Jesus at the Gay Bar
| Jesus at the Gay Bar | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 7 April 2023 | |||
| Length | 36:50 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Cub Sport chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Jesus at the Gay Bar | ||||
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Jesus at the Gay Bar is the fifth studio album by Australian pop group Cub Sport, released on 7 April 2023.[5][6] The album was announced on 19 January 2023, alongside the album's third single "Keep Me Safe".[3] The album title stems from Jay Hulme's poem published in his 2021 book The Backwater Sermons, that envisions Jesus Christ visiting a gay bar and being approached by a boy who "beg[s] to be healed", only to be told that "there is nothing in this heart of yours that ever needs to be healed".[7]
Tim Nelson said "This is definitely our most dance-forward, party-centric album".[7]
At the 2023 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Group, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art.[8]
At the 2024 Queensland Music Awards, the album won Album of the Year, whilst "Songs About It", won the Electronic award.[9]
Promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
"Always Got the Love" was released on 14 June 2022. Upon release, Nelson said, "I've always felt like the songs that people can cry to are important but I think being able to celebrate and move is equally important and that's kind of where I'm at right now. I wanna make music that makes people feel uplifted."[1]
"Replay" was released on 11 November 2022 and was described by Alex Gallagher from NME as "a club-ready, house-influenced cut that marks the group's biggest venture yet into full-blown dance music."[2]
The album's third single, "Keep Me Safe" is described as "a postcard to [Nelson's] former self", which he wrote "about a euphoric but complicated time" – when, before coming out as queer in 2017, he and keyboardist Sam Netterfield were forced to keep their relationship a secret.[7]
"Songs About It" was released on 3 March 2023 as the album's fourth single.[4]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| NME |   [10] |
| Retropop | [11] |
| Attitude Magazine | [12] |
Kristen S. Hé from NME said "Across 10 tracks, they craft a palette of crystalline guitars, melancholy chord progressions, and gentle, propulsive beats that perfectly complement Nelson's voice."[10]
Retropop said "More than 10 years in the making, Cub Sport emerge with their finest body of work yet – an ode to celebrating one's past and looking boldly into the future, without the fear of past demons resurfacing – and finally set themselves up to take their sound global."[11]
Charlotte Manning from Attitude Magazine called it "the band's best work yet" adding, "They manage a no-skips pop record full of reflection and an exciting hint towards the more anthemic sound they’re clearly eyeing up for the future."[12]
Bryget Chrisfield from Beat Magazine said "Jesus at the Gay Bar finds Cub Sport proudly celebrating queer joy – spiritual shackles, begone! – and more comfortable in their own skin than ever before."[13]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Always Got the Love" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 2. | "Replay" |
|
| 3:23 |
| 3. | "High for the Summer" (featuring Shamir) |
|
| 3:31 |
| 4. | "Keep Me Safe" |
| Styalz Fuego | 4:22 |
| 5. | "Zoom" | Nelson | Nelson | 3:29 |
| 6. | "Songs About It" |
| Styalz Fuego | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Beg U" | Nelson | Nelson | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Hold" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 9. | "Yaya" (featuring Mallrat) |
|
| 4:52 |
| 10. | "Magic in U" |
|
| 4:08 |
| Total length: | 36:50 | |||
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] | 1 |
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Catalogue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7 April 2023 | Cub Sport / Believe | CUB008CD / CUB008LP1 | [15][5][16] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Cub Sport Shine With Release of New Single, "Always Got the Love"". Music Feeds. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b Alex Gallagher (11 November 2022). "Listen to Cub Sport's new club-ready banger 'Replay'". NME. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b Varvaris, Mary (19 January 2023). "Cub Sport To Drop New Album 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' On Good Friday". The Music. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Cub Sport Release New Single 'Songs About It". DIY. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Jesus At The Gay Bar (JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Translucent Orange Vinyl)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Cub Sport Announce New Album 'Jesus at the Gay Bar'". BroadwayWorld. January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ a b c Ellie Robinson (18 January 2023). "Cub Sport's Tim Nelson talks new album 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' and "euphoric but complicated" single 'Keep Me Safe'". NME. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Nominees Announced for 2023 ARIA Awards". Music Feeds. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Cub Sport, Jem Cassar-Daley & Joff Bush Win Big At 2024 Queensland Music Awards". The Music. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b Kristen S. Hé (11 April 2023). "Cub Sport – 'Jesus at the Gay Bar' review: a deep-dive into divinity on the dancefloor". NME. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Cub Sport – Jesus At The Gay Bar". Retropop. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ a b Charlotte Manning (6 April 2023). "Album Review: Cub Sport's 'Jesus At The Gay Bar' marks soothing transition to euphoric pop sound". Attitude Magazine. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "Cub Sport's Jesus At The Gay Bar: Spiritual shackles, begone!". Beat Magazine. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ "Jesus At The Gay Bar (CD)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Jesus At The Gay Bar". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 January 2023.