7G is the debut studio album by English music producer, singer and PC Music label head A. G. Cook.[5][6][7] It was released through PC Music on 12 August 2020.[8]
| 7G | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 August 2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 159:21 | |||
| Label | PC Music | |||
| Producer | A. G. Cook | |||
| A. G. Cook chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[2] |
| Our Culture Mag |    [3] |
| Pitchfork | 7.3/10[1] |
The album is 49 tracks long and split into seven discs, each disc being instrument-specific.[9] 7G was not supported by any singles, but a seven-minute long mix previewing one song from each disc for approximately one minute each. In addition to new material, it includes covers of songs by Taylor Swift, Blur, Charli XCX, the Strokes, the Smashing Pumpkins, and more.
Primarily an experimental electronic, pop, and hyperpop album, 7G features elements of many genres including trance, techno, country, metal, grunge rock, punk, IDM, 2-step, drill 'n' bass, and progressive electronic.[1][2][10]
Cook released his second studio album Apple on 18 September 2020, only five weeks later. Apple vs. 7G, a remix album consisting of songs from both Apple and 7G, was released on 28 May 2021.
Background and recording edit
Cook first began teasing 7G's release in September 2018 via Instagram.[11] In March 2020, Cook took to Instagram again to give an update on his record.[12]
In May 2020, Cook performed as part of American songwriter and producer Porter Robinson's virtual musical festival Secret Sky, where he debuted new material.
Of the background and recording of 7G, and its successor, Apple, Cook spoke with The Recording Academy in September 2020, stating:[13]
I actually finished the Apple album about a year ago. And I was just looking for the right way to contextualize it. And then with the 7G stuff, some of it was done kind of recently, but it's really an exploration of all the sounds that went into Apple. It's a time travel look at things I've been exploring since day one, since seven years ago when I was starting to do this full-time. Obviously I'm fairly prolific and work with different people. But also I just thought it was the most true version of me to be quite saturated and seeing things from many different angles at the same time. That just felt like the right way to do a debut.
Release and promotion edit
Cook announced the 7-disc record on 31 July 2020, along with its cover art, designed by Supermodel, release date, and track list that featured 49 tracks. Instead of a lead single, Cook released a seven-minute mix, previewing one-minute snippets of "Acid Angel", "Gold Leaf", "Illuminated Biker Gang", "Anything Could Happen", "Behind Glass", "Hold On" and "Show Me What".[14]
A digital preorder on Bandcamp was also made available, where upon purchase buyers were gifted with a Deluxe Box Set, including "a definitive source of 7G information & artwork, a labyrinth of images, text, sound & MIDI and a 30-minute audio file", as well as the aforementioned seven-minute mix.
On 6 August, a 7G live event, titled 7 by 7, was hosted on Zoom.[15] The live event featured sets from GRRL, Thy Slaughter (Cook and easyFun), Cook, No Rome, Baseck, Hayden Dunham & Alex Somers and Cecile Believe & Caroline Polachek. The event was later uploaded to PC Music's official YouTube channel.[16]
On 11 August, a 7G listening was broadcast on Zoom, followed by an afterparty live event, featuring sets from Balming Tiger, Charli XCX, DJ Warlord, Hannah Diamond, Flume, Namasenda and SOPHIE.[17]
On 7G's release day, Cook released a visual for the final track on the album, "Alright", directed by Aaron Chan.[18]
On 26 August, Cook released the video to the final track on disc 1, "Silver", directed by Cook himself and Aaron Chan.[19]
On 14 September, Cook released the video to the "Live at Appleville" version of the first track on the final disc, "Today", directed by Rick Farin & Claire Cochran. The video was premiered at the virtual live event Cook hosted via Twitch, Appleville, the day prior.
A physical CD boxset was announced for release in October 2021.
Track listing edit
All tracks written and produced by A. G. Cook, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A–Z" | 4:16 |
| 2. | "Acid Angel" | 3:45 |
| 3. | "H2O" | 3:00 |
| 4. | "Drum Solo" | 0:46 |
| 5. | "Nu Crush" | 3:18 |
| 6. | "Gemstone Break" | 3:45 |
| 7. | "Silver" | 2:03 |
| Total length: | 20:53 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Gold Leaf" | 2:57 |
| 2. | "Being Harsh" | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Undying" | 3:03 |
| 4. | "Drink Blood" | 3:01 |
| 5. | "Lil Song" (written by Cook and Daniel Lopatin) | 1:48 |
| 6. | "Beetlebum" (written by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree) | 2:44 |
| 7. | "Superstar" (live at Secret Sky) | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 20:51 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mad Max" | 2:57 |
| 2. | "Illuminated Biker Gang" | 4:27 |
| 3. | "Soft Landing" | 4:40 |
| 4. | "Overheim" | 2:47 |
| 5. | "DJ Every Night" (written by Cook and Hannah Diamond) | 4:35 |
| 6. | "Car Keys" | 5:36 |
| 7. | "Dust" | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 30:00 | |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Oracle" | 3:04 | |
| 2. | "Note Velocity" | 4:59 | |
| 3. | "Windows" | 4:40 | |
| 4. | "Feeling" | 3:48 | |
| 5. | "Waldhammer" | 0:56 | |
| 6. | "Polyphloisboisterous" |
| 2:06 |
| 7. | "Anything Could Happen" | 1:47 | |
| Total length: | 21:20 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Behind Glass" | 3:23 |
| 2. | "Oohu" | 4:09 |
| 3. | "The Best Day" (written by Taylor Swift) | 2:02 |
| 4. | "Triptych Demon" | 3:23 |
| 5. | "Official" (written by Charlotte Aitchison, Cook, Noonie Bao, Patrik Berger and Finn Keane) | 3:05 |
| 6. | "Crimson" | 1:26 |
| 7. | "Life Speed" | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 21:49 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Could It Be" | 2:34 |
| 2. | "The End Has No End" (written by Julian Casablancas) | 3:03 |
| 3. | "No Yeah" | 0:55 |
| 4. | "Green Beauty" | 3:09 |
| 5. | "Unreal" | 1:57 |
| 6. | "2021" | 1:56 |
| 7. | "Hold On" | 4:10 |
| Total length: | 17:44 | |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Today" (written by Billy Corgan) | 3:54 | |
| 2. | "Chandelier" (written by Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin) | 3:35 | |
| 3. | "Idyll" | 5:01 | |
| 4. | "Show Me What" (with Cecile Believe) | 2:50 | |
| 5. | "Somers Tape" |
| 2:49 |
| 6. | "Crimson and Clover" (written by Tommy James and Peter Lucia) | 4:08 | |
| 7. | "Alright" (written by Cook and Tomas Tammemets) |
| 4:27 |
| Total length: | 26:44 | ||
Notes
- ^[a] signifies additional producer
- "Acid Angel" contains a sample of "Concrete Angel", performed by Hannah Diamond, written by Gareth Emery and Christina Novelli.
