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Smile! :D

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Smile! :D (stylized in all caps) is the third studio album by American electronic music producer Porter Robinson, released on July 26, 2024, through Mom + Pop Music. In recording the album, Robinson sought to break away from many stylistic elements of his previous work. The music on the record draws from pop-punk, early 2000s rave, and hyperpop influences.

Smile! :D
A large inflatable mascot, with big cartoon eyes, resembling Porter Robinson
Studio album by
Porter Robinson
ReleasedJuly 26, 2024
GenreElectropop[1]
Length40:03
LabelMom + Pop
ProducerPorter Robinson
Porter Robinson chronology
Nurture
(2021) 		Smile! :D
(2024)
Singles from Smile! :D
  1. "Cheerleader"
    Released: March 20, 2024
  2. "Knock Yourself Out XD"
    Released: April 24, 2024
  3. "Russian Roulette"
    Released: June 5, 2024
  4. "Kitsune Maison Freestyle"
    Released: July 19, 2024

Four singles – "Cheerleader", "Knock Yourself Out XD", "Russian Roulette", and "Kitsune Maison Freestyle" – were released to promote the work. The album received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its bold production and emotional depth, though some noted its chaotic structure. The album is being supported by a world tour from 2024 to 2025.

Background

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Further information: Porter Robinson § Career

Robinson experienced an initial surge of popularity at age 18,[2] after the release of several festival-oriented electronic dance music works such as "Say My Name" (2010) and Spitfire (2011). Robinson grew increasingly dissatisfied with his performances, and said that he experienced "four or five fully-blown anxiety attacks onstage" while touring in 2013.[3] His desire to change his musical style led him to write his debut album Worlds (2014), a work that DJ Mag's John Ochoa has retrospectively described as a "breakthrough" that precipitated a wider shift in the electronic music industry.[4] In 2016, Robinson released "Shelter", a collaboration with friend and fellow electronic producer Madeon.[5] In 2017, Robinson released Virtual Self, a eurodance- and trance-inspired production released under an alias of the same name.[6] "Ghost Voices", a single from the EP, was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2018.[7] In 2021, Robinson released his second studio album Nurture, a work which explores his experiences with depression and writer's block and represents a major stylistic shift in his discography, according to AllMusic's Paul Simpson.[5] While writing Nurture, Robinson put pressure on himself to "not [get] into any kind of trouble", as he started to place more importance on his public identity and found himself restricting his expression on the album as a result. A year after its release, he began to discuss with his friends his wish to retire from musicianship altogether.[8]

Composition and themes

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Robinson intended to avoid the stylistic elements of his previous work when writing Smile! :D, stating in an interview with Dork that "every project [he has] done has been a total reinvention."[9] Larisha Paul from Rolling Stone concurred, and felt that the album brings the vocal performances and lyrics to the forefront of the production, in contrast with the "atmospheric" sound of Nurture.[10] The album's instrumentation draws from the pop-punk and rave music styles from the early 2000s,[11] as well as modern hyperpop.[12] The Skinny's Ian Macartney found chiptune influences similar to Robinson's contemporaries Anamanaguchi on the opening track "Knock Yourself Out XD".[11]

The framework for the album's style was conceived during the tour of Nurture, when Robinson performed with a live band. He felt that much of his prior discography focused on personal subject matters, and instead decided to adopt a more lighthearted approach with a "spirit of play" inspired by his experiences on stage.[9] Discussing the composition process, Robinson said he intended to create a work that was "no sincerity, all fun, [and] an album that revels in absurdity for a world that rejects context", but eventually began to write about his emotions.[13] "Cheerleader", the second song from the album, is a commentary on the parasocial relationships audience members can develop with artists.[10]

Promotion and release

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Robinson performing at the Forest Hills Stadium, in New York City

On February 29, 2024, Robinson uploaded a video to his YouTube channel describing the end of his career and the removal of all of his music from online streaming services. The content of his website was replaced with a countdown timer,[14][15][better source needed] and all previous posts were removed from Robinson's Instagram profile.[16][17] He seemingly confirmed his decision to a reporter that day, which Uproxx's Megan Armstrong described as an "expertly executed troll job".[18] Robinson revealed on March 1 that he had completed his third album, posting promotional images and videos to social media.[16] Robinson later announced a world tour to promote the album in 2024 and 2025, the first of his career.[19][20][21] The tour will be supported by Ericdoa, Galileo Galilei and Underscores.[22]

