Paradise State of Mind explained
Paradise State of Mind is the fourth studio album by American indie pop band Foster the People, released on August 16, 2024, by Atlantic Records, their first under the label.[1] It is the band's first studio album in over seven years since the release of Sacred Hearts Club in 2017, although they released an EP and a number of non-album singles between 2018 and 2021.
The album is primarily influenced by the musical landscape of the late 1970s with elements of disco, funk, gospel, and jazz,[2] with songwriting inspired by such cultural events as the COVID-19 pandemic. Some themes explored through the album's lyrics include technology, mortality, time, self-reflection and optimism. Foster has stated his fascination with the music of the 1970s decade contrasted with the political, social and cultural changes of that time, drawing a parallel between the 1970s and the 2020s. It is also more of an analog record with less use of digital sounds and instrumentation compared to their previous albums.[3]
The first single, disco-toned "Lost in Space", was released on May 31, 2024.[4] The second single "Take Me Back" was released on June 28, 2024. The third single "Chasing Low Vibrations" was released on July 26, 2024. It is the band's first album not to feature their drummer Mark Pontius after his departure from the band in October 2021.[5] It is also the band's final album to feature guitarist Sean Cimino as he departed from the band three months before the album's release.[1]
Track listing
Note
- signifies a co-producer
- signifies an additional producer
Personnel
Foster the People
- Mark Foster – lead vocals (all tracks), synthesizer (tracks 1–10); guitar, piano (1–9); bass (1–3, 6–10), drums (2, 4), engineering (2), percussion (3, 7)
- Isom Innis – synthesizer (tracks 1, 3, 5, 11), engineering (2, 11), drums (3, 7, 10, 11), programming (5, 10), piano (11)
- Sean Cimino – guitar (tracks 1, 5, 7, 9, 10), synthesizer (5, 7, 10, 11), programming (5), slide guitar (9)
Additional musicians
- Paul Jacob Cartwright – concert master (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Vanessa Freebairn-Smith – cello (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Alyssa Park – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Andrew Duckles – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Ina Veli – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Kerenza Peacock – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Luanne Homzy – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Paul Jacob Cartwright – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Zach Dellinger – violin (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Riley MacIntyre – programming (tracks 1, 8)
- Lily Kershaw – backing vocals (tracks 2, 4, 9)
- Jherek Bischoff – double bass (tracks 4, 5, 11)
- Jacob Scesney – Western concert flute (tracks 5, 9); baritone vocals, bass saxophone, tenor vocals (9)
- Paul Epworth – synthesizer (tracks 6, 8); backing vocals, drums (6)
- Jack Peñate – backing vocals, guitar, programming (track 6)
- Nikolaj Torp Larsen – organ, piano, synthesizer (track 6)
- Stewart Cole – trumpet (tracks 7, 9); chant vocals, synthesizer (7); baritone horn, flugelhorn (9)
- Aaron Redfield – drums (track 9)
- Jeremy Malvin – bass, programming, synthesizer (track 10)
Technical
- Mike Bozzi – mastering
- Rich Costey – mixing
- Chaz Sexton – engineering (tracks 1–5, 7–11)
- Patrick Ford – engineering (tracks 1–5, 7–11)
- Riley MacIntyre – engineering (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8)
- Luke Pickering – engineering (tracks 6, 8)
- Jherek Bischoff – string arrangement (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
- Mayumi Heider – engineering assistance (tracks 1–5, 8, 11)
Critical reception
The album has achieved a Metacritic score of 79 so far, indicating mostly positive reviews.
Notes and References
- Foster the People Preview New Album With '70s-Inspired Single 'Lost in Space' . Zemler . Emily . May 31, 2024 . May 31, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
- Web site: Williams . Lana . Paradise State of Mind is a refreshing offering from Foster The People . . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815131620/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/foster-the-people-paradise-state-of-mind-refreshing-offering . August 15, 2024 . August 16, 2024 . live.
- Web site: Moayeri . Lily . Mark Foster Talks Filling 'the Well Back Up With Life' to Create Art . . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812193832/https://www.spin.com/2024/08/mark-foster-interview-foster-the-people/ . August 12, 2024 . August 12, 2024 . live.
- Web site: Foster the People Announce New Album Paradise State of Mind, Share "Lost In Space:" Stream . Siroky . Mary . May 31, 2024 . May 31, 2024 . Consequence of Sound.
- Foster the People drummer Mark Pontius exits band after over a decade. Alex. Gallagher. NME. October 14, 2021 . April 4, 2024. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240404063225/https://www.nme.com/news/music/foster-the-people-drummer-mark-pontius-exits-band-after-over-a-decade-3070340. April 4, 2024.
