The Money Store (album)

The Money Store
Studio album by Death Grips
Released April 21, 2012
Genre Experimental hip hop[1]
Length 41:08
Label Epic
Producer Death Grips
Death Grips chronology

Exmilitary
(2011)		 The Money Store
(2012)		 No Love Deep Web
(2012)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic (81/100)[2]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
ARTISTdirect [3]
The A.V. Club (B+)[4]
BBC Music (favourable)[5]
Beats Per Minute (90%)[6]
Robert Christgau (A−)[7]
Clash Music (9/10)[8]
Consequence of Sound [9]
Drowned in Sound (10/10)[10]
Pitchfork Media (8.7/10)[11]
Tiny Mix Tapes [12]

The Money Store is the debut studio album by the group Death Grips. It was released on April 24, 2012, but was leaked on April 14[13] and made available on vinyl on April 21 to celebrate Record Store Day.[14] It was announced along with a second album, titled No Love Deep Web.[15] It is the follow-up to their debut mixtape Exmilitary.

Background

The album was first hinted at with the release of a music video for a track titled "Blackjack" on February 7, 2012.[16] The album was later announced along with the release of another track on February 27, 2012, titled "Get Got".[17] It was then announced that the group had signed to Epic Records and were scheduled to release two albums in 2012.[14] On February 28, 2012, the group leaked both songs for free download.[18] On March 2, 2012, a video surfaced on their official YouTube channel of the band practicing a new track to be released on The Money Store, titled "Lost Boys."[19] The studio version was then posted to their official YouTube channel on March 13.[20] It was later released for free download on their website. On March 27, they released the music video for the song "The Fever (Aye Aye)," followed by a free download. On April 10, the song "I've Seen Footage" was released for free download on their official Soundcloud page. Pitchfork Media awarded the track their "Best New Music" designation. On April 14, the album was leaked, and the band uploaded a complete version to their YouTube channel[13] and their Soundcloud account. The following day, Pitchfork Media posted "Hacker," the album's closer, and named it "Best New Music." On September 10, 2012, a song titled "@DeathGripz," named after their Twitter handle, was released as the final installment of the Adult Swim Singles Program 2012. The group had stated earlier that it was an unreleased cut from The Money Store.[21]

In interviews, Death Grips have said that much of their music is created by sampling. They have said that they carry video cameras and tape recorders wherever they go and use samples from their experiences.

Reception

The Money Store received widespread critical acclaim. Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media gave the album an 8.7 out of 10 (Best New Music), stating "The Money Store is about as intellectual an experience as a scraped knee. But it's just as good at reminding you that you're alive." The album also notably placed 9th in Pitchfork's Best 50 Albums of 2012.[22]

It also received less positive reviews. Louis Pattison of NME gave the album a 6/10, describing the album as "alienating."[23]

On Metacritic, the album currently holds an 81 based on 27 reviews by professional critics, which indicates "universal acclaim." Users have rated the album 8.7 out of 10, which also indicated "universal acclaim." [24]

Artwork

The album cover depicts an androgynous masochist with "Death Grips" carved into their chest on the leash of a smoking female sadist. The image is painted by Sua Yoo, an artist with whom Death Grips had worked in the past and later appeared on the album art for their instrumental album, Fashion Week. It originally appeared in a zine, but the text carved into the submissive's chest was added afterwards.[25][26]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Death Grips. 

No. Title Length
1. "Get Got"   2:52
2. "The Fever (Aye Aye)"   3:07
3. "Lost Boys"   3:06
4. "Blackjack"   2:22
5. "Hustle Bones"   3:03
6. "I've Seen Footage"   3:23
7. "Double Helix"   2:37
8. "System Blower"   3:44
9. "The Cage"   3:31
10. "Punk Weight"   3:25
11. "Fuck That"   2:25
12. "Bitch Please"   2:57
13. "Hacker"   4:36

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Alternative Albums[27] 24
US Billboard 200[28] 130
US Heatseeker Albums[29] 3
US Rap Albums[30] 14
Marks Pound critics source US mixtapemaker [31] US Top Rock Albums[32] 39

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Money Store - Death Grips | AllMusic".
  2. ↑ "The Money Store - Death Grips Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  3. ↑ Rick Florino. "Death Grips "The Money Store" Album Review".
  4. ↑ Modell, Josh. "Death Grips: The Money Store · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  5. ↑ Paul Lester. "BBC review".
  6. ↑ Brendan Frank. "Beats Per Minute review".
  7. ↑ "CG: Death Grips". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  8. ↑ Matthew Bennett. "Clash Music review".
  9. ↑ Chris Coplan. "Consequence of Sound review".
  10. ↑ Mike Diver. "Drowned in Sound review".
  11. ↑ Jayson Greene. "Pitchfork review".
  12. ↑ "Death".
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Money Store playlist on Death Grips YouTube channel". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Death Grips Sign to Epic, Ready Two 2012 Albums | News". Pitchfork. 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  15. ↑ Worlds, Third. "iTunes - Music - No Love Deep Web by Death Grips". iTunes. iTunes Store. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Death Grips - Blackjack publisher=YouTube". 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  17. ↑ "Death Grips - Get Got". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  18. ↑ "DOWNLOAD THIS NOW: Death Grips, "Blackjack" / "Get Got" :: self-titled magazine". Self-titledmag.com. 2012-02-28. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  19. ↑ "Death Grips - Lost Boys (practice)". YouTube. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
  20. ↑ "Death Grips - Lost Boys (album version)". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-04-26.
  21. ↑ "New Death Grips: "@DEATHGRIPZ"". Pitchfork. 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  22. ↑ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2012 | Features". Pitchfork. 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2013-11-18.
  23. ↑ Pattison, Louis. "Death Grips - 'The Money Store'". NME. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
  24. ↑ "The Money Store Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  25. ↑ Jenn Pelly. "Death Grips Share NSFW Album Cover, Tracklist". Retrieved 2012-07-11.
  26. ↑ Arye Dworken. "Who Are…Death Grips". Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  27. ↑ "Death Grips - Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Death Grips - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Death Grips - Heatseeker Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Death Grips - Rap Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Death Grips - Rap Albums". Marks Pound. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Death Grips - Top Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2013.

External links