Released June 26, 2015 Length 56:24 Artist The Internet | Recorded 2013–15 Label Odd Future
Columbia Release date 26 June 2015 | |
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Producers Matt Martians, Syd Tha Kyd, Steve Lacy, Brian Kennedy, Cisco Adler, Kaytranada, Tyler, The Creator Nominations Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album Genres Contemporary R&B, Hip hop soul Similar Purple Naked Ladies, Feel Good, Wildheart, The Waterfall, Forever Charlie | ||
Ego Death is the third studio album by American hip hop soul band The Internet. It was released digitally on June 26, 2015, by Odd Future Records and Columbia Records, and the physical version was released later on June 29, 2015. The album was recorded primarily in Syd's basement in a three-week period.
Contents
It was supported by the singles; "Special Affair" and "Girl". The album was nominated at the 58th Grammy Awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Critical reception
Ego Death received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 11 reviews. Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "The majority of Ego Death is tighter. Bennett has refined her songwriting without reducing the candid approach that colors her past compositions. Additionally, the tangents are fewer and more substantive." Pat Levy of Consequence of Sound said, "In addition to their more fully formed sound, one of the more exciting things about The Internet is the music's point of view." Michael J. Warren of Exclaim! said, "Ego Death frees the Internet from Odd Future connotations and R&B norms; it's their best work yet." Tshepo Mokoena of The Guardian said, "There's wit and honestly behind her observations of courting and heartbreak, making her pinhole focus on love more about nuance than navel-gazing. It's just as well the band stayed together."
Ronald Grant of HipHopDX said, "Ego Death is an album both suited specifically for the social media age of music listeners but simultaneously rich and permeated with the traditions of the soul and R&B music of the past." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said, "There's convincing thump at work here, but not so much as to overwhelm the lustrous keyboards, the nuzzling bass, the way several of the songs unfurl like blooming roses." Sean Fennell of PopMatters said, "Ego Death and The Internet require a little bit of patience, but if you are willing to give it a full go, it will reward you with one of the most interesting albums in recent memory." Patrick Taylor of RapReviews.com said, "Ego Death is the perfect summer record. Breezy, smooth, lazy, and meant for warm nights." Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork said, "The Internet's songs have always felt like scenes of salaciousness happening just out of earshot. Ego Death finally pulls us into the maelstrom." Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone said, "The best tracks fade away into gravity-defying instrumental outros that make Syd's heartache feel sublimely serene."
Songs
1Get Away [Explicit]2:29
2Gabby (feat Janelle Monáe)3:32
3Under Control [Explicit]4:04