All Dogs Go to Heaven (EP)

All Dogs Go to Heaven is the second extended play by the American musician Glaive. It was released on August 6, 2021, via Interscope Records. After recording his debut EP Cypress Grove (2020) in his North Carolina bedroom, he recorded All Dogs Go to Heaven in a Los Angeles studio during a two week period. The EP pulls from many genres, as Glaive was simply focused on making music that he liked and wanted to move away from hyperpop. Its title was taken from a book of the same name, which Glaive's mother gave him after the death of his family's dog. All Dogs Go to Heaven was promoted with three singles, a tour across North America, and a deluxe edition. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Bak, Travis Barker, Cashheart, D-Work, Delto, Glasear, Zac Greer, Haan, Hagan, Jasper Harris, Jeff Hazin, Kidicarus, Kimj, Lunamatic, Nick Mira, and Whethan. The EP received mixed reviews from critics.

All Dogs Go to Heaven
A boy sits in a field with a dog. An overcast sky appears in the background.
EP by
ReleasedAugust 6, 2021
StudioStudio in Los Angeles
Length17:06
LabelInterscope
Producer
Glaive chronology
Cypress Grove
(2020)
All Dogs Go to Heaven
(2021)
Then I'll Be Happy
(2021)
Old Dog, New Tricks cover
A boy sits with a dog in a library.
Singles from All Dogs Go to Heaven
  1. "I Wanna Slam My Head Against the Wall"
    Released: March 17, 2021
  2. "Detest Me"
    Released: June 2, 2021
  3. "Bastard"
    Released: July 29, 2021

Background and recording

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After posting a string of hyperpop songs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Glaive signed with Interscope Records[1] and released his debut extended play Cypress Grove in November 2020.[2] It garnered Glaive acclaim from The Fader; Alex Robert Ross said it positioned Glaive as "the most promising kid in pop music" and "a naturally gifted songwriter".[3]

Glaive travelled to Los Angeles to record All Dogs Go to Heaven across a two week period with Travis Barker and Nick Mira.[4][5] He made around 20 songs during the recording period.[5] Unlike Cypress Grove, which was recorded in his bedroom, All Dogs Go to Heaven was recorded in a studio.[6][7] The EP's title was taken from a book of the same name, which Glaive's mother gave him after the death of his family's dog.[5] When Glaive had ideas for the EP, he would write them in the Notes app to turn them into songs later. He wanted to make music that he liked instead of trying to sound like another artist.[8] Before traveling to Los Angeles, he made a few songs for the EP in his bedroom that didn't make the final track list.[5] During recording sessions, Glaive was assertive in moving away from the hyperpop sound of his previous EP.[4]

Composition and songs

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All Dogs Go to Heaven was classified as hyperpop by Julia Gray of Pitchfork,[7] while NME's Ben Jolley wrote that it "extend[s] far beyond the hyperpop umbrella".[6] Maxamillion Polo of Ones to Watch said the EP contains "Fragments of Midwest emo, emo rap, alternative, Jersey bounce, PC Music, and pop-punk".[9] Ross called the EP "hooky, but deft" and pulls from genres such as "Midwest emo, arena pop, and SoundCloud rap."[4] Glaive described the production as a middle ground between trap and EDM and called the EP energetic.[5]

The opening track of All Dogs Go to Heaven is "1984", a hyperpop song that also draws from rock, trap, and EDM.[10] The track meanders and then moves to an intensified pace.[6] It tells a bittersweet story with heartbroken lyrics over a trap-heavy chorus.[6][10] Gray said that Glaive puts on a "Post Malonian tremble-moan",[7] while Curtis Sun of Consequence described Glaive's delivery as "quavering".[10] "Detest Me" is an upbeat pop song[11] that consists of "blown-out drums, snares and a dolphin-like flute" that come together chaotically.[6] The angst-ridden[6] "Poison" contains a drawn-out enunciation of the title during its hook,[6][7] and Jolley described it as "a fusion of trap-meets-pop-punk."[6] The production of "Stephany" and "Synopsis" consist of "sticky riffs and thrashing drums" according to Jolley.[6] Gray called the latter "bumping" and "screeching" and wrote that Glaive is at his most "compelling and genuine" on the track.[7]

