Nation of Two

Nation of Two is the second studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. The album was announced on 12 January 2018. The album serves as a follow-up to his 2014 album Dream Your Life Away (2014). with Vance Joy explaining: "Nation of Two describes a perfectly self-contained couple; their world beginning and ending at the bed they share, the car they ride in, or any other place where they're together... the idea that their love for each other gives them their bearings; a point of reference that makes sense of life." The concept originally appeared in the Kurt Vonnegut novel Mother Night.[2][3]

Nation of Two
Studio album by
Vance Joy
Released23 February 2018
Genre
Length45:15
LabelLiberation Music
Producer
Vance Joy chronology
Dream Your Life Away
(2014)		 Nation of Two
(2018)		 Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
(2018)
Singles from Nation of Two
  1. "Lay It on Me"
    Released: 12 July 2017
  2. "Like Gold"
    Released: 3 November 2017[1]
  3. "We're Going Home"
    Released: 12 January 2018
  4. "Saturday Sun"
    Released: 1 February 2018
  5. "Call If You Need Me"
    Released: 11 February 2018
  6. "I'm with You"
    Released: 21 September 2018

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, Nation of Two won Best Adult Contemporary Album.[4]

Singles

"Lay It on Me" was released as the lead single from the album on 12 July 2017. The song peaked at number 18 on the Australian Singles Chart and has been certified platinum. "Like Gold" was released on 3 November 2017 as the album's second single. "We're Going Home" was released on 12 January 2018 as the album's third single. "Saturday Sun" was released as the fourth single on 1 February 2018. "Call If You Need Me" was released on 11 February 2018 and "I'm With You" was released as the sixth single on 21 September 2018.

A week before the album's release, Vance Joy posted a 13-second preview of "I'm With You" on his Twitter account, stating that it was one of his favorite tracks on the album. On 19 February, he revealed a 15-second preview of "Little Boy" stating that the song was about when he fell off his bike as a young boy (among other things).

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash7/10[5]
Exclaim!4/10[6]
The Guardian[7]
Newsday[8]
The Times[9]

Nation of Two received mixed reviews. Will Rosebury from Clash said Joy "...creates a leaner and more cohesive project that thematically focuses on the highs and lows of a romantic relationship. Although occasionally over-sentimental and by its very nature derivative, it is impossible to deny that Joy can write a touching tune."[5] Jenna Mohammed from Exclaim! said Joy "rarely strays from the upbeat, harmonious vocals that made Vance Joy successful in 2014 on Dream Your Life Away", adding the songs are "catchy and fun, but lack originality".[6] Michael Hann from The Guardian said "There's a breezy, easy attractiveness to his melodies, albeit that they never fail to do exactly what you might expect."[7] Glenn Gamboa from Newsday said Joy "has gone deeper and broader, making singalongs that sound even bigger" and concluded "Joy may have lost the power of surprise, but he has replaced it with stronger songs that will stick with fans as long as 'Riptide'."[8]

Commercial performance

Nation of Two debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, making it Joy's second Australian number-one album.[10] It also debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard 200 with over 28,000 equivalent sales.[11]

Track listing

All tracks are co-produced by Edwin White.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Call If You Need Me"James KeoghRyan Hadlock2:43
2."Lay It on Me"
Bassett3:35
3."We're Going Home"
Bassett3:27
4."Saturday Sun"
  • Keogh
  • Bassett
Bassett3:34
5."Take Your Time"
  • Keogh
  • Bassett
Bassett3:40
6."I'm with You"
  • Keogh
  • Simone Felipe
Felipe4:01
7."Like Gold"
  • Keogh
  • Wilson
Phil Ek3:44
8."Alone with Me"
  • Keogh
  • Wilson
Ek4:26
9."Crashing Into You"Keogh
  • Ek
  • Hadlock
3:09
10."One of These Days"
  • Keogh
  • Bassett
Bassett2:58
11."Little Boy"KeoghFelipe3:23
12."Bonnie & Clyde"KeoghBassett3:15
13."Where We Start"
Hadlock3:20
Total length:45:15

