Love Is Dead (Chvrches album) explained

Love Is Dead
Type:studio
Artist:Chvrches
Cover:Chvrches - Love Is Dead.png
Alt:In the album cover, Lauren Mayberry with her eyes covered by the band's logo and a necklace that reads "Love is Dead" with the multicolored image being distorted. On top of the image, a black heart with a blue X painted on top.
Recorded:February–December 2017
Studio:
  • Echo, Los Angeles
  • Alucard, New York City
  • Red Bull, New York City
  • Rokstone, London
Genre:Synth-pop
Prev Title:Every Open Eye
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Hansa Session EP
Next Year:2018

Love Is Dead is the third studio album by Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches. It was released on 25 May 2018 by Virgin EMI Records and Goodbye Records. The album was co-produced by Greg Kurstin, marking the first time the band have worked with outside producers. The band collaborated with David Stewart from Eurythmics and Matt Berninger from The National during production. The album was announced by Martin Doherty at the start of January 2018, with frontwoman Lauren Mayberry accidentally revealing the album's name in a since-deleted interview that same month.

After wiping their social media accounts, the band released the lead single, "Get Out", on 31 January. The track listing for the album was released two days before the next single, "My Enemy", which featured Berninger, was released on 28 February. The third single from the album, "Never Say Die", was released on 29 March. "Miracle" was released as the fourth single on 10 April.

Videos were released for "Get Out", "Miracle", "Out Of My Head" and "Graffiti".

The song "Forever" is featured prominently in the third season of the Netflix series Elite.[1]

Background

In September 2015, the band released their second studio album, Every Open Eye, two years after the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. It received positive reviews and spawned the singles "Leave a Trace", "Clearest Blue", "Never Ending Circles" and "Empty Threat". Besides releasing the song "Warning Call", cowritten with Solar Fields, for the game Mirror's Edge Catalyst, and releasing a version of "Bury It" with Paramore's Hayley Williams, the band stayed relatively quiet for the rest of the year and the next.

On 1 January 2018, Martin Doherty announced that the band would release an album within the year.[2] That same month, Lauren Mayberry "accidentally" confirmed this and revealed the album's title in an interview, which has been since deleted.[3] On 26 February, the band revealed the tracklist to the album on Twitter.[4]

Recording and production

The band started working on Love Is Dead on 7 February 2017 in Los Angeles.[5] In 24 February, David Stewart, formerly one-half of the musical duo Eurythmics, revealed that he was in the studio with the band.[6] Greg Kurstin was revealed as a producer for the album on 12 December, with work nearing completion.[7] According to an article from The Independent, the band opted for more universal topics instead of introspection during production, jotting down ideas in a notebook whenever an opportunity passed.[8]

Musical style

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the band described their work with Kurstin as "the most pop stuff we've done and also the most aggressive and vulnerable at the same time".[9] [10] [11] On Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show, on the premiere of "Get Out", Mayberry said that: She also explained the album would take an "honest" approach.

Promotion

The album's lead single, "Get Out", premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 31 January 2018, where Annie Mac dubbed it the Hottest Record in the World; it was released the same day.[12] The second single, "My Enemy", featuring vocals from Matt Berninger of The National, was named Zane Lowe's World Record when it premiered on Beats 1 in 28 February, after the tracklist and artwork reveal.[13] "Never Say Die" was released on 29 March, the third single from the album.[14] Premiered on BBC Radio 1, "Miracle" was released on 10 April as the fourth and final single. It is the album's only song recorded in the United Kingdom.[15]

Prior to the release of "Get Out", and after wiping all of their social media accounts, the band released a short video with a weblink captioned "GET IN", which contained a link that would lead to a Facebook Messenger page made by the band.[16] [17] Furthermore, in the music video for the respective single, alongside Matt Berninger taping an advertisement, a poster advertised a phone number. When called, Mayberry reads part of the lyrics to "My Enemy".[18]

Prior to the official release, the band celebrated the upcoming album with a release party by performing live at iHeartRadio Album Release Party in New York City on 22 May. During the show, they debuted some of the new music for the first time, including songs like "God's Plan", "Graffiti" and "Forever".[19]