On March 20, 2024, Robinson released the first single for the album, "Cheerleader". On writing the song, he stated that he intended to create something that audiences would "love with zero context – just instantaneous, universal, explosive connection".[23] The song was released with a music video directed by Hugh Mulhern.[24] The second single from the album, "Knock Yourself Out XD", was released on April 24, 2024.[13] Robinson released the third single, "Russian Roulette", on June 5, 2024.[25] Robinson sees the song as a path to addressing the ideas of "oblivion, of career suicide, of disappearing", and finding a balance with his obligations. A lyric video for the song was published on June 13, 2024.[26] "Kitsune Maison Freestyle", the fourth and final single from the album, was released on July 19.[27] Robinson had organized a pop-up event at the Maison Kitsuné showroom in Los Angeles the day prior, which drew thousands of attendees. He gave away designer clothes from his wardrobe collectively worth an estimated $50,000 to fans for free. Robinson professed that he was a long-time enthusiast of Maison Kitsuné, and felt it was "primed for a nostalgic revival".[28]

Smile! :D was released for digital streaming by Mom + Pop Music on July 26, 2024.[29] The album released physically on vinyl and compact disc on August 23, 2024.[30] A music video for "Easier to Love You" was released on August 2, directed by stop-motion animator Tomoyasu Murata.[31] On August 22, 2024, Robinson released a music video for "Year of the Cup", co-directed with Malcolm MacMaster.[32]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.3/10[33]
Metacritic75/100[34]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [35]
Clash7/10[36]
Dork     [37]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[29]
The Independent7/10[1]
Our Culture     [38]
Pitchfork7.1/10[39]
Rolling Stone     [10]
Slant     [40]
The Skinny     [11]
Spectrum Culture     [41]
Sputnikmusic2.9/5[42]
Under the Radar          [43]

According to review aggregator website Metacritic, Smile! :D received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from nine critics.[34] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? scored the album 7.3 out of 10 based on nine reviews.[33]

Macartney described Smile! :D as "Robinson's most intimate album yet". He also wrote that the album was "full of swerves",[11] and Dork reviewers commented on the contrast between the album's instrumentation and the highly personal lyrical content.[12] Narzra Ahmed of Clash wrote that the album was "more chaotic than cohesive, which seems intentional in order to reflect [Robinson]'s ranging emotions", calling it "some of his best work yet".[36] However, Sputnikmusic's Jesper L. felt that the album presented its lyrical content in a fashion that was imbalanced and "too careless" with its switches between lighthearted and serious themes.[42]

Dork's Dan Harrison wrote that Smile! :D's production was "nothing short of stellar", and felt that Robinson had effectively blended multiple musical styles on the work.[37] While Jesper L. appreciated individual songs, he felt the work as a whole was "overwhelming" in its maximalism, finding the softer tracks such as "Everything to Me" to be forced and insincere.[42] Macartney, however, felt that "Is There Really No Happiness?" was the highlight of the album, appreciating the combination of its breakbeat-style drums and "elegiac ballad" tone.[11]

Track listing

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All tracks are written and produced by Porter Robinson, except where noted.

Smile! :D track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Knock Yourself Out XD" 
  • Robinson
  • Gavin Bendt
2:48
2."Cheerleader"  3:57
3."Russian Roulette"
  • Robinson
  • Bendt
  • Hart
  • Luke Shippey
6:28
4."Perfect Pinterest Garden"  2:28
5."Year of the Cup"  4:22
6."Kitsune Maison Freestyle"  3:54
7."Easier to Love You"
  • Robinson
  • Hart
  • Robinson
  • Hart
4:10
8."Mona Lisa" (featuring Frost Children)
  • Robinson
  • Frost Children
3:45
9."Is There Really No Happiness?"
  • Robinson
  • Bendt
  • James Ivy
  • Shippey
  • Michael Stone
  • Robinson
  • Bendt
  • Ivy
  • Shippey
  • Stone
3:19
10."Everything to Me"
  • Robinson
  • Bendt
  • Ivy
  • Shippey
  • Stone
  • Robinson
  • Bendt
  • Ivy
  • Shippey
4:52
Total length:40:03

Notes

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  • Liner notes on physical releases of the album refer to track 9 as "Is There Really No Happiness Without this Feeling?".

