Two Saviors is the second studio album by American musician and Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek. It was released on January 15, 2021, through Keeled Scales Records.[9]
| Two Saviors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 15, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | July 2019[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:54 | |||
| Label | Keeled Scales | |||
| Producer | Andrew Sarlo | |||
| Buck Meek chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 6.9/10[5] |
| Metacritic | 77/100[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Beats Per Minute | 79%[7] |
| DIY |  [3] |
| Loud and Quiet | 7/10[8] |
| Pitchfork | 7.1/10[4] |
Background and recording
editThe album was recorded in July 2019, and was initially going to be released in July 2020, but got pushed back to January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Release and promotion
editThe album's opening track "Pareidolia" was released as a single on November 17, 2020.[10]
The second single "Candle" was released on January 7, 2021.[11]
Critical reception
editTwo Saviors was met with "generally favorable" 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 77 based on 9 reviews.[6] At AnyDecentMusic?, the release was given a 6.9 out of 10 based on 9 reviews.[5]
In a review for AllMusic, Marcy Donelson said: "Throughout Two Saviors, Meek's uniquely kindly tenor conveys evocative phrases and settings that likewise stand apart from the crowd. Much of the album consists of similarly affectionate, soft-footed tracks."[2] Carlo Thomas of Beats Per Minute wrote: "Two Saviors is quiet and understated, yet thoroughly enjoyable despite rarely moving out of second gear. The lyrical approach is the key insight to Two Saviors: Meek uses characters, their stories, and his interactions with them, to process his thoughts on the human condition."[7] Writing for DIY, Louisa Dixon explained: "A feather-light collection of alt-country, packed with pedal steel, lilting melodies and Buck's own evocative Texan burr, Buck's latest outing is a soothing antidote to literally everything else 2020 has thrown our way."[3]
At Loud and Quiet, Ollie Rankine stated: "Shacked up with his bandmates in an old Louisiana manor house, Meek's songs are, like his stately surrounds, far beyond their years. His gentle wonderings about life, adventure and resilience in heartbreak are carried by the sort of wisdom often found with a much older head."[8]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Buck Meek; "Candle" co-written with Adrianne Lenker.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pareidolia" | 4:07 |
| 2. | "Candle" | 3:43 |
| 3. | "Second Sight" | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Two Saviors" | 3:06 |
| 5. | "Two Moons" | 3:02 |
| 6. | "Dream Daughter" | 3:53 |
| 7. | "Ham on White" | 2:07 |
| 8. | "Cannonball, Pt. 2" | 4:04 |
| 9. | "Two Moons (Morning)" | 2:38 |
| 10. | "Pocketknife" | 2:23 |
| 11. | "Halo Light" | 3:54 |
| Total length: | 36:54 | |
Personnel
edit- Buck Meek – guitar, vocals, photos of Adam Brisbin, Mat Davidson, and Andrew Sarlo
- Adam Brisbin − guitar, vocals
- Mat Davidson – bass, pedal steel, fiddle, slide guitar, vocals
- Dylan Meek – piano, Rhodes, pump organ, vocals
- Austin Vaughn - drums, percussion
- Andrew Sarlo – production, mixing, engineering
- Heba Kadry – mastering
- Adrianne Lenker – cover photograph
- Robbie Jeffers – photos of Austin Vaughn and Dylan Meek
- Miles Johnson – album design
References
edit- ^ a b Thomas, Carlo (January 13, 2021). "Interview: Buck Meek". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c Donelson, Marcy. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c Dixon, Louisa (14 January 2021). "DIY Magazine Review". DIY. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Greene, Jayson (January 21, 2021). "Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "AnyDecentMusic? Review". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Thomas, Carlo (January 19, 2021). "Beats Per Minute Review". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ a b Rankine, Ollie (January 11, 2021). "Loud and Quiet Review". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ "Big Thief's Buck Meek Confirms New Album". DIY. October 6, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ H, Rob (November 17, 2020). "Big Thief's Buck Meek Delivers the Transcendent Daydream "Pareidolia"". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ H, Rob (January 7, 2021). "Buck Meek Shares The Careworn Country gem "Candle"". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
External links
edit- Two Saviors at MusicBrainz
- Two Saviors at Discogs (list of releases)