Castles (Lissie album) (original) (raw)

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2018 studio album by Lissie

Castles
Studio album by Lissie
Released March 23, 2018 (2018-03-23)
Genre Folk pop rock
Length 44:55
Label Lionboy Cooking Vinyl
Producer Julian Emery Nick Lotto Lissie
Lissie chronology
My Wild West(2016) Castles(2018) Carving Canyons(2022)
Singles from Castles
"Boyfriend"Released: June 20, 2017[1] "Blood & Muscle"Released: December 1, 2017[1] "Best Days"Released: January 19, 2018[1] "Love Blows"Released: March 9, 2018 (promotional)[1] "Peace"Released: August 11, 2020 (promotional)

Castles is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Lissie. It was released through Cooking Vinyl on March 23, 2018. From the record four singles have been released with "Boyfriend" serving as the lead single with "Blood & Muscle" being released as the second single. "Best Days" was released as the third single with "Love Blows" following as the fourth. The album holds a score of 76 on Metacritic indicating positive reception.[2]

Writing for the album commenced in late 2016 with Lissie moving from her long time recording base in Ojai, California to a more rural setting in Iowa. Lissie has said the setting change helped promote a "very natural and enjoyable" recording process. The album was released on March 23, 2018, through Cooking Vinyl on CD, LP and through online services.[1]

The first single from the album, "Boyfriend", was released worldwide on June 20, 2017. The music video premiered on Lissie's official YouTube account on June 28, 2017, and was directed by Talain Rayne.[3] "Blood & Muscle", the album's second single, was released on December 1, 2017. "Best Days" was released as the third single on January 19, 2018. The single stayed on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs Top 40 chart for 18 weeks, from February 10, 2018 (No. 37) to June 9, 2018 (No. 40), peaking at No. 9 on April 28, 2018.[4]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 76/100[2]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [5]
The Line of Best Fit [6]
NME [7]
The Skinny [8]

Critical reception to the album was positive, with Castles receiving a score of 76 based on 4 reviews on review aggregator website Metacritic.[2] NME gave the album 4 stars with reviewer Leonie Cooper writing on the tack 'World Away' she writes "she weaves in sparkling, electronic production and heavily layered vocals to produce something bordering on the symphonic" also praising "Blood & Muscle's" passion by "belting out her demons against stripped-down piano."[7] The Line of Best Fit gave the album a positive review and an 8/10 rating. Helena Wadia praised the album as her "most intense, open and raw yet – which seems to be in contrast with the fact it's the most all out pop record she's made thus far" summarizing "Castles is a message for those who are feeling uprooted – find self-determination, and never concede your power for love."[6]

All tracks are written by Lissie

Castles track listing

No. Title Length
1. "World Away" 2:33
2. "Crazy Girl" 3:34
3. "Castles" 3:36
4. "Blood & Muscle" 3:53
5. "Best Days" 2:53
6. "Feels Good" 3:31
7. "Boyfriend" 3:58
8. "Somewhere" 3:24
9. "Love Blows" 2:53
10. "What Am I Gonna Do" 4:05
11. "Peace" 3:39
12. "Sand" 3:52
13. "Meet Me in the Mystery" 3:04
Total length: 44:55
  1. ^ a b c d e "Production Information", Genius, Retrieved on March 28, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Metacritic Score", Metacritic, Retrieved on March 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "BF Video", YouTube Retrieved on March 28, 2018.
  4. ^ "Lissie Chart History: Adult Alternative Songs – February 14, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Castles – Lissie | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "LOBF review", The Line of Best Fit Retrieved on March 28, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "NME Review", NME March 22, 2018, Retrieved on March 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Smail, Alexander (March 21, 2018). "Lissie album review: Castles". The Skinny. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  10. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Lissie – Castles". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  11. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  12. ^ "Lissie Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  13. ^ "Lissie Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. ^ "Lissie Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Album Information", Amazon, Retrieved on March 28, 2018.