I Des is the fiftieth studio album by Scottish indie folk musician King Creosote, released on 3 November 2023 through Domino Recording Company. It is Kenny Anderson's first release as King Creosote in seven years and received acclaim from critics.
| I Des | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 November 2023 | |||
| Length | 83:45 | |||
| Label | Domino | |||
| Producer |
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| King Creosote chronology | ||||
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Background
editThe album is King Creosote's first release in seven years, following Astronaut Meets Appleman (2016). The title is a reference to Anderson's co-producer Derek O'Neill, also known as Des Lawson.[1] I Des contains a 13-minute suite titled "Please Come Back I Will Listen, I Will Behave, I Will Toe the Line", and the 36-minute "Drone in B♯", with B♯ being an enharmonic equivalent to the key of C. [2]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Mojo | [4] |
| MusicOMH | [1] |
| The Skinny | [5] |
| Uncut | 8/10[6] |
I Des received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[3] Uncut felt that "the manic, galloping 'Susie Mullen' proves Anderson's still got a nose for fun",[6] while Mojo remarked, "if life's what you make it, here Anderson makes it sound very beautiful indeed".[4] The Skinny's Mia Boffey described it as "a largely jubilant and life-affirming meditation on life and mortality. A triumph for Anderson, it's a more than worthy addition to his extensive and revered body of work".[5]
Timothy Monger of AllMusic stated that the album "feels a bit like a composite of Anderson's various attributes, a wild mid-career overview imbued with the veteran presence of an artist who has always sounded like an old soul" as well as "an appropriately ambitious celebration of his first 25 years".[2] Reviewing the album for MusicOMH, Steven Johnson summarised I Des as a "slowburning set of songs full of delicate beauty and affecting, idiosyncratic warmth".[1]
Track listing
editAll tracks are produced by Kenny Anderson and Derek O'Neill; all tracks are mixed by Derek O'Neill.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Sin That's Got Its Hold Upon Us" | Kenny Anderson | 3:51 |
| 2. | "Blue Marbled Elm Trees" | Anderson | 5:03 |
| 3. | "Burial Bleak" | Anderson | 5:48 |
| 4. | "Dust" | Anderson | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Walter de la Nightmare" |
| 4:11 |
| 6. | "Susie Mullen" |
| 4:49 |
| 7. | "Love Is a Curse" | Anderson | 1:59 |
| 8. | "Ides" |
| 4:05 |
| 9. | "Please Come Back I Will Listen, I Will Behave, I Will Toe the Line" |
| 13:16 |
| 10. | "Drone in B♯" |
| 36:34 |
| Total length: | 83:45 | ||
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[7] | 3 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[8] | 61 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[9] | 19 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[10] | 4 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Johnson, Steven (3 November 2023). "King Creosote – I Des | Album Reviews". MusicOMH. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Monger, Timothy (3 November 2023). "King Creosote – I Des Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b "I Des by King Creosote Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "King Creosote – I Des". Mojo. December 2023. p. 92.
- ^ a b Boffey, Mia (30 October 2023). "King Creosote – I Des | Album Reviews". The Skinny. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ a b "King Creosote – I Des". Uncut. December 2023. p. 31.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2023.