Personnel

Musicians

  • James Keogh – lead vocals (all tracks), electric guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 11–13), acoustic guitar (2–12), ukulele (4), Mellotron (6), 12-string guitar (7), banjo (10), piano (11, 12)
  • Edwin White – percussion (1–5, 7–13), string arrangement (1, 8, 9); cello, harmonium, vibraphone (1); backing vocals (2, 8, 10, 11), drums (2–5, 7–12), keyboards (2, 4), synthesizer (8, 9), organ (9); electric guitar, piano (13)
  • Tom Dziekonski – viola, violin (1)
  • Dave Basset – backing vocals (2, 4, 5, 10), bass guitar (2–5, 10, 12), piano (2–5, 10); electric guitar, organ (3, 5); harmonium (5), keyboards (12)
  • Brad Gordon – brass, brass arrangement (2, 3, 4, 5, 10); glockenspiel (2)
  • Chris Carmichael – string arrangement, strings (3)
  • David Baron – synthesizer (6); double bass, programming (11)
  • Jeremy Lightfoot – bass guitar (7–9)
  • Phil Peterson – cello (8, 9)
  • Victoria Parker – violin (8, 9)
  • Phil Sparks – bass guitar (13)

Technical

  • Greg Calbi – mastering (1, 2, 4, 5, 7–9, 11–13)
  • Joe LaPorta – mastering (3, 6, 10)
  • John O'Mahony – mixing (1, 2, 12, 13)
  • Michael Brauer – mixing (3, 5, 10)
  • John Castle – mixing (4)
  • Ryan Hewitt – mixing, engineering (6)
  • Phil Ek – mixing (7–9), engineering (7, 8)
  • David Baron – mixing, engineering (11)
  • Ryan Hadlock – engineering (1, 9, 13)
  • Taylor Carroll – engineering (1, 9, 13)
  • Dave Bassett – engineering (2–5, 10, 12)
  • Dave Shiffman – engineering (2–5, 10, 12)
  • Tobijah Rogers – engineering assistance (1, 9, 13)
  • Morgan Stratton – engineering assistance (2–5, 10)
  • Geoff Neal – engineering assistance (2)
  • Pete Hanlon – engineering assistance (6, 11)
  • Cameron Nicklaus – engineering assistance (7–9)
  • David Hagen – engineering assistance (9, 13)
  • Stefan Max – executive production

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[30] Platinum 70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[31] Platinum 80,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Release date Format Label Catalogs
Australia[32][33] 23 February 2018
Liberation LRCD0001
Australia[34] 1 June 2018 Vinyl Liberation 1-566393
Australia[35] 14 September 2018 Limited Edition Vinyl Liberation LRLP0001

References
  1. "Like Gold – single". iTunes Australia. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  2. "Vance Joy Announces New Album 'Nation Of Two', Unveils New Jam 'Like Gold'". Music Feeds. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  3. "Vance Joy announces sophomore album, Nation of Two, shares the wistful, acoustic "Like Gold": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  4. Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (28 November 2018). "And the ARIA Award Goes To..." Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  5. "Vance Joy – Nation Of Two – A lean, cohesive album with some touching moments..." 31 January 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  6. "Vance Joy – Nation of Two". 21 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. Hann, Michael (23 February 2018). "Vance Joy: Nation of Two review – nuggets of supermarket psychology". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  8. "Nation of Two' review: Vance Joy goes deeper and broader". 21 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  9. "Pop review: Vance Joy – Nation of Two". The Times. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. "Australiancharts.com – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  11. "Vance Joy Unveils New Music Video For Single SATURDAY SUN From NATION OF TWO". Broadway World. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Vance Joy – Nation of Two" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  13. "Ultratop.be – Vance Joy – Nation of Two" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  14. "Vance Joy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Vance Joy – Nation of Two" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Vance Joy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  17. "Charts.nz – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  18. "Norwegiancharts.com – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  19. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  20. "Nation Of Two - Vance Joy". EPDM. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  21. "Swedishcharts.com – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  22. "Swisscharts.com – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  23. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  24. Caulfield, Keith (4 March 2018). "Bon Jovi's Back at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  25. "Vance Joy Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  26. "Vance Joy Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  27. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  28. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  29. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  30. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  31. "Canadian album certifications – Vance Joy – Nation of Two". Music Canada. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  32. "Nation of Two by Vance Joy". iTunes Store (AU). Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  33. "Nation of Two (CD)". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  34. "Nation of Two (Vinyl) by Vance Joy". JBHiFi. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  35. "Nation of Two (Limited Edition Vinyl) by Vance Joy". JBHiFi. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
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