Wikipedia

Endless Rooms

Endless Rooms is the third studio album by Australian indie rock band Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. It was released on 6 May 2022 under Sub Pop.

Endless Rooms
Studio album by
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
Released6 May 2022
RecordedDecember 2020–February 2021
StudioThe Basin
Genre
Length45:32
LabelSub Pop
ProducerMatt Duffy
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever chronology
Sideways to New Italy
(2020) 		Endless Rooms
(2022)
Singles from Endless Rooms
  1. "The Way It Shatters"
    Released: 2 February 2022
  2. "Tidal River"
    Released: 2 March 2022
  3. "My Echo"
    Released: 5 April 2022
  4. "Dive Deep"
    Released: 4 May 2022

Background and recording

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Much of the album was initially written while the band was in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and its associated lockdowns, which served as base for writing the record. Writing also occurred during the release of the 2020 album, Sideways to New Italy, which was released during the height of the pandemic.[1] In an interview with Stereogum, lead singer Tom Russo said that "despite being so close to each other, we couldn't see each other or get together and practice. As a result, the songs on Endless Rooms are ones that follow a more logical structure, because they haven't had their limbs ripped off them and stuck back on other songs."[2]

The band did songwriting throughout much of Summer 2020, and in December 2020, the band was able to begin recording the album, where they recorded it on a ranch about two hours north of Melbourne owned by extended family of brothers and bandmembers, Tom and Joe Russo, dubbed "The Basin".[3][2] Recording wrapped up in early 2021, and was produced by Matt Duffy.[2][4]

Music and composition

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In many critic reviews, the album has been described as a continuation of the band's jangle pop and indie rock[5] sound, with some publications further describing it as college rock.[4] Lee Hammond, writing for Narc Magazine described the album as "jangly slacker pop".[6] Hannah Mylrea, writing for NME called the album a continuation of "the band's trademark jangly indie rock".[5]

Release and promotion

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Singles

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There were four singles that were released, each about one month apart, ahead of the album. The third track on the album, "The Way It Shatters", released on 2 February 2022 was the lead single off the album.[7] "Tidal River", released exactly a month later, was the second single released, and the second track on the album.[8] The third single, "My Echo" was released on 5 April 2022,[9] while the final single before the album's release, "Dive Deep", was released on the eve of the album's release.[10]

Music videos

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The lead single, "The Way It Shatters" had its music video premier on the band's YouTube channel the day of the single release, 2 February 2022.[11] The video features a man in a suit walking up from the beach to celebrate his birthday party, but is unenthusiastically observing and taking in the festivities around the party before retreating back to the ocean. The video was directed and edited by Nick Mckk and Mike Ridley, with Loni Thomson providing art direction.[12] Actors Cecil Coleman, Shane O'Keefe, Lauren Heron, and Kgomotso Skehu made appearances in the music video.[13]

The single "Dive Deep" did not have a corresponding music video, but a video visualiser was released in conjunction with the single. It shows video of twilight over the horizon, with visualisations of the band members walking. The video was directed by Jamieson Moore.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [15]
Dork     [16]
DIY     [17]
Exclaim!7/10[18]
Loud and Quiet6/10[19]
Mojo     [14]
NME     [5]
Pitchfork7.3/10[20]
Uncut     [4]
Under the Radar          [21]

Endless Rooms was met with widespread acclaim from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average, Endless Rooms has a rating of 82 out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, based on eight critic reviews.[14]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Fran Keaney, Tom Russo, Joe White, Joe Russo, and Marcel Tussie

No.TitleLength
1."Pearl Like You"1:03
2."Tidal River"4:26
3."The Way It Shatters"4:22
4."Caught Low"3:54
5."My Echo"3:35
6."Dive Deep"5:13
7."Open Up Your Window"2:07
8."Blue Eye Lake"4:42
9."Saw You at the Eastern Beach"3:52
10."Vanishing Dots"3:41
11."Endless Rooms"3:49
12."Bounce Off the Bottom"4:43
Total length:45:32

Personnel

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Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[22]

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

  • Marcel Tussie – drums
  • Fran Keaney – guitar, vocals, synthesiser
  • Joe White – guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion
  • Tom Russo – guitar, vocals, keyboards
  • Joe Russo – bass, synthesiser, drum machine

Additional musicians

  • Stella Donelly – backing vocals (2, 4–6, 12)
  • Hannah Welch – backing vocals (12)

Technical

  • Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – production, sleeve design
  • Matt Chow – production
  • Scott Horscroft – mixing
  • Nao Anzai – mastering
  • Nick McKinlay – photography
  • Joe Russo – sleeve design

Charts

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Chart performance for Endless Rooms
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 187
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] 11
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[25] 39
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[26] 6

References

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  1. ^ "Sideways to New Italy | Sub Pop". Sub Pop Records. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Leas, Ryan (6 May 2022). "The Story Behind Every Song On Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever's New Album Endless Rooms". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever | Endless Rooms". Sub Pop Records. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c O'Connell, Sharon (6 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms". Uncut. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Mylrea, Hannah (6 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – 'Endless Rooms' review: new sounds and pointed lyrics". NME. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  6. ^ Hammond, Lee (5 May 2022). "Lee Hammond Finds Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Pushing Their Jangly Slacker Pop Even Further on Their New Album". narcmagazine.com. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  7. ^ Russell, Scott (2 February 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Announce Endless Rooms, Share "The Way It Shatters"". Paste. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  8. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (2 March 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – "Tidal River"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ Doria, Matt (6 April 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever tackle lockdown loneliness on new single 'My Echo'". NME. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  10. ^ Redfern, Mark (4 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever Share New Song "Dive Deep"". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  11. ^ Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The Way It Shatters (Official Video) (Video) (video). Melbourne: YouTube. 2 February 2022. Event occurs at 4:21. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  12. ^ Waters, Cheryl (31 March 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The Way It Shatters". KEXP-FM. National Public Radio. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – The Way It Shatters [Official Video]". jnews-france.fr (in French). 3 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  14. ^ a b c "Critic Reviews for Endless Rooms". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  15. ^ Sendra, Tim. "Endless Rooms – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  16. ^ MacMillan, Jamie (4 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms". Dork. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  17. ^ Smurthwaite, James (6 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms review". DIY. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  18. ^ Martens, James (4 May 2022). "Rolling Blackous Coastal Fever Open New Sonic Doors into 'Endless Rooms'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  19. ^ Cortassa, Guia (2 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  20. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (9 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Endless Rooms Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  21. ^ Matt the Raven (6 May 2022). "Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Endless Rooms (Sub Pop)". Under the Radar. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  22. ^ Endless Rooms (booklet). Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever. Sub Pop. 2022. SP 1499
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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