Nootropics is the second album released by Baltimore indie rock band Lower Dens. It was released April 30, 2012, on the Domino Recording Company’s Ribbon Music label, the band's first album on that label, its debut Twin-Hand Movement being released on Gnomonsong.

Nootropics
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 30, 2012
GenreIndie rock, dream pop, krautrock
Length50:21
LanguageEnglish
LabelRibbon Music
Lower Dens chronology
Twin Hand Movement
(2010)
Nootropics
(2012)
Escape from Evil
(2015)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The A.V. Club(B)[2]
Pitchfork(8.2/10)[3]
Rolling Stone[4]
Spin[5]

Nootropics was recorded at the Key Club Recording Company in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was produced by Drew Brown, an engineer who had assisted Nigel Godrich on several projects.[6]

The second track "Brains" was released as a single ahead of the album, and highlighted that week by Stereogum.[7]

Track listing

edit
  1. "Alphabet Song" – 5:28
  2. "Brains" – 5:07
  3. "Stem" – 2:06
  4. "Propagation" – 4:59
  5. "Lamb" – 3:43
  6. "Candy" – 3:20
  7. "Lion in Winter, Pt. 1" – 4:16
  8. "Lion in Winter, Pt. 2" – 3:36
  9. "Nova Anthem" – 5:28
  10. "In the End Is the Beginning" – 12:18

Personnel

edit
  • Will Adams – Guitar
  • Geoff Graham – Bass, vocals
  • Jana Hunter– Vocals, guitar, synths
  • Nate Nelson – Drums
  • Carter Tanton – Synths, guitar, vocals

The album was produced, engineered, and mixed by Drew Brown, with additional engineering by Bill Skibbe and Jessica Ruffins. "Lamb" was engineered and mixed by Claudius Mittendorfer. Album artwork and design was done by Rose Chase with photographs by Jana Hunter and Sean Donnola.

References

edit
  1. ^ Thomas, Fred (April 30, 2012). "Nootropics – Lower Dens". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  2. ^ Heller, Jason (May 1, 2012). "Nootropics – Lower Dens". The A. V. Club. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. ^ Colly, Joe (May 1, 2012). "Album Reviews: Lower Dens: Nootropics". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  4. ^ Hermes, Will (May 10, 2012). "Rolling Stone Reviews: Lower Dens: Nootropics". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  5. ^ Patel, Puja (May 1, 2012). "Lower Dens, 'Nootropics'". Spin. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  6. ^ Rachel, T. Cole (April 18, 2012). "Progress Report: Lower Dens". Stereogum. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  7. ^ Singh, Amrit (January 17, 2012). "Lower Dens – "Brains"". Stereogum. Retrieved December 3, 2012.