Today We're the Greatest
| Today We're the Greatest | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 19 March 2021 | |||
| Length | 40:38 | |||
| Label | Domino | |||
| Producer | Lars Stalfors | |||
| Middle Kids chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Today We're the Greatest | ||||
Today We're the Greatest is the second studio album by Australian alternative-indie rock band Middle Kids, released on 19 March 2021. The album peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album won Best Rock Album.[6][7] At the J Awards of 2021, the album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year.[8]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [9] |
| Clash | 8/10[10] |
| Dork | [11] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[12] |
| Paste | 8.1/10[13] |
| The Sydney Morning Herald | [14] |
Today We're the Greatest received positive acclaim from critics. Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Craig Mathieson called it "an impressive record" that "believes in discovery and leans towards affirmation".[14] Ben Salmon of Paste said the album "sounds great, and whatever it lacks in the element of surprise, it makes up for with consistency."[13] Compared to their previous album, Lost Friends (2018), Dave Beech of Clash concluded Today We're the Greatest "is calmer and more considered record," and "harbours warmth and richness in abundance, but a sense of fragility and vulnerability also."[10] Reviewing for Dork, Edie McQueen praised the sonic details with the incorporation of "the tweeting of birds, the patter of rain, and even the beating heart of members’ Hannah Joy and Tim Fitz’s unborn son, taken from a sonogram."[11]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Hannah Joy and Tim Fitz, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bad Neighbours" | 3:10 | |
| 2. | "Cellophane (Brain)" | 3:30 | |
| 3. | "R U 4 Me?" | 2:49 | |
| 4. | "Questions" | 2:53 | |
| 5. | "Lost in Los Angeles" | 3:48 | |
| 6. | "Golden Star" | 3:43 | |
| 7. | "Summer Hill" | 4:21 | |
| 8. | "Some People Stay in our Hearts Forever" | 3:06 | |
| 9. | "Run with You" | 3:25 | |
| 10. | "I Don't Care" |
| 2:58 |
| 11. | "Stacking Chairs" | 3:08 | |
| 12. | "Today We're the Greatest" |
| 3:47 |
| Total length: | 40:38 | ||
Personnel
[edit]Middle Kids
- Hannah Joy – writing (all tracks), vocals, guitars, synth, piano
- Tim Fitz – writing (all tracks), bass guitar, guitars, banjo, pedal steel, synth, piano
- Harry Day – Ludwig drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Martin Doherty – writing (track 10)
- Tommy English – writing (track 12)
- Nate Willet – guitars (track 10)
- Brendan Champion – brass (track 4)
- Daniel Chae – strings (track 1)
Technical
- Lars Stalfors – producer, mixing, engineering
- Tim Fitz – co-producer
- Joe Laporta – mastering
- Kye Berzle – producer, engineering (track 7)
- Scott Horscroft – co-producer (track 12)
- Maclay Heriot – photos
- Ben Lewis Giles – design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] | 5 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] | 87 |
References
[edit]- ^ "R U 4 Me? – Single by Middle Kids on Apple Music". 14 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020 – via Apple Music.
- ^ Jackson, Langford (14 January 2021). "Middle Kids announce new album, Today We're the Greatest". NME Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Middle Kids Share New Single, "Cellophane (Brain)"". Rolling Stone Australia. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ "Sinlgles to Radio issues 1331". The Music Network. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Middle Kids share "Today We're the Greatest" title track with stunning new video". NME Australia. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Genesis Owusu, The Kid Laroi, Spacey Jane, RÜFÜS DU SOL big winners at the 2021 ARIA Awards in partnership with YouTube Music". Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ Kelly, Vivienne (1 November 2021). "Triple j reveals J Awards nominees". The Music Network. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Donelson, Marcy. "Today We're the Greatest – Middle Kids". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b Beech, Dave. "Middle Kids – Today We're The Greatest". Clash. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b McQueen, Edie. "Middle Kids – Today We're The Greatest". Dork. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Bocci, Maria. "Middle Kids remind us of the good, the bad and the in-between on Today We're The Greatest". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b Salmon, Ben (19 March 2021). "Middle Kids Make Anthems Sound Easy on Today We're the Greatest". Paste. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ a b Mathieson, Craig (19 March 2021). "Music reviews: Middle Kids, Azita, Jesswar and Avgenicos Brothers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 March 2021.