| Blue Raspberry | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Katy Kirby |
| Cover: | Katy Kirby - Blue Raspberry.jpeg |
| Alt: | Two nude persons embracing, standing in water |
| Studio: |
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| Genre: | Indie folk |
| Label: | Anti- |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Cool Dry Place |
| Prev Year: | 2021 |
Blue Raspberry is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Katy Kirby, released on January 26, 2024. The album is Kirby's first for Anti-, explores lyrical themes of romantic exploration, and has received positive reviews from critics.
Editors at AnyDecentMusic? characterized 15 critic scores as a 7.7 out of 10.
Editors at AllMusic rated this album 4 out of 5 stars, with critic Marcy Donelson writing Kirby "moves a step closer toward classic singer/songwriter form with a more reserved, vocals-forward set of songs accompanied by a more subdued band presence and orchestral textures that looked to albums such as Andy Shauf's The Party and Lomelda's Hannah as models". The Associated Press' Kiana Doyle assessed that the album works because "Kirby takes her time with each track" and noting the variety of instrumentation. At BrooklynVegan, Andrew Sacher considers the music genre to be one "that bridges the gap between Americana-friendly indie and '70s folk rock, sitting as nicely next to past tourmate Waxahatchee as she would next to a classic Linda Ronstadt record". A 7 out of 10 came from Tom Kingsley at Clash Music, who noted a Nashville sound and compared this music to Lucy Dacus and Waxahatchee. Writing for Dork, Emma Quin gave this release 4 out of 5 stars, as "each instrument and texture gets its moment to shine; the production is anything but simple – it is beautiful in its meticulousness.". Sam Boer of Exclaim! rated this release an 8 out of 10, stating that "Kirby's lyrics tend toward clinical precision" and with this music, she "marvels at the human desire to blend the lies and truths we embody every day into something delicious".
Another 8 out of 10 came from Adele Julia of The Line of Best Fit, who also praised Kirby's lyrics, writing that on this album, they are "showcasing its sheer range from the earnest theatrics of "Drop Dead" to the quiet craving on "Wait Listen"". Loud and Quiets Tristan Gatward rated this work 7 out of 10, summing up "the album's strength is its overall lack of flourish: it's an unceasing blend of boredom, charm and anxiety – and always innately human". Critics at NPR's All Songs Considered included this among the four best albums of the week. In No Depression Maeri Ferguson ended her review: "Kirby's intricate arrangements beckon a close listening of this record. It's the surest way to catch every devastating inch of her phrasing and the detailed picture she paints with it. To spend the time with Blue Raspberry is to be totally broken apart by it, but like Kirby, eventually pieced back together, ready to jump in again." In The Observer, Kitty Empire rated Blue Raspberry 4 out of 5 stars, writing that "this set of songs traces the blossoming of a love affair with unshowy instrumentation and understated charm". Miranda Wollen of Paste rated Blur Raspberry an 8.4 out of 10 for being "a smart, sexy thinkpiece on queer romance in a world on fire" with a "calm, steady sense of purpose [that] carries through, creating a gorgeous, ruminative contemplation on queer desire that will leave longtime fans and new listeners alike bobbing their heads—and reaching for their thesauruses". The editorial staff included this among the best albums of January. Writing for Pitchfork, Emma Madden rated this work a 7.4 out of 10, praising Kirby's lyrics, but critiquing that she sometimes overwrites and continuing that "the songs themselves are soft and sauntering, built around close-mic'd guitar and piano and occasionally offset with strange, barely perceptible flourishes that evoke subtle unease".
Jon M. Gilbertson of The Shepherd Express highlighted the tension between artificiality and authenticity in this album, writing that Kirby "responds to the ersatz with well-crafted naturalism". In The Skinny, Tony Inglis stated that "Kirby is funny, scathing and full of clarity about her personal epiphanies" and emphasized the musician's growth from her first full-length; he rated it 3 out of 5 stars. At Sputnikmusic, BlushfulHippocrene rated this 4.0 out of 5, calling similar to Kirby's last album, but with "some extremely slight but thoughtful experimentation from Kirby". Editors at Stereogum chose this for Album of the Week and critic James Rettig opined that this album "finds [Kirby] taking action on those feelings [from ''Cool Dry Place''] and stumbling into new struggles" with lyrics that explore intimate relationships and authenticity. Mark Moody of Under the Radar gave this work an 7 out of 10, stating that while "there are a few songs that fall short of Blue Raspberrys overall mark", this music is "as real as it gets and in its most composed moments a confident step forward". Grant Sharples of Uproxx included this among the best indie music of the week, calling it "a masterful exercise in restraint, one in which the most memorable moments come from its quietude".
Prior to the album's release, Under the Radars Mark Redfern included lead single "Cubic Zirconia" among the 10 best songs of the week.
All songs written (and sung) by Katy Kirby, except where noted.
Musicians
Technical personnel