Commercial performance

Love Is Dead debuted at number seven on the UK Albums Chart, selling 11,763 copies in its first week.[20] The album debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard 200 as well as number 1 on the Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums chart with 28,000 album equivalent units.[21]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love Is Dead.[22]

Chvrches

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] 7
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[24] 52
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] 35
South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[26] 3
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[27] 81

Love Is Dead Tour

In support of their new album, Chvrches played live worldwide in the festival circuit and venues between 2018 and 2019. The tour officially started on 25 May 2018, with a free show at House Of Vans in London to celebrate the release of their album, but an early album release party held at iHeartRadio Theatre in New York[28] and other two previous shows (19 May 2018 - The Josie Dye One Year Anniversary Show at Danforth Music Hall in Toronto and 21 May 2018 - Elsewhere, Brooklyn, NY) are generally considered as part of the tour based on their common setlist and stage design. On 10 December 2019, the band announced the official end of the tour with a message posted on their blog.[29] The band performed in over 20 countries, attending more than 150 events. For the very first time since their formation, the band added a live drummer, Jonny Scott, to their touring lineup.[30]

Setlist

While the played setlist varied slightly with each show, the typical setlist contained:

  1. "Get Out"
  2. "Bury It"
  3. "Gun"
  4. "We Sink"
  5. "Graffiti"
  6. "Graves"
  7. "Miracle"
  8. "Under the Tide"
  9. "Science/Visions"
  10. "Forever"
  11. "Recover"
  12. "Leave a Trace"
  13. "Clearest Blue"
  14. "Never Say Die"
  15. "The Mother We Share"

Stage Design and Crew

For the Love is Dead tour, the stage design was created by the lighting designer and programmer Louis Oliver, who has been working with the band since 2013. The idea behind the blueprints was to use a flexible design which could fit any type of show size. "The main request from the band was to have a more performance focused design, with looks that amplified their performance."[31] while avoiding the use of any large video screens. The solution was to create 15 touring lighting pods containing 16 Elation Fuze Par Z120 which allowed them to adapt to each venue's limitations. The lighting setup also included 12 Robe BMFL Wash Beams, 13 GLP JDC1, 2 Base Hazer Pros and 2 grandMA2 Light consoles. The most visible elements of the floor package were three custom-built pieces comprising two crosses and a balancing symbol that mimic the artwork created by Warren Fu for the Love is Dead album cover.[32]

The tour crew also included:

Shows

The performances with short setlists (five songs or fewer) are not included in the list below.

