My Big Day is the sixth studio album by the English indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club. It was released on 20 October 2023 by the band's own Mmm... Records imprint of Island Records, and was produced by frontman Jack Steadman; the first to be produced by him since 2014's So Long, See You Tomorrow.[1] The album includes collaborations with Jay Som, Nilüfer Yanya, Damon Albarn, Chaka Khan and Holly Humberstone. It received acclaim from critics.
| My Big Day | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 20 October 2023 | |||
| Studio | The Church, London | |||
| Length | 43:34 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Jack Steadman | |||
| Bombay Bicycle Club chronology | ||||
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| Singles from My Big Day | ||||
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Recording edit
The album was recorded at The Church Studios in North London.[2]
"Sleepless" and "Rural Radio Predicts the Rapture" feature sample replays produced by Ali Jamieson, Richard Adlam and Hal Ritson for Replay Heaven.[2]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |   [4] |
| Evening Standard |  [5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[6] |
| MusicOMH | [7] |
| NME | [8] |
My Big Day received a score of 82 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on six critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[3] David Smyth of the Evening Standard called the album both "a star-studded surprise" and "an album that is excellently suited to the impatient streaming generation. It's 11 bands for the price of one".[5] Rishi Shah of NME described it as having an "unwavering sense of adventure" and felt "the results are as eclectic as [its guest vocalists] would suggest", concluding that it is "a creative milestone in itself" as well as "a far cry from the four-to-the-floor, teenage guitar band that a whole generation grew up with".[8]
Reviewing the album for The Line of Best Fit, Lana Williams summarised it as the band's "most unpredictable and utterly impressive album to date" as well as "vibrant, joyous, and completely delectable".[6] MusicOMH's John Murphy wrote that "although much of the album is still very recognisable 'Bombay Bicycle Club', it also takes many unexpected turns" on account of its guest vocalists, also dubbing it "the sound of a band off the leash".[7] Lisa Wright of DIY opined that it is a "record that feels effortlessly comfortable in its own skin whilst still managing to tread new ground" and "the best the band have ever sounded".[4]
Track listing edit
All tracks are written by Jack Steadman, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Just a Little More Time" | 3:22 | |
| 2. | "I Want to Be Your Only Pet" | 3:34 | |
| 3. | "Sleepless" (with Jay Som) |
| 4:05 |
| 4. | "My Big Day" |
| 2:48 |
| 5. | "Turn the World On" | 3:30 | |
| 6. | "Meditate" (with Nilüfer Yanya) | 5:23 | |
| 7. | "Rural Radio Predicts the Rapture" | 2:04 | |
| 8. | "Heaven" (with Damon Albarn) |
| 5:22 |
| 9. | "Tekken 2" (with Chaka Khan) | 3:50 | |
| 10. | "Diving" (featuring Holly Humberstone) | 3:35 | |
| 11. | "Onward" | 6:01 | |
| Total length: | 43:34 | ||
Notes
- "Sleepless" contains elements of the composition "Hell's Gate Island", as written by Shinichi Tanabe.[2]
- "My Big Day" contains elements from the sample pack 1993 by Soul Surplus.[2]
- "Rural Radio Predicts the Rapture" contains elements of the composition "La Peri", as written by Paul Dukas.[2]
- "Heaven" contains elements of "Pouqui" by Les Vikings de la Guadeloupe, as written by Pierre-Edouard Décimus.[2]
Personnel edit
|
Bombay Bicycle Club
Additional musicians
|
Technical
Sample replay on "Sleepless"
Sample replay on "Rural Radio Predicts the Rapture"
Art
|
Charts edit
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[9] | 20 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[10] | 2 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[11] | 3 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[12] | 1 |
Notes edit
- ^ Erroneously credited as "Steve Ferrone" in the liner notes.
References edit
- ^ Reilly, Nick (17 October 2023). "My Big Day: Bombay Bicycle Club on their eclectic and star-studded sixth album". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f My Big Day (liner notes). Bombay Bicycle Club. Mmm... Records. 2023. MMM601.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "My Big Day by Bombay Bicycle Club Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- ^ a b Wright, Lisa (20 October 2023). "Bombay Bicycle Club – My Big Day review". DIY. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Smyth, David (20 October 2023). "Bombay Bicycle Club – My Big Day album review: a star-studded surprise". Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Williams, Lana (18 October 2023). "Bombay Bicycle Club: My Big Day Review – unpredictable reemergence". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Murphy, John (20 October 2023). "Bombay Bicycle Club – My Big Day | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Shah, Rishi (19 October 2023). "Bombay Bicycle Club – My Big Day review: indie heroes enlist Damon Albarn and Chaka Khan". NME. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 27 October 2023". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 October 2023.