Here in the Pitch is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt. It was released on May 3, 2024, through Mexican Summer. The album received critical acclaim from music critics.
| Here in the Pitch | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 3, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2023 | |||
| Studio | Gary's Electric (Brooklyn) | |||
| Length | 27:14 | |||
| Label | Mexican Summer | |||
| Producer |
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| Jessica Pratt chronology | ||||
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Background
editHere in the Pitch was inspired by the "hippie era" of Los Angeles and encapsulates the singer's obsessions with "figures emblematic of the dark side of the Californian dream".[1] Pratt created the record alongside long-time collaborator Al Carlson, as well as keyboardist Matt McDermott, bassist Spencer Zahn, and percussionist Mauro Refosco. It also features contributions from Ryley Walker, Peter Mudge, and Alex Goldberg.[2]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.6/10[3] |
| Metacritic | 90/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Far Out | [6] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[7] |
| Paste | 9.5/10[8] |
| Pitchfork | 8.8/10[9] |
| Under the Radar | 9/10[10] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Here in the Pitch received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 90 out of 100 from 12 critic scores.[4] Editors at review aggregator AnyDecentMusic? scored this album an 8.6 out of 10, based on 16 critics' scores.[3]
Concluding the review for AllMusic, Fred Thomas claimed that, "the expanded instrumentation gives them a prismatic glow and makes for one of the most fascinating and repeatable sets from an artist who was already in a class by herself."[5] Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork awarded the album 8.8/10, as well as the site's "Best New Music" designation. Larson stated that the listener witnesses "music's greatest horologist" create another "ornate clock to hang on the wall" with the record. Albeit "difficult to describe", Here in the Pitch captures "this mysterious song that Pratt knows so well" across nine songs overall. The writer described it as a "prime example of hypnagogic folk" that quietly observes the "simultaneity of time" along with its "misery, wonder, and promise".[9] In Paste, Matt Mitchell declared that, "You can listen to these nine songs and think there's something nostalgic to latch onto—and maybe there is—but what's so joyous and worthwhile about this collection is how detached from any particular generational label it is."[8]
Elle Palmer at Far Out thought that Here in the Pitch was "well worth the" five-year long wait with every moment being "gorgeously constructed" to come together on an album "that should be enjoyed as such".[6] Writing for The Line of Best Fit, John Amen saw the album as an evolution within Pratt's catalogue, building on the "dreamy spaciousness" of previous projects while "offering one lush hook after another". Amen went as far as calling it her "most fully realized and consistently evocative" album to date.[7] Daniel Gard'ner of Under the Radar reaffirmed Pratt's notion about the "weird optimism" running through the album, in that there is a "subtle arc of light" within a "sticky blackness of bitumen".[10]
Year-end lists
edit| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Radio 6 Music | 26 Albums of the Year 2024 | - | [11] |
| Exclaim! | 50 Best Albums of 2024 | 27 | [12] |
| MOJO | 75 Best Albums of 2024 | 36 | [13] |
| Uncut | 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 5 | [14] |
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Jessica Pratt; "Glances" written with Matt McDermott and Peter Mudge.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Life Is" | 3:08 |
| 2. | "Better Hate" | 3:46 |
| 3. | "World on a String" | 3:09 |
| 4. | "Get Your Head Out" | 3:25 |
| 5. | "By Hook or by Crook" | 3:27 |
| 6. | "Nowhere It Was" | 2:41 |
| 7. | "Empires Never Know" | 2:32 |
| 8. | "Glances" | 1:31 |
| 9. | "The Last Year" | 3:35 |
| Total length: | 27:14 | |
Personnel
editMusicians
- Jessica Pratt – vocals (tracks 1–7, 9), guitar (1–6, 8, 9), timpani (2); 12-string guitar, drums (4)
- Al Carlson – bass (tracks 1–3); Mellotron trumpet, Mellotron strings, glockenspiel (1); baritone saxophone (2, 5), piano (3, 7, 9), string synthesizer (3), organ (4–6), Mellotron (4), Farfisa (5)
- Matt McDermott – Mellotron acoustic guitar, Mellotron horns (track 1); Mellotron harpsichord, Mellotron vibraphone (2); Rhodes (4); flute, synthesizer, Mellotron trumpet (7); Mellotron French horn (8)
- Peter Mudge – Mellotron acoustic guitar (track 1), Mellotron vibraphone (2), auxiliary percussion (4), organ (5, 8), Rhythm Ace drum machine (6), Mellotron French horn (8)
- Alex Goldberg – drums (tracks 1, 9)
- Ryley Walker – guitar (track 1)
- Mauro Refosco – percussion (tracks 2, 4–7)
- Spencer Zahn – bass (tracks 4, 5)
Technical
- Jessica Pratt – production
- Al Carlson – production (tracks 1–7, 9); mixing, mastering (all tracks)
- Matt McDermott – production (track 8), additional production (1–4, 7)
- Peter Mudge – production (track 8), additional production (1, 2, 4, 5)
Visuals
- Nina Gofur – photography
- Alex Tults – design, layout
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] | 143 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] | 36 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[17] | 41 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ Corcoran, Nina (February 13, 2024). "Album in 5 Years, Shares Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (February 13, 2024). "Jessica Pratt announces new album Here in the Pitch & tour, shares video". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b "Here in the Pitch by Jessica Pratt reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Here in the Pitch by Jessica Pratt Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Thomas, Fred. "Here in the Pitch – Jessica Pratt | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Palmer, Elle (May 1, 2024). "Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch album review: Richer and more refined". Far Out. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Amen, John (May 2, 2024). "Jessica Pratt Here in the Pitch". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Matt (May 2, 2024). "Jessica Pratt Unleashes Girl Group Progenies of Yesteryear With a Lo-Fi Bent on Here in the Pitch". Paste. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Larson, Jeremy D. (May 2, 2024). "Jessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ a b Gard'ner, Daniel (May 2, 2024). "Jessica Pratt: Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer) - Review". Under the Radar. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
- ^ BBC Radio 6 Music. "Albums of the Year 2024". BBC.com. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Exclaim! Staff (November 27, 2024). "Exclaim!'s 50 Best Albums of 2024". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ "MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024". albumoftheyear.org. November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (November 8, 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2024.