Desire, I Want to Turn Into You explained

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
Type:studio
Artist:Caroline Polachek
Cover:Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.png
Genre:
Length:45:25
Label:
Producer:
Prev Year:2021

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek, under her own name. It was released on February 14, 2023, by Sony Music, The Orchard, and Polachek's imprint Perpetual Novice.[1] [2] [3] Polachek produced most of the album alongside Danny L Harle.

It was supported by the singles "Bunny Is a Rider",[4] "Billions",[5] "Sunset",[6] "Welcome to My Island",[7] "Blood and Butter" and "Smoke". The album received widespread acclaim from critics, with several calling it Polachek's best work and acclaiming its experimentation. It charted in Belgium, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. It received a nomination for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 66th Grammy Awards.[8]

A reissue of the album, subtitled Everasking Edition, was released on February 14, 2024, the standard edition's first anniversary. It was supported by the singles "Dang" and a new version of "Butterfly Net" featuring Weyes Blood.

Background

After releasing Pang in late 2019, Polachek was set to tour the record, but was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Polachek stayed in London and began work on Desire, I Want to Turn Into You with close collaborator Danny L Harle. She considers the album to be a major partnership with Harle, as the record has "few other collaborators in the mix". She continued work on the album in London until mid-2021, where she briefly relocated to Barcelona alongside Harle and new collaborator Sega Bodega.[9]

In November 2021, Polachek was featured on Charli XCX's "New Shapes" alongside Christine and the Queens. She then embarked on a North American tour with French musician Oklou for the remainder of 2021.[10]

Dua Lipa announced Polachek as a supporting act on the North American and Canadian legs of the Future Nostalgia Tour from February to July 2022,[11] performing at many festivals as well. Polachek was featured on Flume's "Sirens" in March,[12] and wrote and produced the track "Afar" for Hyd in July.[13] She rescheduled European tour dates to finish work on Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.[14]

Six weeks ahead of the album release, in an interview with The Guardian, Polachek confirmed three more song titles: "Blood and Butter", "Pretty in Possible", and "Smoke".

Composition

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You has been described as an art pop, alternative pop, and new-age record, with elements of electronic, rock, and trip-hop.[15] [16] [17] Shaad D'Souza of The Guardian wrote: "Ratcheting up both the fantastical elements of its predecessor as well as its humour and pop instinct, Desire is an eclectic, elaborate and cheekily deranged sequel, and one of the year's most anticipated releases". The album features bagpipes, children's choirs, Spanish guitar, "beats that run the gamut" from Ray of Light-style trip-hop to dembow, Celtic folk, and early '00s-style radio pop. Polachek herself described it as "a very maximalist album".[18]

Release

Desire, I Want to Turn Into You was announced in December 2022.[19] At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, Polachek hinted that she would be releasing something on Valentine's Day,[20] which is Desires first anniversary. Three days later, the reissue of the album, subtitled Everasking Edition, was announced.[21]

Singles

Polachek released the lead single "Bunny Is a Rider" in July 2021, which was written before she went into lockdown.[22] She released the trip hop inspired "Billions" as a single in February.[23] Polachek stated the song took 19 months to finish.[24] The single featured a rework of "Long Road Home", her collaboration with Oneohtrix Point Never from his 2020 album Magic Oneohtrix Point Never, as the B-side.[25] "Sunset" was released as a single in October. Polachek has cited Ennio Morricones Spaghetti Western film scores as an influence on the song.[26] "Welcome to My Island", which Polachek calls her "brattiest song to date", was released alongside the album announcement. On January 20, a remix by Charli XCX and the 1975's George Daniel was released.[27] "Blood and Butter" was released on January 31, 2023. "Smoke" was released as a single on April 6, 2023, during her Spiraling Tour. It was accompanied by a music video that premiered on the same day.

Polachek released "Dang" on October 17, 2023,[28] as the lead single from Desire, I Want to Turn Into You: Everasking Edition. She performed the song the same evening on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[29] After Polachek and Weyes Blood performed "Butterfly Net" live together several times throughout 2023, including at the Glastonbury and Fuji Rock Festivals, they released their joint version of the song on February 7, 2024,[30] alongside the Everasking Edition announcement.

Critical reception

Upon release, Desire, I Want to Turn Into You received widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 94, based on 19 critical reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the album a 8.5 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Matt Collar opined that the album "finds Polachek unapologetically embracing her inner pop diva, purposefully referencing a '90s and early-2000s pop aesthetic. This is an album of balmy trip-hop grooves, where electric bass riffs, finger-snap beats, and sky-blue synths caress her angelically swooping vocals like dolphins chasing a boat. It's an immediately evocative vibe that she commits to, deftly walking a fine line between earnest romanticism and artful irony." He concluded that with the album, "Polachek breaks free from outside expectations and transforms her inner anxieties into an intoxicating pop euphoria."[31]

Cat Zhang of Pitchfork wrote that the album was the best of Polachek's career, giving it the distinction of Best New Music. Maura Johnston reviewed the album positively for Rolling Stone, calling Polachek an "undeniable talent as a vocalist and arranger" and the album an "example of what happens when pop sets out to transcend its own limits."