Tour dates

Date! width="150"
CityCountryVenue
North America
19 May 2018TorontoCanadaThe Josie Dye One Year Anniversary Show
21 May 2018New York CityUnited StatesElsewhere
22 May 2018iHeartRadio Theater
Europe
25 May 2018LondonUnited KingdomHouse of Vans
26 May 2018SwanseaBBC Music's Biggest Weekend
29 May 2018Kingston upon ThamesThe Hippodrome
31 May 2018BarcelonaSpainPrimavera Sound
North America
3 June 2018New York CityUnited StatesGovernors Ball Music Festival
8 June 2018HilvarenbeekNetherlandsBest Kept Secret
10 June 2018ManchesterUnited KingdomParklife
North America
16 June 2018TorontoCanadaNorth by Northeast
17 June 2018CamdenUnited StatesRadio 104.5's 11th Birthday Show
Europe
22 June 2018ScheeßelGermanyHurricane Festival
23 June 2018Neuhausen ob EckSouthside Festival
29 June 2018Panenský TýnecCzech RepublicAerodrome Festival
30 June 2018Saint-CergueSwitzerlandOpen Air St. Gallen
4 July 2018GdyniaPolandOpen'er Festival
6 July 2018WerchterBelgiumRock Werchter
8 July 2018GlasgowUnited KingdomTRNSMT
11 July 2018LinzAustriaAhoi The Full Hit of Summer
13 July 2018AlgésPortugalNOS Alive
15 July 2018LondonUnited KingdomCitadel Festival at Gunnersbury Park
Oceania
21 July 2018Apollo BayAustraliaSplendour in the Grass
22 July 2018SydneyHordern Pavilion
23 July 2018MelbourneMargaret Court Arena
Asia
27 July 2018SeoulSouth KoreaSound City Seoul at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium
29 July 2018YuzawaJapanFuji Rock Festival
North America
1 August 2018ChicagoUnited StatesMetro Chicago
2 August 2018Lollapalooza
3 August 2018St. CharlesHinterland Music Festival
4 August 2018OmahaThe Waiting Room Lounge
6 August 2018DenverOgden Theatre
7 August 2018
9 August 2018OgdenOgden Twilight at Ogden Amphitheatre
11 August 2018San FranciscoOutside Lands Music and Arts Festival
12 August 2018Long BeachALT 98.7 Summer Camp[33]
14 August 2018Los AngelesJimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series
Europe
31 August 2018StradballyIrelandElectric Picnic
North America
20 September 2018San DiegoUnited StatesCal Coast Open Air Amphitheater
21 September 2018Las VegasLife Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival
22 September 2018SacramentoCity of Trees Music Festival
23 September 2018Los AngelesGreek Theatre
26 September 2018PortlandArlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
27 September 2018VancouverCanadaCommodore Ballroom
28 September 2018
29 September 2018SeattleUnited StatesParamount Theatre
2 October 2018Saint PaulPalace Theatre
3 October 2018
4 October 2018MilwaukeeRiverside Theater
6 October 2018AustinAustin City Limits Music Festival
8 October 2018BirminghamIron City Bham
9 October 2018AshevilleThomas Wolfe Auditorium
10 October 2018AtlantaTabernacle
11 October 2018New OrleansJoy Theater
13 October 2018AustinAustin City Limits Music Festival
15 October 2018NashvilleRyman Auditorium
16 October 2018CharlotteThe Fillmore Charlotte
18 October 2018Washington, D.C.The Anthem
19 October 2018PhiladelphiaFranklin Music Hall
20 October 2018BostonOrpheum Theatre
21 October 2018
Europe
2 November 2018ParisFrancePitchfork Music Festival
3 November 2018UtrechtNetherlandsTivoliVredenburg
5 November 2018BrusselsBelgiumAncienne Belgique
6 November 2018CologneGermanyLive Music Hall
7 November 2018BerlinTempodrom
9 November 2018HamburgDocks
10 November 2018ViennaAustriaGasometer B
11 November 2018StuttgartGermanyLKA Longhorn
12 November 2018MunichMuffathalle
14 November 2018MilanItalyFabrique
15 November 2018LausanneSwitzerlandLes Docks
16 November 2018Luxembourg CityLuxembourgDen Atelier
