| Impersonator | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 21, 2013 | |||
| Length | 38:15 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Majical Cloudz chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Sparkle Hard | ||||
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Impersonator is the third studio album by Canadian pop duoMajical Cloudz, released on May 21, 2013, byMatador Records and Mythryl Records.[1][2] It was their first album on Matador after signing with the label in February 2013.[3] It was also the group's first album to feature producer Matthew Otto as a member, following the departure of Matthew E. Duffy after the release ofII in 2011.[4]
The album was longlisted for the2013 Polaris Music Prize.[5][6]
"Turns Turns Turns" was released on November 5, 2012, as a single from their EP of the same name, which was released on December 3, 2012, byArbutus Records and Merok Records.[7][8]
"Childhood's End" was released on March 26, 2013.[9][10] On April 3, 2013, a music video for "Childhood's End" directed byEmily Kai Bock was released starringDevon Welsh's fatherKenneth Welsh.[11]
"Bugs Don't Buzz" was released on May 2, 2013.[12][13] On June 20, 2013, a music video for "Bugs Don't Buzz" was premiered throughNPR.[14] It was directed by Gordon von Steiner and features cockroaches and beetles with miniature furniture and landscaping.[15]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.2/10[16] |
| Metacritic | 77/100[17] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [18] |
| Consequence of Sound |  [19] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[20] |
| The Irish Times | [21] |
| NME | 7/10[22] |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10[23] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[24] |
| Q | [25] |
| Rolling Stone | [26] |
| Uncut | 6/10[27] |
AtMetacritic, which assigns anormalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received anaverage score of 77, based on 23 reviews.[17] Writing forPitchfork, Jayson Greene praised the album, stating, "Impersonator is a gorgeous record-- extraordinarily sung, hypnotically focused-- but it is Welsh's sense of emotional urgency that makes it special."[23] Fred Thomas ofAllMusic said, "With such a wide-open sound, even the confusing and painful parts sound hauntingly beautiful."[18] Writing forConsequence of Sound, Sasha Geffen said, "By paring pop music to its core human elements, Majical Cloudz has written a record that's bare enough to breathe inside. Feeling thrives in the blankness: that'sImpersonator's paradox."[19] Brice Ezell ofPopMatters' praised Devon Welsh's lyricism and the album's musical simplicity, stating, "Impersonator is an album of intriguing paradox. Its ingredients are so simple that it might have been made in a home or garage studio, but Majical Cloudz' sound is so uniquely and deliberately crafted that it's unlikely just anyone withProTools could do the same. Welsh's simple sentence-centric lyrics are nothing a budding writer couldn't imitate, but his delivery is more akin to the terse yet resonant style ofErnest Hemingway."[24]
In a less favorable review, Laura Studarus ofUnder the Radar said, "The majority sounds like demos for a fuller, richer album that Welsh undoubtedly has the skills to write."[28]
| Publication | Rank | List |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence of Sound | 33 | Top 50 Albums of 2013[29] |
| Flavorwire | 2 | 25 Favorite Albums of 2013[30] |
| Pitchfork | 8 | The Top 50 Albums of 2013[31] |
| Vice | 19 | Top 50 Albums of 2013[32] |
All tracks are written byDevon Welsh.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Impersonator" | 3:10 |
| 2. | "This Is Magic" | 4:26 |
| 3. | "Childhood's End" | 3:48 |
| 4. | "I Do Sing for You" | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Mister" | 4:12 |
| 6. | "Turns Turns Turns" | 3:43 |
| 7. | "Silver Rings" | 5:15 |
| 8. | "Illusion" | 2:51 |
| 9. | "Bugs Don't Buzz" | 3:21 |
| 10. | "Notebook" | 3:19 |
| Total length: | 38:15 | |
Credits adapted from liner notes.[34]
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)