In a mixed review for NME, Ella Kemp praised Polachek's experimentation but said that some tracks "suffer[ed] from a more abstract vision" and called the album an "uneven collection". Gabbie Nirenburg also provided a middling review for No Ripcord, calling the album "just fine" and questioning if there was "anything on this record that is really SO unique or special or different from every other competent art pop album out there?"[32]

AllMusicBest Albums of 2023[33]
The AtlanticThe 10 Best Albums of 2023
Beats Per MinuteTop 50 Albums of 2023
BillboardThe 50 Best Albums of 2023
The Boston GlobeOur 50 Favorite Albums of 2023[34]
British GQBest Albums of 2023
BrooklynVeganTop 55 Albums of 2023
ConsequenceThe 50 Best Albums of 2023
CrackThe Top 50 Albums of the Year
DIYAlbums of the Year 2023
Exclaim!50 Best Albums of 2023
The FaderThe 50 Best Albums of 2023
God Is In The TVAlbums of the Year for 2023
Gorilla vs. BearAlbums of 2023
The GuardianThe 50 best albums of 2023
The IndependentThe 30 Best Albums of 2023
The Line of Best FitThe Best Albums of 2023
MagnetTop 25 Albums Of 2023
The New York TimesBest Albums of 2023
NMEThe 50 best albums of 2023
Paste50 Best Albums of 2023
Pitchfork50 Best Albums of 2023
PopMattersThe 80 Best Albums of 2023
Resident AdvisorThe Best Albums of 2023[35]
The RingerThe 27 Best Albums of 2023
Rolling Stone100 Best Albums of 2023
The SkinnyThe Skinny's Albums of 2023
Slant MagazineThe 50 Best Albums of 2023
StereogumThe 50 Best Albums Of 2023
Time Out30 Best Albums of 2023
Under the RadarTop 100 Albums of 2023
UproxxThe Best Albums Of 2023[36]
VogueThe Best Albums of 2023[37]

Tour

See main article: Spiraling Tour. Polachek embarked on the Spiraling Tour to promote Desire, I Want to Turn Into You.[38] The tour included North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, beginning on 10 February in Brighton, England and ending on 13 December 2023 in Brisbane, Australia.

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[40] 53
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[41] 31
US Billboard 200[42] 87
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[43] 13
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[44] 19

