Dance on the Blacktop is the third studio album by American shoegaze band Nothing. It is the last album to feature bassist Nick Bassett (also the guitarist of Whirr) and founding member, vocalist and guitarist Brandon Setta before both departed the band between 2018 and 2019, respectively. The album was released on August 24, 2018 by Relapse Records.[1]
| Dance on the Blacktop | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 24, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | October 2017 – April 2018 | |||
| Studio | Dreamland Studio Woodstock, New York | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:25 | |||
| Label | Relapse | |||
| Producer | John Agnello | |||
| Nothing chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Dance on the Blacktop | ||||
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Background edit
In October 2017, it was announced that Nothing had begun recording a third studio album at Dreamland Studio in Woodstock, New York with producer John Agnello.[2] The band took a break from recording the album in December 2017 for a mini tour with Ceremony.[2]
On June 5, 2018, the first single from the album, "Zero Day", was released. A preview of the song debuted in Revolver magazine on May 30, 2018.[3] The same day as the single's release, Nothing announced the track listing, album release date and their fall 2018 tour, which involved supporting acts Swirlies, Big Bite and Smut.[1][4]
The second single, "Blue Line Baby", was released on July 11, 2018,[5] accompanied with a music video a week later.[6] Revolver described the track and the music video as "gorgeously surreal" and "ethereal".[5]
On August 9, 2018, "The Carpenter's Son", the third and final single prior to the release of the album, was released.[7][8] Chris DeVille of Stereogum praised the track, saying the song "is Nothing at their most serene. Over the course of eight minutes, it undergoes a bit of dynamic fluctuation, but mostly it's a gorgeous slow-drift that demonstrates how powerful Nothing can be without ever roaring the way they often do".[8]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.2/10[9] |
| Metacritic | 77/100[10] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [11] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[12] |
| Drowned in Sound | 6/10[13] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[14] |
| Kerrang! | [15] |
| NME | [16] |
| Pitchfork | 7.1/10[17] |
| The Skinny | [18] |
Dance on the Blacktop received critical acclaim upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 77, based on 13 reviews, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[10]
Track listing edit
All music is composed by Domenic Palermo and Brandon Setta
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Zero Day" | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Blue Line Baby" | 4:30 |
| 3. | "You Wind Me Up" | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Plastic Migraine" | 4:43 |
| 5. | "Us/We/Are" | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Hail on Palace Pier" | 4:48 |
| 7. | "I Hate the Flowers" | 4:21 |
| 8. | "The Carpenter's Son" | 7:45 |
| 9. | "(Hope) Is Just Another Word With a Hole in It" | 5:48 |
| Total length: | 43:25 | |
Personnel edit
Dance on the Blacktop album personnel adapted from album credits.[19]
- Nothing
- Domenic Palermo – vocals, guitar, record producer, art direction
- Brandon Setta – vocals, guitar
- Kyle Kimball – percussion
- Nick Bassett – bass, keyboards
- Additional personnel
- John Agnello – engineering, mixing, production
- Domenick Antieatro – assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Garrett "Kevin" Deblock – assistant
- Demon Drums – drum technician
- Steve Fallone – assistant
- Carlos Hernandez – overdubs
- Alex Lipsen – overdubs
- Ryan Lowry – photography
- Mark McCoy – art direction
- Emily Rittenhouse – assistant
- Jacob Speis – layout
References edit
- ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (June 5, 2018). "Nothing announce new album & tour with Swirlies, share "Zero Day"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "NOTHING Enter Studio to Record New Album; Announce Shows with Ceremony". Relapse Records. October 11, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Camp, Zoe (May 30, 2018). "Hear Dreamy Preview of Shoegaze Outfit Nothing's New Song "Zero Day"". Revolver. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Schatz, Lake (June 5, 2018). "Nothing announce new album, Dance on the Blacktop, share "Zero Day": Stream". Consequence of Sound.
- ^ a b Staff (July 18, 2018). "Watch Nothing's Gorgeously Surreal and Ethereal New "Blue Line Baby" Video". Revolver. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Staff (July 18, 2018). "Nothing Releases "Blue Line Baby" Music Video". New Noise. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "NOTHING: Share "The Carpenter's Son" From Dance On The Blacktop Out August 24th on Relapse Records". Relapse Records. August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ a b DeVille, Chris (August 9, 2018). "Nothing – "The Carpenter's Son"". Stereogum. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "Dance on the Blacktop by Nothing reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. PalmerWatson. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ a b "Dance on the Blacktop by Nothing". Metacritic.
- ^ Sendra, Tim. "Dance on the Blacktop – Nothing". Allmusic. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ Garner, Marty (August 25, 2018). "Ariana Grande and Mogwai lead a stellar week in new music". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Turner-Heffer, Adam (August 24, 2018). "Album Review: Nothing – Dance on the Blacktop". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Atkinson, Connor (August 21, 2018). "Nothing Dance on the Blacktop". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ McLaughlin, David (August 24, 2018). "Album of the Week: NOTHING's Dance On The Blacktop". Kerrang!. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Bassett, Jordan. "Nothing – 'Dance on the Blacktop' review". NME. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (August 29, 2018). "Nothing: Dance On The Blacktop Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Inglis, Tony (August 21, 2018). "NOTHING – Dance On the Blacktop". The Skinny. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "Dance on the Blacktop – Nothing Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved August 26, 2018.