Trees (stylised as TREES) is the second studio album by Avantdale Bowling Club, the solo project of New Zealand rapper Tom Scott. Released in September 2022, the album debuted at number one on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.
| Trees | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 30 September 2022 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:04 | |||
| Label | Years Gone By | |||
| Producer |
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| Avantdale Bowling Club chronology | ||||
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Production
editScott worked together with former At Peace bandmate Christoph El Truento to create the album. The pair worked to create a more modern sound on the album compared to the debut Avantdale Bowling Club album from 2018, by incorporating auto-tune, newer drum machines and accordion.[1]
Release and promotion
editAs a part of the 2022 New Zealand International Film Festival, Scott released Trees, an 18-minute short film directed by Scott that depicts a dystopian world where trees have been banned. The film starred Bruce Hopkins, and was scored by Avantdale Bowling Club.[2][3] Scott toured New Zealand in November and December 2022, performing six dates including performances at the Auckland Town Hall and the St. James Theatre, Wellington.[4]
Critical reception
editEverything Is Noise chose Trees as one of their top 75 albums of 2022,[5] while Hip-Hop Golden Age chose Trees as the 14th best hip-hop album of 2022, praising the album as "an effortless fusion of neo-jazz and Hip Hop", noting that "Trees is more subtle and humble than Avantdale Bowling Club's eponymous masterpiece debut".[6]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Trees" |
| 3:43 |
| 2. | "Rent 2 High" |
| 5:49 |
| 3. | "Twenty Eight" |
| 2:48 |
| 4. | "Flying Pigs" |
| 6:17 |
| 5. | "Friday Night @ the Liquor Store" |
| 3:20 |
| 6. | "Going Through It." |
| 6:17 |
| 7. | "Still Feel Broke" |
| 5:50 |
| 8. | "Remember, I Really Am Asleep?" |
| 0:59 |
| 9. | "Without You" |
| 5:27 |
| 10. | "Outro?" |
| 1:34 |
| Total length: | 42:04 | ||
Credits and personnel
edit- Tom Broome – recording (2)
- Cory Champion – drums, vibraphone
- Tom Dennison – additional bass
- Julien Dyne – drums
- Christoph El Truento – mixer, producer
- Guy Harrison – keyboards, trumpet
- Brandon Haru – keyboards
- Daniel Hayles – keyboards
- Haz Beats – producer (2)
- Hershel Hersche – accordion
- Troy Kingi – additional vocals
- Ben Lawson – mixer, recording engineer
- Jong-Yung Lee – saxophone
- Parks – keyboards
- Rizvan – additional vocals
- Tom Scott – concept, vocals
- Manhit Singh – tabla
- Hollie Smith – additional vocals
- Dallas Tamaira – additional vocals
- Mara TK – additional vocals, guitar, sitar
- Jeremy Toy – additional guitar
- Lui Tuiasau – additional vocals
- Ben Turua – bass
- Tonga Vaea – additional vocals
Charts
editRelease history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 30 September 2022 | Years Gone By | [4] |
References
edit- ^ Ryan, Charlotte (1 October 2022). "Tom Scott on Avantdale Bowling Club's new album TREES". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand's Best 2022". New Zealand International Film Festival. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Changing Of The Guard". The Big Idea. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ a b Cudby, Chris (30 September 2022). "Listen To Avantdale Bowling Club's New Album 'TREES'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ Meese, Toni (10 January 2023). "Everything Is Noise's Top 75: The Best Albums of 2022". Everything Is Noise. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2022". Hip Hop Golden Age. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Avantdale Bowling Club – Trees". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Official Top 20 NZ Albums: End of Year Charts 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 December 2022.