"I Wanna Slam My Head Against the Wall", a song about declining serotonin levels and Glaive's crush that loves alcohol,[12] contains frenetic[6] and maximalist hyperpop production.[13] Gray wrote that it's "deceptively chipper," while Sophie Leigh Walker of The Line of Best Fit said it's "all sunshine and rainbows on the surface" while concealing "universal angst".[12] The New York Times's Jon Caramanica wrote that the track "tilts between breathability and gasping," contains "squirrelly production" and called its lyrics "sweetly sung agony".[14] Glaive said the inspiration behind the track was online school and quarantine.[15] The penultimate track "Bastard" begins with a guitar progression and transitions to a beat drop as xylophone notes support Glaive's "raging post-breakup emotions".[6][16] The closing track "All Dogs Go to Heaven (Outro)" was described as "a relatively slow-burning ballad" by Derrick Rossignol of Uproxx.[8]

Promotion and release

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Glaive announced All Dogs Go to Heaven alongside the release of its lead single "I Wanna Slam My Head Against the Wall" and its music video on March 17.[12][15] The second single, "Detest Me", was released on June 2, 2021, alongside a music video.[11] On July 29, he released the third and final single, "Bastard".[16] The EP was released on August 6, 2021, via Interscope Records.[6]

A deluxe edition of All Dogs Go to Heaven, titled Old Dog, New Tricks, was released on January 27, 2022. It added five new songs to the EP, including the single "Prick".[17][18][19] During February 2022, Glaive embarked on a North American tour with Aldn and Midwxst to support Old Dog, New Tricks. It was his first tour as a headliner.[20]

On July 19, 2022, Glaive shared a GoFundMe for the dog featured on the EP's cover named Binkus. Binkus had the condition pulmonic stenosis and required $7,500 to treat the condition.[21]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME     [6]
Pitchfork6.3/10[7]

According to Raphael Helfand of The Fader, All Dogs Go to Heaven received mixed reviews.[20] In a perfect review for NME, Ben Jolley wrote that the EP "is a huge step up" for Glaive, showcases "genuine depth to his songwriting" and "proves that his appeal will soon transcend the relatively niche hyperpop scene". [6] In a lukewarm review for Pitchfork, Julia Gray wrote that Glaive's natural talent is hidden under "amorphous" production and said the EP is "polished, near spotless, and that's the problem."[7]

Track listing

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All Dogs Go to Heaven track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."1984"2:30
2."Detest Me"
  • Gutierrez
  • Alexander Walter Bak
  • Jasper Harris
  • Hagan Lange
  • Subhaan Rahman
  • Snoreck
  • Bak
  • Haan
  • Harris
  • Lange
  • Whethan
1:58
3."Poison"
  • Gutierrez
  • Jeff Hazin
  • Snoreck
  • Hazin
  • Whethan
2:16
4."Stephany"
  • Gutierrez
  • Hazin
  • Hazin
1:57
5."Synopsis"
  • Gutierrez
  • Travis Barker
  • Jaehyun Kim
  • Snoreck
  • Eric Revel Wood
  • Devin Workman
  • Barker
  • D-Work
  • Kimj
  • Whethan
2:03
6."I Wanna Slam My Head Against the Wall"
  • Gutierrez
  • Cashheart
  • Kidicarus
  • Kim
  • John Ong
  • Snoreck
  • Cashheart
  • Glasear
  • Kidicarus
  • Kimj
  • Whethan
1:56
7."Bastard"
  • Gutierrez
  • Xavier Deltomme
  • Snoreck
  • Wood
  • Delto
  • Lunamatic
  • Whethan
2:03
8."All Dogs Go to Heaven (Outro)"
  • Gutierrez
  • Hazin
  • Kim
  • Zac Greer
  • Hazin
  • Kimj
  • Greer
2:57
Total length:17:06
Old Dog, New Tricks track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
9."Lap #1"Perto2:07
10."Icarus"
  • Gutierrez
  • Nick Ferraro
  • Hazin
  • Ferraro
  • Hazin
1:56
11."JustLikeU4TheImage"
  • Gutierrez
  • Howarth
Perto1:57
12."Walking Around With No Hands"
  • Barker
  • Goldstein
  • Whethan
2:01
13."Prick"
  • Gutierrez
  • Howarth
Perto2:14
Total length:27:21

