UGLY

by slowthai

Overview

Compared to his politically focused debut album, U.K. rapper slowthai's chart-topping second full-length TYRON was a far more personal effort, reflecting on his complex personality by dividing the track listing into more aggressive tracks with capitalized titles, then saving more vulnerable, confessional material for the lower-case second half. UGLY, his third album, is even rawer and more cathartic than his previous work, with the bracing first song "Yum" essentially functioning as a primal scream therapy session set to pummeling industrial techno beats. Aside from "Yum," UGLY mainly consists of guitar-driven tracks with live drums, sounding far more influenced by punk and alternative rock than rap, and having almost nothing to do with grime or drill. The album was produced by Speedy Wunderground founder Dan Carey and its cast of musicians includes Kwes Darko (Blue Daisy), Taylor Skye (Jockstrap), and guitarist Jacob Bugden (Beabadoobee). Tense, paranoid songs like "Selfish" and the brief but brutal "Fuck It Puppet" find slowthai at war with himself, facing voices in his head that discourage him and push him down the path to self-destruction. "Sooner" has a rousing rhythm influenced by mod and Northern soul, and a chorus by indie singer/songwriter Ethan P. Flynn. This and the following "Feel Good" are the album's giddiest moments, celebrating life despite all the forces that can bring one down. Fontaines D.C. back slowthai for the surprisingly shoegazey "UGLY" (an acronym for "U Gotta Love Yourself"), a whirlwind of hazy guitars and rushing thoughts which climaxes with the words "You are not in control the moment the world stands still." "Wotz funny" returns to the more narrative-driven style of previous slowthai punk songs like "Doorman," while "Tourniquet" contrasts soft, brooding pianos with harsh shouting. UGLY is less of a major stylistic shift than it might seem, as slowthai harnesses his punkish energy in a way that seems natural and fitting. It's clearly a challenging, confrontational album, but it also feels like the artist's purest expression yet. ~ Paul Simpson

Product Details

Release Date:	03/10/2023
Label:	Interscope / Method Records
UPC:	0602448166760

Tracks

1. Yum
2. Selfish
3. Sooner
4. Feel Good
5. Never Again
6. Fuck It Puppet
7. HAPPY
8. UGLY
9. Falling
10. Wotz funny
11. Tourniquet
12. 25% Club

Album Credits

Performance Credits

slowthai   Primary Artist,Vocals
Liam Toon   Drums
Carlos O'Connell   Vocals (Background)
Conor Curley   Guitar (Electric)
Conor Deegan III   Guitar (Bass)
Grian Chatten   Vocals (Background)
Tom Coll   Drums
Blane Muise   Vocals (Background)
Oly Carey   Vocals (Background)
Yuri Shibuichi   Drums

Technical Credits

Kwes Darko   Producer,Composer
Mario Panzeri   Composer
Lorenzo Pilat   Composer
Peter Callander   Composer
Daniele Pace   Composer
Alexis Smith   Recording
Dan Carey   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Christian Wright   Mastering Engineer
Sega Bodega   Composer,Producer
slowthai   Composer
Liam Toon   Composer
Zach Nahome   Composer,Producer
Ethan P. Flynn   Composer,Producer
Jacob Bugden   Composer,Producer
Taylor Skye   Producer
Oly Carey   Composer