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Pixel Bath

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Pixel Bath
A person wearing an all-white football helmet with a rainbow-colored visor.
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 23, 2020
Genre
Length38:58
LabelP+
Producer
Jean Dawson chronology
Bad Sports
(2019)
Pixel Bath
(2020)
Chaos Now
(2022)
Singles from Pixel Bath
  1. "Bruise Boy"
    Released: February 12, 2020[1]
  2. "Power Freaks"
    Released: April 14, 2020[2]
  3. "Policía"
    Released: June 9, 2020[3]
  4. "Clear Bones"
    Released: June 25, 2020[4]
  5. "Starface"
    Released: September 23, 2020[5]
  6. "Devilish"
    Released: October 23, 2020[6]

Pixel Bath is the second studio album by Mexican-American experimental pop musician Jean Dawson, released on October 23, 2020, by the artist's independent label P+.[7][8]

Style and reception

[edit]
Pixel Bath ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Beats Per Minute81%[10]
NME[11]

AllMusic's Fred Thomas writes that on the album, Dawson "set out to create the 'soundtrack for a black coming-of-age film that never ends', and accomplishes just that with this collection of nostalgic dream pop melodies caught in perpetual conflicted collision with high-energy rap." The album includes opener "Devilish" which "moves abruptly from bellowed, melodramatic vocals to intense rap flows about monsters, boogie men, and surreal critiques of toxic masculinity" made even more unique by the placement of "his melodically sung lyrics ... over a backdrop of peppy guitars and bass that sounds like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at their catchiest" and "album standout" "TripleDouble" [sic] "with a Pixies bass line decorated with trap ad-libs and a big rock chorus." Dawson's "wild swings of imagination and daring are so unexpected they can be jarring, but it's this willingness to go outside of the known that puts Pixel Bath in a class by itself."[9]

The Arts Fuse's Alex Szeptycki calls the album "a kaleidoscopic melange that vividly reflects the artist's personality and inspirations" and "one of the most compelling releases I've heard this year", with Dawson's "magnetic personality ... infused through the album's excitingly varied instrumentals and bold vocal performances."[12] Per Beats Per Minute's Kyle Kohner, Dawson's "refreshing and exciting" "undefinable alternative hip hop sound" brings "a bit of everything – bedroom pop, pop-punk, industrial rap, and even glitch-pop" to the album, making for a "boisterous marvel to behold, touched through and through with deep emotion."[10] NME's Jenessa Williams says that "by refusing to limit his musical focus Dawson buys himself a future of authentic experimentation, thrilling the listener with unexpected twists and turns that do, miraculously, offer up something for everyone" and that while "if you really want to find fault in Pixel Bath, you might acknowledge that even the gnarliest of rollercoasters become that little bit less exciting once you've seen their blueprints", "if you're ready to hear what true unbounded creativity sounds like, Jean Dawson can take you on one hell of a ride."[11]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Jean Dawson, and all tracks but 7 and 8 written and produced by Zach Fogarty, with others noted. All tracks mixed by Gabe Wax

Pixel Bath track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Devilish"
  • George Flint
  • Henry Flint
  • Jonathan Hoskins
  • Hoskins
  • 23rd
3:22
2."Triple Double" (featuring ASAP Rocky) 3:43
3."Shiner"  2:04
4."Dummy"
  • Elliott Kozel
  • Tickle Torture
2:57
5."Bruiseboy"  3:23
6."Pegasus"  2:23
7."Poster Child"
1:34
8."06 Burst"
  • Lecx Stacy
  • Stacy
2:45
9."Starface"2:56
10."Policía"
  • Nick León
  • León
2:25
11."Clear Bones"
  • Blake Slatkin
  • Slatkin
2:47
12."Power Freaks"  4:12
13."Pyrotechnics"
  • Gabe Wax
  • Wax
4:27
Total length:38:58

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for Pixel Bath
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Global October 23, 2020 Music download, streaming P+ [13][14]
US April 12, 2021 Vinyl Handwritten Records [15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hahn, Bryan (February 12, 2020). "Jean Dawson Is Carelessly in Love in His "Bruise Boy" Video". The Fader. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  2. ^ Kayden, Sean (April 14, 2020). "LA-via-Tijuana Juggernaut Jean Dawson Explores Self-Control on Blazing Single "Power Freaks"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten (June 9, 2020). "Jean Dawson Targets Police Brutality in New Single "Policía"". Hypebeast. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Scott, Ruby (June 25, 2020). "Jean Dawson Ponders Life and Death in "Clear Bones"". Ones to Watch. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Lim, Eddy (September 23, 2020). "Jean Dawson shares new single "Starface*", announces debut studio album". NME. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Droke, Carolyn (October 23, 2020). "Jean Dawson Runs Away From Personal Demons in His Monster-Filled "Devilish" Video". Uproxx. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jean Dawson Confirms New Album Pixel Bath". DIY. September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  8. ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. (October 23, 2020). "Listen to Jean Dawson's New Album Pixel Bath f/ ASAP Rocky". Complex. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Jean Dawson - Pixel Bath". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Kohner, Kyle (October 28, 2020). "Album Review: Jean Dawson - Pixel Bath". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Williams, Jenessa (October 27, 2020). "Jean Dawson - Pixel Bath review: LA-based innovator comes good on an expansive expression of the self". NME. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  12. ^ Szeptycki, Alex (December 9, 2020). "Pop Review: Jean Dawson's Pixel Bath". The Arts Fuse. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jean Dawson – Pixel Bath (2020, File)". Discogs. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "Pixel Bath / Jean Dawson". Tidal. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "Jean Dawson – Pixel Bath (2021, 3D, Vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved September 25, 2022.