Look Long
Look Long is the fifteenth studio album by American folk rock duo Indigo Girls. The album was originally due to be released on April 24, 2020,[3] but was delayed until May 22, 2020.[4] The album has had a positive reception from critics.
Look Long | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 22, 2020 | |||
Recorded | January 2019[1] | |||
Studio | Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom[2] | |||
Length | 41:43 | |||
Label | Rounder | |||
Producer | John Reynolds | |||
Indigo Girls chronology | ||||
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Release and promotion
The Indigo Girls recorded the album with previous collaborator John Reynolds.[5] The album was preceded by the single "Shit Kickin'" on February 28, 2020 and the announcement of a promotional tour.[3] Tour dates were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States but the duo performed a series of weekly[6] live-streamed concerts online to raise money for charity as well as promote this release.[1] These events were accompanied by a question and answer session and audience requests for performances.[7] They also performed at a virtual festival of musicians raising money for the United Nations Foundation on Mother's Day, 2020.[6]
Critical reception
Writing for the Associated Press, Pablo Gorondi writes that Look Long is a "a passionate and tuneful collection on which the combined voices of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers sound as instinctive and magical as ever".[2] The editorial staff of AllMusic Guide gave the release 3.5 out of five stars, with reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarking has several "jolt[s] of color or stylistic experimentation" and that "the album's heart lies within the musical departures".[8] In the Santa Cruz Sentinel, John Malkin notes the variety of themes in the songwriting: "politics and culture including realms like gun violence in America, gender identity, the paradox of love and loss and good ‘old southern living".[6] In No Depression, Carina Liptak also highlighted the diversity of themes as a strength for the album in addition to the tension between the two vocalists' styles.[9]
Track listing
- "Shit Kickin'" (Amy Ray) – 3:53
- "Look Long" (Emily Saliers) – 4:39
- "Howl at the Moon" (Amy Ray) – 3:42
- "When We Were Writers" (Emily Saliers) – 3:54
- "Change My Heart" (Emily Saliers) – 3:46
- "KC Girl" (Amy Ray) – 3:43
- "Country Radio" (Emily Saliers) – 3:57
- "Muster" (Amy Ray) – 3:40
- "Feel This Way Again" (Emily Saliers) – 2:52
- "Favorite Flavor" (Amy Ray) – 2:56
- "Sorrow and Joy" (Emily Saliers) – 4:41
Personnel
Indigo Girls
- Amy Ray – guitar, vocals
- Emily Saliers – guitar, vocals
Additional personnel
- Justin Adams – guitar
- Caroline Dale – cello
- Lyris Hung – violin
- Carol Isaacs – keyboards
- Lucy Jules – vocal harmonies on "Shit Kickin'"
- Clare Kenny – bass guitar
- John Reynolds – drums, percussion, keyboards, production
- Lucy Wainwright Roche – vocal harmonies
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[10] | 7 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] | 43 |
US Billboard 200[12] | 159 |
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[13] | 2 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] | 21 |
See also
References
- Ruggieri, Melissa (May 20, 2020). "Indigo Girls Talk About Visceral New Album, Look Long, Livestreams for Charity". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Gorondi, Pablo (May 20, 2020). "Review: Indigo Girls Passionate, Tuneful on Fine Look Long". Associated Press. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Hudak, Joseph (February 28, 2020). "Indigo Girls Preview New Album Look Long with Funky 'Sh-t Kickin'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- Betts, Stephen L. (May 1, 2020). "Indigo Girls Address Queer Representation in New Song 'Country Radio'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Masley, Ed (June 23, 2019). "'Psychedelic Heart?' Amy Ray of Indigo Girls talks new album coming in 2020". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- Malkin, John (May 20, 2020). "Look Long: Moving Forward Together with Indigo Girls". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Shaffer, Claire (March 18, 2020). "Indigo Girls to Perform Livestream Concert and Q&A". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Look Long – Indigo Girls". AllMusic Guide. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- Liptak, Carena (May 20, 2020). "Indigo Girls Bring Contradictory Forces into Harmony on Look Long". No Depression. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/2)". Billboard-Hollywood Media Group. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020 – via Twitter.
- "Indigo Girls Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
- "Indigo Girls Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
External links
- Look Long at Discogs (list of releases)
- Look Long at MusicBrainz (list of releases)