Charm (Clairo album) explained

Charm
Type:studio
Cover:Clairo - Charm.png
Artist:Clairo
Studio:
  • Allaire (Shokan, New York)
  • Diamond Mine Recording (Queens, New York City)
Genre:
Producer:
Prev Title:Sling
Prev Year:2021

Charm is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Clairo, released on July 12, 2024. The follow-up to her second album, Sling (2021), it is her first self-released studio album after her previous two albums were released by Fader and Republic respectively. Clairo produced the album alongside Leon Michels with musical contributions from Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, Marco Benevento, and Dave Guy, among others.

Charm received critical acclaim, with music critics praising its production, songwriting and Clairo's musical expansion.[3] [4] [5] Commercially, it debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, becoming her first top 10 album.[6] Although never released as a single, the track "Juna" topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart in early August, after gaining traction on TikTok upon the album's release.

Background

On July 16, 2021, Clairo released her second studio album Sling to critical acclaim, appearing on numerous "best albums of 2021" lists.[7] Critics praised Sling for Clairo's artistic progression and thematic songwriting that ponders future motherhood, domesticity and the responsibility of becoming a caregiver.[8] [9] Clairo embarked on the Sling tour in 2022 in support of the record.[10] During the tour, she suffered from sinus infections and an ear injury, before finishing the tour on October 4, 2022.[11] [12] In 2023, aside from collaborating with artists like Phoenix and Beabadoobee,[13] [14] Clairo also released two charity singles on Bandcamp, "For Now" with all proceeds directed to Everytown for Gun Safety and For The Gworls,[15] and "Lavender" to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders during the Israel–Hamas war.[16] A live EP, Live at Electric Lady, was released on May 12, 2023.[17]

In January 2024, Clairo started teasing a new album with a post on Instagram, captioning it "maybe this year".[18] In March, she shared an Instagram post captioned with emojis depicting the number three, a check mark, and a purple heart. The post was interpreted by music publication The Forty-Five to mean that her third studio album was complete.[19] On May 7, she revealed a release date of May 23 for her new music via Instagram Stories.[20]

On May 23, Clairo announced that the album, titled Charm and produced by Leon Michels, was scheduled for release on July 12, while releasing its lead single, "Sexy to Someone".[21] [22] A press release accompanying the announcement of Charm described the album as "a collection of warm, '70s-inspired grooves that move lithely between jazz, psychedelic folk and soul".[2]

Recording

Charm was recorded at Allaire Studios in upstate New York near Woodstock and at Diamond Mine Recording in the New York City borough of Queens.[23] Cottrill previously worked with producer Jack Antonoff on Sling at Allaire Studios.[24] On Charm, production is instead undertaken by Leon Michels who had previously produced for jazz and soul artists such as Norah Jones, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and Liam Bailey. The album was recorded live on analog tape.[25]

Release and promotion

The first single from Charm to be released was "Sexy to Someone" on May 23, 2024.[26] Uproxx described the track as "flirty" while Rolling Stone said it was "a summer stunner with cozy production and whimsical instrumentation".[27] [28] "Nomad", the record second and last single, was released on June 28, 2024.[29]

On May 29, Clairo announced two residencies for September in support of the album.[30] The Los Angeles residency will take place at the Fonda Theatre and the New York residency will take place at the Webster Hall.[31]

On July 17, to promote the album, Clairo performed "Juna", the seventh track of the album, live at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[32] [33] On the same day, she also announced the dates for her upcoming North American tour that will be held from September to November 2024.[34] The tour is supported by singer-songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou as the opening act.[35] [36]

On August 4, the music video for "Juna" was released.[37] It marked Clairo's first music video in six years[38] and is wrestling-themed. After gaining traction on TikTok, "Juna" topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart in early August.[39]

Critical reception

Charm received critical acclaim upon release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 82.

Slant Magazine writer Nick Seip described the record's production and instrumentation as "its secret weapon", and favorably compared the voice of Cotrill on the track "Terrapin" to her "early history of singing over lo-fi beats".[40] Marissa Lorusso, for Pitchfork, also noted the album's resemblance to her earlier work, while sentencing that it doesn't have the "dramatic shift" in the manner of Clairo's sophomore record, Sling, nor "Immunity's kinship with bedroom pop", yet a "successful but polite soft-rock outing."

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[41] 4
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[42] 23
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[43] 12

