Electrophonic Chronic

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Electrophonic Chronic
Studio album by
the Arcs
ReleasedJanuary 27, 2023
Studio
  • Easy Eye Sound (Nashville)
  • Electric Lady Studios (Manhattan)
  • Diamond Mine (Queens, New York)
  • Dunham Sound Studios (Brooklyn)
Length38:45
LabelEasy Eye Sound
Producer
The Arcs chronology
Yours, Dreamily,
(2015) 		Electrophonic Chronic
(2023)
Singles from Electrophonic Chronic
  1. "Keep on Dreamin'"
    Released: October 13, 2022
  2. "Heaven Is a Place"
    Released: November 10, 2022
  3. "Eyez"
    Released: December 8, 2022
  4. "Sunshine"
    Released: January 12, 2023

Electrophonic Chronic is the second studio album by the Arcs, a side project of Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. It was released on January 27, 2023, under Auerbach's label Easy Eye Sound.

Recording[edit]

A second album was initially conceived by the Arcs following the release of their debut album Yours, Dreamily, (2015); however, this did not materialize.[1] Electrophonic Chronic features the original lineup of the band and was recorded primarily prior to Richard Swift's death in 2018. Recording took place at Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studios in Nashville, Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan, and Leon Michels' Diamond Mine Studio in Queens, New York. It was co-produced by Auerbach and Michels. The album was announced by the band on October 13, 2022, coinciding with the release of the lead single "Keep on Dreamin'".[2]

Release and promotion[edit]

The album's first single "Keep on Dreamin'" was released simultaneously with the album announcement on October 13, 2022.[3] A second single, "Heaven Is a Place", was released on November 10, 2022, along with a visualizer directed by Roboshobo that pays tribute to Swift.[4] A third single, "Eyez", was released on December 8, 2022, along with a visualizer for it directed by Roboshobo.[5] A fourth and final single, "Sunshine", was released on January 12, 2023.[6] A music video for "Sunshine" directed by Roboshobo followed on January 23, 2023.

The band has no plans to tour in support of Electrophonic Chronic or to record new music. Commenting on the band's period of creativity with Swift and David Berman, Leon Michels said, "It was almost like this insane manic creative energy that was unsustainable. That's why we recorded so much music. We were trying to basically capture this feeling that can’t sustain itself."[7]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
American Songwriter[10]
Clash8/10[11]
Far Out[12]
Hot Press8/10[13]
Mojo[14]
The Observer[15]
Uncut8/10[16]

Electrophonic Chronic received universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 7 reviews.[8]

Bud Scoppa of Uncut gave the album an 8 out of 10 rating, writing, "Auerbach's stoic, close-mic'd vocals and gnarled tendrils of distorted guitar bring a devastating immediacy to an album that contemplates the death of love and, by extension, mortality itself, seeking closure."[16] Christopher Connor of Clash wrote, "Worth the wait for fans. The record balances its psychedelia with more mediative moments offering plenty of variety. This record again shows Auerbach's musical influences and projects beyond The Black Keys."[11] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote, "Electrophonic Chronic plays like an old-fashioned long-player instead of a stack of 45s, a heady experience that nevertheless is anchored in R&B. Maybe the thrills aren't as immediate as they are on Yours, Dreamily, yet the free-floating psychedelic soul is alluring, as well as a worthy tribute to Swift."[9]

Track listing[edit]

Electrophonic Chronic track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keep on Dreamin'"
4:26
2."Eyez"
3:40
3."Heaven Is a Place"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Steinweiss
4:49
4."Califone Interlude"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Movshon
  • Russ Pahl
  • Steinweiss
1:16
5."River"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Swift
3:27
6."Sunshine"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Steinweiss
  • Swift
2:56
7."A Man Will Do Wrong"
4:17
8."Behind the Eyes"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Movshon
  • Pahl
  • Steinweiss
4:09
9."Backstage Mess"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Movshon
  • Steinweiss
  • Swift
1:47
10."Sporting Girls Interlude" 0:17
11."Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
  • Auerbach
  • Michels
  • Steinweiss
3:45
12."Only One for Me"
3:56
Total length:38:45

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Electrophonic Chronic
Chart (2023) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 90
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 57
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[20] 49

References[edit]

  1. ^ Graff, Gary (November 27, 2015). "Dan Auerbach Says The Arcs Are 'Really Close' to Wrapping Second Album As Black Friday EP Drops". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Bloom, Madison (October 13, 2022). "The Arcs Announce First Album in 8 Years, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Rettig, James (October 13, 2022). "The Arcs Announce First New Album In 8 Years, 'Electrophonic Chronic'". Stereogum. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (November 10, 2022). "The Arcs Salute Late Member Richard Swift On 'Heaven Is A Place'". Spin. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Kennally, Cerys (December 8, 2022). "The Arcs unveil new single "Eyez"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Paul, Larisha (January 12, 2023). "Dan Auerbach Leads the Arcs on a Search for 'Sunshine' on New Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Curto, Justin (January 27, 2023). "The Long, Odd History Behind the Arcs' Lost David Berman Collaboration". Vulture. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Electrohponic Chronic by the Arcs Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (January 27, 2023). "The Arcs – Electrohponic Chronic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Horowitz, Hal (January 26, 2023). "The Arcs – Electrohponic Chronic". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Connor, Christopher (January 26, 2023). "The Arcs – Electrohponic Chronic". Clash. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Taylor, Tom (January 26, 2023). "Album of the Week: The Arcs honour Richard Swift with groovy eulogy, 'Electrophonic Chronic'". Far Out. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Russell, Will (January 27, 2023). "Album Review: The Arcs, Electrophonic Chronic". Hot Press. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  14. ^ Wilson, Lois (February 2023). "The Arcs – Electrohponic Chronic". Mojo. No. 351. p. 84. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Empire, Kitty (January 29, 2023). "The Arcs: Electrophonic Chronic review – emotional healing". The Observer. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Scoppa, Bud (March 2023). "The Arcs – Electrohponic Chronic". Uncut. No. 310. p. 25. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "Electrophonic Chronic - The Arcs | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Arcs – Electrophonic Chronic" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  19. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Arcs – Electrophonic Chronic". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  20. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
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