| Wink | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Chai |
| Cover: | ChaiWink.jpg |
| Released: | May 21, 2021 |
| Studio: |
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| Genre: | |
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| Producer: | |
| Prev Title: | Punk |
| Prev Year: | 2019 |
| Next Title: | Chai |
| Next Year: | 2023 |
Wink is the third studio album by Japanese rock quartet Chai, released on May 21, 2021. It is their first record on Sub Pop, following two albums on the now-defunct Burger Records.
Wink was greeted with critical applause upon its release, with praise going to its contemplative nature and the quartet's success at a new musical palette, which brought in funk, hip hop and R&B sounds.
Wink has been noted for adding hip hop and R&B alongside the quartet's signature dance-punk and pop rock.[2] [3] [4] Many publications echoed this positively, with many finding funk, house, pop and soul stylings woven throughout as well.[4] [5]
It has been noted as "all analogue R&B and garage punk with a rap verse".[3]
Wink received acclaim from music critics. On Metacritic, it has received a score of 80 out of 100, based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Tara Joshi for The Quietus applauded it as their "most comforting listen to date".[6] Clare Martin for Paste called it "fun and filling" and noted the quartet made "every moment feel like a treat". The album was placed at number 47 in The Guardians list of the 50 best albums of 2021, with Laura Snapes describing it as "blissed-out, dreamy synth-pop".[7]
Chai