- "Beetlebum" is a cover of "Beetlebum", performed by Blur.
- "DJ Every Night" is a rework of "Every Night", performed by Hannah Diamond.
- "The Best Day" is a cover of "The Best Day", performed by Taylor Swift.
- "Official" is a cover of "Official", performed by Charli XCX.
- "The End Has No End" is a cover of "The End Has No End", performed by The Strokes.
- "No Yeah" interpolates the lyrics of "Oh Yeah", the lead single (released only a week after the release of 7G) from Cook's second album Apple.
- "Today" is a cover of "Today", performed by The Smashing Pumpkins.
- "Chandelier" is a cover of "Chandelier", performed by Sia.
- "Idyll" is a cover of "IDL", performed by Life Sim.
- "Crimson and Clover" is a cover of "Crimson and Clover", performed by Tommy James & The Shondells.
Personnel edit
Credits are adapted from an image found within the deluxe box set purchase.
Musicians edit
- A. G. Cook – production, drums, guitar, supersaw, piano, nord, voice, vocals
- Alaska Reid – voice ("Green Beauty"), vocals ("Crimson and Clover")
- Alex Somers – additional production ("Somers Tape")
- Baseck – additional production ("Polyphloisboisterous")
- Caroline Polachek – vocals ("Chandelier", "Idyll", "Alright"), additional production ("Idyll")
- Cecile Believe – featured vocals ("Show Me What")
- Hannah Diamond – vocals ("Acid Angel", "DJ Every Night", "Alright")
- HYD – voice ("No Yeah", "Alright")
- Matt Rad – additional production ("Alright")
- Sounds Like a U Problem – voice ("2021")
- Timothy Luke – vocals ("Crimson")
- Tommy Cash – vocals ("Alright")
Technical edit
All tracks mixed and mastered by A. G. Cook, except "Alright", mixed and mastered by Geoff Swan.
Remix album edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Ravens, Chal (13 August 2020). "A. G. Cook - 7G". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ a b Watson, Kayleigh (12 August 2020). "A. G. Cook's 7G is a gateway into the mad hatter's mind". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (18 August 2020). "Album Review: A. G. Cook, '7G'". Our Culture Mag. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ 7G by A.G. Cook, retrieved 5 July 2021
- ^ "A.G. Cook announces new, 49-track album '7G'". NME. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Minsker, Evan. "A. G. Cook Announces New 49-Song Album 7G". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "A. G. Cook announces 49-track album '7G'". Mixmag. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "You Wanted an A. G. Cook Album? Here's Seven". Paper. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Subscribe. "A.G. Cook announces new album '7G'". diymag.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Franklyn, Sidney (18 September 2020). "A. G. Cook - Apple". Clash. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
- ^ "A. G. Cook on Instagram: "Spent a bunch of time in Montana this summer, ended up recording a lot of my A. G. album there ⛰ Still a while before I'll share those…"". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ "A. G. Cook on Instagram: "Hope everyone's doing alright 🧞♀️ Been planning to release a lot of music this summer, collecting the last few years of A. G. material..."". Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ "A.G. Cook & The Art Of A Perfect Pop Song". GRAMMY.com. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ A. G. Cook - 7G (7 Minute Mix), retrieved 9 August 2020 – via YouTube
- ^ @pcmus (3 August 2020). "7 by 7 💿 Live on Zoom this Thursday 💿 2PM LA / 5PM NY / 10PM UK 💿 Code TBA 💿 A. G. Zoom 📂" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "7 by 7 - YouTube". Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ @pcmus (9 August 2020). "7G Listening Party & Afterparty this Tuesday 1PM LA / 4PM NY / 9PM UK and 4PM LA / 7PM NY / 12AM UK Code TBA A. G. Zoom" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "A. G. Cook - Alright - YouTube". Retrieved 12 August 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "A. G. Cook - Silver (Official Video) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.