May It Never Falter
| May It Never Falter | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 11, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | April 3–17, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 23:43 | |||
| Label | Slowsilver03 | |||
| Producer |
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| Glaive chronology | ||||
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| Singles from May It Never Falter | ||||
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May It Never Falter is the second studio album by the American musician Glaive. It was self-released under the Slowsilver03 record label on October 11, 2024. After releasing his debut album I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All with Interscope Records in 2023, Glaive travelled to Hvalfjarðarsveit, Iceland, to record May It Never Falter during April 2024. A noise pop and electronic album, it was supported by the single "Live & Direct" and a North American tour during 2025. It was considered one of the best albums of the year by Vogue, who deemed it Glaive's best album.
Background and composition
[edit]Glaive's debut album, I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All, was released in 2023 by Interscope Records, to generally favorable reviews from critics.[1] Originally labelled a hyperpop artist,[2] the album marked a shift towards emo,[3] pop,[4] and rock music.[4][5] In February 2024, he released his third solo extended play, A Bit of a Mad One,[6] which saw him going back to hyperpop, as well as bedroom pop and emo rap.[7][8] Following the EP's release, he travelled from North America to Hvalfjarðarsveit, Iceland,[9] to record the majority of May It Never Falter.[10] He also travelled to Wales to record the song "Live & Direct" with Kurtains.[11][10] The album was recorded from April 3 to 17, 2024.[9]
May It Never Falter showcases Glaive's sound evolving from hyperpop to noise pop and electronic with elements of emo, according to Vogue's Taylor Antrim. He also described the album as being "suffused with a wintery, contemplative mood". The album's opening track, "For God and Country", starts with samples of a choir, builds through fluttering beats, and peaks in a purgative crescendo.[12] "Live & Direct" is an alt-pop song.[10] Antrim described "Everydog Has Its Day" as "pounding" and "danceable" and "Nobody's Fault / Accept My Own" as "aggressive, tuneful and relentless".[13]
Release and reception
[edit]"Live & Direct" was released as May It Never Falter's lead single on October 4, 2024.[11] The album was self-released under the Slowsilver03 record label on October 11.[9][10] After its release, Glaive undertook a tour across the United States throughout January and February 2025.[14] May It Never Falter was included in Vogue's list of the best albums of 2024. Antrim considered it an improvement over A Bit of a Mad One and deemed the songs "For God and Country", "Everydog Has Its Day" and "Nobody's Fault / Accept My Own" standout tracks. He said the latter "goes hard and never stops".[13] The same publication also included "For God and Country" in their list of the year's best songs; Antrim called it a "densely layered" and "angsty" track, and concluded by stating that it is "catchy and relentless". He also deemed May It Never Falter Glaive's best album.[12] Tyler Damara Kelly from The Line of Best Fit said "Live & Direct" "mark[ed] the beginnings of a new chapter in Glaive's artistry",[11] while Clash's Robin Murray called it a "Welsh-born alt-pop banger".[10]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written and produced by Ash Gutierrez (Glaive), Cole Carmody (Ralph Castelli), John Cunningham, and Jeff Hazin, except where noted.[15]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For God and Country" | 2:43 | ||
| 2. | "60.000 ISK" | 1:40 | ||
| 3. | "Count It Up" | 1:51 | ||
| 4. | "IK" | 2:07 | ||
| 5. | "Joel" | 2:35 | ||
| 6. | "Live & Direct" (with Kurtains) |
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| 1:47 |
| 7. | "Knock, Draw, Release" | 2:10 | ||
| 8. | "Everydog Has Its Day" | 2:12 | ||
| 9. | "Freudian" | 2:00 | ||
| 10. | "Nobody's Fault / Accept My Own" |
| 2:08 | |
| 11. | "By Birthright" | 2:30 | ||
| Total length: | 23:43 | |||
Notes
[edit]- "IK" is an acronym for "I Know".
Personnel
[edit]Credits are adapted from the liner notes of May It Never Falter and Tidal.[9][15]
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References
[edit]- ^ "I Care So Much That I Dont Care at All by Glaive Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Madden, Emma (July 1, 2021). "How Hyperpop Became a Force Capable of Reaching and Rearranging the Mainstream". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Erickson, Steve (July 12, 2023). "Glaive I Care So Much That I Don't Care at All Review: Uncomfortably Grim". Slant Magazine. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Curto, Justin (July 14, 2023). "Making Friends Low-Key Changed glaive's Life". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Jolley, Ben (July 17, 2023). "Glaive's anthemic debut album is a raw and honest pop-rock riot". NME. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (February 5, 2024). "glaive announces forthcoming EP, a bit of a mad one". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Horvath, Zachary (February 26, 2024). "Glaive Details His Personal Life Vividly On "A Bit Of A Made One"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ McFadden, Grace (March 5, 2024). "Glaive tones down his sound on 'a bit of a mad one' EP". WHUS. University of Connecticut. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Slowsilver03 (2024). May It Never Falter (Vinyl liner notes). Glaive. Slowsilver03.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e Murray, Robin (October 8, 2024). "glaive Shares New Single 'Live & Direct'". Clash. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Kelly, Tyler Damara (October 8, 2024). "glaive links up with kurtain on new single, "Live & Direct"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Antrim, Taylor (December 24, 2024). "The 24 Best Songs of 2024, According to Vogue Editors". Vogue. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Antrim, Taylor (December 20, 2024). "The 36 Best Albums of 2024". Vogue. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (October 15, 2024). "Tour news: Sigur Rós, Lightning Bolt / Machine Girl, Wallice, glaive, Public Opinion, Greg Mendez, more". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
- ^ a b "May It Never Falter / glaive / Credits". Tidal. October 11, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.