Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For

Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For is a mixtape by American indie rock band Illuminati Hotties. It was self released on July 17, 2020.[1] The mixtape comes after accusations to the band's former label, Tiny Engines, of violations of contractual agreements by their artists. The band bought out its contract with Tiny Engines with a cash settlement and royalties to the label on a future project. This situation inspired the creation of the mixtape, which was released to fulfill a contractual agreement with Tiny Engines.

Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
A grayscale photo of a person with the title of the album and Illuminati Hotties written in the background
Mixtape by
Illuminati Hotties
ReleasedJuly 17, 2020 (2020-07-17)
GenrePop, rock
LabelSelf released
ProducerSarah Tudzin
Illuminati Hotties chronology
Kiss Yr Frenemies
(2018)
Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
(2020)
Let Me Do One More
(2021)

Background

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The mixtape comes after the band's debut album, Kiss Yr Frenemies, which was released in 2018.[2] Stevie Knipe of Adult Mom accused Tiny Engines, the band's former label, of a breach of contract due to the delayed payment of $8,000 in royalties.[3] Other artists signed to the label also alleged that similar situations occurred.[3] The co-founder of the record label, Chuck Daley, admitted to the delay of payments in an interview with Billboard.[3][4]

Following the controversy, Illuminati Hotties decided to settle its contract in cash and royalties in a future project, inspiring the content and creation of this mixtape, which also fulfilled a contractual agreement with Tiny Engines.[5][2] The album was largely written after beginning production of the album Let Me Do One More, which was released in 2021.[6][7]

The title of the mixtape's lead single, "Will I Get Cancelled If I Write a Song Called, 'If You Were a Man, You’d Be So Cancelled'", was taken from text messages between band leader Sarah Tudzin and Sadie Dupuis, who suggested its use.[2]

Reception

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Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute79/100[1]
Exclaim!8/10[9]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[10]
NME     [4]
No Ripcord8/10[11]
Pitchfork7.6/10[6]
Under the Radar          [12]

On the review aggregator website Metacritic, Free I.H has a score of 82 out of 100 based on 7 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[8] Ian Cohen of Stereogum called it "one of 2020’s most brash, defiant, and flat-out righteous projects",[2] and Francesca Rose of Exclaim! wrote that Free I.H "shows how making music can be cathartic for an artist" while giving the album an 8/10.[9] Juan Edgardo Rodriguez of No Ripcord also gave the album an 8/10, calling the mood of the album "rowdy and playful".[11] Arielle Gordon of Pitchfork gave the album a 7.6/10, claiming that while it is shorter than the band's previous release, Kiss Yr Frenemies, it "packs in more stylistic variation and studio maneuvers".[6]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."will i get cancelled if i write a song called, "if you were a man you'd be so cancelled""1:14
2."free ppls"2:03
3."freequent letdown"1:57
4."melatonezone"2:12
5."WATTBL"1:23
6."free dumb"2:08
7."content//bedtime"4:14
8."free4all"1:26
9."b yr own b"2:03
10."K - HOT AM 818"0:49
11."superiority complex (big noise)"1:34
12."reasons 2 live"2:13
Total length:23:16

References

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  1. ^ a b Sentz, Tim (2020-07-20). "Album Review: illuminati hotties – Free I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For | Beats Per Minute". beatsperminute.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  2. ^ a b c d "Illuminati Hotties Announce New Mixtape \'Free I.H.\': Read Our Interview & Hear The Scathing Lead Single". Stereogum. 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  3. ^ a b c Payne, Chris (2020-01-30). "How the Plight of Beleaguered Label Tiny Engines Could Bring New Solutions to Indie Rock". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  4. ^ a b "Illuminati Hotties – 'Free I.H.: This is Not The One You've Been Waiting For' review: red-hot sonic riposte to industry bullshit". NME. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  5. ^ "Illuminati Hotties: the label-fighting LA punk on her wild new album". The Guardian. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  6. ^ a b c "Illuminati Hotties: FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  7. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Vozick-Levinson, Simon (2020-07-29). "Song You Need to Know: Illuminati Hotties, 'Freequent Letdown'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  8. ^ a b Free I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For [Mixtape] by Illuminati Hotties, retrieved 2022-01-17
  9. ^ a b "Illuminati Hotties Joyfully Stick It to the Man on 'Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For' | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  10. ^ "Illuminati Hotties fight back on the excellent Free I.H." The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  11. ^ a b "Free I.H: This Is Not the One You've Been Waiting For". No Ripcord. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  12. ^ Moody, Mark. "Free I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2022-01-17.