Wikipedia

In These Times (Makaya McCraven album)

In These Times is the sixth studio album by American musician Makaya McCraven. It was released on September 23, 2022, by International Anthem Recording Company, Nonesuch Records and XL Recordings.[12] The release features collaborations with Jeff Parker, Brandee Younger, Macie Stewart, Junius Paul, Marta Sofia Honer and Lia Kohl.[13]

In These Times
A photo of a line of trees with white leaves in a small circle inside an off-white background. The album's name is type in block letters at the top-middle, and the artist's is at the bottom-middle.
Studio album by
Makaya McCraven
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022 (2022-09-23)
Length41:12
Label
Makaya McCraven chronology
Deciphering The Message
(2020) 		In These Times
(2022)
Singles from In These Times
  1. "Seventh String"
    Released: June 21, 2022[1]
  2. "Dream Another"
    Released: July 19, 2022[2]
  3. "The Fours"
    Released: September 13, 2022[3]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[4]
Metacritic87/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Clash8/10[7]
Exclaim!9/10[8]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[9]
Pitchfork8/10[10]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5[11]

Production

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The album tracks were completed over a period of seven years, and constructed in five different studios and four live performance spaces.[14][1]

Background

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On June 23, 2022, Makaya McCraven announced the release of the new album.[14] The first single "Seventh String" was released alongside the announcement.[1]

The second single "Dream Another" was released on July 19, 2022.[2] The music video for the single, which is directed by Nik Arthur, features photographic animations in the style of a zoopraxiscope.[15]

McCraven released the third single "The Fours" on September 13, 2022.[3]

Critical reception

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In These Times was met with "universal acclaim" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 87, based on 11 reviews.[5] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave the release a 7.9 out of 10 based on a critical consensus of 7 reviews.[4]

Thom Jurek of AllMusic described the album as its "own jazz labyrinth, and as such is destined for repeated listening and startling discovery."[6] At Clash, Robin Murray wrote: "A challenging yet continually beautiful project, In These Times contains a terrific sense of unity, one that belies the lengthy manner of its gestation."[7]

Stereogum made the album as their "Album of the Week" on September 20, 2022.[16]

Accolades

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Publications' year-end list appearances for In These Times
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref
Loud and Quiet Loud and Quiet's Top 40 Albums of 2022 14 [17]
Norman Records Norman Records' Top 50 Albums of 2022 12 [18]
NPR Music NPR Music's Top 50 Albums of 2022 7 [19]
Passion of the Weiss Passion of the Weiss' Top 50 Albums of 2022 3 [20]
Stereogum Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2022 37 [21]
Stereogum's Top 10 Jazz Albums of 2022 1 [22]

Commercial performance

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In These Times ranked at number 85 in Scotland,[23] number 56 in Germany,[24] and number 92 in Switzerland.[25]

Track listing

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In These Times track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In These Times"7:09
2."The Fours"3:26
3."High Fives"3:39
4."Dream Another"3:12
5."Lullaby"3:33
6."This Place That Place"3:56
7."The Calling"1:47
8."Seventh String"3:05
9."So Ubuji"3:01
10."The Knew Untitled"4:27
11."The Title"3:57

Charts

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Chart performance for In These Times
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 74
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 56
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[27] 48
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 85
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 92
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[28] 23

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kenneally, Cerys (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven announces new album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kenneally, Cerys (July 19, 2022). "Makaya McCraven shares new cut 'Dream Another'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Rettig, James (September 13, 2022). "Makaya McCraven – The Fours". Stereogum. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "AnyDecentMusic? Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Murray, Robin (October 6, 2022). "Clash Magazine Review". Clash. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Ranta, Alan (September 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven's Illuminating 'In These Times' Is a Crate Digger's Paradise". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Lily, Evan (October 7, 2022). "The Line of Best Fit Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Cush, Andy (September 27, 2022). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sputnikmusic Review". Sputnikmusic. October 30, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Slingerland, Calum (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Returns with New Album 'In These Times'". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Hussey, Allison (June 21, 2022). "Makaya McCraven Announces New Album, Shares New Song "Seventh String"". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Makaya McCraven Launches New Album". Clash. June 23, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Makaya McCraven Releases "Dream Another," From Upcoming Album, 'In These Times'". Nonesuch Records. July 19, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  16. ^ Leas, Ryan (September 20, 2022). "Makaya McCraven is Album of the Week". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Loud and Quiet Albums of the Year". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Norman Records' Best Albums". Norman Records. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "NPR Music's 50 Best Albums of 2022". NPR Music. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "The Best Albums of 2022". Passion of the Weiss. December 29, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  21. ^ "Best Albums of 2022". Stereogum. December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  22. ^ Freeman, Phil (December 13, 2022). "Best Jazz Albums of 2022". Stereogum. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Makaya McCraven – In These Times" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Makaya McCraven – In These Times". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
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