SVIIB (album)

SVIIB
Studio album by
School of Seven Bells
ReleasedFebruary 12, 2016 (2016-02-12)
Genre
Length41:48
Label
Producer
School of Seven Bells chronology
Ghostory
(2012) 		SVIIB
(2016)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic83/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
musicOMH[2]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[3]
Drowned in Sound9/10[4]
Pitchfork8.1/10[5]
No Ripcord8/10[6]
The Skinny[7]
The Guardian[8]
AllMusic[9]
PopMatters8/10[10]
DIY[11]
Under the Radar8/10[12]
Mixmag7/10[13]
ConsequenceB−[14]
NME[15]
Spin6/10[16]

SVIIB is the fourth and final studio album by American indie rock band School of Seven Bells, consisting of Alejandra Deheza (vocals) and Benjamin Curtis (instruments and production). After the 2013 death of Curtis from T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, Deheza completed the album using previously recorded material, with assistance from producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen. Most of the material had been recorded from before Curtis's illness, but one track, "Confusion," was recorded while Curtis was in the hospital, with help from Curtis's brother Brandon.[17] The album was released digitally on February 12, 2016, with US and UK releases February 26, 2016 by Vagrant Records and Full Time Hobby, respectively.[18] Deheza described the album as "a love letter from start to finish";[19] although Deheza and Curtis had ended their relationship in 2010, the two remained close friends and collaborators until Curtis's death.

The album was generally well received, with Pitchfork describing it as "the group's most technically accomplished work, their perfected swan song."[5] Entertainment Weekly ranked it at #19 on their top 50 albums of 2016, calling it the group's "marvelous capstone,"[20] and AllMusic named it one of the best indie albums of 2016, calling it "radiantly illustrated with expressions of bliss, frustration, consolation, reassurance, and, ultimately, grief."[9]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Alejandra Deheza and Benjamin Curtis, except when noted

No.TitleLength
1."Ablaze"5:09
2."On My Heart"4:17
3."Open Your Eyes"4:19
4."A Thousand Times More"4:30
5."Elias"4:22
6."Signals"3:45
7."Music Takes Me" (Curtis, Alejandra Deheza, and Claudia Deheza)5:10
8."Confusion"4:59
9."This Is Our Time"5:17

Personnel

[edit]
  • Alejandra Deheza – vocals
  • Benjamin Curtis – engineering, production
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen - production, additional guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion
  • Brandon Curtis, Chris Bellman, Mike Schuppan - engineering
  • Carlos de la Garza, Gabe Wax, Nicholas Vernhes, Steve Choo - additional engineering
  • Guy Licata - additional guitar and drums
  • Bryan Abdul Collins - art direction, design
  • Dave Cooley - mastering
  • Tony Hoffer - mixing
  • Cameron Lister - mixing assistant

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] 45
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 54
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 10
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] 13
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[25] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[26] 24
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[27] 17
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[28] 89
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[29] 13

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "SVIIB by School of Seven Bells". Metacritic. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  2. ^ Shepherd, Sam (February 29, 2016). "School of Seven Bells -- SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  3. ^ Lockett, Paul (March 1, 2016). "School Of Seven Bells' SVIIB is a swansong full of their best songs". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  4. ^ Reynolds, Aidan (February 22, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  5. ^ a b St. Asaph, Katherine (February 9, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Marvilli, Joe (February 29, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  7. ^ Ogden, Chris (February 26, 2016). "School of Seven Bells - SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (February 25, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB review – stunning tribute to late band member". The Guardian. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". AllMusic. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Ragucos, Dustin (February 29, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Jamieson, Sarah (February 12, 2016). "School of Seven Bells - SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  12. ^ Stone, Aug. "SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Worthy, Stephen (February 25, 2016). "School of Seven Bells: SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Nelson, Geoff (February 11, 2016). "Album Review: School of Seven Bells – SVIIB". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  15. ^ Hillyard, Kim (February 26, 2016). "School of Seven Bells – 'SVIIB' Review". NME. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  16. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (February 17, 2016). "Review: School of Seven Bells' Legacy Is Greater Than Its Finale 'SVIIB'". Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  17. ^ Rogers, Jude. "School of Seven Bells' Alejandra Deheza: 'Ben feels part of everything now' - Music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "SVIIB". MusicBrainz. June 23, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  19. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (October 29, 2015). "School of Seven Bells Announce New Album SVIIB". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on October 30, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  20. ^ O'Donnell, Kevin; Brown, Eric Renner; Vain, Madison; Goodman, Jessica; Feeney, Nolan; Greenblatt, Leah; Rahman, Ray (December 9, 2016). "The 50 best albums of 2016". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  22. ^ "School of Seven Bells | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  23. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  24. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  25. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  26. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  27. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  28. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  29. ^ "School of Seven Bells Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
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