Give Me the Future is the fourth studio album by British indie pop band Bastille, released on 4 February 2022 through EMI Records. It was executive produced by Ryan Tedder.[16] The album was preceded by the singles "Distorted Light Beam", "Give Me the Future", and "Thelma + Louise",[17] and subsequently announced alongside the release of the fourth single "No Bad Days".[18] A fifth single titled "Shut Off the Lights"[19] launched nearly three weeks prior to the album release.

Give Me the Future
Studio album by
Released4 February 2022 (2022-02-04)
Genre
Length32:15
40:53 (deluxe)
70:47 (+ Dreams of the Past)
LabelEMI
Producer
Bastille chronology
Goosebumps EP
(2020)
Give Me the Future
(2022)
Singles from Give Me the Future
  1. "Distorted Light Beam"
    Released: 23 June 2021
  2. "Give Me the Future"
    Released: 15 July 2021
  3. "Thelma + Louise"
    Released: 18 August 2021
  4. "No Bad Days"
    Released: 19 October 2021
  5. "Shut Off the Lights"
    Released: 14 January 2022
Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past
Cover of reissue
Singles from Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past
  1. "Run Into Trouble"
    Released: 1 April 2022
  2. "Remind Me"
    Released: 7 July 2022
  3. "Revolution"
    Released: 28 July 2022
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10[5]
Metacritic72/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Clash8/10[8]
DIY[9]
Gigwise[10]
NME[11]
The Independent[12]
musicOMH[13]
Pitchfork4.7/10[14]
The Telegraph[15]

A deluxe version of the album was released on 7 February 2022. It includes the single "Survivin'” from their 2020 Goosebumps EP. Bastille toured the UK and Europe starting in April 2022 in support of the album.[20] A super deluxe version of the album, entitled Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past, was released on 26 August 2022, split into three "paths": Give Me the Future, Dreams of the Past and Other People's Heartache, which includes fourteen new tracks and is the fifth installment into Bastille's series of mixtapes, Other People's Heartache.[21]

Background edit

Dan Smith had a plan for the album prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, but the album took on more "prescient" themes as it was primarily worked on during the subsequent lockdowns. Smith said that "what is real and what is not has become pretty difficult to discern sometimes. We're in the age of deep fake, fake news and lying world leaders". The album has been characterised as pairing "tech-heavy themes with glistening, ambitious pop music",[22] as well as "a tribute to humanity in a tech age" that "reflects on the strangeness of living through times that can feel like science fiction".[20]

The album also includes a spoken-word interlude narrated by British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed titled "Promises".[23]

Track listing edit

Give Me the Future track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Distorted Light Beam"
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Tedder
  • Maro
2:57
2."Thelma + Louise"
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Dan Priddy
2:17
3."No Bad Days"
  • Smith
  • Philip Plested
  • Crew
  • Daniel Priddy
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Priddy
3:05
4."Brave New World" (interlude)
  • Smith
  • Yacoub
  • Smith
  • Crew
0:27
5."Back to the Future"
  • Smith
  • Yacoub
  • Crew
  • Smith
  • Crew
2:53
6."Plug In..."Smith
  • Smith
  • Crew
2:40
7."Promises" (with Riz Ahmed)Rizwan AhmedAhmed1:25
8."Shut Off the Lights"
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Coffer
3:07
9."Stay Awake?"
  • Smith
  • Yacoub
  • Crew
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Priddy
3:07
10."Give Me the Future"
  • Smith
  • Ralph Pelleymounter
  • Crew
  • Smith
  • Crew
3:39
11."Club 57"
  • Smith
  • Tedder
  • Crew
  • Smith
  • Crew
3:12
12."Total Dissociation" (interlude)
  • Smith
  • Pelleymounter
  • Crew
  • Smith
  • Crew
0:43
13."Future Holds" (featuring Bim)
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Jack Duxbury
  • Smith
  • Crew
2:43
Total length:32:15
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Back to the Innerverse" (interlude)
  • Smith
  • Beau Colburn
Smith0:20
15."Real Life"
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Tedder
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Tedder
2:20
16."Survivin'"
  • Smith
  • Plested
  • Crew
  • Priddy
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Priddy
2:52
17."Shut Off the Lights" (Spinall remix)
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Plested
  • Coffer
  • Smith
  • Crew
  • Coffer
3:06
Total length:40:53
Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past
No.TitleLength
1."Back to the Innerverse" (interlude)0:20
2."Real Life"2:20
3."Family Ties"2:46
4."Distorted Light Beam" (reprise)3:23
5."Revolution"3:03
6."Survivin'"2:53
7."No More Bad Days"3:59
8."Hope for the Future"3:32
9."Other People's Heartache" (interlude)0:45
10."Run into Trouble" (featuring Alok)3:02
11."Remind Me"3:02
12."Eight Hours" (featuring Tyde)3:28
13."Dancing in the Dark"3:07
14."Running Away"2:52
Total length:70:47

Notes

  • "Survivin'" is stylized in lowercase.