North America
18 November 2018Mexico CityMexicoCorona Capital
28 November 2018TulsaUnited StatesCain's Ballroom
1 December 2018ChicagoThe Nights We Stole Christmas at Aragon Ballroom
2 December 2018Tampa97X Next Big Thing Music Festival
4 December 2018Kansas CityMidland Theatre
6 December 2018New York CityBarclays Center
8 December 2018San JoseALT 105.3 Not So Silent Night at SAP Center
9 December 2018InglewoodThe Forum
Oceania
30 December 2018Bream CreekAustraliaFalls Festival
31 December 2018Lorne
1 January 2019SydneyField Day
2 January 2019Byron BayFalls Festival
5 January 2019Fremantle
7 January 2019SydneySydney Opera House
Europe
7 February 2019LondonUnited KingdomAlexandra Palace
8 February 2019BirminghamO2 Academy Birmingham
9 February 2019
11 February 2019NottinghamRock City
12 February 2019BournemouthO2 Academy Bournemouth
14 February 2019ManchesterVictoria Warehouse
15 February 2019
16 February 2019GlasgowSSE Hydro
18 February 2019Newcastle upon TyneO2 Academy Newcastle
19 February 2019BelfastUlster Hall
21 February 2019DublinIrelandOlympia Theatre
22 February 2019
Asia
26 February 2019OsakaJapanZepp Bay
28 February 2019TokyoToyosu Pit
1 March 2019
North America
30 March 2019TehuixtlaMexicoFestival Vaivén (Jardines de México)
14 April 2019IndioUnited StatesCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
16 April 2019Las VegasBrooklyn Bowl
18 April 2019PioneertownPappy & Harriet's
19 April 2019BerkeleyThe Greek Theatre
21 April 2019IndioCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
22 April 2019PhoenixThe Van Buren
23 April 2019TucsonRialto Theatre
26 April 2019HoustonWhite Oak Music Hall
27 April 2019Fort WorthFortress Festival
28 April 2019AustinAustin City Limits Music Festival
29 April 2019
1 MAY 2019St. LouisThe Pageant
2 May 2019ChicagoAragon Ballroom
3 May 2019MemphisBeale Street Music Festival
24 May 2019BostonBoston Calling Music Festival
Europe
14 June 2019MadridSpainParaiso Festival
North America
29 June 2019DenverUnited StatesWestword Music Showcase
1 July 2019Kansas CityUptown Theater
2 July 2019MilwaukeeSummerfest
4 July 2019OttawaCanadaOttawa Bluesfest
5 July 2019Quebec CityFestival d'été de Québec
6 July 2019MontrealMontreal International Jazz Festival[34]
7 July 2019TorontoNoir inside Rebel
9 July 2019New HavenUnited StatesCollege Street Music Hall
11 July 2019New York CityRadio City Music Hall
12 July 2019Pioneer Works
13 July 2019MinneapolisBasilica Block Party
14 July 2019LouisvilleForecastle Festival
Europe
18 July 2019BonțidaRomaniaElectric Castle
21 July 2019BecclesUnited KingdomLatitude Festival
1 August 2019InvernessTartan Heart Festival
4 August 2019DublinIrelandBeatyard[35]
8 August 2019BudapestHungarySziget Festival
9 August 2019PiešťanySlovakiaGrapeFestival
11 August 2019EdinburghUnited KingdomSummer Sessions @ Princes Street Gardens
Asia
15 August 2019IncheonSouth KoreaYour Summer Music Festival @ Paradise City Culture Park
17 August 2019OsakaJapanSummer Sonic Festival
18 August 2019Chiba
Europe
23 August 2019WetherbyUnited KingdomReading and Leeds Festivals
25 August 2019Reading
North America
7 September 2019RaleighUnited StatesHopscotch Music Festival
21 September 2019Glen EllenSonoma Harvest Music Festival
12 October 2019Washington, D.C.All Things Go - Union Market
2 November 2019San DiegoDia De Los Deftones
Ocenia
23 November 2019CanberraAustraliaSpilt Milk
30 November 2019Ballarat
North America
6 December 2019Las VegasUnited StatesIntersect Music Festival @ Las Vegas Festival Grounds[36]
8 December 2019Los AngelesWiltern Theatre

