Like All Before You Explained

Like All Before You
Type:studio
Artist:The Voidz
Cover:Like All Before You.jpg
Length:42:55
Label:Cult
Prev Title:Virtue
Prev Year:2018

Like All Before You is the third studio album by the American band the Voidz, which was released on September 20, 2024. It was the band's first album in six years following 2018's Virtue.

Background

This album is the band's first in six years and third overall, with their last being Virtue. It is also notably frontman Julian Casablancas's first project following his Grammy award win for Best Rock Album with his other group, the Strokes, for their 2020 album The New Abnormal.[1]

The title of the album was inspired by a conversation between Casablancas and the band's bassist and synth player, Jake Bercovici, where the latter said: "Soon we’ll all be crusted and dusted like all before us.”[2]

Recording

The album was recorded at the band's home studio in Venice, California, as well as at Vox Studios in Los Angeles. The band collaborated with producers Ivan Wayman, Justin Raisen, and Sadpony on several tracks.

Release

The album's first single, "Prophecy of the Dragon" was released on May 26, 2023.[3] On October 27, 2023, "Flexorcist" was released,[4] along with an accompanying 14-minute-long music video that also served as the music video for "Prophecy of the Dragon". In the following year, on February 21, 2024, "All the Same" was released.[5]

On July 4, 2024, a teaser was uploaded to the band's YouTube channel that announced the album and revealed its digital release date to be in September 2024,[6] with further announcements detailing the album's physical vinyl release date[7] and two live dates in Los Angeles and Harlem for October of that year.[7] With this announcement, the band also quietly put out the instrumental single "Overture" on digital platforms.[8] The album's final single, "7 Horses", was released on September 16, 2024.[9]

Like All Before You was released on September 20, 2024.

Reception

The album was met with a mixed reception. Clash gave the album an 8/10 score, describing the album as falling into the category of "unforced invention delivered with chilled ease", praising the tracklist's variety and mentioning that "while heaps of experimenting is on display, [...] the song is always at the centre".[10] Rolling Stone rated the album two and a half stars, writing that "the record is the most unpredictable that the group [...] has recorded since it formed more than a decade ago", adding that it is "difficult to listen to the album as a whole".[11]

The band faced controversy with their use of AI artwork for the album's cover art, with many fans expressing their disappointment online. On Instagram, Casablancas issued a statement defending the choice, which included the following excerpts:

"We [definitely] didn't go out of our way to use AI art. I just objectively– in the wilderness of the art out there– liked the image and we were working with several ideas and just all objectively collectively liked it best. [...]Sorry to the 'Scared of [New] Tools' tribe, truly sorry. But art plops up, best idea/image/noise in the end should win... and I'm not 'endorsing' AI, I don't dwell on it, but it's part of culture now. Relax, it's iPhone."[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Bloom . Madison . The Strokes Win Their First Grammy for Best Rock Album . 20 September 2024 . . 14 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240909215632/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-strokes-win-best-rock-album-at-2021-grammys/ . 9 September 2024 . live.
  2. News: Daly . Rhian . Julian Casablancas sets the world to rights: "We always think we're so special and beyond the old ways, but we're not" . 20 September 2024 . . 19 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240919162116/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/julian-casablancas-interview-the-voidz-like-all-before-you-album-3795205 . live . 19 September 2024.
  3. News: 26 May 2023 . The Voidz's "Prophecy of the Dragon" is OUT NOW . https://web.archive.org/web/20240303073709/https://cultrecords.com/blogs/news/the-voidzs-prophecy-of-the-dragon-is-out-now . 3 March 2024 . live . 20 September 2024 . Cult Records.
  4. News: "FLEXORCIST" by The Voidz is OUT NOW . 20 September 2024 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920082846/https://cultrecords.com/blogs/news/flexorcist-by-the-voidz-is-out-now . 20 September 2024 . live . 27 October 2023.
  5. News: "All the Same" by The Voidz is OUT NOW . 20 September 2024 . . 21 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240705041628/https://cultrecords.com/blogs/news/all-the-same-by-the-voidz-is-out-now . 5 July 2024 . live.
  6. News: Soo . JX . The Voidz announce 'Like All Before You', their first record in six years . 17 September 2024 . . 5 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917155135/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-voidz-like-all-before-you-first-record-six-years-3772300 . 17 September 2024 . live .
  7. News: THE VOIDZ ANNOUNCE NEW RECORD "Like All Before You" - and live shows . 17 September 2024 . . 4 July 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917155136/https://cultrecords.com/blogs/news/the-voidz-announce-like-all-before-you-coming-out-september-2024 . 17 September 2024.
  8. News: Breihan . Tom . The Voidz – "Overture" . 20 September 2024 . . 5 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240910215901/https://www.stereogum.com/2270553/the-voidz-overture/music/ . 10 September 2024 . live .
  9. News: "7 Horses" by The Voidz OUT NOW . 20 September 2024 . . 16 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240917224438/https://cultrecords.com/blogs/news/7-horses-by-the-voidz-out-now . 17 September 2024 . live.
  10. Hansen . Susan . 19 September 2024 . Julian Casablancas + The Voidz – Like All Before You . 21 September 2024 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240921025412/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/julian-casablancas-the-voidz-like-all-before-you/ . 21 September 2024 . live.
  11. Grow . Kory . Enjoying the Voidz's New 'Like All Before You' Depends on Lady Luck . 20 September 2024 . . 20 September 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240920164011/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/voidz-like-all-before-you-album-review-1235105319/ . 20 September 2024.
  12. Olinger . Sandra . Julian Casablancas Responds to Fans Disappointed by The Voidz's AI-made Album Cover Art . 1 October 2024 . Grimy Goods . 9 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240715182929/https://www.grimygoods.com/2024/07/09/julian-casablancas-responds-to-fans-disappointed-by-the-voidzs-ai-made-album-cover-art/ . 15 July 2024 . live.

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