Personnel edit

Bastille

  • Dan Smith – vocals (1–3, 5–13), keyboards (1–3, 5, 6, 8–13), programming (4, 7, 12)
  • Kyle Simmons – background vocals (1, 8), computer music voices (1), keyboards (2, 5, 8)
  • Will Farquarson – guitar (2, 5, 8), background vocals (8), bass (8, 11)
  • Chris Wood – background vocals, drums (5, 8)

Additional musicians

  • Marty Maro – bass, drums, guitar, keyboards, programming (1)
  • Dan Priddy – keyboards, programming (1–3, 5, 9, 10); background vocals (8)
  • Mark Crew – keyboards (1–3, 5, 8–11, 13), programming (1–3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13), guitar (11)
  • Jonny Abraham – string arrangement (1, 4–6, 10, 12), trumpet (5, 8, 10)
  • Llinos Richards – cello (1, 4–6, 10, 12)
  • Jordan Bergmans – viola (1, 4–6, 10, 12)
  • Ciara Ismail – violin (1, 4–6, 10, 12)
  • Rosie Langley – violin (1, 4–6, 10, 12)
  • Bim Amoake-Gyampah – background vocals (2), vocals (13)
  • Charlie Barnes – guitar (2, 5, 8, 10), background vocals (8)
  • Jack Duxbury – guitar (2, 3, 5, 11, 13), piano (3); keyboards, programming (13)
  • John Rittipo-Moore – saxophone (5, 8, 10), background vocals (8)
  • Barnaby Philpott – trombone (5, 8, 10)
  • Riz Ahmed – spoken word (7)
  • Adam Foster – background vocals (8)
  • Chris Speirs – background vocals (8)
  • Dick Meredith – background vocals (8)
  • Lisa O'Callaghan – background vocals (8)
  • Paul Cooper – background vocals (8)
  • Jonny Coffer – guitar, programming (8)
  • May Charters – spoken word (9)
  • Jack Scott – whistle (11)
  • Senab Adekunle – background vocals, vocal arrangement (13)

Technical

  • Chris Gehringermastering
  • Mark "Spike" Stentmixing (1–6, 8–11, 13)
  • Mark Crew – mixing (7, 12), recording (1–6, 8–13)
  • Rich Rich – recording (1)
  • Riz Ahmed – recording (7)
  • Jonny Coffer – recording (8)
  • Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (1–6, 8–11, 13)

Charts edit

Chart performance for Give Me the Future
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 69
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] 30
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 15
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] 53
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[28] 10
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[29] 15
Irish Albums (IRMA)[30] 96
Scottish Albums (OCC)[31] 1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[33] 1
US Billboard 200[34] 110
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[35] 13
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[36] 17

Certifications edit

Certifications for Give Me the Future
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Silver 60,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ Cush, Andy (14 February 2022). "Bastille: Give Me the Future Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. ^ Strazzabosco, Domenic (31 January 2022). "REVIEW: Bastille begs 'Give Me The Future' on new album". Riff Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. ^ Johnson, Chloe (4 February 2022). "Bastille - Give Me The Future". MusicOMH. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b Grice, Alisdair (4 February 2022). "BASTILLE - GIVE ME THE FUTURE". DIY. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Give Me the Future by Bastille Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Give Me the Future by Bastille Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Give Me the Future – Bastille | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  8. ^ Cowan, Yasmin (28 January 2021). "Bastille – Give Me the Future | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  9. ^ Shutler, Ali (3 February 2022). "Bastille – Give Me the Future Album Review". DIY. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  10. ^ Grice, Alisdair (3 February 2022). "Album Review: Bastille – Give Me the Future". Gigwise. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ Shutler, Ali (3 February 2022). "Bastille – 'Give Me the Future' review: a soundtrack to life after lockdown". NME. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Album reviews: Black Country New Road, Bastille, Cate Le Bon and Animal Collective". The Independent. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Bastille – Give Me the Future | Album Reviews". musicOMH. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  14. ^ Cush, Andy (14 February 2022). "Bastille: Give Me the Future Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  15. ^ McCormick, Neil (4 February 2022). "Bastille have gone sci-fi – and the result is gloriously addictive". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  16. ^ Ackroyd, Stephen (19 October 2021). "Bastille have announced their new album, 'Give Me the Future' – check out new single 'No Bad Days' now". Dork. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  17. ^ O'Donnell, Henry (15 July 2021). "Bastille have launched their new single, 'Give Me the Future'". Dork. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Bastille announce new album 'Give Me the Future'". DIY. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Shut Off The Lights ∞ 14.01.22". Twitter. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ^ a b Neale, Matthew (27 October 2021). "Bastille announce major UK arena tour for 2022". NME. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  21. ^ Paul, Larisha (28 July 2022). "Bastille Cracks Open Expanded Album 'Give Me the Future + Dreams of the Past' With Lead Single 'Revolution'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  22. ^ Murray, Robin (19 October 2021). "Bastille Announce New Album 'Give Me the Future'". Clash. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  23. ^ Atkinson, Jessie (19 October 2021). "Bastille's new album is confirmed: it's called Give Me the Future". Gigwise. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  24. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 February 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1667. Australian Recording Industry Association. 14 February 2022. p. 6.
  25. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bastille – Give Me the Future" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bastille – Give Me the Future" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bastille – Give Me the Future" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bastille – Give Me the Future" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bastille – Give Me the Future" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 11 February 2022". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bastille – Give Me the Future". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Bastille Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Bastille Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Bastille Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  37. ^ "British album certifications – Bastille – Give Me the Future". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2024.