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Gloom Division

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Gloom Division (stylized as “GLOOM DIVISION” in all caps) is the second studio album by American indie pop solo project I Dont Know How But They Found Me. It was released through Concord Records on February 23, 2024.[7] The album marks the first release by I Dont Know How But They Found Me as a solo act fronted by Dallon Weekes after the departure of drummer Ryan Seaman. Gloom Division was co-produced by Weekes and Dave Fridmann.

Gloom Division
Studio album by
I Dont Know How But They Found Me
ReleasedFebruary 23, 2024
RecordedNovember 2022–January 2023[1]
StudioTarbox Road Studios
Genre
Length39:21
LabelConcord Records
Producer
I Dont Know How But They Found Me chronology
Razzmatazz
(2020) 		Gloom Division
(2024)
Singles from Gloom Division
  1. "What Love?"
    Released: October 5, 2023
  2. "Gloomtown Brats"
    Released: December 7, 2023
  3. "Infatuation"
    Released: January 11, 2024
  4. "Downside"
    Released: February 23, 2024

Background edit

Following the positive reception of their debut album, Razzmatazz, the project began working on their sophomore effort. Dallon Weekes drew inspiration from a variety of sources as the creative force, including his personal experiences and influences ranging from 70s glam rock to 90s R&B.[8] Weekes embarked on a journey of introspection, particularly following an Autism and ADHD diagnosis, which influenced the themes explored in Gloom Division. The album reflects Weekes' growth as a musician and songwriter, showcasing a blend of dark lyrics with upbeat melodies.[9]

Gloom Division features collaborations with various musicians, including Will Joseph Cook, Charlie Brand, and members of Louis XIV. Dallon Weekes also worked with producer Dave Fridmann, known for his work with artists such as the Flaming Lips and MGMT, to realize his vision for the album. Fridmann's expertise helped shape the sound of the record, allowing Weekes to explore a diverse range of musical styles while maintaining a cohesive sonic identity.[9]

"A Letter", the ninth track on the album, is an older song written by Weekes during his time as the Brobecks, re-recorded for the album. The band has been performing the song for many years, since tours supporting the band's 2018 EP 1981 Extended Play.[10]

Promotion edit

On September 16, 2023, Weekes announced the new album via Instagram, along with the departure of bandmate and drummer Ryan Seaman after "a series of broken trusts". The project also signed a deal with Concord Records, which handled the release of Gloom Division.[11]

On September 28, 2023, IDKHow announced "What Love?", a new single to be released the following week.[12] When the song and its music video were released on October 5, it was revealed that it was the first single from the upcoming album, Gloom Division.[13] Two more singles were released in the months leading up to the album's release.[14][15]

The band embarked on the "Gloomtown Tour" starting in March 2024, with 27 dates across the US and Canada, and 14 dates across Europe in the summer.[16]

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [17]
Distorted Sound          [4]
DORK     [5]
Kerrang!     [18]
NARC.     [19]
The Oswegonian     [20]
The Post     [10]
The Ramapo News     [6]
StereoBoard     [21]

Gloom Division received generally favorable reviews. Lucy Carter of The Indiependent described the album as a "more mature release" than the project's debut, highlighting the sound as "sway[ing] between soft and sad to bold and bombastic".[22] Distorted Sound, DORK, and Kerrang! each gave the album a rating of 8/10 or 4/5, with Ed Walton praising the album for its "infectious indie pop/emo bangers",[4] Ali Shutler commending it for offering "escapism and joy in equal measure",[5] and James Hingle highlighting Weekes' evolution as a musician, respectively.[18]

Laura Doyle of NARC. cites Seaman's departure for Weekes ability to "get more personal than ever before", giving Gloom Division a rating of 5/5.[19] Juliana Lechtanski of The Oswegonian gave the same rating for Weekes' "creative liberties to give each song its own personality and sound",[20] while The Post closely followed in a rating of 4.5/5 with Brooke Phillips describing the album as a "whacky pop soundscape".[10]

Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic gave the median rating of 3.5/5, complimenting it for "stylistic diversity and genre experimentation" but also stating that it's "bogged down by midtempo lounge-act material".[17] StereoBoard gave similar positives and negatives in a review by Jacob Brookman, calling the instrumentation excellent while disapproving the youthful lyricism in contrast to Weekes' age of 42 at the time of release.[21] The Ramapo News reviewed Gloom Division less positively, as Jessica Hammer criticized the songs for not having "much distinguishable variation instrumentally" and giving a rating of 2/5.[6]

Track listing edit

All tracks produced by Dave Fridmann and Dallon Weekes. All tracks stylized in all caps except "Idiots of Oz" (stylized as "iDIOTS OF Oz").

