Blue Neighbourhood [LP]

by Troye Sivan

Overview

Before his debut LP was even released, Troye Sivan was a star. One of the most popular YouTubers from Australia, he began a very savvy -- and millennial -- rollout campaign for his first album, Blue Neighbourhood. Relying on his army of social media followers, he released a trio of heartbreaking videos and a preview EP (Wild) to test the waters. The response was positive, to say the least, with Taylor Swift and Sam Smith preaching the Gospel of Troye. That hype is warranted. Blue Neighbourhood builds off of the smooth, sultry vibe of Wild (the six songs from that EP are all included on the deluxe version of the album), creating a tight snapshot of Sivan's experiences with love, youth, and yearning. Despite his age -- he turned 20 just six months before the album's release -- his voice is sultry and effortless, wounded and breathless. This is polished pop for a post-Lorde world: the beats subtly throb and the production (Alex Hope, Allie X) is icy cool. While guest turns by pals across the Tasman Sea (New Zealand's Broods on "Ease") and a fellow countryman (rapper Allday on "for him.") add some zest to the album, the biggest collaboration is found on album centerpiece "Heaven," which features guest vocals by Betty Who and was written with Jack Antonoff (Bleachers, Fun.) and Claire Boucher (known to most as Grimes). In the narrative of the album -- written from his own perspective as a young gay man growing up in a sheltered Jewish community in Perth -- it's the most poignant confession here: about his struggle to come out at the age of 14 and the potential fallout with family and faith. Similar simultaneous heartbreak and affirmation themes abound throughout Blue Neighbourhood, and it's a sparkling, triumphant experience. On album closer "Suburbia," Sivan paints a bittersweet picture that most listeners will be familiar with: mundane scenes from his childhood neighborhood, the same one that made him who he is, but ultimately the one that he'll leave for better things. Already at his young age he's grown too big for his surroundings. It's exciting to hear someone so young and confident on the cusp of greatness. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	01/29/2016
Label:	Capitol / Polydor
UPC:	0602547600622
Rank:	2146

Tracks

1. WILD
2. FOOLS
3. EASE
4. TALK ME DOWN
5. COOL
6. HEAVEN
7. YOUTH
8. LOST BOY
9. for him.
10. SUBURBIA

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Troye Sivan   Primary Artist,Vocals
Emma Kummrow   Strings
Luigi Mazzocchi   Strings
Jennie Lorenzo   Strings
Guillaume Combet   Strings
Davis Barnett   Strings
Charles Parker   Strings
Jonathan Kim   Strings
Brett McLaughlin   Piano
Drew Taubenfeld   Guitar
Betty Who   Featured Artist
Alex Hope   Featured Artist
Georgia Nott   Vocals
Broods   Featured Artist
Tkay Maidza   Featured Artist
Blake Espy   Strings
Jennifer Lee   Strings
Alessia Cara   Featured Artist
Gryffin   Featured Artist
Daisy De Vine   Vocals (Background)
David Sing Wei Kong   Piano
Scarlett de Vine   Vocals (Background)
Madison de Vine   Vocals (Background)
Young Bombs   Featured Artist
Allday   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Larry Gold   String Arrangements
Jack Antonoff   Composer
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Bram Inscore   Composer,Producer
Chris Galland   Assistant
Alexandra Hughes   Composer
Brandon Rogers   Composer
Dann Hume   Composer
Emile Haynie   Composer,Producer
Claire Boucher   Composer
Tat Tong   Composer
Jean-Christophe Capotorto   Composer
Brett McLaughlin   Composer,Vocal Producer
Joe Visciano   Assistant
Pip Norman   Composer,Producer
Alex Hope   Composer,Producer
Caleb Nott   Composer,Producer
Georgia Nott   Composer
Allie X   Composer,Vocal Producer
Troye Sivan   Composer
Troye Sivan Mellet   Composer
Takudzwa Maidza   Composer
Alessia Caracciolo   Composer
Ike Schultz   Assistant
Alex Hiew   Composer,Producer
Tom Gaynor   Composer
Slums   Producer