Filthy Underneath is the fifth studio album by the English musician Nadine Shah, released on 23 February 2024 through EMI North. It received acclaim from critics.
| Filthy Underneath | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 February 2024 | |||
| Length | 49:30 | |||
| Label | EMI North | |||
| Producer | Ben Hillier | |||
| Nadine Shah chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
editThe writing on the album was influenced by Shah's mother's death during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as her own substance abuse, suicide attempt and the end of her marriage.[1][2]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.3/10[3] |
| Metacritic | 87/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[6] |
| Mojo | [7] |
| NME | [8] |
| Record Collector | [1] |
| The Times | [9] |
| Uncut | 9/10[10] |
Filthy Underneath received a score of 87 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eleven critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] The reviews aggregated on AnyDecentMusic? collectively rated it an 8.3 out of 10, based on 19 critics' scores.[3]
Mojo called it "brilliantly executed with Shirley Bassey-like surety in an arresting, always distinctive, lyrical voice".[7] Uncut's Daniel Dylan Wray stated that "guitars take a backseat role here and are generally utilised for adding texture and atmosphere, while synths are plentiful. Itchy, propulsive post-punk-esque rhythms are largely ditched for a more glacial and unfurling pace that gives Shah's voice room to breathe and soar".[10]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Marcy Donelson called it, "far from dispirited, as [Shah] yet again tweaks her theatrical, gothy art-rock sound toward something that's glossy, dissonant, and primordial, with consistently strong grooves, thumping unison tom-toms, and Eastern musical modes weaving their way in throughout."[5] David Pollock of Record Collector described it as "a work of compelling, visceral humanity" and "a record to fall in love with".[1] The Quietus' Amanda Farah found that it is "a strong sense of rhythm—one that has propelled Shah's catalogue—that adds a subversive infectiousness on Filthy Underneath".[2]
Will Hodgkinson of The Times praised it as "a bold and original album about her crisis years, free of self-pity and oddly uplifting", adding that "her voice... bridges the gap between Shirley Bassey and Siouxsie Sioux".[9] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, John Amen commented, "With Filthy Underneath, Shah doesn't necessarily reinvent herself, though she certainly recommits to honesty, vulnerability, and stepping out of comfort zones, all the while documenting an important self-initiation".[6] In NME, Max Pilley declared, "Shah is writing about the darkest places a person can reach in a devastatingly human manner that demonstrates a rare level of repose and reflection."[8]
Year-end lists
edit| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOJO | 75 Best Albums of 2024 | 56 | [11] |
| Uncut | 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 60 | [12] |
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Nadine Shah and Ben Hillier, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Even Light" | 4:07 |
| 2. | "Topless Mother" | 3:17 |
| 3. | "Food for Fuel" (Shah, Hillier, Dan Crook) | 5:06 |
| 4. | "You Drive, I Shoot" (Shah, Hillier, Crook) | 2:53 |
| 5. | "Keeping Score" (Shah, Hillier, Crook) | 4:27 |
| 6. | "Sad Lads Anonymous" | 5:08 |
| 7. | "Greatest Dancer" | 5:25 |
| 8. | "See My Girl" (Shah, Hillier, Ben Nicholls) | 4:39 |
| 9. | "Twenty Things" | 5:25 |
| 10. | "Hyperrealism" | 4:03 |
| 11. | "French Exit" | 5:00 |
| Total length: | 49:30 | |
Personnel
editMusicians
- Nadine Shah – vocals
- Dan Crook – programming (track 3), keyboards (4, 10), guitar (4); drum programming, synth bass (5); Moog bass (10)
- Nick Etwell – trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 7)
- Ben Hillier – guitar (tracks 1–9, 11), drums (1–7, 9), keyboards (1, 3–11), harmonium (2), percussion (3, 4), bass (4, 5, 7–9), Moog bass (6), piano (7, 10), background vocals (7), programming (8, 11)
- David Liddell – trombone (tracks 1, 2, 7)
- Ben Nicholls – bass (tracks 1–7), keyboards (3, 10), guitar (7)
- Pete Wareham – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, horn arrangement (tracks 1, 2, 7)
Technical
- Dan Crook – mixing, engineering
- Ben Hillier – production, mixing
- Katie Tavini – mastering
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[13] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[14] | 25 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Pollock, David (30 January 2024). "Filthy Underneath | Nadine Shah". Record Collector. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b Farah, Amanda (19 February 2024). "Nadine Shah | Filthy Underneath". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Filthy Underneath by Nadine Shah reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Filthy Underneath by Nadine Shah Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b Donelson, Marcy (23 February 2024). "Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b Amen, John (23 February 2024). "Nadine Shah: Filthy Underneath Review – beginning again | Indie". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Nadine Shah – Filthy Underneath". Mojo. March 2024. p. 89.
- ^ a b Pilley, Max (22 February 2024). "Filthy Underneath | Nadine Shah". NME. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ a b Hodgkinson, Will (22 February 2024). "The best new music to listen to this week". The Times. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b Wray, Daniel Dylan (3 February 2024). "Nadine Shah – Filthy Underneath". Uncut. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". albumoftheyear.org. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (8 November 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 March 2024.