Guy Walks into a Bar... (album)
| Guy Walks into a Bar... | ||||
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 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 26, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2015–2018 | |||
| Studio | Barefoot Studios[1] | |||
| Length | 44:54 | |||
| Label | Fiction | |||
| Producer |
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| Mini Mansions chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Guy Walks into a Bar... | ||||
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Guy Walks into a Bar... is the third album by American band Mini Mansions, released on July 26, 2019. It includes the single "GummyBear".[2]
Background
The album's recording started in December 2015 and, as the band members were occupied with separate projects—such as Michael Shuman in Queens of the Stone Age and Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford playing live with The Last Shadow Puppets and Arctic Monkeys—recording was finished in 2018. It was written with a "narrative about love in mind", and vocalist Michael Shuman based the lyrics off a relationship he had, "from beginning honeymoon phase jitters to the process of breaking up".[3]
The singles off the record were first played when Mini Mansions opened for Arctic Monkeys on the Australia/ New Zealand leg of the Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino tour.[4]
Reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Gigwise | [7] |
| The Independent | [8] |
| The Music | [9] |
Guy Walks into a Bar... has received generally positive reviews by critics with a total score of 79/100 on Metacritic, with Roisin O'Connor of The Independent writing that the album features "sprawling, psychedelic pop to scuzzy post-punk and rock references" and has a "superb dynamic that holds the listener's attention, while the band navigate through a single, tumultuous relationship".[8] Clash called the album an "infectious return, one delivered with confidence and panache. The band's superb songwriting remains intact, while the production has been amplified soaking up fresh elements in the process."[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mini Mansions, except "Hey Lover" by Mini Mansions and Alison Mosshart.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Should Be Dancing" | 4:29 |
| 2. | "Bad Things (That Make You Feel Good)" | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Don't Even Know You" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "Forgot Your Name" | 3:02 |
| 5. | "I'm in Love" | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Time Machine" | 3:38 |
| 7. | "Works Every Time" | 4:37 |
| 8. | "Living in the Future" | 4:21 |
| 9. | "GummyBear" | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Hey Lover" (featuring Alison Mosshart) | 5:45 |
| 11. | "Tears in Her Eyes" | 4:56 |
| Total length: | 44:54 | |
Personnel
Personnel taken from Guy Walks into a Bar… liner notes.[1]
Mini Mansions
- Zach Dawes – bass guitar, keyboards
- Tyler Parkford – vocals, keyboards, guitar
- Michael Shuman — vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums
Additional musicians
- Jon Theodore – drums (all except "I'm in Love")
- Dash Hutton – additional drums on "I'm in Love"
- Alison Mosshart – vocals on "Hey Lover"
- Z Berg – backing vocals on "Forgot Your Name" and "Living in the Future"
- Kaylie Schiff – backing vocals on "Forgot Your Name" and "Living in the Future"
- Melodye Perry – backing vocals on "Time Machine", "Works Every Time", and "Hey Lover"
- Táta Vega – backing vocals on "Time Machine", "Works Every Time", and "Hey Lover"
Production
- Michael Shuman – production
- Cian Riordan – production, engineering, mixing
- Jonathan Sterling – additional engineering
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Chris Allgood – additional mastering
References
- ^ a b Guy Walks into a Bar… (Album liner notes). Mini Mansions. 2019.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Mini Mansions announce new album 'Guy Walks Into A Bar...'". DIY. February 12, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ Spruch, Kirsten (July 26, 2019). "Mini Mansions Break Down New Album 'Guy Walks Into A Bar': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ "Concert Review: Arctic Monkeys, Auckland New Zealand, 2019". March 6, 2019.
- ^ "Guy Walks into a Bar... by Mini Mansions" – via www.metacritic.com.
- ^ Phares, Heather. "Guy Walks Into A Bar... - Mini Mansions". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "Album Review: Mini Mansions – Guy Walks Into a Bar… | Gigwise". www.gigwise.com.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (July 25, 2019). "Album reviews: Kaiser Chiefs – Duck, Mini Mansions – Guy Walks into a Bar and Spoon – Everything Hits at Once". The Independent. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
- ^ Blackburn, Emily. "Mini Mansions / Guy Walks Into A Bar…". The Music. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Murray, Robin (July 26, 2019). "Influences: Mini Mansions | Features". Clash. Retrieved August 3, 2019.