Pratts & Pain
| Pratts & Pain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 February 2024 | |||
| Studio | Mr Dans, South London | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 40:46 | |||
| Label | Ourness | |||
| Producer | Dan Carey | |||
| Royel Otis chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Pratts & Pain | ||||
Pratts & Pain is the debut studio album by Australian guitar-pop duo Royel Otis. It was released on 16 February 2024 via Ourness, and debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[6] The album's release was supported by five singles, starting with "Adored" and "Fried Rice", as well as tour dates around Australia, North America and Europe.[7][8] It received positive acclaim from critics.
Composition[edit]
The album's title is derived from Pratts & Payne, a British pub in London that the duo would visit during recording sessions at producer Dan Carey's studio, Mr Dans.[8] In an interview with Junkee, lead guitarist Royel Maddell said the songs were not written in the environment which they were recorded, which lead to the album sounding darker: "If you record something in Byron [Bay], it sounds beachy and stuff like that. And then recording in South London with Dan, it definitely sounds a bit more dreary and grey”.[9]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Australian |    [10] |
| Clash | 8/10[11] |
| Far Out | [12] |
| NME | [13] |
| Rolling Stone Australia | [14] |
Following the album's release, NME called Royel Otis "Australia’s next breakout indie heroes".[8] Reviewing for the magazine, Andy Brown said Pratts & Pain was a "sublime debut" with "a sense of adventure", calling it "destined for festival season greatness – for cool-breeze drives, warm summer parties, and late-night singalongs".[13] Joshua Khan of Clash said the album was a sonic leap forward for the band, containing a "remarkably diverse" sound that sets them apart from other indie rock bands.[11] Writing for Far Out, Aimee Ferrier was less positive, calling it a lacklustre release with forgettable tracks, making for "an inevitable addition to a landmine of average indie pop records".[12]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Adored" | 2:40 |
| 2. | "Fried Rice" | 3:27 |
| 3. | "Foam" | 3:05 |
| 4. | "Sonic Blue" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "Heading for the Door" | 3:47 |
| 6. | "Velvet" | 2:11 |
| 7. | "IHYSM" | 3:10 |
| 8. | "Molly" | 4:00 |
| 9. | "Daisy Chain" | 3:01 |
| 10. | "Glory to Glory" | 3:06 |
| 11. | "Always Always" | 3:00 |
| 12. | "Big Ciggie" | 2:40 |
| Total length: | 37:30 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Sofa King" | 3:16 |
| 14. | "Claw Foot" | 2:46 |
| 15. | "Merry Mary Marry Me" | 3:08 |
| Total length: | 46:41 | |
Notes
- Digital and streaming versions include "Sofa King" from their 2023 EP Sofa Kings in the standard track listing.
Personnel[edit]
Royel Otis
- Royel Maddell – lead guitar, bass guitar, synths
- Otis Pavlovic – vocals, guitar, piano
Additional personnel
- Yuri Shibuichi – drums
- Archie Carey – drums
- Rob Brinkmann – writing ("Fried Rice")
- James Ford – writing ("Molly")
- Chris Collins – writing ("Foam", "Daisy Chain"), producer ("Daisy Chain"), additional engineering
- Dan Carey – producer, mixing (all tracks); writing ("Heading for the Door", "Glory to Glory")
- Alexis Smith – mixing ("Daisy Chain"), engineer ("Foam")
- Alan Moulder – mixing ("Foam")
- Ed Quinn – additional production; writing ("IHYSM")
- Adele Phillips – additional engineering
- Christian Wright – mastering
- Adriane Neshoda – graphic design
- Kiran Best – graphic design
- Georges Antoni – cover photograph
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] | 10 |
References[edit]
- ^ Papathanasopoulos, Vasili (19 July 2023). "Royel Otis Unveil New Single 'Adored'". Milky. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Tommy (5 October 2023). "Royel Otis Announce Long Awaited Debut Album, Share "Fried Rice"". Ghettoblaster. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (7 December 2023). "Royel Otis Share Indie Pop Booster 'Heading For The Door'". Clash. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (12 January 2024). "Royel Otis Have Shared A Brand New Single, 'Velvet'". Dork. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (16 February 2024). "Royel Otis Have Shared A New Video For 'Foam'". Dork. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "Royel Otis announce PRATTS & PAIN Australian tour". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Brandle, Lars (20 February 2024). "Royel Otis Soak up the Reception to Debut LP 'Pratts & Pain': 'We Are Over the Moon'". Billboard. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Madden, Ben (20 February 2024). "Interview: Royel Otis On Their New Album 'Pratts & Pain'". Junkee. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Wallen, Doug (23 February 2024). "'Ready-made hooks, non-stop propulsion' on Royel Otis' debut". The Australian. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b Khan, Joshua (15 February 2024). "Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain". Clash. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b Ferrier, Aimee (15 February 2024). "Royel Otis – 'Pratts and Pain' album review: a waste of talent". Far Out. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b Brown, Andy (14 February 2024). "Royel Otis – 'Pratts & Pain' review: effervescent indie anthems packed with detail". NME. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Jennings, James (20 February 2024). "Royel Otis Back Up the Hype on 'Pratts & Pain'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Royel Otis – Pratts & Pain". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2024.