Notes

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[22]

  • Glaive – recording (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8), engineering (3, 5, 7)
  • Prash Mistry – mixing, mastering, engineering (1, 4, 5, 8)
  • Whethan – recording (1), engineering (2, 3, 5, 6)
  • Kimj – recording (8), engineering (5, 6)
  • Jeff Hazin – recording (4, 8), engineering (3)
  • Cashheart – engineering (6)
  • Zac Greer – recording (8)
  • Kidicarus – engineering (6)
  • D-Work – engineering (5)
  • Nick Mira – recording (1)
  • Glasear – engineering (6)
  • Travis Barker – drums, engineering (5)
  • Haan – engineering (2)
  • Eric J Dubowsky – engineering (7)
  • Matt Curtin – additional engineering (7)

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Edition Ref.
Various August 6, 2021 Original [23]
January 27, 2022
  • Streaming
  • digital download
  • LP
Deluxe [24][25]

References

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  1. ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (November 10, 2020). "How Hyperpop, a Small Spotify Playlist, Grew Into a Big Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Joyce, Colin (November 19, 2020). "glaive is writing pop's future from his small-town bedroom". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Maicki, Salvatore; Darville, Jordan; Renshaw, David; Ross, Alex Robert; Sajae, Elder (June 10, 2021). "10 songs you need in your life this week". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Ross, Alex Robert (August 17, 2021). "Glaive on breaking out and navigating teen stardom". The Fader. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e Blanchet, Brenton (July 14, 2021). "Here's everything you need to know about rising hyperpop sensation glaive". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Jolley, Ben (August 6, 2021). "glaive – 'all dogs go to heaven' EP review: scene-stealer's stadium-sized hyperpop anthems". NME. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Gray, Julia (August 16, 2021). "glaive: All Dogs Go to Heaven EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Rossignol, Derrick (August 11, 2021). "Glaive Drops An Emotional Video For His 'All Dogs Go To Heaven' Title Track". Uproxx. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  9. ^ Polo, Maxamillion (August 9, 2021). "glaive Cements His Place in Music's Next Wave With 'all dogs go to heaven'". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Siroky, Mary (August 6, 2021). "Song of the Week: The Weeknd Returns With the Heart-Pounding "Take My Breath"". Consequence. Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Rossignol, Derrick (June 2, 2021). "Glaive Is In His Feelings On The Emotional New Single 'Detest Me'". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Walker, Sophie Leigh (March 17, 2021). "SoundCloud graduate glaive flips the script with "i wanna slam my head against the wall"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Ihaza, Jeff (March 19, 2021). "Glaive's 'I Wanna Slam My Head Against the Wall' Is Exactly How Everything Feels Right Now". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon; Caramanica, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni (March 19, 2021). "Addison Rae's Pulsing Pop Debut, and 10 More New Songs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Dunn, Frankie (April 1, 2021). "glaive just conquered the hyperpop scene from his bedroom in North Carolina". i-D. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Adams, Danny (July 30, 2021). "bastard – [glaive]". Lyrical Lemonade. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Taylor, Sam (January 27, 2022). "glaive has released a deluxe edition of his recent EP, featuring a few new tracks". Dork. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  18. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (November 22, 2021). "Glaive delivers fan favourite "Prick" from deluxe version of all dogs go to heaven EP". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Renshaw, David (January 27, 2022). "glaive adds new tracks to All Dogs Go To Heaven deluxe edition". The Fader. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Helfand, Raphael (November 16, 2021). "Glaive announces February 2022 North American tour dates". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (July 19, 2022). "Glaive shares GoFundMe for dog on all dogs go to heaven EP cover art". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "all dogs go to heaven / Glaive". Tidal. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "all dogs go to heaven - Album by glaive". Apple Music. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Music". Glaive Official Store. Archived from the original on June 23, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "old dog, new tricks - Album by glaive". Apple Music. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2024.