Almost (Sweet Music)

"Almost (Sweet Music)" is a song recorded by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier for his second studio album, Wasteland, Baby! It was released on 16 January 2019 as the third single from the record, peaking at number eight on the Irish Singles Chart.

"Almost (Sweet Music)"
Single by Hozier
from the album Wasteland, Baby!
Released16 January 2019
Length3:37
Label
Songwriter(s)Hozier
Producer(s)
Hozier singles chronology
"Movement"
(2018)		 "Almost (Sweet Music)"
(2019)		 "Dinner & Diatribes"
(2019)
Music video
"Almost (Sweet Music)" on YouTube

Writing and composition

"Almost (Sweet Music)" is the second track on the album, written by Hozier alone.[1] "Almost (Sweet Music)" is a folk song with handclaps, "honey-rich" vocals, and gospel choral backing.[2][3] The lyrics tell a story by paying homage to artists of jazz tradition, including Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, asking "do I owe each kiss to lip and cheek/as soft as Chet can sing"?[4]

The track also "provides a glimpse into his personal journey between the two full-length studio albums" with vocals of both jubilation and exhaustion.[3] On the song, Hozier stated that "since the song references music so much and is about the experience of listening to music, the concept of this video is kind of drawing from the jazz tradition and just a lot of musicians and a lot of dancers whose disciplines stem from that tradition.”[4]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. The Irish Times stated that "the melody is lifted by a multi-voiced choir bursting straight out of the Pearly Gates"[5] and The Arts Desk states that "the verse is beautifully mumbled and the whole lot just sways", comparing it to a Van Morrison track.[6] PopMatters concluded that the song captured "deep personal sentiment" and illustrated the "fullness and richness of Hozier's timbre" while Rolling Stone dismissed track among "songs that pile on folksy handclaps and [..] gospel choirs in the hopes of landing on a-coffeehouse playlist."[4][7]

Commercial performance

The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Rock Digital Sales Chart and number eight on the Irish Singles Chart.[8] The song was certified silver in the UK.[9][10] Billboard described the track as a "love letter to jazz" and a "a bright and cheery homage to the "sweet music" that shaped his growth as a songwriter."[11]

Music video

The official music video for "Almost (Sweet Music)" was released on 16 April 2019. The video was directed by Blythe Thomas and stars dancers Cameron Boyce and Christine Flores. [12] It intertwines footage of Hozier playing guitar in an empty warehouse with performers interpretive dancing to a "rhythm that works in every environment, from a raucous house party to [..] a cellist practicing in a cozy library."[11] The video has garnered over 12 million views on YouTube.[13]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]

  • A. Hozier-Byrne – Producer, composer, lyricist, associated performer, clapping, electric guitar, percussion, piano, shaker, vocalist
  • Markus Dravs – Producer, associated performer, vocal producer
  • Alex Ryan – Associated Performer, bass (vocal), clapping, percussion, wurlitzer organ
  • Booker T. Jones – Associated Performer, organ
  • Paul Clarvis – Associated Performer, tambourine
  • Rory Doyle – Associated Performer, clapping, drums, percussion
  • Nathaniel Graham – Asst. Recording Engineer
  • Robbie Nelson – Asst. Recording Engineer, studio personnel
  • Iain Berryman – Engineer, studio personnel
  • Greg Calbi – Mastering Engineer, studio personnel
  • Ivan Wayman – Mix Engineer, studio personnel
  • Shawn Everett – Mixer, studio personnel

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[15] 33
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 8
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 82
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[19] 45
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[20] 9

Year-end charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[21] 30

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Almost (Sweet Music)". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  2. "Wasteland, Baby! Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  3. "Hozier: Wasteland, Baby!". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. "Hoziers Pay Tribute to Jazz Traditions in 'Almost (Sweet Music)'". Rolling Stone. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  5. "Wasteland, Baby! Review". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  6. "CD: Hozier - Wasteland Baby!". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. "Hozier, Wasteland Baby". PopMatters.
  8. "Almost (Sweet Music)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  9. "Almost (Sweet Music)". Top Charts. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  10. "Hozier Certifications". BPI.
  11. "Hozier releases "Almost" Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  12. "FEATURE IN HOZIER MUSIC VIDEO, ALMOST (SWEET MUSIC)". Susan P. Mandel. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  13. "Hozier – Almost (Sweet Music) (Official Video)". Retrieved 19 March 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. "Credits / Wasteland, Baby! / Hozier – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  15. "Hozier – Almost (Sweet Music)" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Hozier". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  17. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  19. "Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  20. "Hozier chart history: Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  21. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  22. "Canadian single certifications – Hozier – Almost (Sweet Music)". Music Canada. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  23. "British single certifications – Hozier – Almost (Sweet Music)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  24. "American single certifications – Hozier – Almost (Sweet Music)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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