Crazymad, for Me is the second studio album by the Irish pop musician CMAT, released on 13 October 2023 through CMATBaby and AWAL. The album includes a guest appearance from the American alternative rock singer John Grant and was preceded by the lead single "Whatever's Inconvenient". It received acclaim from critics, and was nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize.[2]
| Crazymad, for Me | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 October 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:43 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Matias Tellez | |||
| CMAT chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Crazymad, for Me | ||||
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Background
editDescribed as a concept album about a 47-year-old CMAT time travelling back to the past to prevent herself from being in a relationship that "ruined her life",[3] as well as "an abstract break-up album" about "what happens when you are still angry about something that happened 10 years ago".[4]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |  [6] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10[7] |
| Mojo |  [8] |
| NME | [1] |
| The Skinny | [9] |
Crazymad, for Me received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 12 critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5] Sarah Jamieson of DIY wrote that CMAT "transforms pop culture into poetry, painting the most vivid of worlds in the process, while her brand of country-indebted pop feels even richer this time around".[6] The Skinny's Skye Butchard found it to be "funnier, weirder, and plays with a more colourful blend of Americana" than CMAT's debut studio album, and felt that it "also reveals more depth and ambition. For one, it's a breakup album that's not shy about admitting flaws in its protagonist".[9] Tilly Foulkes of NME summarised the album as "brilliant" as well as "inventive, intoxicating, deliciously camp – she continues to transcend all expectations and remains absolutely unmatched".[1]
Mojo called it "hyper-melancholic [and] ultra-vivid" and observed that it "showcases Thompson's off-beam pop skills, a distinctive voice in every way".[8] Adam Wright of The Line of Best Fit described the album as a "unique piece of work; creating a psychedelic soundscape with a foundation of country-influenced chord progressions. Its themes of heartbreak and regret meanwhile are, of course, commonly walked paths but it's the presentation of such themes that give the album its edge".[7]
The Guardian ranked it the 50th best album of 2023.[10]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "California" | 4:05 | |
| 2. | "Phone Me" |
| 3:24 |
| 3. | "Vincent Kompany" |
| 3:01 |
| 4. | "Such a Miranda" | 2:35 | |
| 5. | "Rent" | 4:42 | |
| 6. | "Where Are Your Kids Tonight?" (featuring John Grant) | 5:26 | |
| 7. | "Can't Make Up My Mind" | 4:24 | |
| 8. | "Whatever's Inconvenient" |
| 4:27 |
| 9. | "I... Hate Who I Am When I'm Horny" | 5:13 | |
| 10. | "Torn Apart" | 3:20 | |
| 11. | "Stay for Something" |
| 3:36 |
| 12. | "Have Fun!" |
| 4:30 |
| Total length: | 48:43 | ||
Personnel
edit- CMAT – vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar (track 4), drums (track 10)
- Mattias Tellez – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (except track 9), bass guitar (track 5), drums (tracks 5 and 10), synthesizer (tracks 6–8, 10 and 11), tambourine (tracks 6, 10 and 11), organ (tracks 7 and 8), Wurlitzer (track 7), programming (tracks 10 and 12)
- Øyvind Blomstrøm – electric guitar (except tracks 2, 4 and 10)
- Colm Conlan – Wurlitzer (tracks 1, 2, 7 and 8), piano (tracks 3, 6, 9 and 12)
- Chris Holm – bass guitar (all except tracks 4 and 10)
- Kim Åge Furuhaug – drums (all except tracks 4, 8 and 10)
- Mari Persen – violin (tracks 1–3, 12)
- Oliver Hill – violin, string arrangement (track 8)
- Ena Brennan – string arrangement (track 2)
- Declan McKenna – backing vocals, shaker, banjo (track 3)
- John Grant – vocals (track 6)
- Matt Barrick – drums (track 8)
- Josh Kaufman – guitar, bass, keys, synthesizer (track 8)
Charts
edit| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums (OCC)[11] | 1 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 14 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 25 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] | 4 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Foulkes, Tilly (11 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad, For Me review: Dublin's answer to Dolly Parton". NME. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "2024 Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' revealed". Mercury Prize. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
- ^ "Cmat announces new album Crazymad, For Me". Frontview Magazine. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (1 June 2023). "CMAT announces new album Crazymad, for me, shares lead single". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Crazymad for Me by CMAT Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ a b Jamieson, Sarah (11 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad for Me review". DIY. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b Wright, Adam (11 October 2023). "CMAT: Crazymad, for Me Review – ambition meets concept". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "CMAT – Crazymad, for Me". Mojo. November 2023. p. 86.
- ^ a b Butchard, Skye (9 October 2023). "CMAT – Crazymad for Me album review". The Skinny. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Snapes, Laura (5 December 2023). "The 50 best albums of 2023 – 50 to 41". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
External links
edit- Crazymad, for Me at Discogs (list of releases)