Alice Glass is the debut extended play (EP) by Canadian singer and songwriter Alice Glass, released on 18 August 2017 through Loma Vista Recordings.[1] The EP marks Glass' first collection of solo material since her departure from electronic band Crystal Castles in 2014.[2]
| Alice Glass | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | 18 August 2017 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 18:12 | |||
| Label | Loma Vista | |||
| Producer |
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| Alice Glass chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Alice Glass | ||||
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Composition edit
The EP was written entirely by Glass, with additional writing and production by former Health member, Jupiter Keyes. Glass stated in an interview with Thump earlier in 2017 that some tracks "sound more like being eaten by fire ants" and others "are like being slowly consumed by a snake." She also stated that the most surprising thing about her new music is "that you can hear my voice clearly."[2]
Anna Gaca of Spin described the EP as "pained, distorted electro-pop," saying that "some of its more dissonant experimentation is reminiscent of Grimes, while the dark but upbeat "Forgiveness" and "Blood Oath" hark back to Glass's time with Crystal Castles."[3] Ondarock said the EP is a mixture of electropop and post-industrial music.[4] Dazed's Selim Bulut said "the EP ranges from similarly explosive pop songs like the low-slung 4x4 groove of "Forgiveness" to eerie noise bangers like "Natural Selection" and the atmospheric "The Altar"."[5] April Clare Welsh of Fact said the EP has "a dark, industrial-tinged electro-pop sound."[6]
"Forgiveness" is about "being completely disillusioned by the things and people you've known."[7] "White Lies" is about "the lies people have to tell themselves to find comfort when they feel trapped being around someone that hurts them or other people. most people who remain in abusive relationships do so because they're constantly being lied to. So they learn to lie to themselves as a form of false protection."[8] "Blood Oath" is about "a teenage girl being preyed upon and taken advantage of by an older man."[9]
Alice later reflected on the EP's recording being rushed by her label. "I wish I’d had more time. I was kind of going along with what my new label said. They were like, ‘No press, and then you’re going to go on tour with Marilyn Manson, this is a great idea.’ So, yeah." She has expressed interest in re-doing songs from the EP.[10]
Release and promotion edit
Glass surprise released the EP on 18 August 2017 after the release of the lead single "Without Love" on August 10, which was accompanied by a music video directed by Floria Sigismondi and produced by The Fader.[11] A music video directed by Lindsey Mann for the second single "Forgiveness" was released on 11 January 2018.[12][13]
She headed on tour alongside Marilyn Manson in promotion of the EP. The tour kicked off in North America in September 2017.[14] Her tour that later included Zola Jesus and Pictureplane, as seen in backdrop visuals, was called "Suffer Lightning," pulling from the lyrics of Glass' debut single, "Stillbirth."[15]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Now Magazine |   [16] |
| Pitchfork | 6.8/10[17] |
Sasha Geffen of Pitchfork said "Alice Glass can feel more like an exorcism than an evolution, a digestion of past trauma rather than a new chapter. But processing this stuff takes years, and sometimes a six-song "fuck you" is exactly the catharsis you need to start anew."[17] Kevin Ritchie of Now Magazine wrote, "Whereas Crystal Castles often regards singers as just another instrument in the arsenal, melding shrieks and wails with walls of noise, Glass has turned the levels up on her vocals," finally stating that "none of these songs reach the anthemic highs (or blistering insanity) of Glass's biggest hits with Crystal Castles, but its balanced mood gives pointed new dimensions to her emotional intensity and shows she is just as compelling in gentle mode as she is going wild on stage."[16] Stereogum's James Rettig called the EP "an abrasive but empowering listen that lets Glass brandish the captivating creative voice that drew us to her in the first place."[18]
Accolades edit
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stereogum | 25 Great EPs from 2017 | — |
Track listing edit
Credits adapted from Tidal.[19]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Without Love" |
|
| 3:55 |
| 2. | "Forgiveness" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 3. | "Natural Selection" |
| Keyes | 2:22 |
| 4. | "White Lies" |
