Bays is the fourth studio album by the New Zealand group Fat Freddy's Drop, released on 23 October 2015 through their own record label, the Drop. The album is named after the band's own studio, Bays, in Kilbirnie in southern Wellington.[2][3] Bays charted internationally and topped the New Zealand albums chart, where it was also certified gold.[4]
| Bays | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 October 2015 | |||
| Studio | Bays, Wellington, New Zealand | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:49 | |||
| Label | The Drop | |||
| Producer | Fat Freddy's Drop | |||
| Fat Freddy's Drop chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The AU Review | 9.4/10[2] |
| Drowned in Sound | 7/10[5] |
| The Music |   [6] |
| The New Zealand Herald | [7] |
Anna Wilson of Renowned for Sound described the album as having a "heavier focus on genre fusion than the group's previous releases, with a few ska undertones here and there" and ultimately called it "an easy listen and well structured, retaining Fat Freddy's Drop['s] classic chilled style".[1] Chris Familton of The Music called it a "sublime addition to the band's discography" and wrote that the group "continue as they left off on the last album, if anything hitting a stronger strain of dark dub techno infused rhythms".[6] The New Zealand Herald felt that the album "sees the seven-piece outfit more focused and dynamic than ever", on which Fat Freddy's Drop "warm you up, and then turn your head inside out", concluding that "the more you listen, the more you'll find to love".[7]
Jennifer Quinlin stated that the "tunes are immersive and refined, and are as much at home in the venues of Europe as they are in the beachside cafe in Wellington. This is a perfect album for lazy summer days with friends, or a road trip with the windows down."[2] Sam Moore of Drowned in Sound remarked that if "you're already quite familiar with FFD's genre-splicing and casual beat-dropping, then you'll likely find a lot to love in Bays", opining that it "stay[s] mostly true to that dub/reggae ethos" and the group does not "mess around too much with the agreed formula".[5]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wairunga Blues" | 5:46 |
| 2. | "Slings & Arrows" | 4:33 |
| 3. | "10 Feet Tall" | 5:25 |
| 4. | "Wheels" | 6:15 |
| 5. | "Razor" | 8:05 |
| 6. | "Makkan" | 5:12 |
| 7. | "Fish in the Sea" | 9:55 |
| 8. | "Cortina Motors" | 10:43 |
| 9. | "Novak" | 4:55 |
| Total length: | 60:49 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 12 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[9] | 93 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] | 77 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[11] | 141 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] | 35 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] | 1 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] | 93 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 79 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[4] | Gold | 7,500^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b c d Wilson, Anna. "Album Review – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b c Quinlin, Jennifer (5 November 2015). "Album Review: Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays (2015 LP)". The AU Review. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Fat Freddy's Drop – New Zealand Musicians & Bands". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
- ^ a b "New Zealand album certifications – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ a b Moore, Sam (3 November 2015). "Album Review: Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b Familton, Chris (19 October 2015). "Album Review: Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". The Music. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Album review: Fat Freddy's Drop, Bays". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Fat Freddy's Drop – Bays". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 July 2023.