Madra (stylised in all caps) is the debut studio album by Irish rock band NewDad, released on 26 January 2024 through Fair Youth and Atlantic Records. It was produced by Chris W Ryan and received positive reviews from critics. It was recorded over two weeks in March of 2023 in Rockfield Studios in Wales. It features additional production from music producer Happa, as well as the bands guitarist, Sean O'Dowd. The album was mixed by Alan Moulder and Caesar Edmunds and was mastered at Metropolis Studios by Matt Colton.
| Madra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 26 January 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 41:37 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | Chris W Ryan | |||
| NewDad chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| DIY |    [2] |
| NME | [3] |
| Record Collector | [4] |
| Uncut | 8/10[5] |
Madra received a score of 74 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on seven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[1] Uncut stated that "Newdad's first full-length shows them expanding on their indie-pop roots, adding extra gnarly, post-punk bite and more sophisticated textures to their updated mix of The Cure, Slowdive and Curve".[5] John Earls of Record Collector wrote that "as singer, Dawson channels a quiet despair in the more vulnerable 'Nosebleed', but it's the defiant full-throated charge elsewhere that's likely to see NewDad emerge as festival favourites".[4]
Reviewing the album for NME, Huw Baines felt that "while NewDad might not be as structurally inventive as the power-pop-indebted Hotline TNT or as heavy as the nu-gaze-leaning Fleshwater, they are perhaps more streamlined and together, which counts for plenty".[3] DIY's Emma Swann called it "a shame that Madra is so back-loaded", writing that "no doubt these songs will triumph when performed live, but as a record, Madra isn't quite it".[2]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angel" | 3:19 |
| 2. | "Sickly Sweet" | 3:23 |
| 3. | "Where I Go" | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Change My Mind" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "In My Head" | 3:39 |
| 6. | "Nosebleed" | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Let Go" | 4:13 |
| 8. | "Dream of Me" | 3:22 |
| 9. | "Nightmares" | 3:44 |
| 10. | "White Ribbons" | 4:24 |
| 11. | "Madra" | 4:32 |
| Total length: | 41:37 | |
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)[6] | 13 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)[7] | 6 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] | 10 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[9] | 77 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Madra by NewDad Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ a b Swann, Emma. "NewDad – Madra review". DIY. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Baines, Huw (24 January 2024). "NewDad – Madra review: review: sublime songs from Ireland's next great guitar band". NME. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b Earls, John (31 December 2023). "Madra | NewDad". Record Collector. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
- ^ a b "NewDad – Madra". Uncut. January 2024. p. 34.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 5. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography {{{artist}}}". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 February 2024.