| IV | |
| Type: | album |
| Artist: | BadBadNotGood |
| Cover: | bbngiv.png |
| Released: | July 8, 2016 |
| Recorded: | Fall 2015–Spring 2016 |
| Length: | 50:33 |
| Label: | Innovative Leisure |
| Producer: | BadBadNotGood |
| Prev Title: | Sour Soul |
| Prev Year: | 2015 |
| Next Title: | Spotify Live EP |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
IV is the fourth studio album from Canadian jazz instrumental hip hop band BadBadNotGood. It was released on July 8, 2016. It features collaborations with Future Islands frontman Sam Herring, saxophonist Colin Stetson, Haitian-Canadian musician Kaytranada, American hip hop artist Mick Jenkins, and Canadian singer-songwriter Charlotte Day Wilson.
It is also the band's first album to feature longtime touring partner and collaborator Leland Whitty as a formal member of the band.[1]
In an interview with Howl & Echoes, the band described IVs conception and recording process:[2]
With the album's cover art, Katie Hawthorne of The Skinny said: "Every single instrument used is listed with pride on the record's cover, and the [band] stand chests bare, towels around waists, bro-ing out."
IV received favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 77, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".
Mackenzie Herd of Exclaim! praised the album, stating, "Each song possesses rhythmic and melodically intricate properties that sound somehow both rehearsed and spontaneous. So, while IV is extraordinary for delivering fresh music that elaborates on their past work, it feels particularly exceptional because of its forward momentum." Paul Simpson of AllMusic gave the album a favorable review, stating, "It's easy to see why BBNG are the type of jazz group that appeals to people who normally don't care for jazz. They're music lovers, first and foremost, and they're directly in tune with what's happening in the music world. They blend numerous influences and don't conform to any traditions. More than anything, their music is exuberant and immensely enjoyable." Carl Purvis of No Ripcord praised the vocals of Herring and Wilson, concluding that: "BBNG have always been fluent and sonically articulate, but enlisting the talents of suitable vocalists to thicken their smokescreen strengthens their suit."[3]
Jamie Milton of DIY was more critical of the album, stating, "There’s not a great deal tying these songs together, aside from BBNG’s pursuit of the new. Collaborations aren’t here to generate headlines or set pulses racing - each serves its own noble purpose. Taken on their own, each track solidifies the group’s wild imagination, but IV is tough to stomach as the free-flowing, full-bodied juggernaut that it is."
| Publication | Accolade | Year | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rough Trade | Albums of the Year | 2016 | ||
| BBC 6 Music | Albums of the Year | 2016 |
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[4]
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] | 54 |
| New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[6] | 9 |