The Big Decider Explained
| The Big Decider |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | the Zutons |
| Cover: | The Zutons - The Big Decider.png |
| Alt: | A top-down view of a circuit board-like illuminated maze. |
| Studio: |
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| Length: | 35:31 |
| Label: | Icepop |
| Prev Title: | You Can Do Anything |
| Prev Year: | 2008 |
The Big Decider is the fourth studio album by English rock band the Zutons, released on 26 April 2024 through Icepop. It is the band's first album in 16 years, following You Can Do Anything (2008), their disbandment the following year, and reformation in 2018. The album was produced by Ian Broudie, Nile Rodgers, and band member Sean Payne and was promoted with a tour of the UK in early 2024.[1] It received generally positive reviews from critics.
Critical reception
The Big Decider received a score of 80 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "generally favorable" reception. Classic Rock felt that the album "sees the Zutons back to their happy clapping playful best", while Mojo called it "uplifting, rueful and expertly crafted".
Emma Harrison of Clash described it as "a real statement of intent" as well as "an absolute suckerpunch of an album which reflects the love and chemistry the band and the collaborators have for each other". Ben Hogwood of MusicOMH wrote that the nine songs display "the band's leaner approach, but they show that McCabe's eye for a memorable song remains", but "their songs are not – yet – quite as memorable as those from the band's first iteration".
Track listing
Note
- signifies an additional producer
Personnel
The Zutons
- Dave McCabe – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars (all tracks); synthesizer (track 5), screwdriver guitars (6, 8), slide guitar (9)
- Abi Harding – backing vocals (all tracks), saxophone (tracks 2–9)
- Sean Payne – drums, percussion (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 1–5, 7–9), additional recording (2, 3, 7–9), bass guitar (5, 9), additional keyboards (5), additional engineering (6), acoustic guitar (8, 9)
Additional musicians
- Neil Bradley – keyboards (tracks 1–5, 7–9), piano (1, 5, 9), backing vocals (1), electric piano (6)
- Jay Lewis – bass guitar (tracks 1, 6, 8), backing vocals (1), lead guitar (2–8), claps (7)
- Boyan Chowdhury – guitar, backing vocals (track 1)
- Tim Cunningham – bass guitar (tracks 2–4, 7)
- Ian Broudie – backing vocals (tracks 4, 7)
- Ben Truman – strings (tracks 4, 7)
- Russell Graham – additional keyboards (tracks 5, 6)
- Nile Rodgers – speech (track 5)
Technical
- Nick Watson – mastering
- Mike Crossey – mixing (track 1)
- Stephen Harris – mixing (tracks 2–9), recording (2–4, 7)
- Leon Pearce – mixing (tracks 10–19)
- Russell Graham – recording (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
- Joe Rubel – recording (track 9)
- Tom Roach – additional recording (tracks 5, 6)
- John Barrett – additional engineering (tracks 5, 6)
- Andy Maxwell – recording assistance (tracks 1, 5, 6, 9)
- Jack Boston – recording assistance (tracks 2–4, 7)
Visuals
- Scott Jones Studio – art direction, design
- Graham Blackburn – live photography
Notes and References
- Web site: The Zutons announce first album in 16 years, produced by Nile Rodgers and Ian Broudie. NME. Dunworth. Liberty. 14 November 2023. 1 May 2024.
