Released June 8, 2010 Length 44:48 Before Today
(2010) Mature Themes
(2012) Label 4AD | Recorded 2009–2010 Odditties Sodomies Vol. 1
(2008) Before Today
(2010) Release date 8 June 2010 | |
 | ||
Producer Sunny Levine, Rik Pekkonen, Michael Wagener Artists Ariel Pink, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Genres Lo-fi music, Indie rock, Psychedelic pop, Dream pop, Garage rock, Hypnagogic pop Similar Ariel Pink albums, Indie rock albums | ||
Ariel pink s haunted graffiti hot body rub
Before Today is an album by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (the first time presented as a group), released on June 8, 2010, by 4AD.
Contents
Composition
The album's opening track, Hot Body Rub previously appeared (in an alternative version) on an EP Ariel Pink with Added Pizzazz, which was a collaboration between Vas Deferens Organization (as producers) and Ariel Pink who are friends to each other. VDO provided production for this track, as well as thanks to one of its members, Eric Lumbleau, Pink made friends with Gonzales family who appeared on it.
The album contains several homages to vintage rock and roll songs, such as "Bright Lit Blue Skies" which was originally recorded by the Rockin' Ramrods in 1966, and "Beverly Kills," which draws heavily on Ago's 1982 track "For You." "Reminiscences" is an instrumental cover of an Ethiopian pop song, "I Remember a Man" by Yeshimebet Dubale.
Critical reception and legacy
In December 2010, Pitchfork Media named "Round and Round" the best song of 2010. Pitchfork placed it at number 9 on its list "The Top 50 Albums of 2010".
Exclaim! named "Before Today" the No. 15 Pop & Rock Album of 2010. Exclaim! writer Dimitri Nasrallah said that "Before Today is a hard-earned victory lap for Pink, not only the most triumphantly realized album of his left-of-centre catalogue, but a much-needed second wind for an artist who very nearly finished off the decade as another minor curiosity in outsider-pop's long lineage."
Personnel
Songs
1Hot Body Rub2:26
2Bright Lit Blue Skies2:25
3L'estat (Acc to the Widow's Maid)4:27