Quality Over Opinion Explained

Quality Over Opinion
Type:studio
Artist:Louis Cole
Cover:Quality Over Opinion.jpg
Label:Brainfeeder
Prev Title:LIVE 2019
Prev Year:2020

Quality Over Opinion is the sixth solo album and fourth studio album by American musician Louis Cole. It was released on October 14, 2022, on Brainfeeder.[1] It was nominated for Best Alternative Jazz Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards; and the single "Let it Happen" was nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals the previous year.[2]

Background and release

Quality Over Opinion was Cole's second album released through Brainfeeder, after 2018's Time. The album was recorded and produced in Cole's home studio, with Cole performing most of the instruments himself. According to Cole, inspirations for the album included Gustav Mahler, György Ligeti, Miles Davis, Meshuggah, Morten Lauridsen, and Super Mario Kart.

Cole released four singles in the months leading up to the album's release: "Let it Happen", "I'm Tight", "Not Needed Anymore", and "Dead Inside Shuffle".[3] Cole filmed music videos for all four of these, as well as for "Park Your Car on My Face" and "Shallow Laughter / Bitches". He also released a full-album lyric video of himself lip syncing along in a bathroom mirror.[4] In an article for NPR, Nate Chinen noted Cole's "deadpan dance" moves and absurdist humor in the video for "I'm Tight".[5]

Reception

Quality Over Opinion was met with positive reviews, with Chinen describing the album as "bracing" and Ammar Kalia of The Guardian calling it Cole's "most accomplished and well-rounded work to date".[6] Michael Major of BroadwayWorld described "I'm Tight" as "a sleek, laser-focused Funk rocket, based on an utterly irresistible bassline."

Accolades

Quality Over Opinion awards and nominations
YearOrganizationAwardWorkStatus
2023Grammy AwardsBest Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals"Let It Happen"[7]
2024Best Alternative Jazz AlbumQuality Over Opinion

References

  1. Web site: Major . Michael . Louis Cole Announces New LP 'Quality Over Opinion' . 2022-12-01 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  2. Web site: Minsker . Evan . Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here . Pitchfork . 10 November 2023 . 10 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Cole . Louis . Singles and EPs . 2022-12-01 . . en.
  4. Web site: louiscolemusic . 2022-12-01 . YouTube.
  5. News: Chinen . Nate . 2022-10-12 . What is viral jazz? . en . NPR . 2022-12-01.
  6. Web site: 2022-10-03 . Louis Cole: 'Funk is fun but with jazz you can just go wild' . 2022-12-01 . the Guardian . en.
  7. News: 2022-11-15 . Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-12-01 . 0362-4331.