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart performance for Smile! :D
Chart (2024) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[44] 49
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[45] 10

References

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  1. ^ a b "Blur reflect on bucket list Wembley Stadium gig in their latest concert album". The Independent. July 24, 2024. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Jolley, Ben (April 20, 2021). "Porter Robinson – Nurture review: dance don trades bombast for blissed-out beats". NME. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Cooper, Duncan (July 31, 2014). "Porter Robinson conquered EDM, and now he wants more". The Fader. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Ochoa, John (January 22, 2019). "10 moments that defined Porter Robinson". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Simpson, Paul. "Porter Robinson – Nurture". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Bein, Kat (April 10, 2018). "Porter Robinson talks writing a 'really sincere love letter' to the early 2000s with Virtual Self project". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  7. ^ Powell, Katie (January 9, 2019). "Porter Robinson opens up about Grammy-nominated project Virtual Self". Your EDM. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Rigotti, Alex (July 30, 2024). "Porter Robinson: "I wanted to tap into every ugly, nasty feeling"". NME. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Shutler, Ali (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson: 'If you're going to exist in the public eye, you're going to get dragged'". Dork. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Paul, Larisha (July 24, 2024). "Porter Robinson dissects codependency with MySpace-era maximalism on Smile! :D". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e Macartney, Ian (July 23, 2024). "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". The Skinny. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "The Agenda: Jade rewrites the solo debut rulebook, Porter Robinson cracks a smile, and Truck offers an indie stronghold". Dork. July 22, 2024. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Yopko, Nick (April 24, 2024). "Porter Robinson reveals release date of third album, drops new single 'Knock Yourself Out XD'". EDM.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Heffler, Jason (March 1, 2024). "Porter Robinson reveals long-awaited third album". EDM.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Florencio, Miguel (March 1, 2024). "Porter Robinson announces new album in cryptic fashion". EDM Identity. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Bain, Katie (March 1, 2024). "Porter Robinson announces new album 'is done'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Porter Robinson announces new album". The Groove Cartel. March 1, 2024. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  18. ^ Armstrong, Megan (March 1, 2024). "Porter Robinson confirmed his 'album is done' and shared a wonderfully chaotic teaser video". Uproxx. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  19. ^ LaPierre, Megan (April 25, 2024). "Porter Robinson maps out world tour". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  20. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (April 25, 2024). "Porter Robinson announced the 'Smile! :D World Tour' for third album". Uproxx. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Fu, Eddie (April 25, 2024). "Porter Robinson announces 2024–2025 tour". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  22. ^ Kirk, Alexander (April 26, 2024). "Smile! :D World Tour: Porter Robinson is coming to Colorado". 9News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  23. ^ Kelly, Tyler Damara (March 20, 2024). "Porter Robinson shares first solo single in two years, 'Cheerleader'". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (March 20, 2024). "Porter Robinson returns with new song 'Cheerleader'". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Heffler, Jason (June 5, 2024). "Porter Robinson's 'Russian Roulette': A haunting hyperpop anthem for a second chance at life". EDM.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  26. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (June 14, 2024). "Porter Robinson shares video for new song 'Russian Roulette'". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  27. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (July 19, 2024). "Porter Robinson shares new single 'Kitsune Maison Freestyle'". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  28. ^ Taylor, Sam (July 19, 2024). "Porter Robinson has shared 'Kitsune Maison Freestyle', the fourth single from his album Smile! :D". Dork. Archived from the original on July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Kim, Matthew (July 26, 2024). "Smile! :D is Porter Robinson's most unflinching work yet". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  30. ^ "Porter Robinson Smile! :D standard 2LP". Porter Robinson. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  31. ^ Taylor, Sam (August 2, 2024). "Porter Robinson has teamed up with Japanese stop-motion animator and artist Tomoyasu Murata for his new 'Easier to Love You' video". Dork. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Taylor, Sam (August 23, 2024). "Porter Robinson has released a new 90s-style video for 'Year of the Cup'". Dork. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  33. ^ a b "Smile! :D by Porter Robinson reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  34. ^ a b "Smile! :D by Porter Robinson". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  35. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Smile! :D – Porter Robinson". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  36. ^ a b Ahmed, Narzra (July 29, 2024). "Porter Robinson - Smile! :D". Clash Magazine. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  37. ^ a b Harrison, Dan (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Dork. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  38. ^ Pappis, Konstantinos (July 29, 2024). "Album review: Porter Robinson, Smile! :D". Our Culture Mag. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  39. ^ Joyce, Colin (July 26, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  40. ^ Seip, Nick (July 29, 2024). "Porter Robinson Smile! :D review: A sincere, unvarnished commentary on stardom". Slant. Archived from the original on July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  41. ^ Stremfel, Thomas (August 5, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  42. ^ a b c Jesper (July 26, 2024). "Review: Porter Robinson – Smile! :D". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  43. ^ Campbell, Caleb (September 4, 2024). "Porter Robinson: Smile! :D". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  44. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  45. ^ "Porter Robinson Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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