Emily's D+Evolution
Emily's D+Evolution | ||||
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Studio album by Esperanza Spalding | ||||
Released | 4 March 2016 | |||
Studio |
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Length | 45:44 | |||
Label | Concord | |||
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Esperanza Spalding chronology | ||||
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Emily's D+Evolution is the fifth studio album by American musician Esperanza Spalding, released on 4 March 2016 by Concord Records.
Background
The album was co-produced by Spalding and longtime David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti.[1][2] On the album, Spalding sings through the alter ego of Emily, which is her middle name.[3][4] In an interview, Spalding stated that Emily "is a spirit, or a being, or an aspect who I met, or became aware of. I recognize that my job...is to be her arms and ears and voice and body".[5]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10[6] |
Metacritic | 84/100[7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
All About Jazz | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Exclaim! | 7/10[9] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Now | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 8.6/10[5] |
PopMatters | 9/10[2] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stereophile | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tom Hull | B[14] |
Emily's D+Evolution received widespread critical acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 84, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[7]
Marcus J. Moore of Pitchfork Media praised the album, stating, "The lyrics are elusive at first, darting behind fast-moving songs and delivered in impressionistic, conversational bursts that recall the delivery of Joni Mitchell. But the fearless generosity behind them communicates itself loud and clear, and it's a spirit that animates the entire album. With it, Spalding has once again redefined an already singular career, dictating a vision entirely on her own terms".[5] Michael J. Warren of Exclaim! commented, "Emily's D+Evolution is a tough album to get a full grasp on. It's not a neat alter ego side project; rather than going the Chris Gaines route, Esperanza Spalding is again flexing her range, showing that her playing style and voice can find a home in any genre. There are moments here where she falls into a nice pocket that the listener might wish she'd remain in for a little while longer."[9] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone added, "...Emily’s D+Evolution is a far more ambitious and thornier affair. The lyrics, flowing in disjunctive clusters, are about deleted narratives, glass ceilings and dreams deferred – ultimately a complex, funky prog-rock concept opera about love and identity.[12]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Esperanza Spalding, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Good Lava" | 3:38 | |
2. | "Unconditional Love" | 3:46 | |
3. | "Judas" | 4:10 | |
4. | "Earth to Heaven" | 3:52 | |
5. | "One" | 3:15 | |
6. | "Rest in Pleasure" | 4:59 | |
7. | "Ebony and Ivy" | 4:20 | |
8. | "Noble Nobles" |
| 3:33 |
9. | "Farewell Dolly" | 2:07 | |
10. | "Elevate or Operate" | 4:03 | |
11. | "Funk the Fear" | 5:07 | |
12. | "I Want It Now" | 2:51 | |
Total length: | 45:44 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Change Us" | 3:57 |
14. | "Unconditional Love (Alternate Version)" | 9:40 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Emily's D+Evolution.[15]
- Main personnel
- Esperanza Spalding – vocals, bass (tracks 1-11, 13, 14), piano (10, 12), bass synthesizer (12)
- Matthew Stevens – guitar
- Karriem Riggins – drums (2-5, 7, 8, 10, 13), percussion (9)
- Justin Tyson – drums (1, 6, 11, 12, 14)
- Corey King – backing vocals (1, 2, 5-7, 12-14), synthesizer (6), trombone (8), keyboards (12)
- Emily Elbert – backing vocals (1, 6, 11, 12, 14)
- Nadia Washington – backing vocals (2, 5, 7, 13)
- Celeste Butler, Fred Martin, Katriz Trinidad, Kimberly L. Cook-Ratliff – backing vocals (11)
- Additional personnel
- Esperanza Spalding – production
- Tony Visconti – production (2-5, 7-10, 13), mixing (2-5, 7, 9, 10)
- Kyle Hoffman – engineering
- Tim Price – engineering
- Erin Tonkon, Kyle McAulay, Martin Cooke, Nicolas Fournier – assistant engineering
- Rich Costey – mixing (1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13)
- Mario Borgatta – assistant mixing
- Paul Blakemore – mastering
- Lawrence Azerrad – graphics, design
- Holly Andres – photography
Charts
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] | 148 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] | 175 |
French Albums (SNEP)[18] | 181 |
US Billboard 200[19] | 88 |
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[20] | 1 |
References
- ^ a b Collar, Matt. "Emily's D+Evolution". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ a b Layman, Will (11 March 2016). "Emily's D+Evolution". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ Chinen, Nate (17 May 2015). "Review: Esperanza Spalding Recalls the Creativity of Youth in New Songs". New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ Johnston, Maura (3 March 2016). "Berklee's Esperanza Spalding thrills with new album". Boston Globe. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ a b c Moore, Marcus J. (4 March 2016). "Emily's D+Evolution". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Turner, Mark F. (12 April 2016). "Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution". All About Jazz. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ a b Warren, Michael J. (2 March 2016). "Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution". Exclaim!. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Fordham, John (3 March 2016). "Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution review – unconditionally terrific". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ CLARKE, CHRISTINE (9 March 2016). ">>> Esperanza Spalding: Emily's D+Evolution". Now. Now Communications. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ a b Weingarten, Christopher R. (4 March 2016). "Emily's D+Evolution". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Baird, Robert (17 May 2016). "Recording of June 2016: Emily's D+Evolution". Stereophile. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Esperanza Spalding". Tom Hull. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Emily's D+Evolution (LP liner notes). Esperanza Spalding. Concord Records. 2016. CRE-38281-01.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Ultratop.be – Esperanza Spalding – Emily's D+Evolution" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Esperanza Spalding – Emily's D+Evolution" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Esperanza Spalding – Emily's D+Evolution". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ "Esperanza Spalding Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- v
- t
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- Junjo
- Esperanza
- Chamber Music Society
- Radio Music Society
- Emily's D+Evolution
- Exposure
- 12 Little Spells
- Songwrights Apothecary Lab