Lives Outgrown
| Lives Outgrown | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 17 May 2024 | |||
| Recorded |
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| Genre | Chamber pop | |||
| Length | 45:51 | |||
| Label | Domino | |||
| Producer |
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| Beth Gibbons chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lives Outgrown | ||||
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Lives Outgrown is the debut solo studio album by English musician Beth Gibbons, released on 17 May 2024 through Domino Recording Company.[1] The album was produced by Gibbons, James Ford and Lee Harris.[2] It was preceded by the singles "Floating on a Moment", "Reaching Out", and "Lost Changes".[3][4] The album received positive reviews from critics, and was nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize.[5]
Background and composition
[edit]Gibbons wrote the album over a decade, with topics specific to her walk of life nearing age 60, including "motherhood, anxiety, menopause, and mortality".[1] Gibbons said that the album was directly influenced by the deaths of family and friends over the preceding several years and she "realised what life was like with no hope".[6]
Release
[edit]On 7 February 2024, Gibbons announced the album alongside it's lead single, "Floating on a Moment".[7][8] She released the album's second single, "Reaching Out", on 10 April 2024.[3][9] The album's third single, "Lost Changes", was released on 15 May 2024.[4][10]
Critical reception
[edit]| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 88/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| The Guardian | [13] |
| Mojo |  [14] |
| NME | [15] |
| Pitchfork | 8.0/10[16] |
| Record Collector | [17] |
| The Skinny | [18] |
| Slant Magazine | [19] |
| Uncut | 9/10[20] |
Lives Outgrown received a score of 88 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 22 critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim".[11] Uncut felt that "Lives Outgrown is a quite different prospect to Gibbons' previous work – more intimate, more personal, coloured by the grief and goodbyes she has weathered in recent years. But it is still possible to find a thread that runs from here to Out of Season, and back to Portishead".[20] The Wire called it "timeless and considered" and "a complete, but still complicated, portrait of the intersection of grief and life",[21] and Mojo wrote that while it can "all sound bleak[, ...] Lives Outgrown is also very beautiful".[14]
The Skinny's Patrick Gamble described the album as "a haunting collection of torch songs" as well as "a record about departures and the transition to a new equilibrium".[18] Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine said that it "picks up where Portishead's 2008 album, Third, left off, with detail-rich orchestral chamber pop backing a stunning exploration of aging and grief" that is "as captivating as it is devastating".[19] Record Collector's Johnnie Johnstone concluded that Lives Outgrown is "an album to fall deeply in love with. If you allow them to, these songs will envelop your soul."[17]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic. Heather Phares described the album as being, "steeped in the emotional and physical realities of living long enough to bring life into the world and to see it leave" and concluded that "Lives Outgrown reveals Gibbons' music is only getting richer as the years pass."[12] Alexis Petridis from The Guardian also highlighted the level of growth displayed on the album, writing: "A dispatch from the darker moments of middle age, Lives Outgrown is occasionally challenging, frequently beautiful and invariably gripping."[13] Ben Cardew at Pitchfork noted the eclecticism of Gibbon's music, saying that "Leftfield choices underscore the courageous and subtly unusual nature of Gibbons' album, which hides its eccentricity behind her deathless voice and sympathetic lyrical insight."[16]
Year-end lists
[edit]Numerous critics and publications listed Lives Outgrown in their year-end ranking of the best albums of 2024.
| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AllMusic | The AllMusic 2024 Year In Review | — | [22] |
| Alternative Press | 50 best albums of 2024 | — | [23] |
| Crack | The Top 50 Albums of 2024 | 34 | [24] |
| Double J | The 50 best albums of 2024 | 16 | [25] |
| The Economist | The Economist’s pick of the best albums of 2024 | — | [26] |
| The Line of Best Fit | The Best Albums of the Year | 16 | [27] |
| The New York Times | Best Albums of 2024 | 7 | [28] |
| NPR Music | 50 Best Albums of 2024 | — | [29] |
| Mojo | 75 Best Albums of 2024 | 3 | [30] |
| Mondo Sonoro | Los mejores discos internacionales de 2024 | 24 | [31] |
| NME | The 50 best albums of 2024 | 26 | [32] |
| Oor | OOR’s Eindlijst 2024 | 9 | [33] |
| Paste | The 100 Best Albums of 2024 | 15 | [34] |
| PopMatters | The 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 24 | [35] |
| Rough Trade UK | Albums of the Year 2024 | 44 | [36] |
| Slant | The 50 Best Albums of 2024 | 16 | [37] |
| Time | The 10 Best Albums of 2024 | 1 | [38] |
| Uncut | 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 3 | [39] |
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Beth Gibbons; "Tell Me Who You Are Today", "Burden of Life", "Rewind", and "Beyond the Sun" written with Lee Harris.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tell Me Who You Are Today" | 3:55 |
| 2. | "Floating on a Moment" | 5:26 |
| 3. | "Burden of Life" | 3:35 |
| 4. | "Lost Changes" | 5:41 |
| 5. | "Rewind" | 4:47 |
| 6. | "Reaching Out" | 4:15 |
| 7. | "Oceans" | 3:43 |
| 8. | "For Sale" | 4:25 |
| 9. | "Beyond the Sun" | 3:54 |
| 10. | "Whispering Love" | 6:10 |
| Total length: | 45:51 | |
Personnel
[edit]Musicians
- Beth Gibbons – vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1–9), acoustic guitar (1, 3–5, 9), guitar (2), vocoder (10)
- Lee Harris – drums (tracks 1–9), percussion (1, 3–6, 9, 10); daf, Mellotron (1); whistle (4), field recordings (10)
- James Ford – vibraphone (tracks 1, 2, 4), double bass (1, 2), piano (1, 3, 4, 6, 9), harmonium (1, 3, 9, 10), backing vocals (1, 5); Mellotron, spoons (1); cello (2–4, 6, 9), percussion (2, 4–9), bass (2, 4, 5, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5, 9, 10), baritone guitar (2, 4, 5), flute (2, 4, 6–8), recorders (2, 4, 6, 7, 9), Hammond organ (2, 4), hammered dulcimer (2, 5), drums (2, 7, 8), pedal steel (2), Farfisa (3, 5, 9), dulcimer (4, 9, 10), electric guitars (4, 9); Solina, additional drums (4), bass clarinet (5, 6, 9, 10), feedback (5), guitars (6, 7); Chinese lute, synth piano, marching snare, trumpet, trombone (6); bowed saw (7, 9), EBow dulcimer (7), violin drones, acoustic bass (8, 10); 12-string acoustic guitar, resonator guitars (8); fuzz flute, violin, singing tubes (9); toms (10)
- Orchestrate – strings, woodwinds (tracks 1, 3); brass (1)
- Senab Adekunle – backing vocals (tracks 2, 4–6)
- Gracie – backing vocals (track 2), "instrumental ooh/hum" (10)
- Herbie – backing vocals (track 2)
- Roe – backing vocals (track 2)
- Raven Bush – violin (tracks 3–8, 10), viola (3–6), baritone viola (7, 8, 10), violin solo (8)
- William Rees – noise guitar (track 4)
- Robbie McIntosh – acoustic guitar (track 4)
- Howard Jacobs – bass saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinets, percussion, frame drum, mizmar (track 6)
Technical
- Beth Gibbons – production, mixing, additional engineering; string arrangement (tracks 3–8), woodwind arrangement (3)
- James Ford – production, mixing, engineering; string arrangement (tracks 1, 3–8), woodwind arrangement (1, 3), brass arrangement (1)
- Lee Harris – additional production, additional engineering; string arrangement, woodwind arrangement, brass arrangement (track 1)
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Matt Jaggar – orchestra engineering
- Jimmy Robertson – additional engineering
- Tom Leach – additional engineering
- Billy Foster – additional engineering
- George Chung – orchestra engineering assistance
- Bridget Samuels – string arrangement, woodwind arrangement (tracks 1, 3); brass arrangement (1)
Visuals
- Netsi Habel – photography, cover photo
- Matthew Cooper – design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[40] | 50 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[41] | 5 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[42] | 11 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[43] | 4 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[44] | 15 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[45] | 14 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[46] | 13 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[47] | 5 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[48] | 96 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[49] | 69 |
| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[50] | 67 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[51] | 37 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV)[52] | 69 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[53] | 9 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[54] | 4 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[55] | 36 |
| Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[56] | 9 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[57] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[58] | 7 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[59] | 1 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (7 February 2024). "Portishead Singer Beth Gibbons Announces First-Ever Solo Album Lives Outgrown". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Eede, Christian (8 February 2024). "Beth Gibbons Reveals Debut Solo LP, Lives Outgrown". The Quietus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b Singh, Surej (11 April 2024). "Portishead's Beth Gibbons shares new solo track 'Reaching Out'". NME. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b Grow, Kory (15 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons Will Break Your Heart With 'Lost Changes'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "2024 Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed". Mercury Prize. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (8 February 2024). "Beth Gibbons Confirms Solo Album Lives Outgrown". Clash. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz (7 February 2024). "Portishead's Beth Gibbons Announces Debut Solo Album, Shares New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Ramage, Jack (8 February 2024). "Portishead's Beth Gibbons announces debut solo album, 'Lives Outgrown', shares single and video: Watch". DJ Mag. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Damara Kelly, Tyler (10 April 2024). "Beth Gibbons previews her debut solo album on "Reaching Out"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Rettig, James (15 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons Shares New Single "Lost Changes": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ a b Phares, Heather (17 May 2024). "Lives Outgrown – Beth Gibbons". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (16 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown review – long-awaited solo debut is a gripping study of ageing and loss". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown". Mojo. June 2024. p. 80.
- ^ Baines, Huw (16 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown review: Portishead vocalist's solo bow is an enthralling study of time and loss". NME. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b Cardew, Ben (17 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b Johnstone, Johnnie (21 April 2024). "Lives Outgrown | Beth Gibbons". Record Collector. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b Gamble, Patrick (13 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown". The Skinny. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b Lyons-Burt, Charles (13 May 2024). "Beth Gibbons Lives Outgrown Review: A Grim Portrait of Mortality". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Beth Gibbons – Lives Outgrown". Uncut. June 2024. p. 23.
- ^ Biddles, Claire (June 2024). "Beth Gibbons: Lives Outgrown". The Wire. p. 50.
- ^ "AllMusic Best of 2024 | AllMusic 2024 in Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Zanes, Anna; Hardman, Neville (12 December 2024). "50 best albums of 2024". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2024, according to Crack Magazine". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "Fifty incredible 2024 albums that weren't released by Taylor Swift". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "The Economist's pick of the best albums of 2024". The Economist. 12 December 2024. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "The Best Albums of 2024 Ranked". The Line of Best Fit. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "Best Albums of 2024". The New York Times. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "50 Best Albums of 2024". NPR. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". Mojo. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Disturbios, Don (4 December 2024). "Los mejores discos internacionales de 2024" [The best international albums of 2024]. MondoSonoro (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "The 50 best albums of 2024". NME. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "OOR's Eindlijst 2024: dit zijn de 20 beste albums van het jaar" [OOR's Final List 2024: these are the 20 best albums of the year]. Oor (in Dutch). 3 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "The 100 Best Albums of 2024". Paste Magazine. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "The 80 Best Albums of 2024, Page 6". PopMatters. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "Albums of the Year 2024". Rough Trade. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
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- ^ Pearis, Bill (8 November 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
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