Not Even Happiness
| Not Even Happiness | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Julie Byrne | ||||
| Released | January 13, 2017 | |||
| Genre | Contemporary folk | |||
| Length | 32:37 | |||
| Label |
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| Julie Byrne chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Not Even Happiness | ||||
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Not Even Happiness is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Julie Byrne. It was released on 13 January 2017 by Basin Rock in the United Kingdom and on 27 January 2017 by Ba Da Bing! Records in the United States.[1]
Background and composition
The album was recorded and mixed in Byrne's hometown of Buffalo, New York, except for string arrangements by Jake Falby, which were recorded at a cabin in Holderness, New Hampshire.
The album is labeled as a contemporary folk release.[2] According to Ed Nash of The Line of Best Fit, Not Even Happiness features leitmotifs of "nature and matters of the heart".[3]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.8/10[4] |
| Metacritic | 82/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [6] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[7] |
| Financial Times | [8] |
| The Guardian | [9] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[3] |
| NME | [10] |
| The Observer | [11] |
| Pitchfork | 8.3/10[12] |
| Spin | (favourable)[13] |
| Under the Radar | [14] |
Not Even Happiness received universal acclaim from music critics. On Metacritic, the album holds an average critic score of 82, based on 21 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[5] Ed Nash of The Line of Best Fit gave the album a positive review, dubbing it "Album of the Week".[3]
Track listing
All tracks written by Julie Byrne, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Follow My Voice" | 4:02 | |
| 2. | "Sleepwalker" | 4:19 | |
| 3. | "Melting Grid" |
| 4:21 |
| 4. | "Natural Blue" | 3:59 | |
| 5. | "Interlude" | 1:37 | |
| 6. | "Morning Dove" | 2:59 | |
| 7. | "All the Land Glimmered Beneath" | 3:04 | |
| 8. | "Sea as It Glides" | 4:12 | |
| 9. | "I Live Now as a Singer" | 4:04 | |
| Total length: | 32:37 | ||
Personnel
Credits adapted from Not Even Happiness album liner notes.[15]
- Julie Byrne – writing, performing
- Michele Finkelstein – flute (track 3)
- Chris Masullo – guitar (track 8)
- Jake Falby – string arrangements
- Johanna Warren – backing vocals
- Eric Littmann – recording, mixing
- Alan Douches – mastering
- Jonathan Bouknight – photography
References
- ↑ "Julie Byrne announces new album, ‘Not Even Happiness’". DIY. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Wallace, Scott (January 16, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness - Sydney Scoop". Sydney Scoop. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Nash, Ed (January 3, 2017). "Julie Byrne gets 2017 off to a heart-warming start with a timely meditation on change". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
- ↑ "Not Even Happiness by Julie Byrne reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- 1 2 "Reviews for Not Even Happiness by Julie Byrne". Metacritic. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Donelson, Marcy. "Not Even Happiness – Julie Byrne". AllMusic. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Carlick, Stephen (January 25, 2017). "Julie Byrne – Not Even Happiness". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (January 13, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness — review". Financial Times. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Jonze, Tim (January 12, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness review – intimate songs of a life on the move". The Guardian. London. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Cooper, Leonie (January 11, 2017). "Julie Byrne – ‘Not Even Happiness’ Review". NME. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Empire, Kitty (January 15, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness review – a voice of rare elegance". The Observer. London. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Pelly, Jenn J. (February 6, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Cook-Wilson, Winston (February 7, 2017). "Review: Julie Byrne’s Not Even Happiness Is a Truly Beautiful Travel Album". Spin. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Stanley, Laura (February 8, 2017). "Julie Byrne: Not Even Happiness". Under the Radar. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ↑ Not Even Happiness (CD liner notes). Julie Byrne. Ba Da Bing. 2017. BING 130.