|
| 2:58 |
| 5. | "Blood Oath" |
|
| 3:08 |
| 6. | "The Altar" |
| Keyes | 2:38 |
| Total length: | 18:12 | |||
Notes
Personnel edit
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Alice Glass.[20]
- Alice Glass – vocals
- Jupiter Keyes – production
- Matt Rad – production (tracks 1, 2, 4), co-production (track 5)
- Lars Stalfors – production (track 1)
- Ryan Kaul – mixing
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
- Lucas David – photography[21]
Alice Glass (Remixes) edit
| Alice Glass (Remixes) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by | |
| Released | 27 April 2018 |
| Length | 26:31 |
| Label | Loma Vista |
Alice Glass (Remixes) is a remix EP of songs from Alice Glass, released on 27 April 2018.[22][23]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Remixer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Without Love" | Mija | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Natural Selection" | Ghostemane | 2:34 |
| 3. | "Blood Oath" | King Yosef | 3:18 |
| 4. | "The Altar" | Yves Tumor | 3:04 |
| 5. | "White Lies" | Pictureplane | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Forgiveness" | Paul White | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Stillbirth" | Zola Jesus | 2:50 |
| 8. | "Without Love" | Chelsea Wolfe | 3:38 |
| Total length: | 26:31 | ||
References edit
- ^ Kaye, Ben (18 August 2017). "Alice Glass surprise releases her self-titled debut solo EP: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ a b Yoo, Noah (18 August 2017). "Alice Glass Surprise Releases Her First Solo EP: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ Gaca, Anna (18 August 2017). "Stream Alice Glass's Self-Titled Debut Solo EP". Spin. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ "Alice Glass - Alice Glass". ondarock.it (in Italian). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Bulut, Selim (18 August 2017). "Hear Alice Glass's surprise released debut solo EP". Dazed. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ Clare Welsh, April (19 August 2017). "Stream Alice Glass' new self-titled EP". Fact. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ @ALICEGLASS (21 August 2017). "happy eclipse day! Forgiveness is about being completely disillusioned by the things and people you've known" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 August 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ @_alice_glass (23 August 2017). "this is another photo taken from that same photoshoot by @lucasbavid..." Instagram. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ @ALICEGLASS (23 August 2017). "Blood Oath is about a teenage girl being preyed upon and taken advantage of by an older man" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ "On "PREY//IV," Alice Glass Reclaims Her Identity". Bandcamp Daily. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ "Alice Glass - Withoue Love (Official Video)". YouTube. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ "Alice Glass - Forgiveness (Official Video)". YouTube. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ Robert Ross, Alex (11 January 2018). "Watch Alice Glass's Handheld Horror Video for "Forgiveness"". Noisey. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ Maine, Samantha (10 August 2017). "Alice Glass shares video for 'Without Love', announces tour with Marilyn Manson". NME. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (21 February 2018). "Alice Glass going on tour with Zola Jesus & Pictureplane (Brooklyn & other shows announced)". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ a b Ritchie, Kevin (22 August 2017). "Alice Glass's debut solo release adds pointed new dimensions to her punk intensity". Now Magazine. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ a b Geffen, Sasha (22 August 2017). "Alice Glass: Alice Glass EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ a b Rettig, James (6 December 2017). "25 Great EPs from 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Alice Glass / Alice Glass". Tidal. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ Alice Glass (liner notes). Alice Glass. Loma Vista Recordings. 2017.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "this is the original photo that was used for my ep art. taken by @lucasbavid". Instagram. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ^ "Alice Glass (Remixes) by Alice Glass on Apple Music". Apple Music. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Kneschke, Tristan (23 April 2018). "Alice Glass to release new remix EP on Friday (April 27), kicks off tour this week". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 17 October 2018.