Into the Blue (Broken Bells album)

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Into the Blue
Studio album by
Broken Bells
ReleasedOctober 7, 2022 (2022-10-07)
Genre
Length41:20
LabelAWAL
ProducerDanger Mouse
Broken Bells chronology
After the Disco
(2014) 		Into the Blue
(2022)
Singles from Into the Blue
  1. "We're Not in Orbit Yet..."
    Released: June 29, 2022
  2. "Saturdays"
    Released: August 10, 2022
  3. "Love on the Run"
    Released: September 21, 2022

Into the Blue is the third studio album by American indie rock duo Broken Bells. It was released October 7, 2022, through AWAL.[1]

Background and recording[edit]

Broken Bells first started teasing new material in 2018, showing photos of the two recording in the studio and eventually releasing the non-album singles "Shelter" and "Good Luck".[2] Into the Blue was the band's first studio album since 2014's After the Disco, marking the longest gap between studio albums to date.[3]

Release[edit]

The album's first single, "We're Not in Orbit Yet..." was released June 29 2022 to positive critical reception, with Stereogum writer Chris DeVille calling it "a bit like cosmic soul crossed with chamber-pop".[4] A followup single, "Saturdays", was released August 10.[5] Mxdwn.com writer Federico Cardenas said the first two singles "[show] both a great diversity in terms of songwriting and tone, while developing a clear theme in the style and aesthetic they intend to portray in Into the Blue."[6] A third and final single, "Love on the Run", was released September 21.[7]

Critical reception[edit]

Into the Blue was met with generally favorable reviews from listeners and music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 75, based on 7 reviews.[8] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[9] In a favorable review for Mojo, Stevie Chicks said the album "finds their bond as strong as ever" and compared certain songs to the sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Beatles.[10]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.3/10[9]
Metacritic75/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
DIY[12]
Glide Magazine[13]
The Observer[14]
Mojo[10]
NME[15]
Uncut7/10[16]
XS Noize9/10[17]

Track listing[edit]

All tracks are written by Brian Burton and James Mercer except where noted

Into the Blue track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Into the Blue"
5:33
2."We're Not in Orbit Yet..." 5:10
3."Invisible Exit" 2:33
4."Love on the Run"
7:03
5."One Night" 3:49
6."Saturdays"
  • Brian Burton
  • James Mercer
  • James Milne
3:07
7."Forgotten Boy"
  • Brian Burton
  • Emil Thielhelm
  • James Mercer
  • Michael Esposito
  • Ralph Scala
  • Ronald Gilbert
3:44
8."The Chase" 5:29
9."Fade Away" 4:46
Total length:41:20

Personnel[edit]

Broken Bells

Production

  • Danger Mouse

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Into the Blue
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[18] 43
Scottish Albums (OCC)[19] 66
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 51
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[21] 22
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[22] 19

References[edit]

  1. ^ Fu, Eddie (August 10, 2022). "Broken Bells Detail New Album Into the Blue, Share 'Saturdays': Stream". Consequence. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Sodomsky, Sam (August 22, 2018). "The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse Tease Return of Broken Bells". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Ruiz, Matthew (June 29, 2022). "Broken Bells Announce New Album Into the Blue, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  4. ^ DeVille, Chris (June 29, 2022). "Broken Bells – 'We're Not In Orbit Yet…'". Stereogum. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Hussey, Allison (August 10, 2022). "Broken Bells Detail New Album Into the Blue, Share Video for New Song 'Saturdays': Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  6. ^ Cardenas, Federico (August 10, 2022). "Broken Bells Officially Announce New Album Into The Blue For October 2022 Release, Share New Single 'Saturdays'". Mxdwn.com. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  7. ^ Rettig, James (September 21, 2022). "Broken Bells – 'Love On The Run'". Stereogum. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Into the Blue by Broken Bells". Metacritic. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Broken Bells Into The Blue". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Chick, Stevie (November 2022). "Broken Bells Into The Blue". Mojo. p. 90.
  11. ^ Phares, Heather. "Into the Blue Review by Heather Phares". AllMusic. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Dixon, Louisa (October 7, 2022). "Broken Bells - Into The Blue". DIY. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Dillon, Ryan (October 6, 2022). "Broken Bells Ring Up Another Batch Of Crafty Shape Shifting Pop On 'Into The Blue' (ALBUM REVIEW)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Morris, Damien (October 9, 2022). "Broken Bells: Into the Blue review – an absorbing journey". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  15. ^ Clarke, Patrick (October 5, 2022). "Broken Bells – 'Into The Blue' review: meticulously crafted genre-hopping pop". NME. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  16. ^ O'Connell, Sharon (November 2022). "BROKEN BELLS Into The Blue". Uncut. p. 26.
  17. ^ Gava, Lori (October 6, 2022). "ALBUM REVIEW: Broken Bells - Into the Blue". XS Noize. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 17 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1702. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 17, 2022. p. 10.
  19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Broken Bells – Into the Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  21. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  22. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
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