Compliments Please
| Compliments Please | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 March 2019 | |||
| Genre | Pop, Experimental pop | |||
| Length | 52:42 | |||
| Label | Fiction Records | |||
| Self Esteem chronology | ||||
| ||||
Compliments Please is the first studio album by the British musician Self Esteem, aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor, released on 1 March 2019.
Writing and recording[edit]
Taylor has said that she wrote most of the record whilst happily in a relationship, but that "Rollout", "In Time" and "I'm Shy" were written in the aftermath of the breakup of that relationship.[1] Tracks for the album were recorded by Taylor in Margate from January to September 2018 with producer and co-writer Johan Hugo Karlberg.[2] Taylor signed a record deal with Fiction Records in April 2018.[3] During the period of recording she played live at Latitude, Tramlines and a sold out show at Omeara Theatre London,[4] followed by an eight-show UK tour in autumn 2018.[5]
Music and lyrics[edit]
"(Feelings)", the spoken word beginning to the record, features an American woman speaking about the frustrations and compromises of being in a band, something which Taylor experienced while in Slow Club.[6] The audio is Taylor's recording of Los Angeles Uber driver Kelly Jones, who was speaking about her own experience of being a singer in a band.[1]
"Girl Crush" is critical of performative bisexuality and about Taylor's own experience of being approached by heterosexual women to experience homosexual relationships as a curiosity or a dare.[7][8] It has been contrasted to Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" which has been criticised for trivialising same-sex relationships.[1]
Taylor has said that "Wresting" is about the early stages of many relationships in which both parties try not to seem too enthusiastic.[9] "Rollout", with its refrain "What I might have achieved / If I wasn't trying to please you" has been described by Taylor as being the story of her 20s, trying to people-please in her music, her romantic relationships, her family and in wider society.[7]
Release and reception[edit]
The first single "Wrestling" was released in July 2018 followed by "Rollout" in September 2018, "The Best" in January 2019 and "Girl Crush" in February 2019.[10] Compliments Please was released on 1 March 2019 on Fiction Records.[11] Described as "brewing a concoction of high octane, R&B infused pop"[12] it was well received critically, with an average rating of 80/100 according to Metacritic.[13] A deluxe version was released in October 2019 with an additional track "Rooms".[14]
Compliments Please was reissued on vinyl on 22 April 2023 for Record Store Day,[15] causing it to enter the vinyl charts top 10.[16]
Track listing[edit]
All tracks are written by Rebecca Lucy Taylor with others noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Feelings" | 0:33 | |
| 2. | "The Best" | Johan Karlberg | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Steady I Stand" |
| 3:51 |
| 4. | "Girl Crush" |
| 4:04 |
| 5. | "Favourite Problem" |
| 3:49 |
| 6. | "Hobbies" | 2:10 | |
| 7. | "I'm Shy" | Karlberg | 3:15 |
| 8. | "Peach You Had to Pick" |
| 4:05 |
| 9. | "In Time" |
| 3:26 |
| 10. | "Monster" |
| 3:10 |
| 11. | "Actors" | 2:47 | |
| 12. | "Wrestling" |
| 3:33 |
| 13. | "Truly Free" | Vetter | 0:48 |
| 14. | "She Reigns" | Karlberg | 4:37 |
| 15. | "Rollout" | Karlberg | 3:16 |
| 16. | "On the Edge of Another One" | 2:01 | |
| 17. | "Rooms" (bonus track on deluxe edition) |
| 3:20 |
| Total length: | 52:42 | ||
Notes:
- "Feelings", "Hobbies", and "Truly Free" are stylised with parentheses.
Personnel[edit]
Musicians
- Rebecca Lucy Taylor – vocals, guitar, percussion, drums, keys
- Johan Hugo Karlberg – programming, keys
- Jacob Vetter – keys, guitar, bass, percussion, backing vocals
- Oluwaseye Adelekan – guitar, bass, percussion, backing vocals
- Sophie Galpin – backing vocals, strings
- Kelli Blanchett – backing vocals
- Raven Bush – strings
- Resound Choir – Joseph Clarke, Mariah Hargrove, Jessica Fox
- Kelly Jones – spoken word on (Feelings)
- Alessandro Babalola – spoken word on (Hobbies)
- Genesis Lynea – spoken word on (Truly Free)
Production
- Johan Hugo Karlberg – production, recording, engineering
- Jacob Vetter – co-producer tracks 2–5, 8–11 and 14
- Mixing – James Dring
- Mastering – Jason Mitchell
Artwork
- Cover photo – Charlotte Patmore
- Painting (inside cover) – Francesca Hague, edited by Ian Hall
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "How Rebecca Taylor found her self-esteem | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
- ^ "Self Esteem announces debut album with lead single "The Best"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
- ^ Taylor, Rebecca Lucy [@SELFESTEEM___] (April 4, 2018). "Last night I signed a deal with @FictionRecords as a solo lady. I am very happy and excited. And hungover. https://t.co/SHIyBQP1Jr" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Taylor, Rebecca Lucy [@SELFESTEEM___] (September 22, 2018). "Baby just let in your truth. https://t.co/bn0b4oLlzm" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Taylor, Rebecca Lucy [@SELFESTEEM___] (October 3, 2018). "DOING SMALL TOUR ideally won't be this cheap to see me for much longer lads so come to this ! https://t.co/ZKx3uIy0nN https://t.co/h2fsPr1cpG" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ ""I'm pretty f***ing selfish. I do it for myself.": An interview with Self Esteem". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
- ^ a b "Self Esteem is better off on her own". BBC News. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
- ^ "Self Esteem challenges gender specifics on new single "Girl Crush"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ "Self Esteem debuts new song "Wrestling" plays one-off London headline show". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ "self esteem | Dork". readdork.com. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (2019-03-01). "Self Esteem: Compliments Please review – sly, covetous pop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
- ^ "Self Esteem's Compliments Please is an exhilarating statement of intent". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ Compliments Please by Self Esteem, retrieved 2023-02-04
- ^ "Self Esteem unveils new track "Rooms" from deluxe edition of debut album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "@SELFESTEEM___". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
- ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-05-19.