Notes and References

  1. How Chvrches Scored the Netflix Deal of the Music Industry's Dreams . Wang . Amy X. . 16 April 2020 . . 30 June 2020.
  2. Web site: Vierra. Erin. Martin Doherty of Chvrches Says New Album and Tour Coming in 2018. mxdwn. 2 January 2018. 4 June 2018.
  3. Web site: Love Is Dead – CHVRCHES. Genius. 23 January 2018.
  4. News: CHVRCHES detail third album. Maicki. Salvatore. 26 February 2018. The Fader. 1 March 2018.
  5. News: CHVRCHES have started working on album three. 9 February 2017. DIY. 1 March 2018.
  6. News: CHVRCHES in Studio Working on Third Album. Howard. Lindsay. 24 February 2017. Variance. 1 March 2018.
  7. Web site: We are currently putting the finishing touches on "the most aggressive and vulnerable" album we've ever made.. martin. 12 December 2017. @doksan. 1 March 2018.
  8. News: Chvrches reveal first look at new album. Kaplan. Ilana. 12 December 2017. The Independent. 1 March 2018.
  9. Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry breaks down their new LP: 'It's the most pop stuff we've done'. Vain. Madison. 12 December 2017. Entertainment Weekly. 1 February 2018.
  10. News: Hear CHVRCHES' addictive new pop anthem, "Get Out". Dickman. Maggie. 31 January 2018. Alternative Press. 1 February 2018.
  11. News: Chvrches Is Back With Greg Kurstin-Produced Single "Get Out". Wass. Mike. 31 January 2018. Idolator. 1 February 2018.
  12. Web site: Hey @CHVRCHES fans!. 2018-01-31. @BBCR1. 1 March 2018. Hey @CHVRCHES fans! @AnnieMac's playing brand new music for the first time anywhere in the world! Make sure you're locked in! http://bbc.in/2EtBykr pic.twitter.com/igI6QjPMdL.
  13. Web site: CHVRCHES' New Track "My Enemy" Features The National's Matt Berninger. O'Neill. Lauren. 1 March 2018. 1 March 2018.
  14. News: CHVRCHES bring the heat with their latest banger 'Never Say Die'. Shutler. Ali. 28 March 2018. Dork. 28 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180329121030/https://www.readdork.com/news/chvrches-bring-the-heat-with-their-latest-banger-never-say-die/. 29 March 2018. dead.
  15. News: Hunt. El. Chvrches share new track 'Miracle'. 11 April 2018. NME. 10 April 2018.
  16. News: CHVRCHES Are Teasing New Music via Facebook Messenger. pastemagazine.com. 1 March 2018.
  17. Web site: Chvrches Share Cryptic New Video: Watch. Pitchfork. 30 January 2018 . 1 March 2018.
  18. News: Listen to Chvrches' massive new single 'Get Out'. Daly. Rhian. 31 January 2018. NME. 1 March 2018.
  19. Web site: CHVRCHES Debuts New 'Love Is Dead' Music During Album Release Party iHeartRadio LIVE iHeartRadio. iHeartRadio LIVE. 2020-01-11.
  20. Web site: Jones. Alan. Charts analysis: Greatest Showman holds on at albums summit. Music Week. 1 June 2018. 6 June 2018. subscription .
  21. Rutherford . Kevin . Chvrches' 'Love Is Dead' Leads Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums Charts . Billboard . 2018-06-06 . 2022-08-04.
  22. Love Is Dead. liner notes. Chvrches. Virgin EMI Records. 2018. CDV 3200.
  23. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums. Australian Recording Industry Association. 4 June 2018. 2 June 2018.
  24. Web site: Love Is Dead on Billboard Japan Hot Albums. Billboard Japan. 20 September 2020. ja.
  25. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 4 June 2018. 1 June 2018.
  26. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 27, 2018. . ko . 7 June 2018.
  27. Web site: Top 100 Albumes – Semana 22: del 25.5.2018 al 31.5.2018. Productores de Música de España. es. 7 June 2018.
  28. Web site: CHVRCHES to Celebrate 'Love Is Dead' Early During Album Release Party. 2018-05-16. iHeartRadio. 2020-02-19.
  29. Web site: CHVRCHES. CHVRCHES. en. 2020-01-08.
  30. Web site: CHVRCHES have a drummer now - NME. 2018-03-12. NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM. en-GB. 2020-02-20.
  31. Web site: CHVRCHES 'Love Is Dead' Tour 2019. 2019-06-16. PLSN. 2020-01-08.
  32. Web site: Chvrches. specialz.co.uk. 2020-05-16.
  33. Web site: CHVRCHES Brings Good Vibes To ALT Summer Camp. ALT 98.7. 2020-02-18.
  34. Web site: Festival de Jazz de Montréal – Jour 10 16 photos du spectacle de CHVRCHES au MTELUS. 2019-07-08. Sors-tu.ca. fr. 2020-01-11.
  35. Web site: CHVRCHES. The Beatyard. en-GB. 2020-01-10.
  36. Web site: Intersect Music Festival Announces Full 2019 Lineup. Amazon.com, Inc. - Press Room. 16 October 2019 . en. 2020-01-09.