Loaf Announce New Album Reason in Decline". Paste. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  2. ^ Horn, Olivia (2 Dec 2022). "Music". The New York Times. p. C2.
  3. ^ Gross, Joe (20 October 2022). "Nineties Indie Greats Archers of Loaf Are Back with the Excellent 'Reason In Decline'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ^ Graff, Gary (October 21, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' tops this weeks new music releases list". The Plain Dealer. p. C3.
  5. ^ "Archers of Loaf Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ^ Rettig, James (13 July 2022). "Archers of Loaf Announce First New Album in 24 Years". Stereogum. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  7. ^ Zaillian, Charlie (January 11, 2023). "Indie-Rock Torchbearers Archers of Loaf Recalibrate the Chapel Hill Sound for Modern Times". Features. Nashville Scene.
  8. ^ Cameron, Keith (January 2023). "Albums". Mojo (350): 86.
  9. ^ a b Scoppa, Bud (January 2023). "New Albums". Uncut: 15.
  10. ^ a b "Reason in Decline Review by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Reason in Decline Archers of Loaf". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b Dalton, Nick (December 2022). "New Albums". Record Collector (539): 125.
  13. ^ Schardl, Kati (1 Jan 2023). "The best music of: A fan spins a twangy Top 30 list". Tallahassee Democrat. p. C1.
  14. ^ Cohan, Brad (10 January 2023). "Indie-rock legends Archers of Loaf write their comeback story with Reason in Decline". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 18 February 2023.