| Crazymad, for Me | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 October 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:43 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Matias Tellez | |||
| CMAT chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Crazymad, for Me | ||||
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Crazymad, for Me is the second studio album by the Irish pop musician CMAT, released on 13 October 2023 through CMATBaby and AWAL. The album includes a guest appearance from the American alternative rock singer John Grant and was preceded by the lead single "Whatever's Inconvenient". It received acclaim from critics.
Background
Described as a concept album about a 47-year-old CMAT time travelling back to the past to prevent herself from being in a relationship that "ruined her life",[2] as well as "an abstract break-up album" about "what happens when you are still angry about something that happened 10 years ago".[3]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |  [5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10[6] |
| Mojo |  [7] |
| NME | [1] |
| The Skinny | [8] |
Crazymad, for Me received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 12 critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] Sarah Jamieson of DIY wrote that CMAT "transforms pop culture into poetry, painting the most vivid of worlds in the process, while her brand of country-indebted pop feels even richer this time around".[5] The Skinny's Skye Butchard found it to be "funnier, weirder, and plays with a more colourful blend of Americana" than CMAT's debut studio album, and felt that it "also reveals more depth and ambition. For one, it's a breakup album that’s not shy about admitting flaws in its protagonist".[8] Tilly Foulkes of NME summarised the album as "brilliant" as well as "inventive, intoxicating, deliciously camp – she continues to transcend all expectations and remains absolutely unmatched".[1]
Mojo called it "hyper-melancholic [and] ultra-vivid" and observed that it "showcases Thompson's off-beam pop skills, a distinctive voice in every way".[7] Adam Wright of The Line of Best Fit described the album as a "unique piece of work; creating a psychedelic soundscape with a foundation of country-influenced chord progressions. Its themes of heartbreak and regret meanwhile are, of course, commonly walked paths but it's the presentation of such themes that give the album its edge".[6]
The Guardian ranked it the 50th best album of 2023.[9]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "California" | 4:05 | |
| 2. | "Phone Me" |
| 3:24 |
| 3. | "Vincent Kompany" |
| 3:01 |
| 4. | "Such a Miranda" | 2:35 | |
| 5. | "Rent" | 4:42 | |
| 6. | "Where Are Your Kids Tonight?" (featuring John Grant) | 5:26 | |
| 7. | "Can't Make Up My Mind" | 4:24 | |
| 8. | "Whatever's Inconvenient" |
| 4:27 |
| 9. | "I... Hate Who I Am When I'm Horny" | 5:13 | |
| 10. | "Torn Apart" | 3:20 | |
| 11. | "Stay for Something" |
| 3:36 |
| 12. | "Have Fun!" |
| 4:30 |
| Total length: | 48:43 | ||
Personnel
- CMAT – vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (track 4), drums (track 10)
- Mattias Tellez – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (except track 9), bass guitar (track 5), drums (tracks 5 and 10), synthesizer (tracks 6–8, 10 and 11), tambourine (tracks 6, 10 and 11), organ (tracks 7 and 8), Wurlitzer (track 7), programming (tracks 10 and 12)
- Øyvind Blomstrøm – electric guitar (except tracks 2, 4 and 10)
- Colm Conlan – Wurlitzer (tracks 1, 2, 7 and 8), piano (tracks 3, 6, 9 and 12)
- Chris Holm – bass guitar (all except tracks 4 and 10)
- Kim Åge Furuhaug – drums (all except tracks 4, 8 and 10)
- Mari Persen – violin (tracks 1–3, 12)
- Ena Brennan – string arrangement (track 2)
- Declan McKenna – backing vocals, shaker, banjo (track 3)
- John Grant – vocals (track 6)
- Matt Barrick – drums (track 8)
- Josh Kaufman – guitar, bass, keys, synthesizer, string arrangements (track 8)
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums (OCC)[10] | 1 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[11] | 14 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[12] | 25 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[13] | 4 |
References
- ^ a b c Foulkes, Tilly (11 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad, For Me review: Dublin's answer to Dolly Parton". NME. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Cmat announces new album Crazymad, For Me". Frontview Magazine. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (1 June 2023). "CMAT announces new album Crazymad, for me, shares lead single". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Crazymad for Me by CMAT Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Jamieson, Sarah (11 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad for Me review". DIY. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b Wright, Adam (11 October 2023). "CMAT: Crazymad, for Me Review – ambition meets concept". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "CMAT – Crazymad, for Me". Mojo. November 2023. p. 86.
- ^ a b Butchard, Skye (9 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad for Me album review". The Skinny. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (5 December 2023). "The 50 best albums of 2023 – 50 to 41". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
External links
- Crazymad, for Me at Discogs (list of releases)
This page was last edited on 6 December 2023, at 05:21