Ego Death (album)

Ego Death
Studio album by The Internet
Released June 26, 2015
Recorded 2013–15
Genre R&B
Length 56:24
Label
Producer
The Internet chronology
Feel Good
(2013)Feel Good2013		 Ego Death
(2015)
Singles from Ego Death
  1. "Special Affair"
    Released: June 2, 2015
  2. "Girl"
    Released: June 23, 2015

Ego Death is the third studio album by American R&B band The Internet. It was released digitally on June 26, 2015, by Odd Future Records and Columbia Records,[1] and the physical version was released later on June 29, 2015.[2] The album was recorded primarily in Syd's basement in a three-week period.

It was supported by the singles; "Special Affair" and "Girl". The album was nominated at the 58th Grammy Awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10[4]
Metacritic81/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Consequence of SoundB[7]
Exclaim!8/10[8]
The Guardian[9]
HipHopDX4/5[10]
PopMatters8/10[11]
Pitchfork7.4/10[12]
RapReviews.com8/10[13]
Rolling Stone[14]
ViceA–[15]

Ego Death received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 11 reviews.[5] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "The majority of Ego Death is tighter. Bennett has refined her songwriting without reducing the candid approach that colors her past compositions. Additionally, the tangents are fewer and more substantive."[6] Pat Levy of Consequence of Sound said, "In addition to their more fully formed sound, one of the more exciting things about The Internet is the music's point of view."[7] Michael J. Warren of Exclaim! said, "Ego Death frees the Internet from Odd Future connotations and R&B norms; it's their best work yet."[8] Tshepo Mokoena of The Guardian said, "There's wit and honestly behind her observations of courting and heartbreak, making her pinhole focus on love more about nuance than navel-gazing. It's just as well the band stayed together."[9]

Ronald Grant of HipHopDX said, "Ego Death is an album both suited specifically for the social media age of music listeners but simultaneously rich and permeated with the traditions of the soul and R&B music of the past."[10] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said, "There's convincing thump at work here, but not so much as to overwhelm the lustrous keyboards, the nuzzling bass, the way several of the songs unfurl like blooming roses."[16] Sean Fennell of PopMatters said, "Ego Death and The Internet require a little bit of patience, but if you are willing to give it a full go, it will reward you with one of the most interesting albums in recent memory."[11] Patrick Taylor of RapReviews.com said, "Ego Death is the perfect summer record. Breezy, smooth, lazy, and meant for warm nights."[13] Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork said, "The Internet's songs have always felt like scenes of salaciousness happening just out of earshot. Ego Death finally pulls us into the maelstrom."[12] Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone said, "The best tracks fade away into gravity-defying instrumental outros that make Syd's heartache feel sublimely serene."[14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get Away"
  • Steve Lacy
  • Martin
2:28
2."Gabby" (featuring Janelle Monáe)
  • Lacy
  • Martin
3:32
3."Under Control"
  • Bennett
  • Green
The Internet4:04
4."Go With It" (featuring Vic Mensa)
  • Bennett
  • Martin
  • Christopher Allan Smith
  • Cisco Adler
4:27
5."Just Sayin' / I Tried"
  • Lacy
  • Smith ("Just Sayin'")
  • Bambaata
  • Smith ("I Tried")
6:54
6."For the World" (featuring James Fauntleroy)
  • Martin
  • Jameel Bruner
  • Patrick Paige II
  • Smith
3:23
7."Girl" (featuring Kaytranada)
  • Bennett
  • Green
6:56
8."Special Affair"
  • Bennett
  • Parks
  • Lacy
  • Martin
2:58
9."Somthing's Missing"
  • Bennett
  • Green
  • Martin
  • Martin
  • Lacy
6:21
10."Partners in Crime Part Three"BennettBrian Kennedy3:22
11."Penthouse Cloud"Bennett
  • The Highlights
  • Lacy
  • Martin
4:44
12."Palace / Curse" (featuring Tyler, The Creator and Steve Lacy)
  • Tyler Okonma
  • Bennett ("Palace")
  • Steven Lacy
  • Bennett
  • Green ("Curse")
  • Okonma ("Palace")
  • Lacy ("Curse")
7:20

Credits and personnel

The Internet

Additional personnel

  • Cisco Adler – production (track 4), guitar (track 4), recording (track 4)
  • Brandon Combs – drums (track 13)
  • Jimmy Douglass – mixing
  • James Fauntleroy – featured artist (track 6)
  • Durand Ferebee Jr. – background vocals (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12)
  • Christopher Goldsmith for The Highlights – production (track 11), drums (track 11)
  • Nick Green – background vocals (track 13), vocal production
  • Kaytranada – featured artist (track 7), production (track 7)
  • Brian Kennedy – production (track 10)
  • Dave Kutch – mastering
  • Janelle Monáe – featured artist (track 2), additional vocals (track 2)
  • Daniel "Bambaata" Marley – production (track 5), guitar (track 5)
  • Vic Mensa – featured artist (track 4)
  • Xavier McHugh – recording (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12), percussion (track 13)
  • Nicky Davey – production (track 13)
  • Dave Rosser – guitar (track 13)
  • Tay Walker – background vocals (track 2)
  • Tyler, The Creator – featured artist (track 12), production (track 12)

Charts

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[17] 8
US Billboard 200[18] 89
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 9

References

  1. ↑ "Ego Death by The Internet on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ Ashley Monaé (June 29, 2015). "Listen To The Internet's 'Ego Death' Album". Vibe. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ego Death by The Internet reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Reviews for Ego Death by The Internet". Metacritic. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Andy Kellman. "Ego Death Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  7. 1 2 Pat Levy (July 6, 2015). "The Internet – Ego Death". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Michael J. Warren (June 30, 2015). "The Internet Ego Death". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Tshepo Mokoena (17 December 2015). "The Internet: Ego Death review – Odd Future offshoot muse on love and lust". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 Ronald Grant (July 5, 2015). "The Internet – Ego Death". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Sean Fennell (July 8, 2015). "The Internet: Ego Death". PopMatters. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Craig Jenkins (9 July 2015). "Ego Death Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  13. 1 2 Patrick Taylor (August 11, 2015). "The Internet :: Ego Death :: Columbia Records". RapReviews.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Suzy Exposito (September 10, 2015). "The Internet Ego Death Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  15. ↑ Robert Christgau (25 March 2016). "Stoned Soul Quick Picks: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Vice. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  16. ↑ Jon Caramanica (June 29, 2015). "Review: Syd tha Kyd, Betwixt and Between on 'Ego Death'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  17. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The Internet – Chart history" Billboard 200 for The Internet. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ "The Internet – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for The Internet. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
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