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lorusso . Marissa . Charm . Pitchfork . Condé Nast . 11 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Taylor . Sam . May 23, 2024 . Clairo Has Announced Her Third Album with Early Teaser Single 'Sexy to Someone' . Dork . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  3. News: Hawthorne . Katie . 2024-07-12 . Clairo: Charm review – deeply human songs of desire and distance . 2024-07-23 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  4. Web site: Lorusso . Marissa . Clairo: Charm . 2024-07-23 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2024-07-19 . Review: Clairo – Charm - SLUG Magazine . 2024-07-23 . www.slugmag.com . en-US.
  6. Web site: Garcia . Thania . 2024-07-22 . Eminem Unseats Taylor Swift on Album Charts With 'The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)' . 2024-07-23 . Variety . en-US.
  7. Web site: The 50 Best Albums of 2021 . The Guardian . en-GB . December 3, 2021 . December 4, 2021.
  8. Web site: Singh . Jay . July 16, 2021 . Sling is a true testament to Clairo's masterful songwriting talents . The Line of Best Fit . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  9. Web site: Daly . Rhian . July 15, 2021 . Clairo – 'Sling' review: meditations on motherhood inspired by '70s greats . NME . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  10. Web site: Aubrey . Elizabeth . February 18, 2022 . Clairo debuts new song 'Nomad' on first night of US tour . NME . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  11. Web site: Robinson . Ellie . July 30, 2022 . Clairo cancels last three shows of tour after tech mishap leads to ear injury . NME . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  12. Web site: Ross . Gemma . October 5, 2022 . Clairo live in London: a triumphant end to a trying tour . NME . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  13. Zemler . Emily . March 16, 2023 . Hear Clairo Join Phoenix for Atmospheric Remix of 'After Midnight' . Rolling Stone . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  14. Web site: Ruiz . Matthew Ismael . April 20, 2023 . Clairo Joins Beabadoobee for New Version of "Glue Song" . Pitchfork . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  15. Web site: Bloom . Madison . April 3, 2023 . Clairo Shares New Benefit Song "For Now" . Pitchfork . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  16. Web site: Pilley . Max . October 21, 2023 . Clairo releases new track 'Lavender' to raise aid funds for Gaza . NME . en-GB . May 23, 2024.
  17. Martoccio . Angie . May 12, 2023 . Clairo Takes Her Intimate Indie Gems to Electric Lady for Live EP . Rolling Stone . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  18. Web site: Graves . Shahlin . January 12, 2024 . Clairo teases new music for release this year... . Coup de Main . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  19. Web site: Daly . Rhian . March 4, 2024 . It looks like Clairo has finished her third album . The Forty-Five . May 23, 2024.
  20. Web site: Jacob . Lola . May 7, 2024 . Clairo announces new music out on May 23rd. . Coup de Main . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  21. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . 23 May 2024 . Clairo Announces New Album Charm, Shares New Song "Sexy to Someone" . Pitchfork . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  22. Web site: 2024-05-23 . Clairo Announces New Album Charm, Shares New Track: Stream . 2024-05-27 . en-US.
  23. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . May 23, 2024 . Clairo Announces New Album Charm, Shares New Song "Sexy to Someone": Listen . Pitchfork . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  24. News: 2021-07-13 . Clairo: 'This industry drains young women until they're not youthful any more' . 2024-05-27 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  25. Web site: Kelly . Tyler Damara . May 23, 2024 . Clairo announces her third studio album, Charm . The Line of Best Fit . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  26. Web site: DeVille . Chris . May 23, 2024 . Clairo Announces New Album 'Charm': Hear "Sexy To Someone" . Stereogum . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  27. Web site: Armstrong . Megan . May 23, 2024 . Clairo Announced Her 'Charm' Album While Declaring She Just Wants To Be 'Sexy To Someone' In The Flirty First Single . Uproxx . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  28. Martoccio . Angie . May 23, 2024 . Clairo Returns With Summer Stunner 'Sexy to Someone,' Announces New Album 'Charm' . Rolling Stone . en-US . May 23, 2024.
  29. Web site: Jacob . Lola . 2024-06-18 . Clairo announces next single 'Nomad'. . 2024-06-23 . Coup De Main Magazine . en.
  30. Web site: Sharpe . Josh . Clairo to Play Los Angeles and New York Residency . 2024-05-31 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  31. Web site: Strauss . Matthew . 2024-05-29 . Clairo Announces New York and Los Angeles Concerts . 2024-05-31 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  32. Zemler . Emily . 2024-07-18 . Watch Clairo Showcase Intimate Song 'Juna' on 'Fallon' . 2024-07-18 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  33. Web site: Bloom . Madison . 2024-07-18 . Watch Clairo Perform "Juna" on Fallon . 2024-07-18 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  34. Web site: 2024-07-18 . Clairo Sings A Laid-Back "Juna" On 'Fallon' & Announces North American Tour: Watch . 2024-07-18 . Stereogum . en.
  35. Web site: Clairo Performs Enchanting 'Juna' On 'Fallon' . 2024-07-18 . JamBase . en-US.
  36. Web site: Skinner . Tom . 2024-07-18 . Clairo performs 'Juna' on 'Fallon' and announces 2024 North American 'Charm' tour . 2024-07-18 . NME . en-GB.
  37. Web site: Pappis . Konstantinos . 2024-08-04 . Clairo Shares New Video for 'Juna' . 2024-08-04 . Our Culture . en-GB.
  38. Kreps . Daniel . 2024-08-04 . Clairo Makes 'Juna' Her First Music Video in Years . 2024-08-04 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  39. Rutherford . Kevin . 2024-08-01 . Clairo Rules TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart With 'Juna' . 2024-08-11 . Billboard . en-US.
  40. Web site: Seip . Nick . 2024-07-11 . Clairo 'Charm' Review: A Soulful, Confident Coming of Age . 2024-07-23 . Slant Magazine . en-US.
  41. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 22, 2024. July 19, 2024.
  42. Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of July 27, 2024. Billboard. July 23, 2024.
  43. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. July 22, 2024. July 19, 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Charm (Clairo album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.