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graves . Wren . December 5, 2022 . Caroline Polachek announces new album Desire, I Want to Turn into You, shares single: Stream . . December 7, 2022.
  2. Web site: Wang . Steffanee . December 5, 2022 . Caroline Polachek's Next Era Is Arriving February 2023 . . December 7, 2022.
  3. Web site: Murray . Robin . December 5, 2022 . Caroline Polachek Confirms New Album 'Desire, I Want To Turn Into You' . . December 7, 2022.
  4. Web site: Minsker . Evan . July 14, 2021 . Caroline Polachek Shares New Song "Bunny Is a Rider" . . December 7, 2022.
  5. Web site: Okonkwo . Emeka . March 1, 2022 . Caroline Polachek - Billions . Resident Advisor . December 7, 2022.
  6. Web site: Darville . Jordan . October 17, 2022 . Caroline Polachek shares new song/video "Sunset" . . December 7, 2022.
  7. Web site: Rettig . James . December 5, 2022 . Caroline Polachek Announces New Album, Shares "Welcome To My Island": Listen . . December 7, 2022.
  8. Web site: Enos . Morgan . 10 November 2023 . 2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List GRAMMY.com . 2023-11-13 . www.grammy.com.
  9. Spanos . Brittany . December 5, 2022 . How Caroline Polachek's New Album Became a Globe-Trotting, Rave-Going 'Whirlwind' . . December 7, 2022.
  10. Web site: Minsker . Evan . July 26, 2021 . Caroline Polachek Adds 2021 Tour Dates, Shares New "Bunny Is a Rider" Video . Pitchfork . December 7, 2022.
  11. Web site: Darville . Jordan . September 13, 2021 . Dua Lipa announces 2022 tour with Megan Thee Stallion and Caroline Polachek . The Fader . December 7, 2022.
  12. Web site: Jones . Abby . March 30, 2022 . Flume recruits Caroline Polachek for new single "Sirens": Stream . Consequence . December 7, 2022.
  13. Web site: Brodsky . Rachel . July 14, 2022 . Hyd Shares New Song "Afar" Featuring Production By Caroline Polachek: Listen . Stereogum . December 7, 2022.
  14. Web site: Jones . Damian . September 20, 2022 . Caroline Polachek postpones UK and European tour to 2023 . . December 7, 2022.
  15. Web site: Solomon. Kate. Caroline Polachek, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You review: As mind-boggling as I'd hoped for. iNews. February 14, 2023. February 15, 2023.
  16. Web site: Spencer. Kornhaber. When new-age music gets real. The Atlantic. February 18, 2023. March 6, 2023.
  17. Web site: Caroline Polachek, "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You" . 2023-02-21 . FLOOD . en.
  18. Web site: Caroline Polachek: 'Seeing Fiona Apple and Björk succeed without compromise felt so aspirational' . Shaad . D'Souza . . 2023-01-13 . 2023-01-14 . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Pappis . Konstantinos . 2022-12-05 . Caroline Polachek Announces New Album 'Desire, I Want to Turn Into You', Shares New Song . 2022-12-07 . Our Culture Mag.
  20. Web site: Caroline Polachek Has a Valentine's Day Gift Coming for Fans GRAMMYs 2024 . Rolling Stone . 2024-02-04 . 2024-02-07 . Ilana . Woldenberg.
  21. Web site: Caroline Polachek Enlists Weyes Blood for New Song: Listen . Madison . Bloom . 2024-02-07 . 2024-02-07 . Pitchfork.
  22. Web site: Kent-Smith . Jasmine . July 15, 2021 . Caroline Polachek on 'Bunny is a Rider' and collaborating with Danny L Harle . December 7, 2022 . Crack.
  23. Bouza . Kat . February 10, 2022 . Caroline Polachek Surrenders to the Sublime on Esoteric Single 'Billions' . December 7, 2022 . Rolling Stone.
  24. Caroline Polachek. carolineplz. February 18, 2022. Billions took 19 months start to finish. Lots of moving pieces, lots of experimenting. Two chapters I'll never forget: Recording the choir with @dannylharle at @trinitycroydon Camping out in Barcelona with @dannylharle for an intensive week of final production work on Billions (and other songs..), back and forth between the studio and raves... that's when it all clicked Thanks so much to you guys for welcoming this song with so much love!. CaIoQwDP0m9. Instagram. December 7, 2022.
  25. Web site: Willems . Jasper . February 9, 2022 . Caroline Polachek Contemplates the Overabundance of the World On "Billions" . December 9, 2022 . Beats Per Minute.
  26. Web site: Farrell . Margaret . October 18, 2022 . Caroline Polachek Rides Into the Horizon Without Looking Back on "Sunset" . December 7, 2022 . Flood.
  27. Web site: Arcand . Rob . 2023-01-20 . Charli XCX and the 1975's George Daniel Remix Caroline Polachek's "Welcome to My Island" . 2023-02-15 . . en-US.
  28. Web site: Caroline Polachek – "DANG" . Stereogum . 2023-10-17 . 2024-02-07 . James . Rettig.
  29. Web site: Watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: "Dang" - Caroline Polachek (LIVE on The Late Show) - Full show on CBS . CBS . 2023-10-17 . 2024-02-07.
  30. Web site: Weyes Blood Joins Caroline Polachek on New Version of 'Butterfly Net' . Our Culture Mag . 2024-02-07 . 2024-02-07 . Konstantinos . Pappis.
  31. Web site: Collar . Mat . February 14, 2023 . Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want To Turn Into You Album Reviews, Songs & More . March 31, 2023 . AllMusic.
  32. Web site: Nirenburg . Gabbie . February 28, 2023 . Caroline Polachek; 'Desire, I Want To Turn Into You' . May 10, 2023 . No Ripcord.
  33. Web site: AllMusic Best of 2023 AllMusic 2023 in Review . 2023-12-27 . AllMusic . en.
  34. Web site: Our 50 favorite albums of the year - The Boston Globe . 2023-12-27 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
  35. Web site: The Best Albums of 2023 · Feature ⟋ RA . 2023-12-27 . Resident Advisor . en.
  36. Web site: 2023-12-04 . These Are The Best Albums Of 2023 . 2023-12-27 . UPROXX . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2023-10-23 . The Best Albums of 2023 . 2023-12-27 . Vogue . en-US.
  38. Web site: Aniftos . Rania . 2022-12-13 . Caroline Polachek Announces 2023 North American & European Tour . 2023-11-23 . Billboard . en-US.
  39. Caroline Polachek. carolineplz. 1760753589532623323. Woke up today feeling like "Long Road Home" should be on the Everasking Edition. So I added it. Just like that.. February 22, 2024.
  40. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 November 2023. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1758. 6. November 13, 2023.
  41. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 13, 2023. November 11, 2023.
  42. Billboard 200: Week of November 18, 2023. Billboard. November 14, 2023.
  43. Heatseekers Albums chart: March 4, 2023. Billboard. February 28, 2023.
  44. Independent Albums: Week of November 18, 2023. Billboard. November 15, 2023.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Desire, I Want to Turn Into You".

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