The Ways We Separate

The Ways We Separate
Studio album by
Beacon
ReleasedApril 30, 2013 (2013-04-30)
Length34:56
LabelGhostly International
Producer
  • Thomas Mullarney III
  • Jacob Gossett
Beacon chronology
The Ways We Separate
(2013) 		Escapements
(2016)

The Ways We Separate is the debut studio album by Beacon, an American music duo of Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett. It was released on April 30, 2013, through Ghostly International. It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[1]

Background

Beacon consists of vocalist and producer Thomas Mullarney III and producer Jacob Gossett.[2] They met each other at Pratt Institute during their first week of classes.[3] Beacon's debut EP, No Body, was released in 2011 through Moodgadget.[2] A follow-up EP, For Now, was released in 2012 through Ghostly International.[2] The duo's debut studio album, The Ways We Separate, was released on April 30, 2013, through Ghostly International.[4] A music video was released for the album's song "Drive".[5]

A deluxe art edition of the album comes in a 13" x 13" x 2" cast sugar and epoxy resin object, created by sculptor Fernando Mastrangelo.[6][7] Limited to 20 copies and priced at $200, featuring the letters "TWWS", the packaging holds a rose-colored vinyl.[6][8]

Beacon later released The Ways We Separate Remixes (2013), which contains remixes of the album's songs by Kuhrye-oo, No Regular Play, and Fort Romeau.[9][10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Consequence[12]
Exclaim!8/10[13]
Pitchfork6.8/10[14]
PopMatters6/10[15]
Tiny Mix Tapes[16]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, The Ways We Separate received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 67 out of 100 from 7 critic scores.[1]

Daniel Sylvester of Exclaim! stated, "On The Ways We Separate, Beacon manage to craft one of the most compelling and authentic-sounding albums of the year, and all it took was the courage to cool it with the R&B part."[13] Andy Kellman of AllMusic stated, "Cunningly sequenced, The Ways We Separate is exceptionally fluid and tightly bound, made for compulsive listening with no weak links."[11] Sasha Geffen of Consequence commented that the album "simmers as bedroom music for troubled couples, grouping R&B and dance music together into a smoky pop hybrid."[12] Trurl of Tiny Mix Tapes stated, "The album's certainly well-produced, occasionally catchy, and at times even soothing in its simplicity, but it can also be dull and uninspired, like something I might put on when I want inoffensive background music for a relaxing social gathering."[16]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Thomas Mullarney III; all music is composed by Mullarney and Jacob Gossett.

The Ways We Separate track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Bring You Back"4:16
2."Feeling's Gone"3:13
3."Between the Waves"3:25
4."Drive"3:18
5."Overseer"3:27
6."Late November"1:57
7."Studio Audience"3:37
8."Headlights"2:58
9."Anthem"3:15
10."Split in Two"5:31
Total length:34:56
Digital edition bonus track[17]
No.TitleLength
11."Feeling's Gone" (extended version)4:56
Total length:39:52

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Ways We Separate by Beacon". Metacritic. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Kellman, Andy. "Beacon". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  3. ^ Rachel, T. Cole (June 7, 2013). "Q&A: Beacon Talk About Their Debut Album – And How They Aren't Really Trying To Make R&B Music". Stereogum. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  4. ^ Adams, Gregory (February 19, 2013). "Beacon Announce Debut Album for Ghostly International". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  5. ^ Lobenfeld, Claire (May 22, 2013). "Beacon – "Drive" Video (Stereogum Premiere)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "TWWS Deluxe Art Edition". Ghostly International. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  7. ^ Spice, Anton (April 3, 2013). "Ghostly International announce extravagant 3D sugar-casted sculpture for Beacon's debut LP". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  8. ^ Lee, Evelyn (April 8, 2013). "Ghostly International Presents Deluxe Edition Sugar Sculpture Packaging for Beacon's Upcoming Record (Video)". Complex. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Beacon - The Ways We Separate Remixes". Ghostly International. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  10. ^ "The Ways We Separate Remixes | Beacon". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on July 23, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "The Ways We Separate - Beacon". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Geffen, Sasha (May 9, 2013). "Album Review: Beacon – The Ways We Separate". Consequence. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Sylvester, Daniel (April 26, 2013). "Beacon". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Bowman, Patrick (June 4, 2013). "Beacon: The Ways We Separate". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Ezell, Brice (June 20, 2013). "Beacon: The Ways We Separate". PopMatters. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Trurl. "Beacon - The Ways We Separate". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  17. ^ "The Ways We Separate - Beacon". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  18. ^ Beacon (2013). The Ways We Separate (CD booklet). Ghostly International.
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