Pageant is the second and final studio album by American queer punk duo Pwr Bttm. Originally released by Polyvinyl and Big Scary Monsters, the album's release was preceded by sexual abuse allegations against Pwr Bttm member Ben Hopkins. Both labels dropped the band from their rosters and ceased production and distribution of Pageant, providing refunds to those who pre-ordered the record.[1] Pageant was also pulled from music streaming services.[2] The album debuted on the UK Indie Chart on May 19, 2017, at no. 46.[3]

Pageant
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 12, 2017 (2017-05-12)
Genre
Length33:43
Label
ProducerChristopher Daly
Pwr Bttm chronology
Ugly Cherries
(2015)
Pageant
(2017)
Singles from Pageant
  1. "Big Beautiful Day"
    Released: February 14, 2017
  2. "Answer My Text"
    Released: March 7, 2017
  3. "LOL"
    Released: April 10, 2017

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.1/10[4]
Metacritic85/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
Consequence of SoundB+[7]
The Guardian     [8]
NME     [9]
Paste8.6/10[10]
PopMatters8/10[11]
Rolling Stone     [12]

On Metacritic, the album holds an average critic score of 85, based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[5]

With respect to the allegations of sexual abuse against band member Ben Hopkins, Sasha Geffen of Pitchfork commented on Pageant, saying, "What was a document of queer exuberance has now become a hollow sequence of songs, from a band whose sentiments were maybe always shallow."[13]

Commercial performance

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Pageant charted for one week at position 5 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart for the week of June 3, 2017.[14] It also charted for one week at position 31 on the US Independent Albums chart for the week of June 3, 2017.[15] In the UK, the album debuted on the Indie Chart on May 19, 2017 at position 46.[3]

Track listing

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Pageant track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Silly"2:35
2."Answer My Text"2:47
3."LOL"2:47
4."Won't"2:20
5."Now Now"2:22
6."Sissy"2:24
7."Pageant"2:28
8."Oh, Boy"2:47
9."New Trick"2:27
10."Wash"2:45
11."Kids' Table"2:20
12."Big Beautiful Day"2:49
13."Styrofoam"2:52
14."Vacation" (Japanese bonus track)2:07
Total length:33:43

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Pageant album liner notes.[16]

  • Cameron West – arrangement, French horn
  • Christopher Daly – production, arrangement (7)
  • Rami Dahdal – arrangement
  • Kiley Lotz – backing vocals
  • Adele Stein – cello
  • New Paltz BTTMs Choir – choir (5)
  • Travis DeJong – engineering
  • Isabel Gleicher – flute
  • Jamal Ruhe – mastering, guitar
  • Chris Hopkins – soprano vocals
  • Nicolas Davis – trumpet
  • Sarah Haines – viola
  • Jennifer Hinkle – bass trombone

Charts

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Chart performance for Pageant
Chart (2017) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[17] 46
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] 5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 31

References

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  1. ^ Murphy, Sarah (May 13, 2017). "PWR BTTM Dropped By Polyvinyl". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  2. ^ "PWR BTTM's Music Removed From iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  4. ^ "Pageant by PWR BTTM reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Reviews for Pageant by PWR BTTM". Metacritic. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Bemrose, Bekki. "Pageant – PWR BTTM". AllMusic. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  7. ^ Hughes, Kayleigh (May 9, 2017). "PWR BTTM – Pageant". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  8. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (May 11, 2017). "PWR BTTM: Pageant review – explosive, emotional glam rock". The Guardian. London. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  9. ^ Milton, Jamie (May 10, 2017). "PWR BTTM – 'Pageant' Review". NME. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Milo, Jeff (May 9, 2017). "Paste Review of the Day: PWR BTTM - Pageant". Paste. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Smith, Tanner (May 11, 2017). "PWR BTTM: Pageant". PopMatters. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  12. ^ Dolan, Jon (May 11, 2017). "Review: Pwr Bttm's 'Pageant' Is Wild-Hearted Glam-Punk Subversion". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  13. ^ Geffen, Sasha (May 16, 2017). "Queer Kids Deserve Better Than PWR BTTM". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  14. ^ "PWR BTTM - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  15. ^ "PWR BTTM - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
  16. ^ Pageant (CD liner notes). PWR BTTM. Big Scary Monsters. 2017. BSM 206V.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Pwr Bttm Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "Pwr Bttm Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2021.