Another Life is the fourth studio album by American boy band Big Time Rush. It was released on June 2, 2023, and is their first studio album released under their own independent label, Bought the Rights, and BMG.[2][3] It marks their first studio album in just under a decade since 24/Seven (2013).
| Another Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Standard edition cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 2, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2023 | |||
| Genre | Pop[1] | |||
| Length | 30:50
45:12 (Deluxe Edition) | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Big Time Rush chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Another Life | ||||
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Background
editAfter a seven-year hiatus, Big Time Rush announced they would be reuniting for two performances in New York and Chicago in December 2021.[4] Shortly before these performances, the band released their first single in over eight years, "Call It Like I See It".[5] This release was succeeded by multiple standalone singles in 2022, including "Not Giving You Up", "Fall", "Honey", "Dale Pa' Ya" with Dominican artist Maffio, and a re-recording of "Paralyzed". These singles were promoted by the band's first tour in eight years, the Forever Tour.
Release and promotion
editOn April 4, 2023, the band announced the release date of a new single on May 3, 2023, followed by the release of their fourth studio album on June 9, 2023.[6] The full track list was revealed on April 30, 2023, confirming that the album would be titled Another Life.[2] Pre-orders of the album became available on May 3, 2023, alongside the release of another new single and the reveal of the official album artwork.[7]
On May 5, 2023, the band announced Another Life would be released a week earlier on June 2, 2023, coinciding with their performance on Today as part of the 2023 Citi Summer Concert Series.[3][8] Subsequently, the album was released on CD and LP on August 18, 2023 and September 22, 2023 respectively worldwide.[9][10]
The band later announced that a deluxe edition of the album would be released on November 10, 2023. This version of the album includes three new songs, an acoustic version of "Weekends", and a re-recording of an unreleased song "Shot in the Dark", which was previously featured on the band's television show.[11]
Singles
edit"Can't Get Enough" was released on February 6, 2023 as the album's lead single alongside a performance of the song on the Today Show and announcement of the Can't Get Enough Tour.[12]
The second single, "Waves", was released on May 3, 2023, alongside the pre-orders of the album. A music video was released on the same day.[7][13]
The third single, "Weekends", was released on October 24, 2023, alongside the announcement of the album's deluxe edition. The release was accompanied by a music video. An acoustic version of the song is included on the deluxe edition of the album.[14]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Riff Magazine |   [15] |
Vera Maksymiuk of Riff Magazine gave a review for the album. She called the record, "a fun, breezy and pleasant summer album." She described the first track, "Can't Get Enough" as a song that "sounds like a cross between more recent Jonas Brothers material and One Direction." Tracks such as "I Just Want To (Party All the Time)", were described as "traditional pop songs about love, longing and partying." She also called the final track "Another Life", "arguably the deepest of the entire record." She ended off stating, "Though Big Time Rush puts most of the bubblegum pop sound of earlier years behind them on Another Life, this album isn't a philosophical deep-dive into the intricacies of the human psyche."[15]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Can't Get Enough" |
| 3:26 | |
| 2. | "Waves" |
| Will Ventres | 3:15 |
| 3. | "I Just Want To (Party All the Time)" |
|
| 2:51 |
| 4. | "Weekends" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 5. | "Work for It" |
| 2:34 | |
| 6. | "Forget You Now" |
|
| 3:16 |
| 7. | "Brand New" |
| 3:37 | |
| 8. | "Ask You Tonight" |
|
| 3:00 |
| 9. | "Superstitious" |
| Ventres | 3:14 |
| 10. | "Another Life" |
| 2:32 | |
| Total length: | 30:50 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Shot in the Dark" |
| Ventres | 3:10 |
| 12. | "Learn to Love" |
|
| 2:34 |
| 13. | "Dreamworld" |
| Bryan Todd | 2:47 |
| 14. | "Your Way" |
| Korbesmeyer | 2:41 |
| 15. | "Weekends" (acoustic) |
|
| 3:10 |
| Total length: | 45:12 | |||
Personnel
editBig Time Rush
- Kendall Schmidt – vocals (all tracks), keyboards (track 7)
- James Maslow – vocals
- Carlos PenaVega – vocals
- Logan Henderson – vocals
Additional musicians
- Adam Korbesmeyer – drum programming (1, 5, 7, 8, 10), keyboards (1, 5, 8, 10), guitar (1, 7), bass guitar (1), programming (8)
- Nick Furlong – programming (3, 10); backing vocals, keyboards (10)
- Will Ventres – programming (3, 4, 6, 9)
- Spencer Nezey – saxophone (3)
- Rick James – vocals (3)
- Jonathan Martin Berry – guitar (4, 8)
- Bryan Todd – programming (4, 8)
- Homero Gallardo – guitar (6, 9)
- Candace Sosa – backing vocals (7)
- Sophie Rose Abrams – backing vocals (7)
- Tim Snider – strings (7, 8)
- Adam Amezaga – guitar (10)
Technical
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Nathan Phillips – mixing, engineering
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[16] | 17 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | June 2, 2023 | Standard | [17] | |
| Germany | August 17, 2023 | CD | [18] | |
| Various | August 18, 2023 | [9] | ||
| Germany | September 21, 2023 | LP | [19] | |
| Various | September 22, 2023 | [10][20] | ||
| November 10, 2023 |
|
Deluxe | [11] |
References
edit- ^ Ralphie Aversa (June 5, 2023). "Big Time Rush returns with 'Another Life' and an unlikely assist from Rick James". USA Today. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ a b @bigtimerush (April 30, 2023). "BTR4. Another Life. 🧡 #BTR4 #BTRWaves" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b @bigtimerush (May 5, 2023). "Have you been streaming WAVES? Pre-order Another Life out JUNE 2ND!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "After 7 years, Big Time Rush is making a big-time comeback. But who are they?". Los Angeles Times. July 19, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ "Big Time Rush Announce Official Comeback Single "Call It Like I See It"". HipHopGet. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ @bigtimerush (April 4, 2023). "It's official. May 3 - New Single! Jun 9 - New Album! #BTRDay #BTR4" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b @bigtimerush (May 3, 2023). "Our album Another Life is officially available for pre-order on our website!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Big Time Rush performing at 'Today Summer Concert Series,' releasing album one week early". The Music Universe. May 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Another Life CD - Big Time Rush". bigtimerush.store.
- ^ a b "Another Life Vinyl - Signed - Big Time Rush". bigtimerush.store.
- ^ a b c @bigtimerush (October 24, 2023). "ANNOUNCEMENT Another Life Deluxe album coming out Nov 10!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Big Time Rush Can't Get Enough - Announce Massive Tour And Release New Song". Live Nation Entertainment. February 6, 2023.
- ^ "Big Time Rush - Waves (Official Music Video)" (video). youtube.com. May 3, 2023.
- ^ Spanos, Brittany (October 24, 2023). "Big Time Rush Wants More Than Just Your 'Weekends' on Glowing New Song". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Vera Maksymiuk (June 4, 2023). "Album Review: Big Time Rush makes a surprise comeback with Another Life". Riff Magazine. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ "Big Time Rush Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April, 2024.
- ^ "Another Life by Big Time Rush". applemusic.com.
- ^ "Another Life by Big Time Rush". mediamarkt.de.
- ^ "Another Life Vinyl - Big Time Rush". mediamarkt.de.
- ^ "Another Life Vinyl - Big Time Rush". bol.com.