Pink Balloons (stylized as pink balloons) is the first full-length studio album by Washington, D.C.-based punk band Ekko Astral.
| Pink Balloons | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | April 17, 2024 |
| Studio | Fidelitorium, Kernersville, North Carolina[1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 35:40 |
| Label | Topshelf |
| Producer | Jeremy Snyder |
Recording and composition
editPink Balloons was recorded and produced by Jeremy Snyder, of Brooklyn-based band Pure Adult.[2] The group had released their most recent album at the same time writing for Pink Balloons had begun; in an interview for Stereogum, singer Jael Holzman drew a positive comparison between Snyder's chaotic production style and what she saw as the ongoing state of the world.[3]
Lyrically, Pink Balloons focuses on themes such as feeling unsafe as a woman in public, facing discrimination and transmisogyny, and the historical treatment of disadvantaged communities, including Native Americans in the United States.[4] The title of the record was intended to be a reaction against the mainstream commodification of feminism. This theme is expanded upon in songs such as "On Brand"; described as the album's climax by Holzman, the band has said the song is "dedicated to all the people in DC who make money off people dying".[5][4] The social commentary is often interspersed with cultural references. Pink Balloons features wordplay based around Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, and Creedence Clearwater Revival among others; the title of "Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between L'Enfant and Eastern Market" references La Dispute's album Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair,[2][3] while "Sticks and Stones" references Dave Chappelle's controversial stand-up special of the same name.[4]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Paste | 8.9/10[6] |
| Pitchfork | 8/10[2] |
Pink Balloons received positive reviews from critics.[6][2] Writing for the album's inclusion in Consequence's "Best Albums of April 2024" list, critic J. Krueger called the album "a genuinely exciting debut".[7]
In June 2024, two months after the album's release, Pink Balloons was named as one of Stereogum's "50 Best Albums of 2024 So Far".[8] The same month, album closing track "I90" was named one of Paste's "50 Best Songs of 2024 So Far".[9]
Track listing
editAll lyrics by Jael Holzman, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Head Empty Blues" | 2:48 | |
| 2. | "Baethoven" | 2:46 | |
| 3. | "uwu Type Beat" | 2:29 | |
| 4. | "On Brand" | 4:25 | |
| 5. | "Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between L'Enfant and Eastern Market" | Ari Drennen | 2:23 |
| 6. | "Make Me Young" | Guinevere Tully | 1:08 |
| 7. | "Sticks and Stones" | 3:02 | |
| 8. | "Buffaloed" | 1:51 | |
| 9. | "Devorah" | 5:41 | |
| 10. | "Burning Alive on K St." | instrumental | 0:30 |
| 11. | "I90" (featuring Josaleigh Pollett) | Holzman, Drennen | 8:37 |
| Total length: | 35:40 | ||
Personnel
editEkko Astral
- Jael Holzman - vocals, cover art
- Liam Hughes - lead guitar, organ (track 2), synthesizer (tracks 3 and 4), rhythm guitar (track 6), Wurlitzer (track 11)
- Sam Elmore - rhythm guitar
- Guinevere Tully - bass guitar, vocals (track 6)
- Miri Tyler - drums, synthesizer (track 4), organ (tracks 6 and 7), percussion (tracks 1, 3, and 9)
Additional personnel
- Jeremy Snyder - producer, percussion (tracks 1, 3, and 4), vocals (track 9)
- Carl Saff - mastering
- John Lee - photography
- Pablo Manriquez - cover art
References
edit- ^ Topshelf Records 2024.
- ^ a b c d Corcoran, Nina (April 17, 2024). "Ekko Astral: pink balloons Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Farrell, Margaret (March 27, 2024). "Band To Watch: Ekko Astral". Stereogum. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c Lesuer, Mike (April 17, 2024). "Ekko Astral Take Us Through Their Seething Debut Album "Pink Balloons" Track by Track". Flood. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Mitra, Jay (June 4, 2024). "Ekko Astral are redefining the political voice in punk". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Matt (April 25, 2024). "On pink balloons, Ekko Astral Show Their Teeth and Leave Room For Grace". Paste. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Best Albums of April 2024: Staff Picks". Consequence. April 25, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "The 50 Best Albums Of 2024 So Far". Stereogum. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "The 50 Best Songs of 2024 So Far". Paste. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.