Aa (pronounced "double a"[1][2][3]) is the debut studio album by American record producer Harry Rodrigues, under his alias Baauer, released by LuckyMe on March 18, 2016. It has guest features by Future, G-Dragon, Leikeli47, M.I.A., Novelist, Pusha T, Rustie, Tirzah and TT the Artist.
Aa | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 18, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2014–2016 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 33:27 | |||
Label | LuckyMe | |||
Producer |
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Baauer chronology | ||||
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Singles from Aa | ||||
Background and recording
editThat song ["Harlem Shake"] gave me the opportunity to travel the world. The whole world. And in doing so learnt more about music than I could have ever imagined. But more so than anything I discovered, what makes a sound special to me is its imperfections, its peculiarities. I spent the last couple years trying to get all of those imperfections into one record, and I think finally it makes sense.
- Rodrigues, 2016[3]
After Rodrigues' debut single, "Harlem Shake", spawned numerous Internet memes, he stated that "it became corny and annoying as fuck".[4] He also stated: "I didn't want to be an EDM producer and I still don't want to be".[5]
The album is named after Rodrigues' stage name, Baauer.[6][7] He said: "I have two A's in my name, and also the first release I did on LuckyMe was ß, so this is gonna be Aa and in the future I'll do a U, and then ER".[7]
Rodrigues recorded the album in Glasgow, Japan and the United Arab Emirates[8] for "at least two years".[6]
Music
editAa is an electronic,[9] trap,[10] bass[11] and hip hop[10][12] album. It is also influenced by M.I.A. and tribal music.[8][12]
Artwork
editThe artwork was designed by Jonathan Zawada and Dominic Flannigan.[13][14] It depicts a tree rising from an upturned motorcycle helmet, which is a reference to the "Harlem Shake" music videos.[8]
Critical reception
editAggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10[15] |
Metacritic | 76/100[16] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [17] |
Clash | 5/10[18] |
Consequence of Sound | B[11] |
Exclaim! | 9/10[19] |
The Guardian | [20] |
Pitchfork | 7.3/10[9] |
Q | [16] |
Resident Advisor | 3.3/5[21] |
Rolling Stone Australia | [22] |
The Skinny | [12] |
At review aggregate site Metacritic, Aa has an average score of 76 out of 100, based on 11 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
Accolades
editPublication | Accolade | Rank |
---|---|---|
Billboard | 10 Best Dance/Electronic Albums of 2016[23] | 9 |
Complex | 50 Best Albums of the Year[24] | 35 |
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Church" | 1:45 |
2. | "GoGo!" | 3:14 |
3. | "Body" | 3:31 |
4. | "Pinku" | 2:05 |
5. | "Sow" | 3:11 |
6. | "Day Ones" (featuring Novelist and Leikeli47) | 2:51 |
7. | "Good & Bad" | 1:09 |
8. | "Way from Me" (featuring Tirzah) | 3:17 |
9. | "Temple" (featuring M.I.A. and G-Dragon) | 3:05 |
10. | "Make It Bang" (featuring TT the Artist) | 3:20 |
11. | "Kung Fu" (featuring Pusha T and Future) | 2:34 |
12. | "Church Reprise" (featuring Rustie) | 1:32 |
13. | "Aa" | 1:15 |
Total length: | 33:27 |
Personnel
edit- Baauer – producer, writer, recording
- Caleb Leven – vocal engineering
- Dominic Flannigan – design
- Future – vocals ("Kung Fu")
- G-Dragon – vocals ("Temple")
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
- Johnatan Zawada – design
- Leikeli47 – vocals ("Day Ones")
- Mason Klein – executive producer
- M.I.A. – vocals ("Temple")
- Noah Beresin – production ("Church", "Way from Me", "Temple")
- Novelist – vocals ("Day Ones")
- Pusha T – vocals ("Kung Fu")
- Rustie – guitar ("Church Reprise")
- Ryan Schwabe – mixing, vocal engineering
- Stewart Hawkes – mastering
- S-Type – additional production
- Tirzah – vocals ("Way from Me")
- TT The Artist – vocals ("Make It Bang")
Charts
editChart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 52 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[28] | 11 |
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[29] | 3 |
References
edit- ^ a b Minsker, Evan (January 28, 2016). "Baauer's Debut Album Aa Features M.I.A, Future, Pusha T, Rustie; Performs "Day Ones" on "Colbert"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "Hear Baauer, M.I.A., G-Dragon Team for Booming 'Temple'". Rolling Stone. March 16, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Hughes, Josiah (January 28, 2016). "Baauer Taps Pusha T, Future, M.I.A. for Debut Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ Beta, Andy (February 17, 2016). "Baauer Is Shaking Off the Blessing and Curse of Meme Stardom". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ McQuaid, Ian (March 16, 2016). "'It became me, that was all I was': can the man who made the Harlem Shake escape its shadow?". The Guardian. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Fintoni, Laurent. "Baauer's World-Sampling Sounds Are Bigger Than The Internet". The Fader. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ a b "Baauer's Post-"Harlem Shake" Renaissance". Complex. March 15, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b c Bulut, Selim (15 March 2016). "Baauer's journey from college beatmaker to hip-hop boss". Dazed. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ a b Bromwich, Jonah (March 22, 2016). "Baauer: Aa Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ a b Rivitz, Will (March 30, 2016). "Baauer: Aa". PopMatters. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b Staples, Derek (March 17, 2016). "Baauer – Aa". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ a b c Sully, George (March 2, 2016). "Baauer: Aa – Debut album review". The Skinny. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ "Baauer - Aa - LuckyMe". Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ a b "Aa - Baauer | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Aa by Baauer reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Critic Reviews for Aa". Metacritic. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Jeffries, David. "Aa – Baauer". AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Kilpin, James (March 17, 2016). "Baauer – Aa". Clash. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Keating, Daryl (March 16, 2016). "Baauer Aa". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (March 17, 2016). "Baauer: Aa review – Harlem Shake hitmaker delivers up-and-down album". The Guardian. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Ryce, Andrew (March 15, 2016). "Baauer – Aa". Resident Advisor. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Wallen, Doug (March 24, 2016). "Baauer – Aa". Rolling Stone Australia. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
- ^ Medved, Matt; Bein, Kat; Leight, Elias (December 13, 2016). "Billboard's 10 Best Dance/Electronic Albums of 2016: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "50 Best Albums of 2016 | 35. Baauer, Aa". Complex. December 15, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ "Aa by Baauer on Apple Music". iTunes. March 18, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
- ^ "Baauer - Aa (CD, Album)". Discogs. 18 March 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (March 26, 2016). "ARIA Albums: Violent Soho 'Waco' Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
- ^ "Baauer Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ "Baauer Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2016.