Shook (album) explained
| Shook |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Algiers |
| Cover: | Algiers - Shook.png |
| Alt: | Shook album cover |
| Released: | February 24, 2023 |
| Recorded: | April 2021 – December 2021 |
| Studio: | Atlantic Center for the Arts, Kawari Sound, Pirate Studios, Retro City Studios |
| Length: | 54:26 |
| Label: | Matador |
| Producer: | Algiers |
| Prev Title: | Shook World (hosted by Algiers) |
| Prev Year: | 2023 |
Shook is the fourth studio album by American experimental band Algiers. It was released through Matador Records on February 24, 2023.[1] [2] The single "Irreversible Damage", featuring Zack de la Rocha, was released in October 2022.[3]
Production
"Something Wrong?" is about a traffic stop involving a Black driver. A sample from "Subway Theme", by Grand Wizzard Theodore, appears on "Everybody Shatter".[4] Samuel T. Herring sings on "I Can’t Stand It!"[5] Backxwash appears on "Bite Back".[6] Several tracks are spoken word pieces.
Critical reception
Shook was well-received by music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 79, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "favorable reviews".
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Heather Phares described it as, "More of an experience than a set of songs, Shook's stunning, often harrowing journey of surviving and resisting is well worth taking." Jon Pareles at The New York Times wrote that, "Algiers lashes out at injustice, exults in its sonic mastery and insists on the life forces of solidarity and physical impact."[7] At Pitchfork, Matthew Ismael Ruiz noted that, "the group sounds most natural at their darkest—the reverbed growl of guitars, the synths colored with dirt and grime... They benefit from Matt Tong's virtuosic drumming, which feels looser and more alive than any drum machine."
The Daily Telegraph writer Andrew Perry concluded that, "for uninitiates, Shooks sensory onslaught may resemble Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, updated for the post-Trump era." Mojo's Stevie Chick determined that, "Shooks stories of struggle, pain and healing are painted in edgy electro, impassioned punk-soul, cloudbursts of jazz and rattlesnake trap pulses."
Personnel
Algiers
- Franklin J. Fisher – vocals (1–4, 6, 7, 9–12, 14, 15, 17), drum programming (1, 3, 4), mellotron (1, 9), guitar (1–4, 9, 10, 14), bass guitar (1–4, 10, 11), sampler (1, 3, 7, 11, 14, 17), tape player (1), synthesizers (2–5, 11, 12, 17), sequencing (2, 4, 10–12, 15), beat programming (2, 10–12, 15, 17), percussion (2), background vocals (5), vocal sequencing (5), B2 organ (7), sampling (10), cello (10), piano (10, 12), moog (10), string arrangement (10)
- Ryan Mahan – synthesizers (1–3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15), bass guitar (1, 6, 9, 14, 15), sound design (1, 6, 14, 15), drum production (1, 2, 6, 9, 14), bell (1), vocals (1–3, 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17), drum programming (2, 6, 9, 14), guitar (3, 6, 9, 14), background vocals (5), piano (6, 14), noise machine (6, 14), vocal production (10, 14), field recordings (17)
- Lee Tesche – guitar (1, 10, 14, 15), 2x4 (1, 12), glass bottle (1), sheet metal (1), sampler (1, 15, 17), field recordings (1, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17), electronics (1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 12, 14–17), vocals (1, 6, 7, 9), radio (2, 16), springs (2, 9), background vocals (5), tenor sax (7, 15, 17), programming (7), bells (7), pedal steel (7), percussion (10), test equipment (14), dub siren (15), tape manipulation (15), synthesizers (16)
- Matthew Tong – drums (1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 17)
Other personnel
- Big Rube – vocals (1, 5)
- Tristan Griffin – background vocals (1, 3, 9, 15)
- Ayse Hassan – background vocals (1)
- Mark Stewart – background vocals (1)
- Matthew Ricchini – drums (1, 3, 6, 14, 15, 17), synthesizers (1, 12), percussion (2), background vocals (5, 15), sequencing (12), beat programming (12)
- Zack de la Rocha – vocals (2)
- Monika Khot – background vocals (4)
- Billy Woods – vocals (6)
- Ashanti Mutinta – vocals (6)
- Mawa Keita – background vocals (6)
- Joe Bochniak – background vocals (6)
- Kyle Kidd – background vocals (6)
- James Longs – background vocals (6)
- LaToya Kent – background vocals (6), vocals (13)
- Mark Cisneros – double bass (7, 12), bass clarinet (7), flute (7), congas (7), tenor sax (1, 12)
- An Do – voice (8)
- Samuel T. Herring – vocals (10)
- Jae Matthews – vocals (10)
- Susan D. Mandel – cello (10)
- Brianne Lugo – viola (10)
- Alex Weill – violin (10)
- Gari Thomas – voice (11)
- Shea Curry – vocals (12)
- Robyn Fisher – background vocals (12)
- Sonya Belaya – prepared piano (12), electronics (12)
- Caleb Flood – electronics (12)
- Dave Dickie – synthesizers (13)
- Félix Blume – field recordings (13)
- Nadah El Shazly – vocals (14)
- DeForrest Brown Jr. – vocals (16)
- Patrick Shiroishi – alto sax (16)
- Lee Bains lll – vocals (17)
Notes and References
- News: Darling . Cary . Young, gifted, Black and indie . Houston Chronicle . February 5, 2023 . G1.
- Web site: Review: Algiers Shakes Things Up . American Songwriter . March 2023 . 18 March 2023.
- News: Jessop . Vicky . Algiers Irreversible Damage . Evening Standard . 28 Oct 2022 . 25.
- Web site: Breihan . Tom . Album of the Week: Algiers Shook . Stereogum . 21 February 2023 . 18 March 2023.
- Web site: Reviews Algiers Shook . The Quietus . 18 March 2023.
- Web site: Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of February 2023 . PopMatters . 6 March 2023 . 18 March 2023.
- News: Pareles . Jon . Songs of Rage and Redemption . The New York Times . 28 Feb 2023 . C5.
