Life in Plastic is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Tom Aspaul, released 30 May 2022, following his critically acclaimed debut album Black Country Disco. Named for a lyric taken from the song "Barbie Girl" by Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, the album saw Aspaul team up with long-time collaborators, Gil Lewis and MNEK.
| Life in Plastic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 30 May 2022 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 32:06 | |||
| Label | 1609 (self-released) | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Tom Aspaul chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Life in Plastic | ||||
| ||||
Described as a "monster pop record"[1] and a "party from start to finish",[2] Life in Plastic received acclaim for its consistency and "Y2K aesthetic", as well its eclectic influences. For The Independent, Isobel Lewis wrote: "Life in Plastic is a pure bubblegum pop record – but not without substance."[3]
In support of the album, Aspaul embarked on his second headline tour — the Planet Fantastic Tour. Opening in Paris on 19 April 2023, the Planet Fantastic Tour included shows across Europe, Australia and North America for the first time.[4]
Background
editInitially working as a songwriter for artists such as Becky Hill and Kylie Minogue, Tom Aspaul released his debut album, Black Country Disco in 2020. A follow up had been originally planned for release in 2021, but the success of Black Country Disco, the collaborative remix project Black Country Discothèque and Aspaul's first headline tour, The Revenge Body Tour, encouraged the singer to slow things down.[5]
Composition
editThe album is co-written and co-produced by Aspaul and London-based producer and songwriter, Gil Lewis, except two tracks, "What Is Real Anymore?" and "Millionaire" which were co-written with MNEK and a cover of "Hey! Amigo!", originally performed by French pop star Alizée.
The record was inspired by late 1990s and early 2000s Europop, trance and Eurodance music, noted for referencing artists such as "La Bouche, Ace of Base, Steps, Whigfield, ATC",[6] the band who inspired its name, Aqua — as well as Romanian pop music,[7] Balkan pop music[8] and the Eurovision Song Contest.
Lyrically the album has been described as dealing with themes of escapism, identity and the "pressures placed on gay men".[9]
Release
editThe album's first single "Let Them (It's All Love)" was released on 31 December 2021, followed by a sci-fi inspired music video a week later. The second single, "Kiss It", was released in February 2022, shortly followed by a black-and-white music video, which was a continuation of the previous clip.[10]
The final two singles before the album's release were the UK garage-inspired "What Is Real Anymore?" and an ode to Nicole Scherzinger, "Listen 2 Nicole". With the album's release itself being celebrated at London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern on 30 May 2022 followed by a performance at Mighty Hoopla on 3 June 2022. On 17 October 2022, the album was re-released as Life in Plastic, It's Expanded, a deluxe edition with eight new tracks and a music video for the song "Thessaloniki".[11]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Albumism |   [12] |
| The Line of Best Fit | [13] |
| Retro Pop | [14] |
Life in Plastic received critical acclaim upon release, though not as unanimous as Aspaul's debut. It was criticised for being "less put together than Black Country Disco" and having moments "where songwriting, instrumentation, and lyrical content could be slightly improved", but in the same review, Aspaul is described as a "shining example of an independent artist making the music they want to make."[15]
In a review for Albumism, Quentin Harrison describes the record as "Tom Aspaul levelling up" with particular praise for "Thessaloniki", "arguably one of his finest performances to date."[16] In a five-star review for Retro Pop Magazine, "Effigy" is highlighted as "a stellar, trance-inspired number" and "like a sequel to his fan-favourite hit 'Traces'". In the same review, the album is touted as "further evidence that Tom Aspaul should by all accounts be one of the UK's biggest music stars."
Year-end lists
edit| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Line of Best Fit | Staff Picks: The Year in Music | 14
|
[17] |
| Albumism | Albumism's 100 Best Albums of 2022 | 70
|
[18] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dial Up" |
|
| 0:36 |
| 2. | "Let Them (It's All Love)" |
|
| 3:03 |
| 3. | "Kiss It" |
|
| 3:13 |
| 4. | "What Is Real Anymore?" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 5. | "Lisen 2 Nicole" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 6. | "Statues" |
|
| 2:48 |
| 7. | "Wake Up in the Sun" |
|
| 2:53 |
| 8. | "Thessaloniki" |
|
| 3:08 |
| 9. | "Millionaire" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 10. | "Effigy" |
|
| 3:54 |
| Total length: | 29:07 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Hey! Amigo! – Bonus" |
| 2:59 | |
| Total length: | 32:06 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Thessaloniki" (Remix) |
|
| 4:14 |
| 13. | "Love Me Right" |
|
| 3:26 |
| 14. | "Something More (Keep It)" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 15. | "U Won't Care" |
|
| 3:08 |
| 16. | "Let Them (It's All Love)" (Extended Mix) |
|
| 7:05 |
| 17. | "Kiss It" (Extended Mix) |
|
| 6:04 |
| 18. | "Effigy" (Extended Mix) |
|
| 6:47 |
| 19. | "What Is Real Anymore?" (Acoustic) |
|
| 2:56 |
| Total length: | 68:56 | |||
Notes
- "Hey! Amigo!"is a cover of "Hey! Amigo!" by Alizée.
Release history
edit| Date | Format | Version | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2022 | Life in Plastic | 1609 | |
| 17 October 2022 |
|
Life in Plastic, It's Expanded |
References
edit- ^ "Tom Aspaul – Life In Plastic". RetroPop Magazine. Irresistible Publishing. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Cobbald, David. "Tom Aspaul's Life In Plastic is a party from start to finish". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Isobel (22 May 2022). "Tom Aspaul: 'I'm trying to learn to be less concerned about what people think'". The Independent. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Tom Aspaul announces 'Planet Fantastic' tour". Retro Pop. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Ali, Jon (7 March 2022). "'Kiss It': Tom Aspaul is providing the pop escapism we need". In The Know. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Harrison, Quentin (30 May 2022). "Tom Aspaul Flips His Script & Sound on 'Life In Plastic'". Albumism. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Stern, Bradley (3 January 2022). ""Let Them (It's All Love)": Tom Aspaul Kicks Off a New Era Inspired by INNA and Alexandra Stan. (!)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ White, Jordan (21 January 2022). "Tom Aspaul Let Them It's All Love". Euphoria. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Isobel (22 May 2022). "Tom Aspaul: 'I'm trying to learn to be less concerned about what people think'". The Independent. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Tom Aspaul drops steamy 'Kiss It' music video". Retro Pop. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Tom Aspaul shares 'Thessaloniki – Remix' from deluxe 'Life In Plastic' album". RetroPop Magazine. Irresistible Publishing. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Quentin, Harrison (4 December 2022). "Tom Aspaul Flips His Script & Sound on 'Life In Plastic' | Album Review". Albumism. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Cobbald, David. "Tom Aspaul's Life In Plastic is a party from start to finish". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ "Tom Aspaul – Life In Plastic". RetroPop Magazine. Irresistible Publishing. 28 May 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Cobbald, David. "Tom Aspaul's Life In Plastic is a party from start to finish". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Harrison, Quentin (30 May 2022). "Tom Aspaul Flips His Script & Sound on 'Life In Plastic': Album Review".
- ^ "Staff Picks: The Year in Music". Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Albumism Selects: The 100 Best Albums of 2022". 4 December 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.