Gloom Division
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Downside"
3:32
2."Gloomtown Brats"
3:13
3."Infatuation"
3:27
4."What Love?"
3:15
5."Spkothdvl"Weekes3:01
6."Sixft"
  • Weekes
  • Josh Rheault
3:24
7."Find Me"
3:21
8."Kiss & Tell"
3:28
9."A Letter"Weekes3:13
10."Satanic Panic"
3:06
11."Sunnyside" (featuring Will Joseph Cook)
  • Weekes
  • Cook
  • Noah Bobrow
3:16
12."Idiots of Oz"
  • Weekes
  • Brian Laurence Bennett
  • Alan Parker
3:00
Total length:39:21

Personnel edit

I Dont Know How But They Found Me

  • Dallon Weekes – lead vocals, bass, background vocals, production, recording arranger (all tracks); piano (1), guitar (2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12)

Technical

Additional musicians

Charts edit

Weekly chart performance for Gloom Division
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 32
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[24] 7
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[25] 25
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)[26] 20
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[27] 17
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[28] 23

References edit

  1. ^ "IDKHOW". Tarbox Road Studios. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  2. ^ a b c "Gold-Certified Indie-pop Outfit IDKHow Release Highly Anticipated Sophomore Album 'Gloom Division', a Cocktail of Experimental Art-pop, Post-punk, & R&B Infused Tracks". The Partae. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "iDKHOW announces 'Gloom Division,' Shares 'What Love?'". udiscovermusic. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  4. ^ a b c d Walton, Ed (February 21, 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Gloom Division – I Don't Know How But They Found Me". Distorted Sound. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Shutler, Ali (February 23, 2024). "iDKHOW - GLOOM DIVISION". DORK. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Hammer, Jessica (February 28, 2024). "Repetitive sound is a downside on 'GLOOM DIVISION'". The Ramapo News. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "iDKHOW announce the forthcoming album, GLOOM DIVISION". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  8. ^ Alternative Press (December 7, 2023). "10 songs that influenced iDKHOW's GLOOM DIVISION". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Wilson-Taylor, James (October 5, 2023). "iDKHOW, 'GLOOM DIVISION' | The Album Story". Rock Sound. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Phillips, Brooke (February 28, 2024). "I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME's "GLOOM DIVISION" is nostalgic, personal". The Post. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  11. ^ Wilson-Taylor, James (September 17, 2023). "iDKHOW Confirm Departure Of Drummer Ryan Seaman In New Statement". Rock Sound. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-10-05.[unreliable source?]
  13. ^ Armstrong, Sam (2023-10-05). "iDKHOW Announces 'Gloom Division,' Shares 'What Love?'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  14. ^ "iDKHOW unveils slick new single, GLOOMTOWN BRATS". Kerrang!. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  15. ^ Limbo, Live in (2024-01-15). "Take A Listen To iDKHOW's New Single "INFATUATION" - NEWS". LIVE IN LIMBO. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  16. ^ Gonda, Christopher (2023-12-12). "iDKHOW Annouces [sic] 27-date North American "GLOOMTOWN TOUR"". V13.net. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  17. ^ a b Yeung, Neil (February 23, 2024). "Gloom Division - I Dont Know How but They Found Me". AllMusic. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Hingle, James (February 23, 2024). "Album review: iDKHOW – Gloom Division". Kerrang!. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Doyle, Laura (February 20, 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Idkhow – Gloom Division". NARC. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Lechtanski, Juliana (March 1, 2024). "I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME finds way back to music". The Oswegonian. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Brookman, Jacob (February 28, 2024). "IDKHOW - Gloom Division (Album Review)". StereoBoard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  22. ^ Carter, Lucy (February 16, 2024). "Album Review: GLOOM DIVISION // iDKHOW". The Indiependent. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  25. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  26. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  27. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  28. ^ "I Dont Know How But They Found Me Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
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