Super Monster

Super Monster is the first studio album by American bedroom pop singer Claud, released on February 12, 2021, through Saddest Factory Records and Dead Oceans. It features guest appearances from Nick Hakim, Melanie Faye and Shelly. The album was the first release on Phoebe Bridgers's Saddest Factory Records[2] and received positive reviews from critics,[3] and charted in Scotland.

Super Monster
Studio album by
Claud
ReleasedFebruary 12, 2021 (2021-02-12)
StudioElectric Lady, New York City, US
GenreBedroom pop[1]
Length37:49
Label
Claud chronology
Gay and Bored
(2020)		 Super Monster
(2021)		 Supermodels
(2023)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10[4]
Metacritic79/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Clash9/10[6]
DIY[7]
Exclaim!8/10[8]
Gigwise[9]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[10]
NME[1]
Under the Radar[11]

Super Monster received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[3] Marcy Donelson of AllMusic felt that "production touches like varied vocal distortion, warped and woozy delay, and the pull-tab sound effect on 'Pepsi' have the potential to keep listeners alternately hypnotized and playfully provoked" and concluded that Claud does not yet sound "like an artist fully formed", the album is "sweet and full of winsome promise".[5] Megan Walder of Clash felt differently, stating that Super Monster arrived with "unwavering confidence as a complete concept; avoiding the risk of being a flippant debut and instead standing concrete thanks to Claud's clear vision".[6]

DIY's Felix Rowe wrote that Claud's "brand of slick, understated pop could sit on a shelf alongside Haim, or Christine and the Queens" and the album "shows promise of a burgeoning artist finding their own voice".[7] Harrison Smith of Gigwise described Super Monster as "loaded with non-conformist pop and touching personal narratives" and felt that its "demonstration of both adoration and observation of self-love comfortably invite the listener to do the same".[9] Ian Gormely of Exclaim! summarized that the album "contains all the usual bedroom pop signifiers—light R&B grooves, chorus-drenched guitars à la Mac DeMarco" but that its "beats are crisp, the choruses pronounced and the hooks sharp", and called Super Monster a "roadmap for anyone hoping to keep to open the bedroom door to the world outside without losing the gauzy comfort of home".[8]

Rachel Saywitz of The Line of Best Fit opined that the album "is able to find that beauty in love's most tragic moments, opening their heart to our ears as a healing gesture" and "the unique identity in each one of the 13 tracks is what makes it such a terrific and arresting listen".[10] Mia Hughes of NME noted the album "is true to the all-embracing ethos of bedroom pop" and the "honesty and authenticity of [its] situations gives the album its emotional resonance, but Claud has the bona fide pop ear to back it up".[1] Under the Radar's Andy von Pip concluded that Super Monster is "undoubtedly an impressive debut from an immensely talented singer/songwriter".[11]

Track listing
Super Monster track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Overnight"2:24
2."Gold"3:19
3."Soft Spot"3:08
4."In or In-Between"3:32
5."Cuff Your Jeans"2:55
6."Ana" (featuring Nick Hakim)2:47
7."Guard Down"3:26
8."This Town"2:44
9."Jordan"3:42
10."That's Mr. Bitch to You" (with Melanie Faye)2:22
11."Pepsi"2:50
12."Rocks at Your Window"1:36
13."Falling with the Rain" (with Shelly)3:04
Total length:37:49

Charts
Chart performance for Super Monster
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 56
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[13] 22

References
  1. Hughes, Mia (February 11, 2021). "Claud – Super Monster review: a bedroom-pop coming-of-age saga". NME. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  2. Shanker, Lucy (February 12, 2021). "Artist of the Month Claud Unpacks Queer Relationships with Gut-Punching Observations on Super Monster: Review". Consequence. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  3. "Super Monster by Claud Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  4. "Super Monster by Claud reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  5. Donelson, Marcy. "Claud – Super Monster Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  6. Walder, Megan (February 15, 2021). "Claud – Super Monster". Clash. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  7. Rowe, Felix (February 12, 2021). "Claud – Super Monster review". DIY. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. Gormely, Ian (February 10, 2021). "Claud Levels Up While Staying True to Their Bedroom Pop Roots on Super Monster". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  9. Smith, Harrison (February 10, 2021). "Album Review: Claud – Super Monster". Gigwise. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  10. Saywitz, Rachel (February 8, 2021). "On Super Monster, Claud picks apart relationships and finds hope in the delicately polished sounds". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  11. von Pip, Andy (February 15, 2021). "Claud – Super Monster (Saddest Factory) – review". Under the Radar. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  12. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  13. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
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