The Dream (alt-J album)

The Dream
Studio album by
alt-J
Released12 February 2022 (2022-02-12)
Genre
Length49:22
Label
ProducerCharlie Andrew
Alt-J chronology
Reduxer
(2018) 		The Dream
(2022)
Singles from The Dream
  1. "U&Me"
    Released: 22 September 2021
  2. "Get Better"
    Released: 3 November 2021
  3. "Hard Drive Gold"
    Released: 5 January 2022
  4. "The Actor"
    Released: 7 February 2022

The Dream is the fourth album by English indie rock band alt-J, released on 11 February 2022 by Infectious Music and the Canvasback Music division of Atlantic Records. It was promoted with the single "U&Me", which was released alongside the album's announcement on 22 September 2021.[1] The track listing for the album was also revealed on this date through publication Stereogum.[2] "Get Better" was released as the album's second single on 3 November 2021 and was accompanied by a pixel-art music video.[3] "Hard Drive Gold" was released as the album's third single on 5 January 2022. "The Actor" was released as the fourth single on 7 February 2022.

Artwork

The artwork for The Dream's cover is a drawing by the artist Joel Wyllie.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.8/10[5]
Metacritic79/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Beats Per Minute64%[8]
Clash7/10[9]
DIY[10]
Gigwise[11]
The Independent[12]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[13]
NME[14]
PopMatters8/10[15]
Uncut6/10[16]

The album received a four-star rating from The Observer, who said it was a "stroll around the curiosity shop". In the same review the band's embrace of American sounds was noted.[17]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joe Newman, Thom Sonny Green, and Gus Unger-Hamilton

The Dream track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Bane"5:10
2."U&Me"3:18
3."Hard Drive Gold"2:38
4."Happier When You're Gone"4:00
5."The Actor"4:00
6."Get Better"5:51
7."Chicago"3:55
8."Philadelphia"3:38
9."Walk a Mile"6:29
10."Delta"1:00
11."Losing My Mind"4:42
12."Powders"4:41
Total length:49:22
Deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
13."The Actor" (Single Edit)3:07
14."U&Me" (Single Edit)3:16
15."Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix)4:03
16."Hard Drive Gold" (Maya Jane Coles Remix)5:13
17."U&Me" (Baauer Remix)4:54
Total length:69:55
Digital deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
13."Oceans Are Forming" (Demo)4:07
14."Hard Drive Gold" (Loor Remix)4:03
15."U&ME" (The De Beauvoir Session)3:13
16."Get Better" (The De Beauvoir Session)5:25
17."Matilda" (The De Beauvoir Session)3:51
Total length:70:01
CARBS remix edition
No.TitleLength
13."The Dream" (CARBS Cycles Remix)9:40
14."The Dream" (CARBS Lucid Remix)4:53
15."The Dream" (CARBS NREM Remix)5:02
Total length:68:57

Personnel

Alt-J

  • Joe Newman – vocals, guitar (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
  • Thom Sonny Green – drums, percussion, programming (all tracks); additional percussion (2), spoken voice (12)
  • Gus Unger-Hamilton – keyboards, synthesizer (all tracks); backing vocals (1, 3–12), organ (1, 2, 4, 6, 11), additional percussion (2), bass (3, 9, 11)

Additional musicians

  • David Force – bagpipes (1), crumhorn (1, 2)
  • Reinoud Ford – cello (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9)
  • Will Gardner – conductor, string arrangement (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9); backing vocals (9)
  • Tim Rundle – crumhorn (1, 2)
  • Andy Marshall – double bass (1, 2, 5, 7–9)
  • Charlie Andrew – programming (all tracks), additional percussion (2)
  • Highgate School Choir – vocals (1–3)
  • Tyler DeFord – sound effects (2)
  • Matthew Ward – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
  • Ciaran McCabe – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
  • Kirsty Mangan – violin (2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
  • Anna Zara Newman – spoken voice (3)
  • Cordelia Unger-Hamilton – spoken voice (3)
  • April Unger-Hamilton – backing vocals (4, 5), spoken voice (6)
  • Sarah Andrew – bassoon (4)
  • Trevor Mires – trombone (6)
  • Christie Valeriano – backing vocals (8)
  • George Eddy – backing vocals (9)
  • Andrew Cohen – sound effects (9)
  • Arianna Cohen – spoken voice (9, 12)
  • Matt Glasbey – spoken voice (11)
  • Mark Newman – spoken voice (11)

Technical

  • Charlie Andrew – production, mixing
  • Dick Beetham – mastering
  • Matt Glasbey – mixing, engineering (all tracks); additional production (1, 10)
  • George Collins – engineering assistance (1, 3, 10–12)
  • Katie Earl – engineering assistance (1–4, 9–12)

Charts

References

  1. ^ Skinner, Tom (22 September 2021). "Alt-J share new single 'U&ME' from upcoming fourth album 'The Dream'". NME. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  2. ^ DeVille, Chris (22 September 2021). "Alt-J – 'U&ME'". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  3. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (3 November 2021). "Alt-J – "Get Better"". Stereogum. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  4. ^ Reilly, Kathryn (9 February 2022). "Album: Alt-J - The Dream". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Alt-J The Dream". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ "The Dream by Alt-J Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Alt-J - The Dream Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ^ Smirnov, Aleksandr (15 February 2022). "Album Review: alt-J – The Dream". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  9. ^ Murray, Robin (10 February 2022). "alt-J - The Dream". Clash. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  10. ^ Taylor, Ims (9 February 2022). "alt-J – The Dream review". DIY. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ McCarthy, Neive (7 February 2022). "Album Review: alt-J – The Dream". Gigwise. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  12. ^ O'Connor, Roisin; Nugent, Annabel (10 February 2022). "Album reviews: Spoon, Frank Turner and Alt-J". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  13. ^ Horton, Ross (8 February 2022). "What Alt-J's The Dream lacks in heart it makes up for in style and finesse". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  14. ^ Williams, Sophie (10 February 2022). "Alt-J – 'The Dream' review: the revitalised band's most open-hearted record yet". NME. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  15. ^ Merrick, Hayden (7 February 2022). "Alt-J Return with Paternal Earnestness on 'The Dream'". PopMatters. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  16. ^ Sharp, Johnny (March 2022). "alt-J – The Dream". Uncut. No. 298. p. 25.
  17. ^ Morris, Damien (13 February 2022). "Alt-J: The Dream review – a stroll around the curiosity shop". The Observer. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
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